He seemed to be in his usual spirits before entering the cave, and no one, it transpired, had seen him after he came out, though this was not noted at the time.

Also, no one had noticed him in conversation with his father.

The coroner dwelt upon this point, but elicited no information one way or the other.
Polly Mathers was not present.

She had been subpoenaed, but had become too ill and nervous to stand the strain, and the doctor had forbidden her attendance.

The coroner, however, had taken her testimony at the house, and his clerk read it aloud to the jury.