"Will you swear, sir, that an original will ever existed?"
The answer was, "No."
I knew it must be the answer, because there could be no other that would not betray him.
"What is your explanation?" asked Cresswell.
"My explanation, my lord, is that the testatrix had often expressed to me her intention to leave me £5,000, and I wrote the codicil which was destroyed to carry out her wishes."
Cresswell had warned James early in the case as to the futility of calling witnesses after the two who alone were necessary, but to no purpose; he hurried his client to destruction, and I have never been able to understand his conduct. The most that can be said for him is that he did not suspect any danger, and took no trouble to avoid incurring it.
It is curious enough that on the morning of the trial we had tried to compromise the matter by offering £10,000.
The refusal of the offer shows how little they thought that any cross-examination could injure their cause.
Hannen said he could not have believed a cross-examination could be conducted in that manner without any knowledge of the facts, and paid me the compliment of saying it was worth at the least £80,000.