“And when made aware of the death of his betrothed,” pursued my lawyer, “how did Mr. Neuman conduct himself?”
“He acted like a crazy man—like one paralyzed by a tremendous blow.”
“You can go, Mr. Tikulski,” said my lawyer. “But I wish to say,” began Tikulski, “that I do not believe——”
“Stop,” cried the prosecutor. “Your honor, I object to any expression of opinion by the witness.”
“No matter about what you don’t believe,” said the Judge to Tikulski.
“But——-”
“But you must hold your tongue,” imperiously. “You can go.”
The old man left the stand and elbowed his way to my side.
“What I wished to say was,” he whispered into my ear, “that I believe you are as innocent as I myself. It is outrageous, this trial. They compelled me to testify. But you must understand that I am sure of your innocence. I don’t know why they hushed me up.”
Meanwhile the captain of police had succeeded him, and sworn to having visited the scene of the crime and to having placed the prisoner under arrest.