Then, when the plea of "not guilty" had been entered, the witnesses were called.

There were only two, and when the name of the first, John Hornby, was called, I glanced towards the witness-box with no little curiosity.
I had not hitherto met Mr.Hornby, and as he now entered the box, I saw an elderly man, tall, florid, and well-preserved, but strained and wild in expression and displaying his uncontrollable agitation by continual nervous movements which contrasted curiously with the composed demeanour of the accused man.

Nevertheless, he gave his evidence in a perfectly connected manner, recounting the events connected with the discovery of the crime in much the same words as I had heard Mr.Lawley use, though, indeed, he was a good deal more emphatic than that gentleman had been in regard to the excellent character borne by the prisoner.
After him came Mr.Singleton, of the finger-print department at Scotland Yard, to whose evidence I listened with close attention.

He produced the paper which bore the thumb-print in blood (which had previously been identified by Mr.Hornby) and a paper bearing the print, taken by himself, of the prisoner's left thumb.

These two thumb-prints, he stated, were identical in every respect.
"And you are of opinion that the mark on the paper that was found in Mr.
Hornby's safe, was made by the prisoner's left thumb ?" the magistrate asked in dry and business-like tones.
"I am certain of it." "You are of opinion that no mistake is possible ?" "No mistake is possible, your worship.