# XVI: “Non Proven” explained — The Old Man in the Corner

> Chapter companion for The Old Man in the Corner by Baroness Orczy.

## What happens

The man in the corner recounts the trial of Edith Crawford for the murder of Lady Donaldson. He describes how public sympathy turned against her after she broke off her engagement with David Graham, and how the prosecution's key witness, jeweller Mr. Campbell, was discredited by Sir James Fenwick's cross-examination. The jury returned a verdict of 'Non Proven,' reflecting lingering suspicion but insufficient proof.

## Themes in this chapter

### Justice and Impunity

The 'Non Proven' verdict highlights the gap between public suspicion and legal proof, questioning whether justice was served.

### Appearance vs. Reality

The jeweller's confident identification of the accused is shown to be unreliable, revealing how appearances can mislead.

### The Role of Women

Edith Crawford's broken engagement and her perceived heartlessness influence public and jury opinion, reflecting societal expectations of women.

## Character check-ins

### The Old Man in the Corner

Narrates the trial of Edith Crawford, analyzing the evidence and the verdict.

### Edith Crawford

The accused, on trial for the murder of Lady Donaldson; remains calm in the dock.

### David Graham

Former fiancé of Edith Crawford; testified against her and provided information to the Procurator Fiscal.

### Sir James Fenwick

Defense counsel for Edith Crawford; masterfully cross-examines prosecution witnesses.

### Mr. Buchanan

Jeweller who testified that the accused tried to sell him diamond earrings; his evidence was discredited.

### Mr. Macfarlane

Clerk to Mr. Campbell; his corroborating testimony was also undermined by Sir James Fenwick.

## Key lines

> There is no doubt that what little sympathy the young girl’s terrible position had aroused in the public mind had died out the moment that David Graham left the witness-box on the second day of the trial.

Public sympathy for Edith Crawford evaporated after David Graham testified on the second day.

_Highlights the shift in public opinion against the accused._

> Sir James Fenwick, who during the whole of that day had seemed to take little interest in the proceedings, here rose from his seat, and I knew at once that he had got a titbit in the way of a ‘point’ up his sleeve.

Sir James Fenwick, appearing disengaged, suddenly rose to cross-examine, revealing he had a strategic argument prepared.

_Shows Fenwick's calculated approach to defense._

> The jury was absent forty minutes, and it appears that in the mind of every one of them there remained, in spite of Sir James’ arguments, a firmly rooted conviction—call it instinct, if you like—that Edith Crawford had done away with Lady Donaldson.

Despite the lack of proof, each juror still believed Edith Crawford was guilty of murder.

_Illustrates the persistence of suspicion despite a not proven verdict._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_old_man_in_the_corner_se/chapters/xvi-non-proven
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_old_man_in_the_corner_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_old_man_in_the_corner_se/chapters