six o'clock
We can fix that almost to a certainty . The murderer did his work between half past five and six o'clock . Mr. Shrimplin has just informed us that the only person he saw on the Square , until he met Colonel Harbison , was John North , whom he encountered within a block of McBride 's store and with whom he spoke . While Mr. Shrimplin stopped to speak with Mr. North the town bell rang the hour -- six o'clock . '' The coroner paused . There was a moment 's silence , then Marshall Langham made a half step forward . A sudden palsy had seized him , yet he was determined to speak ; he felt that he must be heard , that he had something vital to say .