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Chapter XI. The Case for the Prosecution
Shehad,aboutayearbefore,executedawillinfavouroftheprisoner.Hewouldcallevidencetoshowthatitwastheprisonerwhoultimatelyhandedhisstepmotherhercoffeeonthefatalnight.Laterintheevening,hehadsoughtadmissiontoherroom,onwhichoccasion,nodoubt,hefoundanopportunityofdestroyingthewillwhich,asfarasheknew,wouldrendertheoneinhisfavourvalid.
Theprisonerhadbeenarrestedinconsequenceofthediscovery,inhisroom,byDetectiveInspectorJapp—amostbrilliantofficer—oftheidenticalphialofstrychninewhichhadbeensoldatthevillagechemist’stothesupposedMr.Inglethorponthedaybeforethemurder.Itwouldbeforthejurytodecidewhetherornotthesedamningfactsconstitutedanoverwhelmingproofoftheprisoner’sguilt.
And,subtlyimplyingthatajurywhichdidnotsodecide,wasquiteunthinkable,Mr.Philipssatdownandwipedhisforehead.
Thefirstwitnessesfortheprosecutionweremostlythosewhohadbeencalledattheinquest,themedicalevidencebeingagaintakenfirst.
SirErnestHeavywether,whowasfamousalloverEnglandfortheunscrupulousmannerinwhichhebulliedwitnesses,onlyaskedtwoquestions.
“Itakeit,Dr.Bauerstein,thatstrychnine,asadrug,actsquickly?”
“Yes.”
“Andthatyouareunabletoaccountforthedelayinthiscase?”
“Yes.”
“Thankyou.”
Mr.MaceidentifiedthephialhandedhimbyCounselasthatsoldbyhimto“Mr.Inglethorp.”Pressed,headmittedthatheonlyknewMr.Inglethorpbysight.Hehadneverspokentohim.
