And that you besought her not to give evidence?—No. I never did.
If you had done it would you say so?—I would. I had no reason to do so. Ivy Matthews is a woman I would not demean myself to talk to, let alone to plead to.
Why?—I talked to her once and once only, and that was quite sufficient for me.
Those who heard Mrs. Ross’s answers to the questions put to her, saw the look of mystification spreading over her face as they were developed, heard her solemn declaration that she had never even set eyes on Ivy Matthews since the day she saw her at the Coroner’s Court, heard her earnest, low-voiced assertion that “Ivy Matthews is a woman I would not demean myself to talk to, let alone to plead to,” could not, for a moment, doubt that she was speaking the truth. A somewhat similar line of cross-examination was pursued when Stanley and Ronald Ross were in the witness box, but in their case a different date was alleged. Stanley Ross was cross-examined on the point as follows:—
Do you remember, on February 3, the Friday night after the inquest, going to Rathdown Street, Carlton?—No.
Did you know where Ivy Matthews lived?—No.
Will you swear you did not know that Ivy Matthews lived in Rathdown Street?—I know she lived in Rathdown Street, but I could not take you to the place.
I did not ask you that, I asked you if you knew where she lived in Rathdown Street?—No.
Did you and your brother Ronald go to Madame Ghurka’s or Mrs. Gibson’s house on the night of February 3?—No.
Or at any time in February?—No.