But Mr Windgate was not. He argued that it was important to his
client's interest that this witness should be heard to-night. The judge
ordered lights to be brought in--for it was becoming dark--and then Jem
Pollock was recalled.
There was a seriousness and a gravity upon the seafarer's weatherbeaten
face which gave one the impression of a man there much against his will.
Re-examined, he stated that he was returning home from Battisford on
the night of the supposed murder, and took the short way over the cliffs
to Minchkil Bay. As he approached Smugglers' Ladder a man passed him
walking rapidly in the direction of Battisford. There was something
familiar about the stranger's figure and gait, and when he, the witness,
wished him good-evening, he seemed to recognise the voice as he replied.
A few days after the search for the deceased, the witness had taken the
trouble to go and examine the chasm again, and not many yards from it he
found a fragment of an old envelope. Nearly the whole name was still on
it--"Roland Dor----don, W.," but the address was almost entirely gone.
The date of the postmark was January 19th. There was great excitement
in Court as the envelope was produced and handed to the jury, and all
eyes were bent on the prisoner to see how he would take it. But
disappointment awaited. The accused seemed to manifest not the smallest
interest in the proceedings.
This envelope Pollock had kept, waiting to be guided by events. But the
stir attendant on Hubert Dorrien's disappearance soon quieted down, and
he decided to keep his own counsel. Then had come another exciting
event--the rector's daughter being cut off by the tide and narrowly
escaping drowning. Witness had also taken part in the search for the
young lady, and in her rescuer he recognised the man who had passed him
on the cliff. At the same time he recognised him for Roland Dorrien.
This bit of romance turned the tide of public opinion quite in favour of
the accused, for the story of Olive Ingelow's narrow escape was well
known. Surely, never was a criminal trial so redundant with romantic
episode. Sympathetic murmurs began to arise in Court. But counsel's
inexorable voice recalled to prose again.
"Could you swear to the prisoner being the man who rescued Miss
Ingelow?"
"Yes, sir," replied the witness firmly, but very reluctantly.
"You saw his face distinctly?"
"Yes, sir. The lanterns was full upon it."
"And you knew his voice?"
"Yes, sir."
"Now, how is it you kept silence about your suspicions?"
"Well, sir, I'm not one o' them as talks a lot. And then, I had no
suspicions until the idea cropped up that Mr Hubert had met wi' foul
play. And I didn't want to injure Mr Roland, and especially Madam," he
added with feeling; "but that there detective chap he seemed to get it
all out o' me like a blessed babby," concluded he resentfully.
"Quite so. Very natural. That will do," and Mr Benham sat down.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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