The district attorney, in view of the peculiarly opportune disappearance of this person from the jurisdiction, strenuously opposed the application and hinted at collusion between Ellis and the witness.

The application, however, was granted, and a delay of over a month ensued.

During that time evidence was procured by the counsel of the prisoner showing conclusively that the complaining witness was mentally unsound and had made similar and groundless charges against others.

The indictment was at once dismissed.
But such delays are not always so righteously employed.

There is a story told of a case where a notorious character was charged with the unusual crime of "mayhem"-- biting off another man's finger.