Past Praying for

The girl in the dock, Camilla Barnard, was almost beautiful; she was pale�she was accused of having killed her husband. A bride at nineteen, she had been married for seven years; she had a son six years old.

Antony Maitland was acting as junior to Bruce Halloran, Counsel for the Prosecution. It wasn�t the first time Antony had worked with Halloran, but usually for the defense.

"There can be no doubts about the facts of this unhappy case," Halloran said.

But Mrs. Barnard insisted she was innocent. She and her husband had come back from a party: "We talked for a while�nothing important�then I went into the bedroom. Richard said he was going out. He wanted some fresh air. I closed the door and straightaway I heard a shot. It sounded dreadfully loud. Then I rushed out, but there was no one there. Only Richard."

"Your husband was already dead when you came out of the bedroom?"

"Yes � oh, yes."

In spite of her protests Camilla Barnard was found guilty of manslaughter and sent to prison for four years.

--

Seven years later Antony came home one evening and his wife asked him, "How often do you think a person is tried twice for murdering her husband?"

Antony said, "It can�t happen. I suppose you mean she was acquitted?"

"No, I don't. This is her second husband."

The lady was Camilla. Her second husband was her first husband's cousin.

And Antony Maitland again found himself involved with Mrs. Barnard - this time for the defense!


Genre: Mystery