This was exactly what he had wanted. He now had the chance of getting an acquittal from the jury before him, and, if that failed, of succeeding on the point reserved in the court above.
He rose and said:
‘I have one witness to call as to the state of the prisoner’s health. I shall, therefore, say nothing now, but call my witness, and address the jury after. Alfred Benjamin James.’
A respectably-dressed man stepped into the witness-box.
‘You are a chemist, carrying on business at Porthstone. And you have known the prisoner some time?’
‘All her life, sir.’
‘Now, have you advised her recently as to the state of her health?’
‘I have.’
‘Will you just tell us briefly what she has spoken to you about?’