The Mousetrap

SIRWILFRID. (Indicating the knife on the table) Inspector Hearne, will you kindly examine that knife?

(The USHER rises, crosses, picks up the knife and hands it to the INSPECTOR.)

You have seen that knife before?

INSPECTOR. I may have.

SIRWILFRID. This is the knife taken from the kitchen table in Leonard Vole’s flat and which was brought to your attention by the prisoner’s wife on the occasion of your first interview with her.

MYERS. (Rising) My lord, to save the time of the Court, may I say that we accept this knife as being a knife in the possession of Leonard Vole and shown to the Inspector by Mrs. Vole. (He sits.)

SIRWILFRID. That is correct, Inspector?

INSPECTOR. Yes, sir.

SIRWILFRID. It is what is known, I believe, as a French vegetable knife?

INSPECTOR. I believe so, sir.

SIRWILFRID. Just test the edge of the knife with your finger—carefully.

(The INSPECTOR tests the knife edge.)

You agree that the cutting edge and the point are razor sharp?

INSPECTOR. Yes, sir.

SIRWILFRID. And if you were cutting—say, ham—carving it, that is, and your hand slipped with this knife, it would be capable of inflicting a very nasty cut, and one which would bleed profusely?

MYERS. (Rising) I object. That is a matter of opinion, and medical opinion at that. (He sits.)

(The USHER takes the knife from the INSPECTOR, puts it on the table, crosses and resumes his seat.)

SIRWILFRID. I withdraw the question. I will ask you instead, Inspector, if the prisoner, when questioned by you as to the stains on the sleeve of his jacket, drew your attention to a recently healed scar on his wrist, and stated that it had been caused by a household knife when he was slicing ham?

INSPECTOR. That is what he said.

SIRWILFRID. And you were told the same thing by the prisoner’s wife?

INSPECTOR. The first time. Afterwards . . .

SIRWILFRID. (Sharply) A simple yes or no, please. Did the prisoner’s wife show you this knife, and tell you that her husband had cut his wrist with it slicing ham?

INSPECTOR. Yes, she did.

(SIR WILFRID resumes his seat.)

MYERS. (Rising) What first drew your attention to that jacket, Inspector?

INSPECTOR. The sleeve appeared to have been recently washed.

MYERS. And you’re told this story about an accident with a kitchen knife?

INSPECTOR. Yes, sir.

MYERS. And your attention was drawn to a scar on the prisoner’s wrist?

INSPECTOR. Yes, sir.

MYERS. Granted that the scar was made by this particular knife, there was nothing to show whether it was an accident or done deliberately?

SIRWILFRID. (Rising) Really, my lord, if my learned friend is going to answer his own questions, the presence of the witness seems to be superfluous. (He sits.)

MYERS. (Resignedly) I withdraw the question. Thank you, Inspector.

(The INSPECTOR stands down, crosses and exits up L. The POLICEMAN closes the door behind him.)

Dr. Wyatt.

(DR. WYATT rises and enters the box. He carries some notes. The USHER rises, crosses, hands the Bible to him and holds up the oath card.)

WYATT. I swear by Almighty God that the evidence that I shall give shall be the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

(The USHER puts the Bible and oath card on the ledge of the witness box, crosses and resumes his seat.)

MYERS. You are Dr. Wyatt?

WYATT. Yes.

MYERS. You are a police surgeon attached to the Hampstead Division?

WYATT. Yes.

MYERS. Dr. Wyatt, will you kindly tell the Jury what you know regarding the death of Miss Emily French?

WYATT. (Reading from his notes) At eleven p.m. on October fourteenth, I saw the dead body of the woman who subsequently proved to be Miss French. By examination of the body I was of the opinion that the death had resulted from a blow on the head, delivered from an object such as a cosh. Death would have been practically instantaneous. From the temperature of the body and other factors, I placed the time of death at not less than an hour previously and not more than, say, an hour and a half. That is to say between the hours of nine-thirty and ten p.m.

MYERS. Had Miss French struggled with her adversary at all?