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Chapter XI. The Case for the Prosecution
Thehand-writingexpertswerecalleduponfortheiropinionofthesignatureof“AlfredInglethorp”inthechemist’spoisonregister.Theyalldeclaredunanimouslythatitwascertainlynothishand-writing,andgaveitastheirviewthatitmightbethatoftheprisonerdisguised.Cross-examined,theyadmittedthatitmightbetheprisoner’shand-writingcleverlycounterfeited.
SirErnestHeavywether’sspeechinopeningthecaseforthedefencewasnotalongone,butitwasbackedbythefullforceofhisemphaticmanner.Never,hesaid,inthecourseofhislongexperience,hadheknownachargeofmurderrestonslighterevidence.Notonlywasitentirelycircumstantial,butthegreaterpartofitwaspracticallyunproved.Letthemtakethetestimonytheyhadheardandsiftitimpartially.Thestrychninehadbeenfoundinadrawerintheprisoner’sroom.Thatdrawerwasanunlockedone,ashehadpointedout,andhesubmittedthattherewasnoevidencetoprovethatitwastheprisonerwhohadconcealedthepoisonthere.Itwas,infact,awickedandmaliciousattemptonthepartofsomethirdpersontofixthecrimeontheprisoner.TheprosecutionhadbeenunabletoproduceashredofevidenceinsupportoftheircontentionthatitwastheprisonerwhoorderedtheblackbeardfromParkson’s.Thequarrelwhichhadtakenplacebetweenprisonerandhisstepmotherwasfreelyadmitted,butbothitandhisfinancialembarrassmentshadbeengrosslyexaggerated.
Hislearnedfriend—SirErnestnoddedcarelesslyatMr.
