What did you see that caused you to come to this conclusion ?" "Can't you even stick to the rules and ethics of testimony ?" It was the final plea of the defeated Farrell.

The coroner eyed him slowly.
"Mr.Farrell," came his answer, "I must confess to a deviation from regular court procedure in this inquiry.

It is customary in an inquest of this character; certain departures from the usual rules must be made that the truth and the whole truth be learned.

Proceed, Mrs.Rodaine, what was it you saw ?" Transfixed, horrified, Fairchild watched the mumbling, munching mouth, the staring eyes and straying white hair, the bony, crooked hands as they weaved before her.

From those toothless jaws a story was about to come, true or untrue, a story that would stain the name of his father with murder! And that story now was at its beginning.
"I saw them together that afternoon early," the old woman was saying.
"I came up the road just behind them, and they were fussing.