The Old Man in the Corner · Chapter
An Alibi explained
The old man in the corner reveals the true solution to the English Provident Bank theft, explaining that Mrs.
What happens
The old man in the corner reveals the true solution to the English Provident Bank theft, explaining that Mrs. Ireland perjured herself not for her husband but for her son, Robert Ireland, who was the actual thief. He details how Lewis Ireland's alibi was proven through a concert incident, and how the case was ultimately resolved, leaving the Irelands to retire to Sittingbourne.
Themes in this chapter
Deception and Forgery
Mrs. Ireland's deliberate lie to protect her son, and the use of forged alibis.
Justice and Impunity
The true thief escapes justice while the innocent father is initially suspected.
The Role of Women
Mrs. Ireland's courageous but morally questionable act of perjury for her son.
Characters to notice
- Polly Burton
Listener to the old man's explanation of the bank theft case.
- The Old Man in the Corner
Narrator who reveals the true perpetrator of the bank theft.
- Lewis Ireland
Ex-manager of the English Provident Bank, proven innocent via concert alibi.
- Mrs. Ireland
Clever woman who perjured herself to protect her son, the real thief.
- Robert Ireland
Son of Lewis Ireland, the actual thief who fled abroad.
- James Fairbairn
Watchman who heard Mrs. Ireland's exclamation and was a key witness.
Key passages
“Are there many men for whom a woman of the better middle class, and an Englishwoman, would be ready to perjure herself? Surely not! She might do it for her husband. The public thought she had. It never struck them that she might have done it for her son!”
The old man argues that a respectable Englishwoman would only perjure herself for a close family member, and the public mistakenly assumed it was for her husband rather than her son.
Key revelation that Mrs. Ireland lied to protect her son, not her husband.
“Mr. Ireland absolutely denied having been in his office at the hour when James Fairbairn positively asserted he heard Mrs. Ireland say in an astonished tone of voice: ‘Why, Lewis, what in the world are you doing here?’”
Lewis Ireland firmly stated he was not in his office when Fairbairn claimed to have heard his wife speak to him.
Contradiction between Fairbairn's testimony and Ireland's alibi.
“First think of the one absolutely undisputed, positive fact. You must have a starting-point, and not go wandering about in the realms of suppositions.”
The old man advises Polly to begin with a concrete fact rather than speculation.
Illustrates the old man's deductive method.