"Mrs. Larrabee with whom Wood boarded
testified that he had a heavy oaken staff and that he took it with
him when he went out that evening because he had sprained his ankle."
"Did Mr. Wood acknowledge that the staff was his?"
"He did finally. He injured his case by saying, at first, that he
didn't take it with him, but Mrs. Larrabee's testimony knocked that."
"Is that all the testimony against him?" inquired Mary.
"Oh, no," continued Quincy. "Wood made a damaging statement that will
make it go hard with him. When he asked Ellicott for his daughter's
hand, the old man got mad and threatened to kick him out. Then the
judge asked Wood what he said when Ellicott threatened him and the
young fellow incriminated himself by saying that he told Ellicott if
he did that he would not live to do it again."
"Did it appear that he had been kicked out?" inquired Mary.
"No; and Wood denied it as well."
"And you saw his father, Quincy? What did he have to say?"
"He's all broken up, but says that his son is innocent."
"Of course, that's to be expected," said Mary, and then continued, "I
saw Mabel Ellicott yesterday. She's in love with him, sure, and of
course does not think him guilty. She told me, though, that Bob Wood
had said to her that if she were an orphan there would be no
objection to their marriage."
"That would probably go against him, if the prosecution calls her at
the trial, and she testifies to that.
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