The coroner arrived a little early, and was standing on the shore with the Chief Constable and the superintendent, the latter pointing out to him the scene of the crime. “Shocking, shocking!” he exclaimed in his dry, formal manner. “I have your detailed report, Mr. Superintendent. I suppose there’s nothing else I ought to know before we begin?” “I don’t think so.” “Well, I hope we shall catch the scoundrel,” remarked the Chief Constable, giving a twist to his moustache, as they turned away towards the inn. “He deserves hanging if ever a man did.” “Precisely. He does, indeed,” replied the coroner. “That, of course, is _your_ business. Mine is only to ascertain the circumstances and the cause of death.” He took out his watch. “It’s about time we began,” he went on. When the jury filed into the bar parlour after viewing the body they found none too much space. The room barely accommodated them, the police, the witnesses, and representatives of the Press. Outside the inn a little crowd of people had to be content with waiting patiently. The coroner took his seat at the top of the table, near the fire-place, which was in an angle of the room. Seated on his right, facing across the table, and therefore at the other angle, was Mr. Proctor, who had been elected by the jury as their foreman. Facing the coroner sat the police and the doctor. On one side of the room was a tall man with clean-shaven face and a professional manner. He was Mr. Anthony Crosby, the lawyer from London. The coroner opened the proceedings formally by explaining to the jury their duties, concluding by saying: “It will probably be necessary to adjourn this inquiry, and in that case you will not be called upon to record your verdict this afternoon. I think, from what I have said, you will quite understand that the scope of this inquiry is limited to the actual cause of death and circumstances which may throw light upon such cause. Of course, if anything transpires which may assist the police in their investigations, I shall exercise my prerogative in allowing it to be brought forward. But the jury are not concerned with police investigations other than those which threw light upon the actual cause of death. I hope I make myself plain?” And he turned an inquiring look upon Mr. Proctor. The little man nodded his bald head. “I think I can say on behalf of the jury, sir, that we all understand perfectly.” “Very well,” said the coroner. “Now we can proceed with the inquiry.” Whereupon Anthony Crosby rose from his seat and said: “I represent the late Mr. Templeton, sir—as his legal adviser.” “Your name?” asked the coroner. “Mr. Anthony Crosby, of Crosby and Paxton, 17b, Lincoln’s Inn Fields.” The coroner bowed and made a note of it. The first witness called was Jim Webb, who gave evidence of the discovery of the body early on the previous morning. The coroner asked him a few questions.