I was next shown the keys, club, and file
taken from Singleton's mattress. "You have identified these objects
as having been found concealed in the prisoner's mattress. Do any
of these keys fit the captain's cabin?"
"No."
"Who saw the prisoner during the days he was locked in his cabin?"
"I saw him occasionally. The cook saw him when he carried him his meals."
"Did you ever tell the prisoner where the axe was kept?"
"No."
"Did the members of the crew know?"
"I believe so. Yes."
"Was the fact that Burns carried the key to the captain's cabin a
matter of general knowledge?"
"No. The crew knew that Burns and I carried the keys; they did not
know which one each carried, unless--"
"Go on, please."
"If any one had seen Burns take Mrs. Johns forward and show her the
axe, he would have known."
"Who were on deck at that time?"
"All the crew were on deck, the forecastle being closed. In the
crow's-nest was McNamara; Jones was at the wheel."
"From the crow's-nest could the lookout have seen Burns and Mrs.
Johns going forward?"
"No. The two houses were connected by an awning."
"What could the helmsman see?"
"Nothing forward of the after house."
The prosecution closed its case with me. The defense, having
virtually conducted its case by cross-examination of the witnesses
already called, contented itself with producing a few character
witnesses, and "rested.
Pages:
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196