“I did not hear any one call out.”
“You are quite sure you did not hear a man’s voice before you discovered the prisoner at the door of your house?”
“I did not hear any voice.”
“Is the prisoner a stranger to you?”
“I never saw him before to my knowledge.”
“Is he also a stranger to your maid-servant?”
“I believe so.”
“Really, brother Jawkins, I think you are out of order. How is the witness to know whether he is a stranger or not to the servant? Ask the young woman herself when she is in the box.”
“I thank you for your suggestion, brother Matchley. It would be the best course. I have no further questions to put to the present witness.”
Mrs. Pocklington retired, and the servant-girl was placed in the box. After she had deposed to facts connected with the case, she underwent a severe cross-examination, which took a humorous turn, eliciting laughter in the body of the court, which was, of course, immediately suppressed.