Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1871-09-28
CONDEMNED by A CLOCK.
BY WILKIE COLLINS.

BY WILKIE COLLINS.
On summer evening, some years ago, a
man was found murdered in a field near
certain town in the West of England. The
name of the field was "Pardon's Piece"
The man was a small carpenter and
builder in the town, who bore an indlier-
cnt character. On the evening in Ques-
ton, a distant relative of his, employed as
farm bailitf by gentleman in the neigh
borhood, happened to be passing a stile
which led from the field into road, and
saw gentleman leaving the field by way
of this sllc rather in hurry. He recog-
nizcd the gentleman Whom he knew by
sight only) as Mr.. Dubourg.
The two passed each other on the road
in opposite directions. After a certain
lapse of time-cstimated as being half an
hour--the farm bailii had occasion to pass
back along the same road. On reaching
the stile he heard an alarm raised, and en-
tered the field to sec what was the mat
ter. lie found several persons running
from the farther side of Pardon's Piece
toward boy who was standing at the
back of cattle-shcd, in remote part of
the inclosure, screaming with terror. At
the boys feet lay, face downward, the dead
body of man, with his head horribly
beaten in. His watch was under him,
hanging out of his pocket by the chain. 1t
had ed-eyidently in consequence of
tie conclusion of its owners fall on tat
half past eight. The body was still warm.
All the other valuables, like the watch,
were left on it. The farm baliff instantly
recognized the man as the carpenter and
builder mentioned above.
At the preliminary inquiry, the stoppage
of the watch at half-past eight was taken
as Offering good circmstantial evidence
that the blow which had killed the man
had been struck at that time.
The next question was-if any one had
been seen near the body at half past eight I?
The farm bailiff declared that he had met
Mr.. Dubourg hastily leaving the field by
the stilc at that very time. Asked if he
had looked at his watch, he owned that
he had not done so. Certain previous cir
cumstonces, which he mentioned as having
impressed themselves on his memory, en-
ab!ed him to feel sure of the truth of this
assertion without having consulted his
watch. He was pressed on this important
point, but he held to his declaration. At
half past eight he had seen Mr.. Dubourg
hurriedly leave the field. At half-past
eight the watch of the murdered man had
topped.
Had any other person been observed in
or near the field at that time
No witness could be discovered who had
seen any body else near the place. Had
the weapon turned up with which the
blow had been struck it had not been
found. Was any one known robbery hav-
ing plainly not been the motive of the
crime to have entertained a grudge against
the murdered man. 1t was no secret that
he associated with doubtful characters,
male and female; but suspicion failed to
point TO any one Of them in particular.
In this state Of things there was no al
tentative but to request Mr. Dubourg-
well known, in and out of the town, as a
young gentleman of independent fortune
bearing an excellent characterize give
some account of himself.
lie Immediately admitted that he had
passed through the field. But, in contra.
dction to the farm bailitI, he declared that
he had looked at his watch at the moment
before he crossed the stile, and that the
time by it was exactly a quarter past
eight Five minutes later-that is to say
ten minutes before the murder had beer
committed, on the evidence of the dead
mans watch-he had paid visit to a lady
living near Pardon's Piece, and had re.
manned with her until his watch, consulted
once more on leaving the lady's house, in.
formed him that it was a quarter to nine.
Here was the defense called an ''alibi.'
1t entirely satisfied Mr.. Dubourg's friends
To satisfy justice also it was necessary tc
call the lady as witness. In the mean
time another purely formal question was
put to Mr.. Dubourg. Did he know any
thing of the murdered man
With some appearance Of confusion, Mr.
Dubourg admitted that he had been in
duced (by frienD to employ the man OF
some work. Further interrogation ex
tracted from him the following statement
Of facts:
That the work had been very badly
done; that an cxorbitant price had beef
charged for it, that the man, on being re
monstrated with, had behaved in grossly
impertinent manner; that an alteration
had taken place between them; that Mr.
Duboure had seized the man by the cola
of his coat, and had turned him out of tn,
house; that he had called the man an in
fernal scoundrel being in passion at TIN
time), and had threatened to "thrash hin
within an inch of his life" Tor words t.
that effect if he ever presumed to COM
near the house again; that he had sincere
ly regretted his own violence the momen
he recovered his selt-possession and lastly
that, on his OATH 1.-THE alteration havin
occurred six weeks ago., he had never spo
ken to the man, or set eyes on the mar
since.
As the matter then stood, these circum
stances were considered as being unfortu
nate circumstances for Mr.. Dubourg-
nothing more. He had his "alibi" to ar
peal to, and his character to appeal to; an
nobody doubted the result
The lady appeared as witness.
Confronted with Mr., Dubourg on tn