It was clear from his own account that he was out for poaching purposes, that he was leading the Oxford gang, and that he had a gun while Westall was unarmed.

He admitted too that Westall called on him to give up the bag of pheasants he held, and the gun.

He refused.

Then he says Westall came at him, and he fired.

Dick Patton and one or two others gave evidence as to the language he has habitually used about Westall for months past." "Cowards--curs!" cried Marcella, clenching both her hands, a kind of sob in her throat.
Aldous, already white and careworn, showed, Mrs.Boyce thought, a ray of indignation for an instant.