had been in the service of the deceased for the last four years, and
before in that of his sister-in-law, Mr. Samuel's mother. She had
herself closed the passage window at seven o'clock in the evening, as
usual. She had several times previously found it partly open in the
morning, after having thus shut it over-night; but never before, Mr.
Ward's bed unslept in. Her last interview with Mr. Axworthy was then
narrated, with his words--an imprecation against rifle practice, as
an excuse for idle young rascals to be always out of the way. Then
followed her communication to the prisoner at half-past nine, when
she saw him go into the parlour, in his volunteer uniform, rifle in
hand, heard him turn the lock of the sitting-room door, and then
herself retired to bed.

Cross-examination did not do much with her, only showing that, when
she brought in the supper, one window had been open, and the blinds,
common calico ones, drawn down, thus rendering it possible for a
person to lurk unseen in the court, and enter by the window. Her
master had assigned no reason for sending for Mr. Ward. She did not
know whether Mr. Axworthy had any memorandum-book; she had seen none
on the table, nor found any when she undressed the body, though his
purse, watch, and seals were on his person.

Mr. Rankin's medical evidence came next, both as to the cause of
death, the probable instrument, and the nature of the stains on the
desk and rifle.

When cross-examined, he declared that he had looked at the volunteer
uniform without finding any mark of blood, but from the nature of the
injury it was not likely that there would be any. He had attended
Mr. Axworthy for several years, and had been visiting him