When this witness had finished his tale Mr. Rolland said: “Call Jacob Burrell.”
On hearing this a stir ran through the Court. The famous detective was well known to all the officials within the building, and they, in the light of this new discovery and the knowledge that this individual had taken up the prisoner’s case, began to regard the matter in a somewhat different light. There was a slight flicker of a smile upon the austere countenance of the judge when the counsel asked the detective his name.
“Jacob Burrell,” was the reply.
“I understand,” went on the counsel, “that you were instructed by my friend, the solicitor for the defence, to make an investigation into this case. In the course of that investigation did you visit Naples?”
“I did,” the other replied.
“And what did you discover there?”
“I found that the witness Fensden, although he has denied the matter on oath, was in Naples three weeks after the prisoner passed through on his way to England.”
The counsel here informed the jury that five affidavits to this effect would be produced and read. Addressing the witness once more he said:
“Are you aware that the witness Fensden spent the greater part of his time in Naples in the company of the deceased woman?”