I told him to get his revolver
and call the captain. He went into the forward house and got his
revolver, but he did not call the captain. We went below and
stumbled over the captain's body."
"What was the mate's condition?"
"When we found the body?"
"His general condition."
"He was intoxicated. He collapsed on the steps when we found the
captain. We both almost collapsed."
"What was his mental condition?"
"If you mean, was he frightened, we both were."
"Was he pale?"
"I did not notice then. He was pale and looked ill later, when the
crew had gathered."
"About this key: was it ever found? The key to the storeroom?"
"Yes."
"When?"
"That same morning."
"Where? And by whom?"
"Miss Lee found it on the floor in Mr. Turner's room."
The prosecution was totally unprepared for this reply, and
proceedings were delayed for a moment while the attorneys consulted.
On the resumption of my examination, they made a desperate attempt
to impeach my character as a witness, trying to show that I had
sailed under false pretenses; that I was so feared in the after
house that the women refused to allow me below, or to administer
to Mr. Turner the remedies I prepared; and, finally, that I had
surrendered myself to the crew as a suspect, of my own accord.
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