seven o'clock
The next witness sworn was Edward Smith , the servant of the late Sir Wynston Berkley . His evidence was a narrative of the occurrences we have already stated . He described the sounds which he had overheard from his master 's room , the subsequent appearance of Merton , and the conversation which had passed between them . He then proceeded to mention , that it was his master 's custom to have himself called at seven o'clock , at which hour he usually took some medicine , which it was the valet 's duty to bring to him ; after which he either settled again to rest , or rose in a short time , if unable to sleep . Having measured and prepared the dose in the dressing room , the servant went on to say , he had knocked at his master 's door , and receiving no answer , had entered the room , and partly unclosed the shutters . He perceived the blood on the carpet , and on opening the curtains , saw his master lying with his mouth and eyes open , perfectly dead , and weltering in gore . He had stretched out his hand , and seized that of the dead man , which was quite stiff and cold ; then , losing heart , he had run to the door communicating with the passage , but found it locked , and turned to the other entrance , and ran down the back-stairs , crying `` murder . ''