Def.C: My lady, Miss Vivian informed my client that she has got information which is tangible enough to make him a senator. My client asked the victim to come to his office and give the information she has but Miss Vivian insisted that my client comes to her house if he really wants to become a senator. My client decided to come to Miss Vivian's house with one of his men. On arriving the Miss Vivian's house he instructed his guard to take note of everything so the evidence found in this tape is to prove my client innocent of all the charges bought up against him.
Stapleton is well respected, as he is feared by Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson, because he is an upper class criminal. As a character, Conan Doyle uses him to illustrate the idea that aristocratic people could be just as devious and criminal as the lower classes. Conan Doyle suggests that prejudice existed against the working class and that education and money could lead to horrific crimes. A Victorian reader would think of Selden as a dangerous criminal in society. Although Conan Doyle makes references to his animal-like appearance and manner, suggesting that he is linked to the 'beast in man' theory, the emphasis is really on his being hunted like a beast.