A witness had sworn that he saw me turn into
the road to my own residence, at such a distance behind George Conway
that I could not have rejoined him before he had passed the fatal spot.
The witness was mistaken. There was time. _By riding across the angle
through the thicket, I could easily have rejoined him_!
"'And now, gentlemen,' I said, 'I have done. I have left you no ground
to charge me with suborning testimony--with having the evidence of my
crime stolen--with plotting in darkness, to hide my crime and blind
your eyes in determining my guilt or innocence. That knife was mine, I
repeat. It was possible for me to rejoin Mr. Conway, and do him to
death by a blow with it. Now, retire, gentlemen! Bring in your verdict!
Thank God! no taint of real dishonor will rest upon a Davenant, and I
can appear before my Maker as I stand here to-day--innocent!'
"Ten minutes afterward the jury had retired, with every mark of
agitation upon their faces. The great concourse of spectators seemed
moved almost beyond control.
"Suddenly the crowd opened, I saw my wife hastening through the space
thus made--a living wall on each side--and in an instant she had thrown
herself into my arms, with a low cry which brought tears to the
roughest faces of the auditory. I placed my arm around her,
remonstrated with her for this ill-advised proceeding, and was trying
to soothe her, when she hastily gave me a letter.
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