three o'clock
After due examination , Everard is committed for trial on the charge of murder . His best witness , Granfer , who had seen and spoken with him in the village at the moment of the alleged murder , greatly discredited his evidence by his circumlocution and stupidity , purposely affected to set the court in a roar . He admitted that Everard gave him money and tobacco . Judkins swore that at three o'clock Lee told him Everard had asked Alma to meet him at dusk that evening in the wood , and that he -- Lee -- meant to follow Everard there and exact reparation from him ; that Alma and Everard were known to be together in the wood on the morning of Lee 's death -LRB- when Everard was with Lilian -RRB- , and that he himself had seen them meet often clandestinely in the spring during Mrs. Lee 's illness , when letters , books , and flowers had passed between them . On the eve of Lee 's death he had seen Everard go into the copse at dusk carrying a heavy stick . Ingram Swaynestone , Grove , the waggoner , and Stevens , the Sexton , all saw Everard going on the upland path to Swaynestone . But the blacksmith swore to seeing him in the village street at the same hour .