midnight before
Being duly sworn , Alexander McRath testified as to the facts within his own knowledge relating to the case , and which have already been laid before our readers -- briefly , they referred to the finding of the dead body of the late Sir Lemuel Levison in his bed-chamber , to which no one except his confidential valet , the prisoner at the bar , had a pass-key , or could have gained admittance during the night . The witness was cross-examined by Mr. Keir of the counsel for the prisoner , but without having his testimony weakened . Other domestic servants were called , who corroborated the evidence given by the last one as to the finding of the dead body , and the intimate and confidential relations which had subsisted between the deceased and the prisoner at the bar , who always carried a pass-key to his master 's private apartments . 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 .