Why you said if you had not had the errand you would have gone on Saturday night; and if you had not been tired you would have gone on Sunday morning; and if you had not heard tell your mother was poorly you would have gone on Sunday afternoon; why did you not go now? – I did not hear till I came home.
Were you tired again? – I heard that he was lost.
Why did you not then go, either to his friends or to the police? – I heard of a good many lating him (seeking him).
Why did you not go then? – I heard that his wife had heard that he was lost.
Why did you not go and tell some of the authorities? (No answer).
Don’t hurry yourself. Take plenty of time to consider – I didn’t wish to have any concern in it.
Very well. Then you never did tell? – Yes, I told my wife that night.
But when did you tell the friends of Simpson, or any one connected with the administration of justice? – Mr Robinson came to me.
When did you give any information? Was it the 26th of December? – No, the 11th.
On the 11th, was it? You had not heard there had been any reward offered then? – No.
No, I should think not. You don’t know anything about the reward now? – I have never seen the bill.
I don’t ask that. You have not heard? – Yes, I have heard.
Oh, you have, have your? – (Laughter).
His LORDSHIP – When did you hear of the reward? Answer that question? – I can’t exactly tell. Not till after I told.
Mr MONK – No, of course not. How long after?
His LORDSHIP – Told it to whom? – I told it to Mr Robinson.
Mr MONK – How long before you heard of the reward? – I can’t tell.
Was it a month after? – It would not be that time.
Was it a fortnight? – (No answer).
Was it a week? – Perhaps a week or nine days.
About a week? – As nearly as I can tell.
Now, we’ll go back to the 15th of November.
Witness then, at counsel’s direction, repeated what is said to have taken place in the barn – in exactly the same words, in the same order, and in the same manner as before; with the variation of hardly a word, an emphasis or even a comma.
Cross-examination continued – There was nobody in the barn with us. Saw Graham nowhere else that night. Never said I did. Did not see him with James Slack or Thomas Bell. I cannot tell where they were working that night. They told me they had been amongst the stacks that afternoon. We did not see them. Never told Hamilton Hogarth about the matter. Did not see Graham try to get up a ladder and fall that afternoon – nor ever said so, never. Did not tell William Hogarth I left William Graham and Slack together in the yard. A day or two afterwards, Hamilton Hogarth was not thrashing with me in the town – nor soon after; about a fortnight after. Had no conversation with him about Simpson’s death. Did not say, “the police were sitting in my house and wanted me to say things I never heard”. Nothing of the kind ever passed between me and Hogarth; never. I told James Slack what William Graham told me – what I told you (a laugh). I told him something about a hare; that the superintendent was very hard on me, soon after this happened, about not telling what I knew. I said I did not wish to lose my work. I wished somebody else to bring it out. It was about Graham getting a hare for somebody.. . I was born beside Ainstable. Don’t recollect my mistress talking about the game when Hogarth was present. Never said she did. I continued working at Mr Goldings.