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.. continued
“MR. BARLOW AND THE WITNESS.
“There was no mystery made about the identity of the next witness — Mrs. Clara Ludbrooke, widow and letter of apartments, of 66. Sherwood-street. Mrs. Ludbrooke said that when the girl became ill she went to a person whom she thought was Sinclair's insurance doctor in Wollaton-street. He told her his name, but she could not remember it.
“Asked if she could see the man court, witness looked at the magistrates, at the solicitors' bench, at Press box — in fact, everywhere but at the dock. She said she had not brought her glasses with her, and refused Mr. Barlow's offer to try his. She was no more successful when told to take a walk round the court, and when sent up to the Bench to take a view of the court from that vantage point, she still professed inability to find him, although she pointed out two or three dark-haired people as "like him."
“Mr. Barlow thereupon declared that the woman was not in fit condition to give evidence. He would withdraw her evidence that day.
“Invited by the magistrates' clerk to give his grounds for the step, Mr. Barlow declared: "I think she is the worse for drink."
“Detective-superintendent Atherton said that over the premises in Sherwood-street were the signs: “Dr. de Boi. consulting rooms," "Dr. de Boi Company, surgical appliances," and “Dr. de Boi Company, medical specialists." When charged that day with wilful murder Middleton made no reply.
“The charge being read over again, Middleton, in a firm voice, pleaded "Not guilty."
“Mr. Young urged that the state of affairs was consistent with something that was perfectly natural. It might or might not be consistent with something that was unlawful, but that there ever was anything unlawful the Bench had not one scrap of evidence except such as they might glean from the statement made by the woman when dying. It was a question which would necessarily operate with a jury to now far such a person could fully appreciate and understand the gravity of her remarks. His comment on the prisoner's questions at the taking of the depositions was that whatever else his client might be, he was not likely to compete successfully with Mr. Barlow and himself as a cross-examiner. Mr. Young mentioned that he had been called into the case at the eleventh hour, and that counsel previously retained for his defence had been prevented by a prior engagement from appearing. It was not of so much importance to the defence what happened that day, seeing that Middleton was already committed to the Assizes on the coroner's warrant, but at the same time the case was one of great weakness so far as direct evidence was concerned.
“Mr. Baggaley said Middleton would be committed to the Assizes.
“On the other charges the accused was remanded.”
'Nottingham Evening Post', 25th February 1916.