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Witness: 'It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was 
delirious.' 

The Coroner: 'What was the point upon which you and your father 
had this final quarrel?' 

Witness: 'I should prefer not to answer.' 

The Coroner: T am afraid that I must press it.' 

Witness: 'It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can assure 
you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which followed.' 

The Coroner: 'That is for the court to decide. I need not point out 
to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case consider- 
ably in any future proceedings which may arise.' 

Witness: T must still refuse.' 

The Coroner: T understand that the cry of "Cooee" was a common 
signal between you and your father?' 
Witness: 'It was.' 

The Coroner: 'How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw 
you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol?' 

Witness (with considerable confusion): T do not know.' 

A Juryman: 'Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions 
when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father fatally 
injured?' 

Witness: 'Nothing definite.' 

The Coroner: 'What do you mean?' 

Witness: T was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into the 
open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet I have 
a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay upon the ground 
to the left of me. It seemed to me to be something grey in colour, a coat 
of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. When I rose from my father I looked 
round for it, but it was gone.' 

'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' 

'Yes, it was gone.' 

'You cannot say what it was?' 

'No, I had a feeling something was there.' 

'How far from the body?' 

'A dozen yards or so.' 

And how far from the edge of the wood?' 

About the same.' 

'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen 
yards of it?' 

'Yes, but with my back towards it.' 

This concluded the examination of the witness. 

"I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner in his concluding 
remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. He calls attention, and with 



ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY