few minutes before seven
o'clock
It coincides exactly with the shoe worn that night by the suspect . `` The case will be laid before the Grand Jury next week . '' * * * * * `` The prisoner continues to deny his guilt . The story he gives out is to the effect that he left the tavern some few minutes before seven o'clock , to look for his child who had wandered into the ravine . That he entered the woods from the road running by his house , and was searching the bushes skirting the stream when he heard little Reuther 's shout from somewhere up on the bluff . He had his stick with him , for he never went out without it , but , finding it in his way , he leaned it against a tree and went plunging up the bluff without it . Why he did n't call out the child 's name he does n't know ; he guessed he thought he would surprise her ; and why , when he got to the top of the bluff and did n't find her , he should turn about for his stick instead of hunting for her on the road , he also fails to explain , saying again , he does n't know .