"Not personally. I have seen him several times, but have never spoken to him." "You are sufficiently familiar with his features to identify him?" "I am." "When did you first hear of his death?" "On Saturday afternoon, when I was sitting at home with my wife and my nephew, Mr. Richard Remington. The boys were calling out news of a murder in Catchpole Square, and we went out and bought a paper." "Before Saturday afternoon had your attention been directed in any way to the house in which the deceased resided?" "Yes. Last Tuesday night a woman was brought into the office who made a statement respecting the disappearance of her husband, who had been in the service of the deceased." "What is the name of the woman?" "Mrs. Abel Death. I advised her to apply to the magistrate on the following morning, in order that it might be made public." "After reading the news in the paper on Saturday afternoon what did you do?" "I went to the Bishop Street Station, and learned that constables had been sent to enter the house, for the purpose of ascertaining if the statement made by the reporter was correct." "And then?" "I went to Catchpole Square, accompanied by Constable Applebee and my nephew, Mr. Richard Remington--both of whom were acquainted with the deceased--I entered the house and saw the body. I identified it as the body of Mr. Samuel Boyd." "Is there any doubt in your mind on the point?" "Not the slightest. I have seen him scores of times, and his features were quite familiar to me." "You saw the marks on his throat?" "Yes." "Have you any idea as to the cause of his death?" "It appeared to me to have been caused by strangulation." "Now, Inspector Robson, I wish to ask you if you formed any idea as to how long he had been dead. You cannot, of course, speak with the authority of an expert, but we should like to hear what your impression was?" "My impression was that he had been dead several days." At this answer considerable commotion was caused by a lady exclaiming "Impossible! Impossible!" CHAPTER XXXIII. SCENES IN COURT. The Coroner: "I cannot allow the proceedings to be interrupted by any of the spectators, and I must request the person who spoke to preserve silence." The Lady (rising): "My name is Lady Wharton, and I know what I am saying. It is not in the nature of things to be silent when so monstrous a statement as that is made. I say again, it is impossible." The Coroner: "The witness has given his impression----" Lady Wharton: "He cannot be in his right senses, or he must have some motive----" The Coroner: "You are impeaching the witness and delaying the proceedings. Unless you resume your seat it will be my duty to have you removed----" Lady Wharton (indignantly): "Have me removed! Is this a court of justice?" The Corner: "I hope so. Kindly resume your seat." Lady Wharton: "I insist upon being heard."