With these words he called Mr. Benton as his first witness. Mr. Wright followed, and then Judd Floyd and Mr. Dane came in the order named.
All swore positively that if the prisoner had been upon Hope Island during the specific time each was called to testify to, they would certainly have known it.
Judd, realizing that his partner's liberty depended largely upon his testimony, with note-book in hand told where, from day to day, he and Budd had been, and what they had done. The testimony was absolute, and should have been conclusive.
Budd then had himself put under oath, and testified that though he knew Hope Island was Mr. Johnson's summer residence, no thought had ever come to him to visit it until the previous afternoon, when he found himself near the island.
"I then felt," he continued, "a curiosity to see the place, and landing, went, as they have testified, boldly across the fields, because I had nothing to be ashamed of. Finding a window open, I at once concluded that burglars had been there, and I went in to see to what extent the property had been injured, and it was my purpose to report to Mr. Johnson at once the crime that had been committed. Now I would like Mr. Johnson to be put upon the stand, that I may ask him a few questions."
Mr. Johnson, with evident reluctance, took the witness-chair for his cross-examination.
"How long had my father worked for you previous to the crime he is said to have committed?"
"Fifteen or sixteen years," was the reply.
"Why did you keep him so long in your employ?" Budd now asked.
"I object," said the Prosecuting Attorney.