Wyatt Flashcards
[52]
MYERS. (Resignedly.) I withdraw the question. Thank you, Inspector.
(The INSPECTOR stands down and exits. The POLICEMAN closes the door behind him.)
Doctor Wyatt.
(Rise and enter the box. The USHER rises, hands a Bible and holds up the oath card.)
I swear by Almighty God that the evidence that I shall give shall be the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.
MYERS. You are Doctor Wyatt?
Yes.
MYERS. You are a police surgeon attached to the Hampstead Division?
Yes.
MYERS. Doctor Wyatt, will you kindly tell the jury what you know regarding the death of Miss Emily French?
(Read from notes.)
At eleven p.m. on October fourteenth, I saw the dead body of the woman who subsequently proved to be Miss French. By examination of the body I was of the opinion that the death had resulted from a blow on the head, delivered from an object such as a cosh. Death would have been practically instantaneous. From the temperature of the body and other factors, I placed the time of death at not less than an hour previously and not more than, say, an hour and a half. That is to say between the hours of nine thirty and ten p.m.
MYERS. Had Miss French struggled with her adversary at all?
There was no evidence that she had done so. I should say, on the contrary, that she had been taken quite unprepared.
SIR WILFRID. Doctor, where exactly on the head had this blow been struck? There was only one blow, was there not?
Only one. On the left side at the asterion.
SIR WILFRID. I beg your pardon? Where?
The asterion. The junction of the parietal, occipital and temple bones.
SIR WILFRID. Oh, yes. And in layman’s language, where is that?
Behind the left ear.
SIR WILFRID. Would that indicate that the blow had been struck by a left-handed person?
It’s difficult to say. The blow appeared to have been struck directly from behind, because the bruising ran perpendicularly. I should say it is really impossible to say whether it was delivered by a right or left-handed man.
SIR WILFRID. We don’t know yet that it was a man, Doctor. But will you agree, from the position of the blow, that if anything it is more likely to have been delivered by a left—handed person?
That is possibly so. But I would prefer to say that it is uncertain.
SIR WILFRID. At the moment the blow was struck, would blood have been likely to have got on to the hand or arm that struck the blow?
Yes, certainly.
SIR WILFRID. And only on that hand or arm?
Probably only on that hand and arm, but it’s difficult to be dogmatic.
SIR WILFRID. Quite so, Doctor Wyatt. Now, would great strength have been needed to strike such a blow?
No. From the position of the wound no great strength would have been needed.
SIR WILFRID. It would not necessarily be a man who had struck the blow. A woman could have done so equally well?
Certainly.
SIR WILFRID. Thank you.
(SIR WILFRID resumes his seat. MYERS rises.)
Call Janet MacKenzie.
(Stand down and exit)
