The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes Part 14 (1/2)

”Co series of events, it was at least a most suspicious rehtest rift which I can at present see in the clouds However innocent he ht be, he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the circuainst hined indignation at it, I should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such surprise or anger would not be natural under the circuht appear to be the best policy to a sche man His frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and firmness As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with hiirl whose evidence is so important, to raise his hand as if to strike him The self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his rens of a healthy uilty one”

I shook hter evidence,” I refully hanged”

”What is the young man's own account of theto his supporters, though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive

You will find it here, and may read it for yourself”

He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshi+re paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the paragraph in which the unfortunate young iven his own statement of what had occurred I settled e and read it very carefully It ran in this way:

”Mr James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon theof last Monday, the 3rd My father was absent from home at the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the room Shortly after my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, looking out of et out and walk rapidly out of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was going I then took un and strolled out in the direction of the Bosob Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit warren which is upon the other side On ame-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but he ismy father I had no idea that he was in front of me When about a hundred yards fronal between my father andby the pool He appeared to be hly what I was doing there A conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, forthat his passion was becoovernable, I left hione more than 150 yards, however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind ain I found round, with his head terribly injured I dropped un and held him in my arms, but he almost instantly expired I knelt beside hie-keeper, his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance I saw no one near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he ca so in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no active ene further of the matter'

”The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before he died?

”Witness: He mumbled a feords, but I could only catch some allusion to a rat

”The Coroner: What did you understand by that?

”Witness: It conveyed no ht that he was delirious

”The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father had this final quarrel?

”Witness: I should prefer not to answer

”The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it

”Witness: It is really impossible forto do with the sad tragedy which followed

”The Coroner: That is for the court to decide I need not point out to you that your refusal to ansill prejudice your case considerably in any future proceedings which may arise

”Witness: I must still refuse

”The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a conal between you and your father?

”Witness: It was

”The Coroner: Hoas it, then, that he uttered it before he saw you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol?

”Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know

”A Jury which aroused your suspicions when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father fatally injured?

”Witness: Nothing definite

”The Coroner: What do you mean?

”Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into the open, that I could think of nothing except of ue iround to the left of rey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps