‘Now, gentlemen, it is a singular fact, that, so far as we have been able to learn, not a single individual in Messrs. Hatchett’s office saw that draft, except the prisoner and a clerk named MacGowan, who engrossed the will; and the theory of the prosecution is, that before handing the draft to MacGowan to engross the prisoner struck out of it the all-important word “hundred,” so that the bequest should run “five thousand pounds” only. Inquiries for this clerk, MacGowan, have been made in all directions; but from the day he engrossed that will he never turned up at the office; he disappeared from his lodgings on the following day, and has not since been heard of. ‘We come now to the actual execution of the will. It was brought to Mr. Lindsay’s house by the prisoner. It was read over to the testator by the prisoner; and, in reading it, the prisoner inserted the word “hundred,” which was not in the will, before the word “thousand,” thus leading his uncle, the testator, to imagine that the will was really in accordance with his intentions. This fact will be proved to you on the evidence of Dr. Mackenzie; and it will be for you to judge whether he could possibly be mistaken on a point of such importance, a point on which his attention would naturally be fixed. ‘It is only right that I should tell you, gentlemen,’ continued the barrister, ‘that there was one other person in the room when the will was read besides the testator, the prisoner, and the witness I have named. And you may be surprised to hear that this person does not bear out the statement which the Reverend Mr. Mackenzie will make on oath before you, as to what the prisoner did actually read from the will.’ Here Mr. Corker interposed, and said something in an angry tone to Mr. Collithorne. ‘Perhaps my friend is right, gentlemen,’ said the Queen’s Counsel, majestically waving the Old Bailey barrister back into his seat. ‘It may be better for him to deal with his own witness, if he should think it worth while to call him. You will understand, gentlemen, later on, the reason of my learned friend’s interposition.