A searching cross-examination showed her not to be a very trustworthy
person, but on this particular point it was impossible to shake her
story, because there was no standing ground from which it could be
attacked. Then followed some expert evidence whereby, amongst other
things, the Crown proved to the jury the fearfully contagious nature of
puerperal fever, which closed the case for the prosecution. After this
my counsel, reserving his address, called the only testimony I was in
a position to produce, that of several witnesses to character and to
medical capacity.

When the last of these gentlemen, none of whom were cross-examined,
stood down, my counsel addressed the Court, pointing out that my mouth
being closed by the law of the land--for this trial took place before
the passing of the Criminal Evidence Act--I was unable to go into the
box and give on oath my version of what had really happened in this
matter. Nor could I produce any witnesses to disprove the story which
had been told against me, because, unhappily, no third person was
present at the crucial moments. Now, this story rested entirely on the
evidence of Sir John Bell and the nurse, and if it was true I must be
mad as well as bad, since a doctor of my ability would well know that
under the circumstances he would very probably carry contagion, with the
result that a promising professional career might be ruined. Moreover,
had he determined to risk it, he would have taken extra precautions in
the sick-room to which he was called, and this it was proved I had not
done. Now the statement made by me before the magistrates had been put
in evidence, and in it I said that the tale was an absolute invention
on the part of Sir John Bell, and that when I went to see Lady Colford
I had no knowledge whatsoever that my wife was suffering from an
infectious ailment. This, he submitted, was the true version of the
story, and he confidently asked the jury not to blast the career of