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Chapter XI. The Case for the Prosecution
Philips—hadstatedthatiftheprisonerwereaninnocentman,hewouldhavecomeforwardattheinquesttoexplainthatitwashe,andnotMr.Inglethorp,whohadbeentheparticipatorinthequarrel.Hethoughtthefactshadbeenmisrepresented.Whathadactuallyoccurredwasthis.Theprisoner,returningtothehouseonTuesdayevening,hadbeenauthoritativelytoldthattherehadbeenaviolentquarrelbetweenMr.andMrs.Inglethorp.Nosuspicionhadenteredtheprisoner’sheadthatanyonecouldpossiblyhavemistakenhisvoiceforthatofMr.Inglethorp.Henaturallyconcludedthathisstepmotherhadhadtwoquarrels.
TheprosecutionaverredthatonMonday,July16th,theprisonerhadenteredthechemist’sshopinthevillage,disguisedasMr.Inglethorp.Theprisoner,onthecontrary,wasatthattimeatalonelyspotcalledMarston’sSpinney,wherehehadbeensummonedbyananonymousnote,couchedinblackmailingterms,andthreateningtorevealcertainmatterstohiswifeunlesshecompliedwithitsdemands.Theprisonerhad,accordingly,gonetotheappointedspot,andafterwaitingtherevainlyforhalfanhourhadreturnedhome.Unfortunately,hehadmetwithnooneonthewaythereorbackwhocouldvouchforthetruthofhisstory,butluckilyhehadkeptthenote,anditwouldbeproducedasevidence.
Asforthestatementrelatingtothedestructionofthewill,theprisonerhadformerlypractisedattheBar,andwasperfectlywellawarethatthewillmadeinhisfavourayearbeforewasautomaticallyrevokedbyhisstepmother’sremarriage.
