"Mr.
Ridley, you have had some recent dealings with this man James Gilverthwaite, who has just been mentioned in connection with this inquiry ?" he asked.
"Some dealings recently--yes," answered the clergyman.
"Just tell us, in your own way, what they were," said the coroner.

"And, of course, when they took place." "Gilverthwaite," said Mr.Ridley, "came to me, at my vicarage, about a month or five weeks ago.

I had previously seen him about the church and churchyard.

He told me he was interested in parish registers, and in antiquities generally, and asked if he could see our registers, offering to pay whatever fee was charged.

I allowed him to look at the registers, but I soon discovered that his interest was confined to a particular period.