# XLIV: Three Witnesses explained — The Cloven Foot

> Chapter companion for The Cloven Foot by M. E. Braddon.

## What happens

John Treverton appears before the magistrate at Bow Street. Two medical experts give conflicting testimony about bloodstains on the dagger. Mrs. Evitt, the landlady, testifies that Treverton is innocent and describes finding a handful of iron-gray hair and a bloodstained dressing-gown hidden in her lodging. Mr. Joseph Lemuel, a stockbroker, testifies that he gave La Chicot a paste necklace shortly before her death, which may have motivated the murder. Mr. Mosheh, a diamond merchant, identifies a photograph of Desrolles as the man who tried to sell him imitation diamonds. Based on this evidence, John Treverton is discharged.

## Themes in this chapter

### Crime and Justice

The chapter depicts the legal process as John Treverton is tried and ultimately discharged, highlighting the role of evidence and witness testimony.

### Secrets and Deception

The paste necklace and Desrolles's false beard underscore themes of appearance versus reality and deception.

## Character check-ins

### John Treverton

Appears before the magistrate; is discharged after new evidence emerges.

### Mrs. Evitt

Testifies that Treverton is innocent and describes finding a bloodstained dressing-gown and hair in her lodging.

### Mr. Leopold

Presents two voluntary witnesses, Mr. Lemuel and Mr. Mosheh, to the court.

### Joseph Lemuel

Testifies that he gave La Chicot a paste necklace that may have motivated the murder.

### Mr. Mosheh

Identifies a photograph of Desrolles as the man who tried to sell imitation diamonds.

### George Gerard

Escorts Mrs. Evitt into the court to give her evidence.

## Key lines

> One declared that the blade bore unmistakable traces of blood stains, and gave it as his opinion that steel once so sullied never lost the stain. The other stated that a steel blade wiped quickly while the blood upon it was wet would carry no such ineffaceable mark, and that the tarnished appearance of the dagger was referable only to time and atmosphere.

Two medical experts disagreed: one said the dagger's stains were permanent blood, the other argued they were just tarnish from age and air.

_Conflicting forensic testimony about the murder weapon._

> I presented the unhappy lady with a necklace about a week before her death; and I have reason to fear that this gift may have been the cause of her terrible death!

Joseph Lemuel gave La Chicot a necklace shortly before she died and worries it led to her murder.

_Lemuel's testimony introduces the necklace as a possible motive._

> It was a necklace I had bought in Paris, in the Palais Royal, a short time before. It was made by a man who had a speciality for these things. It would perhaps have deceived any eye except that of a diamond merchant, and might indeed have deceived a dealer, if he had judged by the eye alone. I gave fifty pounds for the necklace.

Lemuel bought a convincing imitation diamond necklace in Paris for fifty pounds.

_The necklace was a high-quality fake, easily mistaken for real diamonds._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_cloven_foot_se/chapters/xliv-three-witnesses
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