seven o'clock
And some remarks highly adverse to the volunteer movement were cut short . William Andrews , groom , had been called by Anne Ellis , had seen the wound , and the blood on the desk , and had gone to fetch a surgeon and the police from Whitford . On his return , saw the rifle leaning against the shutter ; believed it to be Mr. Ward 's rifle . Charles Rankin , surgeon , had been called in to see Mr. Axworthy , and arrived at seven o'clock A. M. Found him dead , from a fracture of the skull over the left temple , he should imagine , from a blow from a heavy blunt instrument , such as the stock of a gun . Death must have been instantaneous , and had probably taken place seven or eight hours before he was called in . The marks upon the rifle before him were probably blood ; but he could not say so upon oath , till he had subjected them to microscopic examination . The hair was human , and corresponded with that of the deceased .