About half a mile from Sloperton Station the South Clapham and Medway line crossed a bridge over Sloperton-on-Trent.

As the shades of evening were closing, a man in a slouched hat might have been seen carrying a saw and axe under his arm, hanging about the bridge.

From time to time he disappeared in the shadow of its abutments, but the sound of a saw and axe still betrayed his vicinity.

At exactly nine o'clock he reappeared, and, crossing to the Sloperton side, rested his shoulder against the abutment and gave a shove.

The bridge swayed a moment, and then fell with a splash into the water, leaving a space of one hundred feet between the two banks.