“What is the young man’s own account of the matter?”


“It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, though there

are one or two points in it which are suggestive. You will find it here, and

may read it for yourself.”


He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire paper, and

having turned down the sheet he pointed out the paragraph in which the

unfortunate young man had given his own statement of what had occurred. I

settled myself down in the corner of the carriage and read it very carefully.

It ran in this way:


“Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called and

gave evidence as follows: ‘I had been away from home for three days at

Bristol, and had only just returned upon the morning of last Monday, the 3rd.

My father was absent from home at the time of my arrival, and I was informed by

the maid that he had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly

after my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, looking out of

my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out of the yard, though I was not

aware in which direction he was going. I then took my gun and strolled out in

the direction of the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit

warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William Crowder, the

game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but he is mistaken in thinking

that I was following my father. I had no idea that he was in front of me. When

about a hundred yards from the pool I heard a cry of “Cooee!” which

was a usual signal between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and

found him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at seeing me

and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A conversation ensued which

led to high words and almost to blows, for my father was a man of a very

violent temper. Seeing that his passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him