Jassy Page #8

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shown any great affection.

A man who was responsible

for the death of her father.

A man by whose death she

stood to gain a great fortune.

I leave it you to imagine whether

she wished him alive or dead.

However that may be and you would

form your own opinions from the evidence.

The fact remains that chance

delivered into her hand a weapon

in the person of the accused Wicks.

And I suggest that all the evidence shows

that the accused Helmar deliberately

used the girl Wicks.

Just as other murderers

have used the knife

or a firearm to bring about

the death of her husband.

One more thing

I have told you that the accused

Wicks is incapable of speech.

Nobody regret this more than

I if only she could speak.

What a tale she could tell.

Now gentlemen of the jury.

I shall place the evidence before you.

How often did you see your

master during his illness?

Not once, Sir.

You mean you didn't see him at all?

No, Sir - Why not?

Because I had my strict orders that no

servants was to enter Mr Helmar's room, Sir.

And what about the girl?

Lindy.

Oh the loony, she was in

and out all the time, Sir.

And who gave orders to the,

loony, as you call her?

None was allowed to tell her

anything except Miss Woodroofe.

Mrs Helmar that is

I see.

And did you care to understand the

order she got from the accused Helmar?

Oh yes, Sir and that was the queer part.

She seemed to understand every

word that Mrs Helmar said to her.

There was nothing Mrs Helmar

couldn't teach her to do.

There was nothing Mrs Helmar

couldn't teach her to do.

Thank you.

As footman it would naturally

be part of your duties

to carry the meals to Mr Helmar's room?

In any other house, yes, Sir.

But not in this house.

I see.

Now would you tell the court

how Mr Helmar's meals were

prepared and served?

Miss Woodroofe prepared

every meal herself, Sir.

It was taken up to him either

by her or by the loony.

What about drinks?

He had no drink, Sir, he had milk

I did not quite catch that, Sir Edward.

The witness said he had no drink My Lord.

He had milk

I see a nice distinction.

I think we're dealing with an

expert witness, My Lord.

Now Mr Barton I want you to carry

your mind back to the first occasion

when you listened at Mr Helmar's

bedroom door

I wasn't listening.

I beg you pardon.

The first occasion when you happen

to be in the passage

and happened to overhear some remarks.

You say you heard Mr Helmar say.

You're trying to poison me.

That's right.

Do you happen to remember what

Mr Helmar had for dinner that day?

I do, as it happens, fish.

A whole fish?

No part of the fish, a big one.

And what happened to the

rest of this big fish?

Was it eaten in the kitchen?

- No, throw away.

- Throw it away?

Why? She didn't fancy it.

There wasn't one of us who would care to

eat what Mrs Helmar cooked for Mr Helmar.

Did you see the accused Helmar

on the day Mr Helmar died?

Yes.

Where - At my home.

She came to see my wife.

- How far is your house from Moderlaine?

- Two miles.

Two miles.

Now would you tell the

jury in your own words.

What happened at that interview?

We suddenly noticed that Mrs Helmar

was looking very strange.

She stared at me in a very odd manner,

and then she said, he's dead.

I think my wife said"who's dead"

and Mrs Helmar replied "Nick".

He's dead.

And immediately after this I

believe that you and Mrs Fennell

accompanied the accused

back to Moderlaine?-Yes.

On the way, did you ask the

accused for any explanation

of the extraordinary scene

you just described?

Yes I did I reminded her

that five minutes earlier, she had told us

that Mr Helmar was very much better.

And asked her why she was

now so certain that he was dead.

And what did she say?

She said I saw him die.

I saw him die.

Thank you Mr Fennell.

You've known the accused

Helmar for a long time?

Yes, she used to work for my mother.

Would you call yourself

a good friend of hers?

Well, friend, yes.

- And you wanted to help her all you can.

- Yes, naturally.

Is that what you came here, to tell

us she had these visions before?

I came because I know she had.

To my certain knowledge.

You're referring, I take it, to the time

she came to Green Farm and told you

that her father had been killed.

Yes.

And you really believe that was a vision?

Yes.

- Can you be certain it was?

- Absolutely certain.

How do you know that the

accused was not at Moderlaine

with the men when her father was killed?

And came on to Green farm afterwards?

- She couldn't have done.

- Why not?

Because of the time.

He was killed while the clock

was striking - Just a moment.

He was killed while the clock was striking.

- Which clock?

- The one at Moderlaine.

But supposing the clock at

Moderlaine had been 10 minute fast.

And the one at Green farm

had been 10 minutes slow

then she could have been in both places

while the clock was striking, couldn't she?

- I suppose so.

- Thank you, Mr Hatton, that would be all.

Members of the jury are

you agreed upon your verdict?

We are.

Do you find the prisoner Belinda

Wicks guilty or not guilty of murder?

Guilty.

Do you find the prisoner Jacinth

Helmar guilty or not guilty of murder?

Guilty.

You find both prisoners guilty of murder?

And that is the verdict of you all?

That is the verdict of us all.

Prisoners of the bar you

severally stand convicted of murder.

Have you or either of you anything to say

why the court should not give you

judgement of death according to the law?

Jacinth Helmar?

My Lord I am NOT guilty but

I ask no mercy for myself.

I only beg you to remember

that this girl Belinda Wicks

should not be held

responsible for her action.

Let the whole fault rest with me

because wrongly believing her

capable of looking after my husband.

I left him in her care.

Belinda Wicks knock your head

if you understand me?

Have you anything to why the court

should not give you judgement of

death according to the law?

Do you wish me to repeat my question?

No.

Not her, please.

Silence.

I believe something like a miracle has

averted a gross miscarriage of justice.

I beg that Your Lordship will allow

this prisoner to go into the witness box.

What have you to say Sir Edward?

My Lord, the trial is over.

Both prisoners have been found guilty.

We are here above all to

see that justice be done.

I agree with my learned friend

the accused must be heard

I direct that she go into the

box and be heard on oath.

Take the book in your right hand.

Repeat after me.

I swear by Almighty God.

I swear - Speak up

I swear by Almighty God.

I swear by Almighty God.

The evidence I give the court.

The evidence I give the court

shall be the truth

shall be the truth

the whole truth

the whole truth

and nothing but the truth

and nothing but the truth

so help me God

so help me God.

And when did the idea administering

this poison first occur to you?

When I got the brandy, very

strong, hide the taste of poison

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