“But,” Mason pointed out, “your only knowledge of when dinner was eaten is predicated entirely upon what has been told you. Isn’t that right?”
The doctor raised his voice. “There are witnesses to prove it.”
“If it should turn out the witnesses are mistaken in their time, then you are mistaken in your time. Is that right?”
“The witness isn’t mistaken,” the doctor said. “I’ve talked with him personally.”
“But all you know of your own knowledge, Doctor, is that you performed an autopsy on a body, that death had occurred from eight to fourteen hours prior to the time you made your examination and within approximately two hours of the time the deceased partook of a meal consisting of certain specific articles of food?”
“You can put it that way if you want to,” the doctor snapped.
“Thank you, Doctor,” Mason said with a smile. “I want to. That’s all. You’re excused.”
“Jason Carrel will be the next witness,” Kittering announced.
Carrel, poker-faced, steady-eyed, came forward, raised his right hand, and was sworn. He gave his name and residence.
“Did you,” Kittering asked, “see a body at the funeral parlors of Breckenbridge & Manifred?”