AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Falthorne was excused.
The police who had been called to the scene at the time of Winifred’s death came to the stand and testified at some length to all the circumstances. Grisewood made much of the state of the body, and the fact that Sarah had identified it as that of her mother.
There was nothing for Daniel to do but wait silently and not make more of it than was already there. He did seem as if he were about to press further, but Kitteridge shook his head.
The evidence took until the final adjournment.
‘All right so far,’ Kitteridge said to Daniel as they left the court and went outside, into the summer day. The street was loud with the sound of traffic, both horse-drawn and automotive. They were getting accustomed to the smell of fumes, as their parents had with the smell of horse dung.
Daniel said nothing. He was full of doubts. He had not foreseen them changing the charge, and he felt that he should have.
After a few steps, he spoke. ‘I should have known that Graves wasn’t finished,’ he said bitterly.
‘We all should have,’ Kitteridge admitted. ‘But we have to work with how it is. Getting that information from Falthorne was good. Now what are we going to do to build on it? Grisewood will call the police surgeon first thing tomorrow morning. He’ll give the jury all the most disgusting details about Winifred. For what it’s worth, I don’t think there’s any point in fighting him. We’ve got Miriam. Do you honestly think they’ll take notice of her? She’s got no recognised qualifications.’
‘I know that.’ Daniel already felt himself getting defensive. And the police surgeon, Grisewood, and probably the judge also would give her a far harder time than Kitteridge did. ‘She’ll bring only the evidence she can show them. I know her word won’t serve anything, even though she knows more than all of them put together.’
Kitteridge smiled lopsidedly. ‘Don’t let your temper show, Pitt. Righteous indignation has its place, and this isn’t it. Listen to me – I know what I’m talking about.’
Daniel did not argue. They had been over this before. His indignation wouldn’t help at all. But the jury’s might. He wanted the jury to feel for Ebony, and Sarah. And for Arthur, too, if it helped. ‘We’ve got to prepare for tomorrow,’ he said instead. ‘Feel like an early supper at the Boar’s Head, before we begin in earnest?’
‘Good idea,’ Kitteridge agreed immediately.
The following morning, Grisewood called the police surgeon, as expected. He was a sympathetic figure and gave the facts as he had observed them, precisely as Grisewood asked. He described the disfiguring in detail, but without ascribing any emotion.
When it was Daniel’s turn to question him, he rose to his feet, determined to treat the man with a respe
ct the jury would see.
‘Good morning, Dr French. You have given us a very detailed, yet completely understandable picture of what must have happened to the body of Winifred Graves. May I ask you one or two further questions?’
‘Of course,’ French replied. He was at least forty years older than Daniel, and his lean, silver-haired look was a distinguished one that the jury would not forget. ‘What do you wish to know?’
‘You believed it was the body of Ebony Graves, because you were told it was. Is that correct?’
‘Yes, I was informed that the daughter, Miss Sarah Graves, had identified it as her mother. The butler also confirmed that, and the lady’s maid identified the clothes.’
‘There was nothing of the body itself that confirmed that to you?’
‘I was not acquainted with Mrs Graves, or Miss Cumberford, as I believe she is more correctly known.’
‘Actually, the woman you examined was Mrs Winifred Graves. Ebony Cumberford is alive and well.’
The moment he had said it, Daniel regretted it. He did not want to antagonise the doctor.
French stiffened. ‘I was told who she was, and had no reason to question it. It was the body of a woman of perhaps sixty or so, and she had died from a severe blow to the back of the head. The damage to her face, neck, and shoulders was inflicted after death. That is all I testify to.’
‘No one doubts you, Dr French. Can you tell me what caused the burning? More than extreme heat, of course.’
Several expressions crossed French’s face, finally a degree of interest. ‘No. I was asked to ascertain whether it was before or after death, and whether it could be accidental. It could not.’
‘Does flesh burn easily?’
‘It blisters easily. It does not ignite. Anyone who has burned themselves is painfully aware of that. If you are asking me how the burning happened, I do not know. I was only required to say that it was not caused by falling into the fire, or by coming in contact with burning logs, or a domestic iron for clothes.’
‘Or some other, more deliberate act?’
‘If you say so, sir. I cannot see how that serves your client.’
