"Yes," he admitted.
He was telling the truth, even if it was not all the truth. I believe,
had it gone to the jury then, Mr. Ladley would have been acquitted.
But, late that afternoon, things took a new turn. Counsel for the
prosecution stated to the court that he had a new and important
witness, and got permission to introduce this further evidence. The
witness was a Doctor Littlefield, and proved to be my one-night tenant
of the second-story front. Holcombe's prisoner of the night before
took the stand. The doctor was less impressive in full daylight; he
was a trifle shiny, a bit bulbous as to nose and indifferent as to
finger-nails. But his testimony was given with due professional
weight.
"You are a doctor of medicine, Doctor Littlefield?" asked the district
attorney.
"Yes."
"In active practise?"
"I have a Cure for Inebriates in Des Moines, Iowa. I was formerly in
general practise in New York City."
"You knew Jennie Ladley?"
"I had seen her at different theaters. And she consulted me
professionally at one time in New York.
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