Kalmar was rigid in his determination that no stain
should come to his honour in this regard.
With the testimony of each succeeding witness the cloud overhanging
the prisoner grew steadily blacker. The first ray of light came
from an unexpected quarter. It was during the examination of
Mrs. Fitzpatrick that O'Hara got his first opening. It was a master
stroke of strategy on his part that Mrs. Fitzpatrick was made to
appear as a witness for the Crown, for the purpose of establishing
the deplorable and culpable indifference to and neglect of his
family on the part of the prisoner.
Day after day Mrs. Fitzpatrick had appeared in the court, following
the evidence with rising wrath against the Crown, its witnesses,
and all the machinery of prosecution. All unwitting of this surging
tide of indignation in the heart of his witness the Crown Counsel
summoned her to the stand. Mr. Staunton's manner was exceedingly
affable.
"Your name, Madam?" he enquired.
"Me name is it?" replied the witness. "An' don't ye know me name as
well as I do mesilf?"
Mr. Staunton smiled pleasantly. "But the court desires to share
that privilege with me, so perhaps you will be good enough to
inform the court of your name.
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