:49:02
Not guilty.
:49:05
Members of the jury,
:49:07
the prisoner stands indicted for that he,
on the 14th day of October,
:49:12
murdered Emily Jane French.
:49:15
To this indictment
he has pleaded not guilty.
:49:19
And it is your charge to say,
having heard the evidence,
:49:22
whether he be guilty or not.
:49:29
Members of the jury,
by the oath which you have just taken,
:49:33
you have sworn
to try this case on the evidence.
:49:36
You must shut out
from your minds everything
:49:39
except what will take place in this court.
:49:42
You may proceed
for the prosecution, Mr Myers.
:49:46
May it please you, my lord.
Members of the jury,
:49:49
I appear in this case with my learned
friend, Mr Barton, for the prosecution.
:49:54
And my learned friends
Sir Wilfrid Robarts and Mr Brogan-Moore
:49:58
appear for the defence.
:50:04
I trust we are not to be deprived
:50:06
of the learned and stimulating
presence of Sir Wilfrid?
:50:09
My lord, may I assure my learned friend
that Sir Wilfrid is in the Old Bailey.
:50:13
He's slightly incapacitated,
but will be in his seat presently.
:50:17
My lord, may I express my regret that
Sir Wilfrid is even slightly incapacitated.
:50:22
You may, Mr Myers. You may also
proceed with the case for the prosecution.
:50:27
Thank you, my lord.
:50:29
The facts in this case are simple
and, to a point, not in dispute.
:50:33
You will hear how the prisoner made
the acquaintance of Mrs Emily French,
:50:37
a woman of 56.
:50:39
How he was treated by her
with kindness and even affection.
:50:43
On the night of October 14 last,
:50:46
between 9.30 and 10,
Mrs French was murdered.
:50:51
Medical testimony
will be introduced to prove
:50:53
that death was caused by a blow
from a blunt and heavy instrument,
:50:57
and it is the case for the prosecution
:50:59
that the blow was dealt
by the prisoner, Leonard Vole.