Year: 1872

On Summer evening, some years
ago, man was found murdered in a
field near a 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 indif-
ferent character. On the evening in
question distant relative Of his, EN-
ployed as a farm bailitf by gentleman
in the neighborhood, happened to be
passing on a stile which led from a
field into road, and saw gentleman
leaving the field by the stile rather in
hurry. he recognized 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 ftime-estimated as be
ing half an hour-the farm bailiff had
occasion to pass along the same road.
On reaching the stile, he heard an
alarm raised, and entered the field to
see what was the matter. He found
sc rerai persons running from the furth.
er side of Pardon's Piece toward a boy
who was standing in the back of a cat
tie shed, in remote part of the enclo.
sure, screaming with terror. AT the
boys feet lay, face downward, the dead
body Of a man, with his head horribly
beaten in. His watch was under him
hanging out of his pocket by the chain
1t had stopped-evidently in cOnse'
quencG OF the conclusion of the owners
fall on it-at half.past eight. The body
was still warm. All the other valua
bles like the watch were left on it. The
farm bailiff instantly recognized the
man as a carpenter and builder men
toned above.


At the preliminary inquiry, the stop
page of the watch at halfpast eight
was taken as offering good circumstan
tial 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 halfpas
eight.


The farm bailiff declared that he hat
met Mr. Dubourg hastily leaving the
field by the stile at that very time
When asked if he had looked at hi,
watch, he replied that he had not
Certain previous circumstances, which
he mentioned as having impressed
themselves on his memory, enabled
him to feel sure of the truth of this as
sertion without having consulted hi
watch. He was pressed on this point
but he held to his declaration. At half
past eight he had seen Mr.. Dubourl
hurriedly leave the field. AT half. pas
eight the watch of the murdered mar
had stopped.


Had any other person been observed
In or near the field at that time?


No witness could be discovered wht
had seen any body else near the place
Had the weapon turned up with whicl
the blow had been struck? 1t had no
been found. Was any one known (rob
berry having plainly not been the mo
tive of the crime) to have entertained
grudge against the murdered man? l
was no secret that he associated wit
doubtful characters, male and female
but suspicion failed to point to any on
of them in particular.


In this state of things there was n
alternative but to request Mr.. Dubour
well known, in and out of the town
as a young gentleman of indepcnden
fortune, bearing an excellent characte
to give some account of himself


He Immediately admitted that h
had passed through the field. But, i
contradiction to the farm hailiff, he dt
clared that he had looked at his waite
the moment before he had crossed tn
stile; and that the time by it was el
actly quarter past eight. Five minute
later-that is to say ten minutes befor
the murder had been commi tied, on til
evidence of the dead mans watch-h


had paid visit to lady living nei


Pardon's Piece, and had remained wit


her until his watch, consulted one
more on leaving the lady's house, il
, formed him that it was quarter
nine.


Here was the defense called an alb
/! 1t entirely satisfied Mr.. Dubourg
friends.


To satisfy justice it was necessary


call the lady as a witness. In the meal
4 time another purely formal questiC
was put to Mr.. DubOurg. Did he knO