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fact, a wicked and malicious attempt on the part of some third person to fix
the crime on the prisoner. The prosecution had been unable to produce a
shred of evidence in support of their contention that it was the prisoner who
ordered the black beard from Parkson's. The quarrel which had taken place
between prisoner and his stepmother was freely admitted, but both it and
his financial embarrassments had been grossly exaggerated.
His learned friend--Sir Ernest nodded carelessly at Mr. Philips--had stated
that if the prisoner were an innocent man, he would have come forward at
the inquest to explain that it was he, and not Mr. Inglethorp, who had been
the participator in the quarrel. He thought the facts had been
misrepresented. What had actually occurred was this. The prisoner,
returning to the house on Tuesday evening, had been authoritatively told
that there had been a violent quarrel between Mr. and Mrs. Inglethorp. No
suspicion had entered the prisoner's head that anyone could possibly have
mistaken his voice for that of Mr. Inglethorp. He naturally concluded that
his stepmother had had two quarrels.
The prosecution averred that on Monday, July 16th, the prisoner had
entered the chemist's shop in the village, disguised as Mr. Inglethorp. The
prisoner, on the contrary, was at that time at a lonely spot called Marston's
Spinney, where he had been summoned by an anonymous note, couched in
blackmailing terms, and threatening to reveal certain matters to his wife
unless he complied with its demands. The prisoner had, accordingly, gone to
the appointed spot, and after waiting there vainly for half an hour had
returned home. Unfortunately, he had met with no one on the way there or
back who could vouch for the truth of his story, but luckily he had kept the
note, and it would be produced as evidence.
As for the statement relating to the destruction of the will, the prisoner had
formerly practiced at the Bar, and was perfectly well aware that the will
made in his favour a year before was automatically revoked by his
stepmother's remarriage. He would call evidence to show who did destroy
the will, and it was possible that that might open up quite a new view of the
case.
Finally, he would point out to the jury that there was evidence against other
people besides John Cavendish. He would direct their attention to the fact
that the evidence against Mr. Lawrence Cavendish was quite as strong, if
not stronger than that against his brother.
He would now call the prisoner.
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