midnight
Then the boy , Ferguson , a saddler 's apprentice from the village of Lone , was called to the stand ; and being sworn and examined , testified to the meeting and the conspiracy at midnight before the murder , under the balcony , near Malcolm 's Tower , at Castle Lone , to which he had been an eye and ear-witness . This witness was subjected to a very severe cross-examination , which rather developed and strengthened his testimony than otherwise . McNeil , the ticket agent of the railway station at Lone , was next called , sworn , and examined . He testified to having sold a ticket just after midnight on the night of the murder to a vailed woman , who carried a small but very heavy leathern bag , which she guarded with jealous care . His description corresponded with that given by young Ferguson of the vailed woman , and the bag he had seen given to her by the balcony at Castle Lone on the same night . This witness , also , was sharply cross-examined without effect . `` Now , my lords and gentlemen of the jury , '' began Queen 's Counsel Stuart , speaking more gravely than he had ever done before , `` I shall proceed to call a witness whose testimony will assuredly fix the deep guilt in the case we are trying where it justly belongs .