Unfortunately for Reuben, the judge was notoriously a severe one; and his bias, from the first, appeared to be against the prisoner.

Mr.Ellison was closely questioned by the prosecutor as to the poisoning of his dog, as this was considered to show a particular animus on the part of Reuben.

He again repeated his conviction of Reuben's innocence in that affair.
"But what reason have you, Mr.Ellison," the counsel for the prosecution asked blandly, "for changing your opinion on the subject ?" This was just the question which the squire could not answer satisfactorily; and was a particularly irritating one, because it had often been triumphantly asked by his wife.
"I can really give no particular reason," he said, "except that, on reflection, the boy's previous character and antecedents convinced me that he could not have done such an act." "In fact," the counsel said suavely, "you were influenced by your own goodness of heart, Mr.Ellison, in thus laying aside a conviction which the facts had, at the time, forced upon you." "I don't look upon it in that light," the squire replied shortly.
"I consider that in the first instance I acted hastily and unadvisedly, and on consideration I saw that I had done so." "I am afraid, Mr.Ellison," the counsel said, "that you will not persuade the jury to agree with you." "I have only one or two questions to ask you," the counsel for the defence said, when he rose to cross-examine, "for indeed your evidence is, as I think the jury will agree, altogether in favour of the prisoner.

In the first place, was the lad, when in your employment, ever upstairs in your house ?" "Not that I know of," the squire replied.

"Certainly in the course of his duties he would never be there.