one
o'clock
Strangers entering the village would have supposed that a great explosion had taken place in some neighbouring pit . Blinds were down , women stood at the doors with their aprons to their eyes , children went about in an awed and silent way , as if afraid of the sound of their own voice , many of the young men and lads had their heads enveloped in surgical bandages , and a strange and unnatural calm pervaded the village . The `` Chequers '' and other public-houses , however , did a roaring trade , for the sight-seer in the black country is the thirstiest of men . It was soon known that the magistrates would sit at Mr. Brook 's at one o'clock , and a policeman went round the village with a list of names given him by Mr. Dodgson , to summon witnesses to attend . Jack Simpson had strongly urged that his name might not be included , in the first place because above all things he hated being put forward , and in the second , as he pointed out to the schoolmaster , it might excite a feeling against him , and hinder his power for good , if he , the leader of the young men , was to appear as a witness against the elders , especially as among the prisoners was Tom Walker , with whom he had fought . As Jack could give no more testimony than his companions , and as generally it was considered an important and responsible privilege to appear as witness , Mr. Dodgson omitted Jack 's name from the list . There was some groaning in the crowd when the uninjured prisoners were marched out under escort of the police , for the attack upon young women was so contrary to all the traditions of the country that the liveliest indignation prevailed against all concerned in it .