Did Watson Kill Moriarty
In Arthur Conan Doyle’s stories, Dr. John Watson does not directly kill Professor Moriarty. The two face each other at the Reichenbach Falls, but the official account describes a struggle in which both men fall to their deaths.
What Happened at the Reichenbach Falls
According to "The Final Problem," Watson arrives at the scene after the confrontation and finds Moriarty dead at the bottom of the falls. Watson himself survives, but he never sees Holmes, who had arranged to be elsewhere. The story leaves the exact sequence of events ambiguous, focusing on the apparent deaths of both Holmes and Moriarty.
Why the Question Persists
Adaptations, fan theories, and later pastiche works have reimagined the encounter, sometimes giving Watson a more direct role. These versions can create the impression that Watson killed Moriarty, but the original canon does not support this claim.
For the canonical account, see the original Sherlock Holmes stories hosted by Project Gutenberg.
