The Accused (Modern Plays) Read Free

gathered all your evidence, what did you do next?
    Payne I obtained a warrant for the arrest of Patrick Sherwood, which I executed on June the ninth at St George’s Hospital. I cautioned him, and then charged him with the murder of his wife, Elizabeth Sherwood.
    Kersley Thank you, Chief Inspector. No more questions, My Lord.
    Judge Sir James, do you wish to cross-examine the Chief Inspector?
    Barrington I most certainly do, My Lord. Chief Inspector, I must begin by asking you if it is usual to open a full murder inquiry on information supplied by one young woman.
    Payne No, but…
    Barrington No buts, Chief Inspector, it was a simple enough question and the answer was no. My next question is equally simple. The bruises on Mrs Sherwood’s arm. Surely the most likely explanation is that they resulted from a struggle with an intruder? You told us there had been several burglaries in the area recently.
    Payne I could find no evidence of a burglary, sir.
    Barrington Chief Inspector, is it common for burglars to leave their fingerprints all over the place, hoping you will find them?
    Payne No, but.,.
    Barrington I thought we’d agreed on no buts, Chief Inspector, Can I also confirm, that it was you who discovered the kitchen window open?
    Payne Someone had unlatched it from the inside.
    Barrington It hardly matters who unlatched it, Chief Inspector, only who might have used it as a means of entry, and I do hope you’re not going to suggest that Mr Sherwood entered his own flat by the fire escape, when he could so easily have walked in through the front door.
    Payne Unless he had a reason for not wanting to be seen walking in through the front door.
    Barrington And on that flimsy supposition you decided to charge Mr Sherwood with murder?
    Payne No, that decision was made by the Crown Prosecution Service after they had considered all the evidence.
    Barrington I see. So let me finally ask you, Chief Inspector, when you charged Mr Sherwood, did he make any statement?
    Payne Yes. (
Checks his notebook
.) He said, ‘This is ridiculous. I adored my wife; someone must have been feeding you with false information’.
    Barrington Someone must have been feeding you with false information. Now, I wonder who that can have been? No further questions, My Lord. (
He resumes his seat
.)
    Judge Do you wish to re-examine, Mr Kersley?
    Kersley (
rises slightly
) No, thank you, My Lord.
    Judge Thank you, Chief Inspector. You may leave the witness box. (
The
Chief Inspector
leaves the witness box and the courtroom
.) Perhaps you’d like to call your next witness, Mr Kersley.
    Kersley Yes, My Lord. I call Mr Albert Webster.
    Usher Call Mr Albert Webster.
    Guard Mr Albert Webster.
    Webster
is a man aged between forty-five and fifty. He is wearing a T-shirt and a well-worn suit. He enters the courtroom, baking lost, and the
Usher
has to guide him to the witness box
.
    Usher This way, sir. Please take the testament in you right hand and read from the card.
    Webster I never bothered with the reading.
    Usher Then repeat after me, I swear by Almighty God.
    Webster I swears by Almigh’y God.
    Usher That the evidence I shall give.
    Webster That the evidence I shall give.
    Usher Shall be the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.
    Webster Shall be the truth, the ’ole truth and nothin’ but the truth. (
He stares at the
Judge .)
    Judge Mr Webster, there’s no need to address your remarks to me. It is the jury who will want to hear all your evidence.
    Kersley Is your name Albert Philip Webster?
    Webster You got it, mate.
    Kersley And where do you live?
    Webster Arcadia Mansions, Arcadia Road, Wimbledon.
    Kersley And what is your occupation?
    Webster I’m the resident porter - ‘ave been for the past twelve years, ‘aven’t I, ever since I came out of the army.
    Kersley Mr Webster, can you tell the court why the late evening of March twenty-first 1999 is etched on your memory?
    Webster I dunno if it’s etched on me memory, but I won’t