He had not engaged the services of one of the most eminent lawyers, expert at extracting contradictions from witnesses by skilful cross-examinations--oh, dear me, no! he had been contented with those of a dull, prosy, very second-rate limb of the law, who, as he called his witnesses, was completely innocent of any desire to create a sensation.
"He rose quietly from his seat, and, amidst breathless silence, called the first of three witnesses on behalf of his client.

He called three--but he could have produced twelve--gentlemen, members of the Ashton Club in Great Portland Street, all of whom swore that at three o'clock on the morning of February 6th, that is to say, at the very moment when the cries of 'Murder' roused the inhabitants of Park Square West, and the crime was being committed, Mr.John Ashley was sitting quietly in the club-rooms of the Ashton playing bridge with the three witnesses.

He had come in a few minutes before three--as the hall porter of the Club testified--and stayed for about an hour and a half.
"I need not tell you that this undoubted, this fully proved, _alibi_ was a positive bombshell in the stronghold of the prosecution.

The most accomplished criminal could not possibly be in two places at once, and though the Ashton Club transgresses in many ways against the gambling laws of our very moral country, yet its members belong to the best, most unimpeachable classes of society.

Mr.Ashley had been seen and spoken to at the very moment of the crime by at least a dozen gentlemen whose testimony was absolutely above suspicion.
"Mr.John Ashley's conduct throughout this astonishing phase of the inquiry remained perfectly calm and correct.