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Chapter XI. The Case for the Prosecution
Hewouldcallevidencetoshowwhodiddestroythewill,anditwaspossiblethatthatmightopenupquiteanewviewofthecase.
Finally,hewouldpointouttothejurythattherewasevidenceagainstotherpeoplebesidesJohnCavendish.HewoulddirecttheirattentiontothefactthattheevidenceagainstMr.LawrenceCavendishwasquiteasstrong,ifnotstrongerthanthatagainsthisbrother.
Hewouldnowcalltheprisoner.
Johnacquittedhimselfwellinthewitness-box.UnderSirErnest’sskilfulhandling,hetoldhistalecrediblyandwell.Theanonymousnotereceivedbyhimwasproduced,andhandedtothejurytoexamine.Thereadinesswithwhichheadmittedhisfinancialdifficulties,andthedisagreementwithhisstepmother,lentvaluetohisdenials.
Atthecloseofhisexamination,hepaused,andsaid:
“Ishouldliketomakeonethingclear.IutterlyrejectanddisapproveofSirErnestHeavywether’sinsinuationsagainstmybrother.Mybrother,Iamconvinced,hadnomoretodowiththecrimethanIhave.”
SirErnestmerelysmiled,andnotedwithasharpeyethatJohn’sprotesthadproducedaveryfavourableimpressiononthejury.
Thenthecross-examinationbegan.
“IunderstandyoutosaythatitneverenteredyourheadthatthewitnessesattheinquestcouldpossiblyhavemistakenyourvoiceforthatofMr.Inglethorp.Isnotthatverysurprising?”
“No,Idon’tthinkso.IwastoldtherehadbeenaquarrelbetweenmymotherandMr.Inglethorp,anditneveroccurredtomethatsuchwasnotreallythecase.
