in iisdem verbis, sic, and yet again exactly.  Their testimony mortised and tenoned in a way to rejoice a cabinet-maker’s heart.  And at first to the surprise and later to the dismay of Mr. Pepperill, old man Tutt asked not one of them a single question about the murder.  Instead he merely inquired in a casual way where they came from, how they got there, what they did for a living, and whether they had ever made any contradictory statement as to what had occurred, and as his cross-examination of Mr. Habu Kahoots was typical of all the rest it may perhaps be set forth as an example, particularly as Mr. Kahoots spoke English, which the others did not.

“And den,” asserted Mr. Kahoots stolidly, “Kasheed Hassoun, he grab heem by ze troat and break hees neck.”

He was a short, barrel-shaped man with curly ringlets, fat, bulging cheeks, heavy double chin and enormous paunch, and he wore a green worsted waistcoat and his fingers were laden with golden rings.

“Ah!” said Mr. Tutt complaisantly.  “You saw all that exactly as you have described it?”

“Yes, sair!”

“Where were you born?”

“Acre, Syria.”

“How long have you been in the United States?”

“Tirty years.”

“Where do you live?”

“Augusta, Georgia.”

“What’s your business?”

Mr. Kahoots visibly expanded.

“I have street fair and carnival of my own.  I have electric theater, old plantation, Oriental show, snake exhibit and merry-go-round.”

“Well, well!” exclaimed Mr. Tutt.  “You are certainly a capitalist!  I hope you are not financially overextended!”

Mr. Pepperill looked pained, not knowing just how to prevent such jocoseness on the part of his adversary.

“I object,” he muttered feebly.

“Quite properly!” agreed Mr. Tutt.  “Now, Mr. Kahoots, are you a citizen of the United States?”

Mr. Kahoots looked aggrieved.

“Me?  No!  Me no citizen.  I go back sometime Acre and build moving-picture garden and ice-cream palace.”

“I thought so,” commented Mr. Tutt.  “Now what, pray, were you doing in the Washington Street restaurant?”

“Eating kibbah arnabeiah and mamoul.”

“I mean if you live in Augusta how did you happen to be in New York at precisely that time?”

“Eh?”

“How you come in New York?” translated Mr. Tutt, while the jury laughed.

“Just come.”

“But why?”

“Just come.”

“Yes, yes; but you didn’t come on just to be present at the murder, did you?”

Kahoots grinned.

“I just come to walk up and down.”

“Where—­walk up and down?”

“On Washington Street.  I spend the winter.  I do nothing.  I rich man.”

“How long did you stay when you just came on?”

“Tree days.  Then I go back.”

“Why did you go back?”