"
"Thank you. I think that is all we want to ask you, Doctor; unless the
jury wish to put any questions."
He glanced uneasily at that august body, and instantly the irrepressible
Pope rose to the occasion.
"About that finger that is missing," said the cobbler. "You say that it
was cut off after death."
"That is my opinion."
"Now, can you tell us why it was cut off?"
"No, I cannot."
"Oh, come now, Doctor Summers, you must have formed some opinion on the
subject."
Here the coroner interposed. "The Doctor is only concerned with evidence
arising out of the actual examination of the remains. Any personal
opinions or conjectures that he may have formed are not evidence, and he
must not be asked about them."
"But, sir," objected Pope, "we want to know why that finger was cut off.
It couldn't have been took off for no reason. May I ask, sir, if the
person who is missing had anything peculiar about that finger?"
"Nothing is stated to that effect in the written description," replied
the coroner.
"Perhaps," suggested Pope, "Inspector Badger can tell us.
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