The Inspector of Brands was next called and sworn. His evidence was to the effect that the brand upon the shovel was that registered in the elder prisoner's name, and after our counsel had stated that he had no desire to cross-examine him he withdrew, and the Sergeant of Police who had found the implement was recalled.
He informed the Court that after discovering the shovel in question in the well, he had instituted a thorough and careful search of the locality. The result was that a rock on the hillside showed signs of having been tampered with and moved from its original position. This struck him as being curious, so he had it cleared away altogether. He then discovered that under where it had stood a large hole had been dug.
Here the excitement in Court became intense. I dared not look to right or left but stood staring straight before me at the Judge upon the bench.
'And having rolled away the stone, pray tell me what you found in that hole?' the Crown Prosecutor continued in the same remorseless voice.
'I found the decomposed body of a man sir!'
Great sensation in Court.
'And when you had made this alarming discovery, what did you do?' asked the Prosecutor.
'I brought it into Marksworth as quickly as possible.'
'Have you been able to discover whose body it was?'