“Is the defense ready?”

“Your honor, the defense is ready!”

Edith was wondering of what she was supposed to be guilty, but rather enjoyed it, once she had recovered from her surprise at being a part of the show.

“What is the charge against the prisoner?”

The prosecuting attorney presented the case with an air of great importance.

“On the nineteenth day of September, honorable judge and gentlemen of the jury, the defendant, as we shall prove in this court, assaulted A. Fly, with intent to kill, and upon the same date, within a few hours of the first dastardly attempt, took the life of S. Keeter. The prosecution proposes to show that the attack was premeditated and executed with deadly effect. The remains were viewed by several witnesses for the prosecution, and the act itself had two eye-witnesses.”

A witness was called to the stand. A little delay ensued before this witness was sworn according to custom, and two officials left the room to bring in immediately the unmistakable bulk of Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary, upon which the witness pledged herself to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

“Your name is Miss Constant Listener?”

“Yes, sir.”

“What did you hear at four o’clock in the afternoon of September eighteenth?”

“I heard a terrible shriek from the hall outside my door.”

“Describe your movements.”

“I rose, went into the hall, saw the remains of the defunct S. Keeter, and the prisoner with blood upon her hand!”

“Did she say anything?”

“‘I’ve killed him!’ she said, gloating in her crime.”

“That is all.”

 Prev. P 41/129 next