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Chapter XI. The Case for the Prosecution
Heproposedtocallwitnessestoshowhowtheprisoner,aprofligateandspendthrift,hadbeenattheendofhisfinancialtether,andhadalsobeencarryingonanintriguewithacertainMrs.Raikes,aneighbouringfarmer’swife.Thishavingcometohisstepmother’sears,shetaxedhimwithitontheafternoonbeforeherdeath,andaquarrelensued,partofwhichwasoverheard.Onthepreviousday,theprisonerhadpurchasedstrychnineatthevillagechemist’sshop,wearingadisguisebymeansofwhichhehopedtothrowtheonusofthecrimeuponanotherman—towit,Mrs.Inglethorp’shusband,ofwhomhehadbeenbitterlyjealous.LuckilyforMr.Inglethorp,hehadbeenabletoproduceanunimpeachablealibi.
OntheafternoonofJuly17th,continuedCounsel,immediatelyafterthequarrelwithherson,Mrs.Inglethorpmadeanewwill.Thiswillwasfounddestroyedinthegrateofherbedroomthefollowingmorning,butevidencehadcometolightwhichshowedthatithadbeendrawnupinfavourofherhusband.Deceasedhadalreadymadeawillinhisfavourbeforehermarriage,but—andMr.Philipswaggedanexpressiveforefinger—theprisonerwasnotawareofthat.Whathadinducedthedeceasedtomakeafreshwill,withtheoldonestillextant,hecouldnotsay.Shewasanoldlady,andmightpossiblyhaveforgottentheformerone;or—thisseemedtohimmorelikely—shemayhavehadanideathatitwasrevokedbyhermarriage,astherehadbeensomeconversationonthesubject.Ladieswerenotalwaysverywellversedinlegalknowledge.
