After it had been done with it was thrown outside the mill to be out of the way, as it would not be required again.
After he had given his evidence Mr.Wakefield asked: "Did you hear any one outside the mill when Mr.Mulready was there ?" "No, sir; I heard nothing." "Any one might have entered the yard, I suppose, and found the rope ?" "Yes; the gates were open, as we were at work." "Would the rope be visible to any one who entered the yard ?" "It would not be seen plainly, because it was a dark night; but any one prowling about outside the mill might have stumbled against it." "You have no reason whatever for supposing that it was Mr.Edward Sankey who cut this rope more than anyone else ?" "No, sir." Charlie was the next witness.

The boy was as white as a sheet, and his eyes were swollen with crying.

He glanced piteously at his brother, and exclaimed with a sob, "Oh! Ned." "Don't mind, Charlie," Ned said quietly.

"Tell the whole story exactly as it happened.

You can't do me any harm, old boy." So encouraged Charlie told the whole story of the quarrel arising in the first place from his stepfather's ill temper at the tea table.
"Your brother meant nothing specially unpleasant in calling your stepfather Foxey ?" Mr.Wakefield asked.
"No, sir; he had always called him so even before he knew that he was going to marry mother.