anchor: Beresford has just said that I would not have believed Sir James Peel Edgerton to be guilty unless, so to speak, he was caught in the act.
positive: Beresford said that I would never believe in the guilt of Sir James Peel Edgerton unless he had been caught red-handed.
negative: Beresford knew that i would blame Sir James Peel Edgerton even without evidence.