‘Really, gentlemen, I think it will save time if we go round the table, and let each man express his opinion in turn. Of course, I don’t say his final opinion, but just any remarks that strike him on the evidence. Will you begin, sir?’
Mr. Jenkins rose from his seat on the foreman’s right and cleared his throat.
‘Mr. Foreman and gentlemen, I think this is, as our foreman has told us, a case of very great doubt. At the same time, it is our duty to punish the guilty, and not let the prisoner off simply because she is a woman and good-looking, and that sort of thing.’ (Subdued applause. The foreman raises his hand for silence.) ‘Now, what I look at in this case is the motive, and that is, I take it, the jewels. I don’t believe she would have done it simply on the chance of getting something under the will. I don’t know whether you remember, but the judge said Miss Lewis might have parted with the jewels, because they weren’t found after her death. Now, it seems to me that that points just the other way. I mean, it looks as if she had been murdered for the sake of them. It seems to me the only question is, Who murdered her? Was it Mr. Lewis or was it Miss Owen? That’s my difficulty.’
He sat down. The farmer, who sat next him, stood up in turn.
‘I say what the judge said; let us decide according to the evidence. Now, what evidence is there against Mr. Lewis? Why, you say the judge didn’t speak out clearly, but he did say there wasn’t any evidence against him. All the evidence is against her, and we ought to act upon it.’
The next speaker was a rather young man, who occupied a position of superintendence in a large millinery establishment, exclusively patronised by ladies. With such associations he was naturally disposed to be chivalrous. He said:
‘I know a lady when I see her. Miss Owen’s a lady; anyone can see that with half an eye. As for Lewis, I didn’t like the looks of him at all. You know they’re a wild lot out in Australia. I heard that he came back for good reasons, if the truth was known. Then look how he lost his temper in the witness-box! And then, as Mr. Tressamer said, the very night he got there the murder happened. That looks as if he did it. He said she didn’t give him a latchkey, but I believe she very likely did, else why did the barrister ask him? And then look at the hand being cut off. No young lady would go and do such a thing as that, surely!’
The jury were impressed. The next man was of a shy and gentle disposition. He did not venture to get on his feet, but threw out a suggestion as he sat: ‘I suppose it must have been one of the two. There couldn’t have been somebody else, could there?’
A withering look from eleven faces rewarded this disconcerting query. The foreman expressed the general feeling:
‘Really, sir, I can’t think what ground you have for suggesting such a thing. The case is difficult enough as it is, without having fresh doubts raised.’