A criminal was being chased toward the gallows, and they followed his progress there with breathless interest.

Step by step all that was laid down in the opening speech for the prosecution was inexorably proved, all, that is to say, except the affair of the stick.

But from what a certain witness (Mr.Taynton) swore to, it was clear that this piece of circumstantial evidence, which indeed was of the greatest importance since the Crown's case was that the murder had been committed with that bludgeon of a stick, completely broke down.

Whoever had done the murder, he had not done it with that stick, since Mr.Taynton deposed to having been at Mrs.Assheton's house on the Friday, the day after the murder had been committed, and to having taken the stick away by mistake, believing it to be his.

And the counsel for the defence only asked one question on this point, which question closed the proceedings for the day.