Budd's witnesses were all there also, Judd and Mr. Dane having arrived an hour before, and Mr. Benton and Mr. Wright having come in as the court was called.
Budd was his own lawyer, and from his smiling face one would have thought he felt fully able to cope with the attorney for the prosecution.
When the charge was read, the lad in loud, clear tones, answered "Not guilty," and the trial began.
Mr. Johnson was the first witness, and he stated briefly the condition in which he had found his house on arriving there the morning before, and how he had laid in wait for the return of the burglars. He described Budd's appearance, his entrance to the house, and his capture. As he ended his testimony, the lawyer, evidently having been previously instructed, asked:
"Have you ever seen the prisoner previous to the time of his capture?"
"Yes," replied Mr. Johnson. "I have known him, and his father before him, for years."
"I object to that question," cried Budd, jumping to his feet, his cheeks all aflame with indignation.
Before the Justice could give his ruling the answer had been given, loud and clear:
"In the Massachusetts State Prison, serving out a twelve years' sentence for forgery and theft."
Budd sunk back in his chair sick at heart, and almost in despair. The mischief had been done, and the crowd knew the dread secret he had so long hid within his own bosom. He felt for a moment that he would have been glad to have had the prison-walls close around him, too, shutting him from the gaze of all eyes.
Nor was the answer lost in its influence on the Justice.
"I think," he said, slowly, "that anything that throws light on the prisoner's previous life or training will be in order here. It will help the Court to decide whether he would have been likely to commit the crime with which he is charged;" and the man tried to conceal the curiosity which was already beaming from his face.
Without further interruption Mr. Johnson told his side of the story, with which the reader is already familiar, and left the stand, having given Justice and audience alike the impression that Mr. Boyd was a most hardened criminal, and that the son was already following in his father's footsteps.
His hired man then took the stand, and corroborated his employer's testimony respecting the burglary and the capture of the prisoner. Then the prosecution rested its case.