lord and gentlemen," said Mr. Bakewell, "this is no common case,
and the prisoner is no ordinary man. Although he came to Brunford as a
poor lad, he soon rose to a distinguished position. So much ability
did he show, and such was his influence in the town of his adoption,
that he was at length invited to stand for Parliament in the interests
of the working classes of the town. I would not mention this but for
the fact that it bears upon the case we are now considering. It was
during this contest that the prisoner accused the murdered man of
acting against his, the prisoner's, interests, and of doing his best to
ruin him. I shall also bring evidence to show that during this part of
his history he repeatedly swore to be revenged on the deceased. By and
by he was elected as Member of Parliament for Brunford, and immediately
after that election, as I shall prove to you, a quarrel took place
between him and the murdered man, during which the prisoner struck him
a murderous blow, and was only kept back from a renewal of the attack
by those who were standing round."

He then went on to describe the scenes immediately associated with the
murder, and told in minutest detail the happenings which we have
recorded in these pages.

As he went from point to point, all present could see, as if in the eye
of imagination, link fastened to link, and every one was riveted with
care and precision. The whole chain of evidence seemed perfect. Even
Paul himself, as he listened, could not help feeling that, as far as
circumstantial evidence was concerned, no stronger case could be
brought to prove a man's guilt. Indeed, had a vote been taken at that
moment, not only among the jury, but among all present, there would
have been a general admission that Paul was guilty of the murder of
Edward Wilson.

"It remains now, my lord and gentlemen, for me to call witnesses to
prove the facts which I have laid before you. And it is for you,
gentlemen, to judge whether those facts are not sufficient to pronounce
the verdict of guilty upon the prisoner who now stands before you."

There was a rustle in the court as he sat down. It seemed as though
everyone wanted to find relief from the tense excitement which had been
created by his words. The judge shuffled in his chair and looked at
his notes. The barristers who sat round nodded to each other and
seemed to say that undoubtedly Bakewell had made a very fine speech.
Many eyes were turned to