Another and more important witness was next examined.
At no very great distance from Larch-green stood a small habitation called “Jawbone Cottage.”
This name was given to the place in consequence of the jawbones of a whale being on either side of the gateway at its entrance.
When placed in their position they formed a pointed arch, around which climbed honeysuckle and clematis.
No one, however, would have taken them to have been bones—certainly not at the first glance.
In Jawbone Cottage resided a farm labourer, his wife, and two children; the eldest of these being an intelligent little girl, of eleven or twelve years of age. She was brought forward as a witness.
It appeared from what she said that her father and mother had gone from home in the after part of the day on which the murder took place, to see her elder brother off, who was going to sea.
They did not return, however, till late; the witness and her sister, a child of five years old, went to bed at the usual time, but the witness, who had a swollen face which was very painful, and prevented her from sleeping, got up and looked out of the bedroom window, in the hope of seeing her parents coming along the road.
While thus occupied she observed a great man washing his face and hands in the pool of water on the green. She was so frightened that she hardly durst breathe, but she watched him for some time; she saw that his lip was cut open, and that his hands and face were covered with blood.
After this she withdrew from the window and covered herself over with the bedclothes. Mustering courage to go again to the window, she found the man gone.