“That you lifted to let the colt out?”

“Yes.”

“Could the wind have banged the door to?”

“Possibly.”

“Could the latch have fallen into its place?”

“I don’t know.”

“What d’you think?”

“I doubt it.”

In cross-examination the aim of the counsel for the defence was to show that the evidence of the witness was unreliable because he was actuated by personal malevolence against the accused.

“Have you had words with the prisoner on more than one occasion?”

“Yes.”

“It was a word from you that put the police on to him in the first instance?”

“It was not,” with warmth.

“You found a knife you believed to belong to the prisoner in the shed after the fire?”

“Outside the shed.”

“And you took the knife to the police?”

“I did not.”

“Where is the knife now?”

“I don’t know.”

“Who did you give it to?”

“Miss Woodburn.”

The girl was called.  Her evidence was very brief.  Mr. Silver had given her the knife.  She had taken it to the cottage where the prisoner lodged and handed it back to the woman there.

To substantiate the charge that Mr. Silver was actuated by malice, the counsel for the defence called evidence to prove the scene that had taken place between the witness and the accused on the way to the meet.

On this point the prisoner gave further evidence himself.

“You met Mr. Silver later in the day?”

“I did.”

“What happened?”

“He rode at me and struck me.”

“What for?”

“He said he’d show a ——­ convict how to speak to a gentleman; and he’d get me put away.”

“Was anybody present?”

The accused laughed.

“No fear!  He waited till he got me alone.”

“What time was this?”

“About two-thirty.”

“Where?”

“Just outside Prior’s Wood.”

Mr. Silver, recalled by the prosecuting counsel, was re-examined as to the facts alleged by Joses.

“Did you strike the prisoner?”

“I gave him one with the lash of my crop.”

“Under what circumstances?”

The witness explained.

“Did you say the words attributed to you?”

“I did not.”

“Did any words pass between you?”

There was a pause.

“After I struck him, while he was messing about with his knife, he said:  ‘I’ll do time for you!’”

“Did you say anything?”

There was another pause.

“I said:  ‘What!  More?’”

In cross-examination the counsel for the defence asked the young banker what he meant when he said to the prisoner—­“‘What!  More?’”

Silver was silent.

“Were you referring to the fact that the accused had been in trouble?”