deposed that deceased had been strangled by means of a red window
cord, and that, from the condition of the body, he would judge
death had taken place some twelve hours more or less before the
opening of the packing case by Braddock. That was at three
o'clock on Thursday afternoon, so in witness's opinion the crime
was committed between two and three on the previous morning.

"But I can't be absolutely certain as to the precise hour," added
witness; "at any rate poor Bolton was strangled after midnight
and before three o'clock."

"That is a wide margin," grumbled the Coroner, jealous of his
brother-practitioner. "Were there any, other wounds on the
body?"

"No. You can see for yourself, if you have inspected the
corpse."

The Coroner, thus reproved, glared, and Widow Anne appeared after
Robinson retired. She stated, with many sobs, that her son had
no enemies and was a good, kind young man. She also related her
dream, but this was flouted by the Coroner, who did not believe
in the occult. However, the narration of her premonition was
listened to with deep interest by those in the court. Widow Anne
concluded her evidence by asking how she was to live now that her
boy Sid was dead. The Coroner professed himself unable to answer
this question, and dismissed her.

Samuel Quass, the landlord of the Sailor's Rest, was next called.
He proved to be a big, burly, red-haired, red-whiskered man, who