They were the last words he ever spoke. He was answered by a blow from
the blackthorn. A contest ensued; which ended in Scatcherd keeping his
word--at any rate, as regarded the worst offender. How the fatal blow
on the temple was struck was never exactly determined; one medical man
said it might have been done in a fight with a heavy-headed stick;
another thought that a stone had been used; a third suggested a
stone-mason's hammer. It seemed, however, to be proved subsequently
that no hammer was taken out, and Scatcherd himself persisted in
declaring that he had taken in his hand no weapon but the stick.
Scatcherd, however, was drunk; and even though he intended to tell the
truth, may have been mistaken. There were, however, the facts that
Thorne was dead; that Scatcherd had sworn to kill him about an hour
previously; and that he had without delay accomplished the threat. He
was arrested and tried with murder, all the distressing circumstances
of the case came out on the trial: he was found guilty of
man-slaughter, and sentenced to be imprisoned for six months. Our
readers will probably think that the punishment was too severe.

Thomas Thorne and the farmer were on the spot soon after Henry Thorne
had fallen. The brother was at first furious for vengeance against his
brother's murderer; but, as the facts came out, as he learnt what had
been the provocation given, what had been the feelings of Scatcherd
when he left the city, determined to punish him who had ruined his
sister, his heart was changed. Those were trying days for him. It
behoved him to do what in him lay to cover his brother's memory from
the obloquy which it deserved; it behoved him also to save, or to
assist to save, from undue punishment the unfortunate man who had shed
his brother's blood; and it behoved him also, at least so he thought,
to look after that poor fallen one whose misfortunes were less merited
than those either of his brother or of hers.