5 P.M.
None of these sheep had been sold to the prisoners . Many of the animals were known , and were sworn to , by the shepherds on sundry farms , in spite of brands and ear-marks having been altered with some skill . It was proved also that Murdison had sold to farmers at a distance many scores of sheep on which the brands and ear-marks had been `` faked . '' Evidence in the case closed at 5 P.M. on a Saturday , the second day of the trial ; speeches of the counsel and the judge 's summing up occupied until 11 P.M. of that day ; and the jury sat till 5 o'clock on Sunday morning , when they brought in a verdict , by a majority , against Murdison , and an unanimous verdict against Millar , his shepherd . Both prisoners were sentenced to death , and though an appeal was made on various grounds , the sentences were eventually carried out . Whilst he lay in prison under sentence Millar confessed the whole affair to a friend , and the story , as told by the shepherd , possessed some very curious features . He and his master , Murdison , had jointly conceived a scheme by means of which it seemed possible to defraud their neighbours almost with impunity .