midnight
The general supposition was that he had committed suicide , and , this appearing to be favoured by all the circumstances of his death , the verdict was to that effect . He was left to be buried with a stake through his heart in the centre of four lonely roads . It was rumoured afterwards that this horrible and barbarous ceremony had been dispensed with , and that the remains had been secretly given up to Tom Scott . But even here , opinion was divided ; for some said Tom dug them up at midnight , and carried them to a place indicated to him by the widow . It is probable that both these stories may have had their origin in the simple fact of Tom 's shedding tears upon the inquest -- which he certainly did , extraordinary as it may appear . He manifested , besides , a strong desire to assault the jury ; and being restrained and conducted out of court , darkened its only window by standing on his head upon the sill , until he was dexterously tilted upon his feet again by a cautious beadle . Being cast upon the world by his master 's death , he determined to go through it upon his head and hands , and accordingly began to tumble for his bread .