The Dean of Faculty—At what hour, sir, did you go to the Excise Office on the night you have mentioned, and when did you return to Smith’s?
Witness—As I was going down to the Excise Office the clock struck eight, and I was back again at Smith’s house about nine o’clock.
Cross-examined by Mr. John Clerk, for George Smith—Pray, sir, how do you know that to be the key with which Mr. Smith opened the door of the Excise Office? You said just now that you were not present when Smith opened the door; that he was in before you arrived.
Witness—I know very well that that was the key, because I knew he made it for that purpose.
Mr. John Clerk—But how do you know that he opened the door with that key on the 5th of March?
Witness—I know he made the key so far back as November last. I know the key very well; there is not a key in five hundred like it. You will not show me such a key in Edinburgh. There is no smith in this city could make such a key.
Mr. John Clerk—That is no answer to my question.
The Lord Justice-Clerk—It is enough to satisfy any sensible man.
Mr. John Clerk—It is for the jury, my Lord, to judge of that.
[To Witness]—You mentioned your having on a great-coat when you broke into the Excise Office; pray, sir, was that great-coat your own, or to whom did it belong?