The prisoner arrested in consequence discovery, room, by Detective Inspector Japp -- most brilliant officer -- identical phial of strychnine which sold village chemist's supposed Mr Inglethorp day murder It jury to decide whether or not these damning facts constituted an overwhelming proof prisoner's guilt

And, subtly implying that jury which so decide, was quite unthinkable, Mr Philips sat down and wiped his forehead

The first witnesses prosecution were mostly those who called inquest, the medical evidence being again taken first

Sir Ernest Heavywether, who was famous all over England unscrupulous manner he bullied witnesses, only asked two questions

"I take it, Dr Bauerstein, that strychnine, as drug, acts quickly ? ''

"Yes ''

" unable to account delay in ? ''

"Yes ''

" ''

Mr Mace identified the phial handed him by Counsel sold by him to " Mr Inglethorp '' Pressed, he admitted that he only knew Mr Inglethorp by sight He had never spoken to him The witness was not cross-examined

Alfred Inglethorp was called, and denied having purchased the poison He also denied having quarrelled wife Various witnesses testified accuracy statements

The gardeners' evidence, witnessing will was taken, and then Dorcas was called

Dorcas, faithful to her "young gentlemen,'' denied strenuously John's voice she heard, and resolutely declared, teeth of everything, Mr Inglethorp who boudoir with her mistress rather wistful smile passed across the face prisoner dock only too well how useless her gallant defiance was, since not the object defence to deny this point Mrs Cavendish, , called upon evidence against her husband

After various questions on other matters, Mr Philips asked:

" month of June last, remember parcel arriving Lawrence Cavendish from Parkson's ? ''

Dorcas shook her head

"I don't remember, sir It may , but Mr Lawrence was away from home part of June ''

" event of parcel arriving for him whilst away, what with it ? ''

"It would either be put room or sent on after him ''

" ? ''

"No, sir, leave it hall table It Miss Howard attend to anything like that ''

Evelyn Howard was called and, after being examined on other points, was questioned parcel

"Don't remember Lots of parcels come Can't remember one special one ''

" know sent after Mr Lawrence Cavendish to Wales, or whether put room ? ''

"Don't think sent after him remembered it ''

"Supposing parcel arrived addressed to Mr Lawrence Cavendish, and afterwards it disappeared, should you remark its absence ? ''

"No, don't think so think some one had taken charge of it ''

"I believe, Miss Howard, you who found this sheet of brown paper ? '' He held up the same dusty piece which Poirot and I had examined morning-room at Styles

"Yes, ''

"How did you come to look ? ''

"The Belgian detective who was employed case asked me to search ''

"Where did you eventually discover it ? ''

" top of -- of -- wardrobe ''

"On top prisoner's wardrobe ? ''

"I -- I believe so ''

"Did you not find it yourself ? ''

"Yes ''

"Then know where you found it ? ''

"Yes, prisoner's wardrobe ''

" better ''

An assistant from Parkson's, Theatrical Costumiers, testified that on June 29th, they had supplied black beard to Mr L Cavendish, as requested ordered by letter, and postal order was enclosed No, they kept the letter All transactions were entered in their books They had sent the beard, as directed, to "L Cavendish, Esq , Styles Court ''

Sir Ernest Heavywether rose ponderously

"Where letter written from ? ''

"From Styles Court ''

"The same address you sent the parcel ? ''

"Yes ''

" letter came from there ? ''

"Yes ''

Like beast of prey, Heavywether fell upon him:

"How ? ''

"I -- I don't understand ''

"How that letter came from Styles ? Did you notice the postmark ? ''

"No -- but -- ''

"Ah, notice the postmark ! And yet you affirm so confidently came from Styles It might, , any postmark ? ''

"Y -- es ''

" , the letter, though written on stamped notepaper, posted from anywhere ? From Wales, for instance ? ''

The witness admitted that such the case, and Sir Ernest signified that satisfied

Elizabeth Wells, second housemaid at Styles, stated that after she had gone to bed she remembered that she had bolted the front door, instead of leaving it latch as Mr Inglethorp had requested She had accordingly gone downstairs again to rectify her error Hearing slight noise West wing, she had peeped along the passage, and had seen Mr John Cavendish knocking at Mrs Inglethorp's door

Sir Ernest Heavywether made short work of her, and under his unmerciful bullying she contradicted herself hopelessly, and Sir Ernest sat down again with satisfied smile face

evidence of Annie, candle grease floor, and seeing the prisoner coffee boudoir, the proceedings were adjourned until the following day

went home, Mary Cavendish spoke bitterly against the prosecuting counsel

"That hateful man ! What net he has drawn around my poor John ! How he twisted every little fact until it seem what it wasn't ! ''

"Well,'' consolingly, " the other way about to-morrow ''

"Yes,'' she said meditatively; then suddenly dropped her voice " Mr Hastings, think -- surely it Lawrence -- Oh, no, that ! ''

But I myself was puzzled, and alone with Poirot I asked him what he thought Sir Ernest was driving at

"Ah ! '' said Poirot appreciatively " clever man, that Sir Ernest ''

" he believes Lawrence guilty ? ''

" he believes or cares anything ! No, what trying for is to create such confusion minds jury divided in their opinion as brother did it endeavouring out quite evidence against Lawrence as against John -- and not at all sure that succeed ''

Detective-inspector Japp first witness called trial was reopened, and gave his evidence succinctly and briefly After relating the earlier events, he proceeded:

"Acting on information received, Superintendent Summerhaye and myself searched the prisoner's room, during his temporary absence house chest of drawers, hidden beneath some underclothing, : first, pair of gold-rimmed pince-nez similar worn Inglethorp'' -- these were exhibited -- "secondly, this phial ''

The phial already recognized chemist's assistant, tiny bottle of blue glass, containing few grains of white crystalline powder, and labelled: "Strychnine Hydrochloride POISON ''

fresh piece of evidence discovered detectives police court proceedings was long, almost new piece of blotting-paper It found in Mrs Inglethorp's cheque book, and on being reversed at mirror, showed clearly the words: " . erything I die possessed I leave to my beloved husband Alfred Ing . '' This placed beyond question the fact destroyed will in favour deceased lady's husband Japp then produced the charred fragment of paper recovered grate, and this, discovery beard attic, completed his evidence

But Sir Ernest's cross-examination was yet

"What day searched the prisoner's room ? ''

"Tuesday, the 24th of July ''

"Exactly week tragedy ? ''

"Yes ''

"You found these two objects, you say, chest of drawers drawer unlocked ? ''

"Yes ''

"Does it not strike you as unlikely that man who had committed crime should keep the evidence of it in an unlocked drawer for anyone ? ''

" stowed them there in hurry ''

"But just said whole week crime had ample time to remove them and destroy them ''

"Perhaps ''

" no perhaps Would he, or would he not plenty to remove and destroy them ? ''

"Yes ''

" pile of underclothes under which the things were hidden heavy or light ? ''

"Heavyish ''

"In other words, winter underclothing Obviously, the prisoner likely drawer ? ''

"Perhaps not ''

"Kindly answer my question Would the prisoner, hottest week of hot summer, be likely to drawer containing winter underclothing Yes, or no ? ''

"No ''