He would first call Albert Dendy, a watchmaker, to prove that on Thursday night, at eight o’clock in the evening, he had called at the prisoner’s, lodgings while the landlady was out, and while there had put the kitchen clock right, and had regulated the same.  He would also call Felix Rolleston, a friend of the prisoners, to prove that the prisoner was not in the habit of wearing rings, and frequently expressed his detestation of such a custom.  Sebastian Brown, a waiter at the Melbourne Club, would be called to prove that on Thursday night a letter was delivered to the prisoner at the Club by one Sarah Rawlins, and that the prisoner left the Club shortly before one o’clock on Friday morning.  He would also call Sarah Rawlins, to prove that she had delivered a note to Sebastian Brown for the prisoner, at the Melbourne Club, at a quarter to twelve on Thursday Night, and that at a few minutes past one o’clock on Friday morning she had conducted the prisoner to a slum off Little Bourke Street, and that he was there between one and two on Friday morning, the hour at which the murder was alleged to have taken place.  This being his defence to the charge brought against the prisoner, he would call Albert Dendy.

Albert Dendy, duly sworn, stated—­

I am a watchmaker, and carry on business in Fitzroy.  I remember Thursday, the 26th of July last.  On the evening of that day I called at Powlett Streel East Melbourne, to see my aunt, who is the landlady of the prisoner.  She was out at the time I called, and I waited in the kitchen till her return.  I looked at the kitchen clock to see if it was too late to wait, and then at my watch I found that the clock was ten minutes fast, upon which I put it right, and regulated it properly.

Calton:  At what time did you put it right?

Witness:  About eight o’clock.

Calton:  Between that time and two in the morning, was it possible for the clock to gain ten minutes?

Witness:  No, it was not possible.

Calton:  Would it gain at all?

Witness:  Not between eight and two o’clock—­the time was not long enough.

Calton:  Did you see your aunt that night?

Witness:  Yes, I waited till she came in.

Calton:  And did you tell her you had put the clock right?

Witness:  No, I did not; I forgot all about it.

Calton:  Then she was still under the impression that it was ten minutes fast?

Witness:  Yes, I suppose so

After Dendy had been cross-examined, Felix Rolleston was called, and deposed as follows:—­

I am an intimate friend of the prisoner.  I have known him for five or six years, and I never saw him wearing a ring during that time.  He has frequently told me he did not care for rings, and would never wear them.

In cross-examination:—­

Crown prosecutor:  You have never seen the prisoner wearing a diamond ring?