six in the morning
and a thing that happened about a fortnight after his return caused more ill feeling and resentment against him and Rushton than had ever existed previously . What led up to it was something that was done by Bundy 's mate , Ted Dawson . This poor wretch was scarcely ever seen without a load of some sort or other : carrying a sack of cement or plaster , a heavy ladder , a big bucket of mortar , or dragging a load of scaffolding on a cart . He must have been nearly as strong as a horse , because after working in this manner for Rushton & Co. from six in the morning till half past five at night , he usually went to work in his garden for two or three hours after tea , and frequently went there for an hour or so in the morning before going to work . The poor devil needed the produce of his garden to supplement his wages , for he had a wife and three children to provide for and he earned only -- or rather , to be correct , he was paid only -- fourpence an hour . There was an old house to which they were making some alterations and repairs , and there was a lot of old wood taken out of it : old , decayed floorboards and stuff of that kind , wood that was of no use whatever except to burn . Bundy and his mate were working there , and one night , Misery came a few minutes before half past five and caught Dawson in the act of tying up a small bundle of this wood .