# The Trial of Tom Mortlake explained — The Big Bow Mystery

> Chapter companion for The Big Bow Mystery by Israel Zangwill.

## What happens

The trial of Tom Mortlake for the murder of Arthur Constant unfolds, with the prosecution presenting circumstantial evidence of jealousy and premeditation, while the defense argues the case is built on weak hypotheses. The jury returns a guilty verdict, and Mortlake is sentenced to death. Meanwhile, the public and press react to the arrest, and Grodman revels in Wimp's perceived blunder.

## Themes in this chapter

### Justice and Injustice

The trial process and the guilty verdict raise questions about the fairness of circumstantial evidence and the possibility of a wrongful conviction.

### The Nature of Truth and Evidence

The prosecution's case relies on hypotheses and dovetailing probabilities, while the defense challenges the reliability of such evidence.

### The Role of the Public and Media

The press sensationalizes the arrest and trial, and public subscriptions fund Mortlake's defense, highlighting media and public influence.

## Character check-ins

### Tom Mortlake

The defendant on trial for murder, convicted and sentenced to death.

### Edward Wimp

The detective who built the case against Mortlake and secured the conviction.

### George Grodman

Observes the trial with satisfaction, feeling like 'a whipped cur' after the verdict.

### Denzil Cantercot

Testifies for the prosecution, but his memory is uncertain; he compares Jessie Dymond to Joan of Arc.

### Peter Crowl

Testifies reluctantly, affirming Mortlake's initial mistrust of Constant but claiming it faded.

### Jessie Dymond

The missing woman at the center of the motive; a reward is offered for information about her.

## Key lines

> The jury must remember, too, that the relation might not have actually passed into dishonor, it might have been just grave enough to smite the girl’s conscience, and to induce her to behave as she had done.

The judge suggests that the relationship between Constant and Jessie Dymond may not have been fully consummated, but could still have caused her enough guilt to act as she did.

_The judge speculates on the nature of the relationship to support the prosecution's motive._

> The behavior of Mortlake put the last touch to the picturesqueness of the position. He left the hall when the lights went out, and walked unnoticed and unmolested through pleiads of policemen to the nearest police station, where the superintendent was almost too excited to take any notice of his demand to be arrested.

Mortlake's calm surrender after the ceremony added a dramatic element, as he walked through a crowd of police to give himself up.

_Mortlake's self-surrender is portrayed as both a sign of innocence and a dramatic act._

> The morning papers were pleasant reading for Grodman, who chuckled as continuously over his morning egg, as if he had laid it.

Grodman enjoyed the newspapers' criticism of Wimp's blunder, laughing with satisfaction while eating breakfast.

_Grodman's reaction shows his amusement at Wimp's failure and the public backlash._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_big_bow_mystery_se/chapters/x
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_big_bow_mystery_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_big_bow_mystery_se/chapters