Read Ebook: Trial of John Jasper lay precentor of Cloisterham Cathedral in the County of Kent for the murder of Edwin Drood engineer by Dickens Fellowship London England Chesterton G K Gilbert Keith Other Ley J W T James William Thomas Other

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apsea tomb?

WITNESS: Durdles knows the Sapsea tomb.

MR. WALTERS: There is only one body in that tomb at present?

WITNESS: Yes.

MR. WALTERS: Did you tap the Sapsea tomb with your hammer, and did it sound surprising there?

WITNESS: It sounded more solid than usual.

MR. WALTERS: Since then, you have tapped it lately, and it sounds a little more solid?

WITNESS: Yes.

MR. CHESTERTON: This is contrary to an understanding. This is a formal witness, not to be cross-examined.

MR. WALTERS: Very well, I will go on. Did you meet him at another time?

MR. CHESTERTON: This is only formal evidence.

JUDGE: What is the point?

MR. CHESTERTON: You will find before you, my Lord, a document, and you will find there that certain witnesses who are to be cross-examined at length will be free to go beyond certain admitted evidence. The formal witnesses are not to do so.

JUDGE : Yes, I think I take your point, Mr. Chesterman--or Chesterton--whatever it is. The point, I understand, is that you are cross-examining this witness as if he were a principal witness of the trial.

MR. WALTERS: It is not of great importance to me.

JUDGE: One moment: I will see. I think you are justified up to the point to which you have gone, but I should recommend you to terminate it with some rapidity.

MR. WALTERS: I only want to ask one question. You did have a conversation with Mr. Datchery?

WITNESS: Yes.

MR. CHESTERTON: I ask you to say, my Lord, that the Jury must entirely disregard the statement about the tapping.

THE FOREMAN: How are we to dismiss it from our minds, my Lord? It is a very difficult point.

MR. WALTERS: I think I shall leave the Jury to draw their own conclusions. All I want to know from Durdles is, did he have a conversation with Datchery?

WITNESS: Yes.

MR. WALTERS: Thank you. That is all.

WITNESS: Thank you, sir. I'll drink your health on the way home, p'raps twice, and I won't go home till morning.

MR. CROTCH: One moment, please.

WITNESS: Oh, beg pardon, sir, beg pardon.

MR. CROTCH: Now, Durdles, you know all about the destructive qualities of quicklime?

WITNESS: Yes.

MR. CROTCH: Do you say that quicklime will not destroy metals?

WITNESS: No; I don't think quicklime will destroy metals.

MR. CROTCH: You don't think it will?

WITNESS: No, I knows it won't.

JUDGE: I must ask you to address the witness in more respectful terms, such as "Mr." Durdles.

MR. CROTCH: Very well, my Lord.

MR. CROTCH : I understand you were employed round about the Cathedral, and that you know all about the crypt?

WITNESS: Yes, sir.

MR. CROTCH: Now, tell me what was the state of the windows in 1860.

WITNESS: Ay?

MR. CROTCH: I put it to you again. In what state were the windows of the crypt in 1860?

WITNESS: Do you mean clean or dirty?

MR. CROTCH: I put it to you they were in a very broken condition?

WITNESS: Yes, sir; always broken.

MR. CROTCH: As a matter of fact, they were not only broken, weren't they, but partially boarded up?

WITNESS: Well, I can't remember, sir.

MR. CROTCH: Can't remember! You were constantly in the crypt!

WITNESS: Some of 'em.

MR. CROTCH: How many windows are there?

WITNESS: I don't know.

MR. WALTERS: I don't suppose the witness is expected to count windows!

WITNESS: Thank you, sir.

MR. CROTCH: Well, now, Mr. Durdles, I will ask you another question. As a matter of fact, have you not on many occasions chased little boys and others out of the crypt?

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