In the Dead of Night: A Novel. Volume 2 (of 3)Speight, T. W. (Thomas Wilkinson)
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In the Dead of Night: A Novel. Volume 2 (of 3)
Speight, T. W. (Thomas Wilkinson)
English fiction -- 19th century
The evidence elicited from Mr. St. George was—epitomized—to the
following effect:—Was own cousin to the prisoner at the bar, but had
not seen him since they were boys together till prisoner called on him
in London a few weeks before the murder. Met prisoner in the street
shortly afterwards. Introduced him to Mr. Osmond, the murdered man, who
happened to be in his (witness’s) company at the time. Prisoner, on the
spot, invited both witness and Osmond to visit him at Park Newton. The
invitation was accepted. Witness and Osmond went down to Park Newton,
and up to the night of the murder everything passed off in the most
amicable and friendly spirit. On that evening they all three dined by
invitation with Mr. Culpepper, of Pincote. They got back to Park Newton
about eleven o’clock. Osmond then proposed to finish up the evening
with a game at billiards. Prisoner objected for a time, but ultimately
yielded the point, and they all went into the billiard-room. The game
was to be a hundred up, and everything went on satisfactorily till
Osmond accused prisoner of having played with the wrong ball. This
prisoner denied. An altercation followed. After some words on both
sides, Osmond threw part of a glass of seltzer-and-brandy into
prisoner’s face. Prisoner sprang at Osmond and seized him by the
throat. Osmond drew a small revolver and fired at prisoner, but
fortunately missed him. Witness then interposed, dragged Osmond from
the room, and put him into the hands of his (witness’s) valet, with
instructions not to leave him till he was safely in bed. Then went back
to prisoner, whom he found still in the billiard-room, but depressed in
spirits, and complaining of one of those violent head aches that were
constitutional with him. Witness himself being subject to similar
headaches, recommended to prisoner’s notice a certain mixture from
which he had himself derived much benefit. Prisoner agreed to take a
dose of the mixture. Witness went to his own bedroom to obtain it, and
then took it to the prisoner, whom he found partially undressed,
preparing for bed. Prisoner took the mixture. Then he and witness bade
each other good-night, and separated. Next morning, at eight o’clock,
witness’s valet brought a telegram to his bedroom summoning him to
London on important business. He dressed immediately, and left Park
Newton at once—an hour and a half before the discovery of the murder.
Cross-examined by Mr. Tressil:
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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