波思克姆比溪谷秘案 The Boscombe Valleymstery（第2页）
Ishookmyhead。“Manymenhavebeenhangedhterevidence，”Iremarked。
“Sotheyhave。Andmanymenhavebeenwrongfullyhanged。”
“Whatistheyoungman’sownaatter?”
“Itis，Iamafraid，notveryengtohissupphthereareowopointsinitwhicharesuggestive。Youwillfindithere，aforyourself。”
HepihisbundleacopyofthelocalHerefordshirepaper，andhavihesheethepoiheparagraphinwhifortunateyoungmanhadgivenhisowofwhathadoccurred。Isettledmyselfdownintheereaverycarefully。Itraninthis>
“Mr。JamesMcCarthy，theonlysonofthedeceased，wasthendgaveevidenceasfollows:‘IhadbeenawayfromhomeforthreedaysatBristol，andhadonlyjustreturhemoflastMonday，the3rd。Myfatherwasabsentfromhomeatthetimeofmyarrival，andIwasihemaidthathehaddriveoRosswithJohnCobb，thegroom。Shortlyaftermyreturhewheelsofhistrapintheyard，and，lookingoutofmyhimgetoutandidlyouthIhichdirehewasgoiookmygunaiionoftheBosbePool，withtheiionofvisitiwarrenwhitheotherside。OnmyilliamCrame-keeper，ashehadstatedinhisevideakeninthinkingthatIwasfollowingmyfather。Ihadhewasinfrontofme。WhenaboutahundredyardsfromthepoolIheardacryof“Cooee!”whichwasausualsigherahenhurriedforward，andfoundhimstandingbythepool。HeappearedtobemuchsurprisedatseeingmeaherroughlywhatIwasdoingthere。Aversationensuedwhichledtohighwordsandalmosttoblows，formyfatherwasamanofaveryviolenttemper。SeeingthathispassionwasbeingungoverhimaowardsHatherleyFarm。Ihadhan150yards，however，whenIheardahideousoutdme，whichcausedmetorunba。Ifoundmyfatherexpiringupontheground，withhisheadterriblyinjured。Idroppedmygunandheldhiminmyarms，buthealmostinstantlyexpired。IkbesidehimforsomemiheoMr。Turner’slodge-keeper，hishousebeioaskforassistance。Isawherwheurned，andIhavenoideahowhecamebyhisinjuries。Heularman，beidfinhismahehad，asfarasIknow，noaemies。Iknownothihematter。
“Theer:Didyourfathermakeaoyoubeforehedied?
“Witness:Hemumbledafewwords，butIlyeallusiontoarat。
“Theer:Whatdidyouuandbythat?
“Witomeahoughtthathewasdelirious。
“Theer:ointuponwhidyourfatherhadthisfinalquarrel?
“Witness:Ishouldprefernottoanswer。
“TheafraidthatImustpressit。
“Witisreallyimpossibleformetotellyou。Iassureyouthatithasnothingtodowiththesadtragedywhichfollowed。
“Theer:Thatisforthecourttodeeednotpointouttoyouthatyourrefusaltoanswerwillprejudiceyoursiderablyinanyfutureprogswhichmayarise。
“Witstillrefuse。
“Theer:Iuhatthecryof‘Cooee’wasaonsigweenyouandyourfather?
“Wit>
“Theer:Howwasit，theereditbeforehesawyou，andbeforeheeveyouhadreturnedfromBristol?
“Withsiderable）：Idonotknow。
“AJuryman:Didyouseenothingwhicharousedyoursuspiyoureturhedfoundyourfatherfatallyinjured?
“Withie。
“Theer:Whatdoyoumean?
“Witness:IwassodisturbedaedasIrushedoutihatIkofofmyfather。YetIhaveavagueimpressionthatasIranforwardsomethinglayupootheleftofme。Itseemedtometobesomethinggreyincolour，aesort，oraplaidperhaps。WhenIrosefrommyfatherIlookedroundforit，butitwasgone。
“‘Doyoumeanthatitdisappearedbeforeyouwentforhelp?’
&wasgone。’
“‘Youotsay>
“‘No，Ihadafeelihingwasthere。’
“‘Howfarfromthebody?’
“‘Adozenyardsorso。’
“‘Andhowfarfromtheedgeofthewood?’
“‘Aboutthesame。’
&wasremoveditwaswhileyouwerewithinadozenyardsofit?’
&withmybacktowardsit。’
“Thiscludedtheexaminationess。”