six o'clock
Any evidence of the alleged conversation at Mr. Sharpman 's office , he said , must be rejected wholly . He warned them to dismiss from their minds all prejudice or sympathy that might have been aroused by the speeches of counsel , or the appearance of witnesses in court , and to take into consideration and decide upon but one question , namely : whether the boy Ralph is or is not the son of the late Robert Burnham : that , laying aside all other questions , matters , and things , they must decide that and that alone , according to the law and the evidence . When the judge had finished his charge a constable was sworn , and , followed by the twelve jurors , he marched from the court-room . It was already after six o'clock , so the crier was directed to adjourn the court , and , a few minutes later , the judge , the lawyers , the witnesses , and the spectators had all disappeared , and the room was empty . Every one expected that the jury would come into court with a verdict at the opening of the session on Tuesday morning . There was much difference of opinion , however , as to what that verdict would be . But the morning hours went by and the jury still remained in their room .