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The Witness for the Defense
A British barrister takes the witness stand after becoming embroiled in a shocking murder in colonial India
Unassured of a family inheritance, Henry Thresk dedicates himself to pursuing a career in law. His determination is exacting; as a man of limited means, it has to be. Even when he meets Stella, a supremely appealing young woman, he refuses to consider love and marriage. He must stick to the path he has laid out for himself.
Eight years later, on a solicitor call to Bombay, Henry finds himself face to face with a photograph of his long-lost love. Stella is married to Captain Ballantyne, an older man clever at politics and languages who is revealed to be a violent brute. Henry is determined to rescue Stella, but before he can enact a plan the captain is discovered shot to death with his wife’s rifle. Henry, a respected man of the law, is called as a witness for the defense—only the first of many twists in this deftly plotted mystery. If his instincts are wrong, he will sacrifice his life and career for a woman he hardly knows.
This ebook has been professionally proofread to ensure accuracy and readability on all devices.
Unassured of a family inheritance, Henry Thresk dedicates himself to pursuing a career in law. His determination is exacting; as a man of limited means, it has to be. Even when he meets Stella, a supremely appealing young woman, he refuses to consider love and marriage. He must stick to the path he has laid out for himself.
Eight years later, on a solicitor call to Bombay, Henry finds himself face to face with a photograph of his long-lost love. Stella is married to Captain Ballantyne, an older man clever at politics and languages who is revealed to be a violent brute. Henry is determined to rescue Stella, but before he can enact a plan the captain is discovered shot to death with his wife’s rifle. Henry, a respected man of the law, is called as a witness for the defense—only the first of many twists in this deftly plotted mystery. If his instincts are wrong, he will sacrifice his life and career for a woman he hardly knows.
This ebook has been professionally proofread to ensure accuracy and readability on all devices.
236 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1914
39 people are currently reading
164 people want to read
About the author
A.E.W. Mason
217 books47 followersMajor Alfred Edward Woodley Mason (7 May 1865 Dulwich, London - 22 November 1948 London) was a British author and politician. He is best remembered for his 1902 novel The Four Feathers.
He studied at Dulwich College and graduated from Trinity College, Oxford in 1888. He was a contemporary of fellow Liberal Anthony Hope, who went on to write the adventure novel The Prisoner of Zenda.
His first novel, A Romance of Wastdale, was published in 1895. He was the author of more than 20 books, including At The Villa Rose (1910), a mystery novel in which he introduced his French detective, Inspector Hanaud. His best-known book is The Four Feathers, which has been made into several films. Many consider it his masterpiece. Other books are The House of the Arrow (1924), No Other Tiger (1927), The Prisoner in the Opal (1929) and Fire Over England (1937).
He studied at Dulwich College and graduated from Trinity College, Oxford in 1888. He was a contemporary of fellow Liberal Anthony Hope, who went on to write the adventure novel The Prisoner of Zenda.
His first novel, A Romance of Wastdale, was published in 1895. He was the author of more than 20 books, including At The Villa Rose (1910), a mystery novel in which he introduced his French detective, Inspector Hanaud. His best-known book is The Four Feathers, which has been made into several films. Many consider it his masterpiece. Other books are The House of the Arrow (1924), No Other Tiger (1927), The Prisoner in the Opal (1929) and Fire Over England (1937).
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
November 9, 2021
This is one of my favorite books by Mason, partly because it features a very interesting female character, and partly because it is an honest analysis of human nature and behavior.
Mason's characters are human beings by excellence. They love and they hate, they commit wrongs and they strive for good, they lie and then confess the truth, they feel anger and they experience remorse. In short, they are complex and very well-written.
The plot follows the progress and fate of Stella Ballantyne along the years of a sad and abusive matrimony. It occasionally uncovers the ashes of a long-forgotten love interest for her first suitor, but mainly places her affection and respect with Richard Hazlewood; the man who gave her happiness and hope.
The tale is also one of hypocrisy and prejudice, truths and lies, and more importantly good and evil. Mason's focal character is a woman who had shot her husband in the dead of night, dragged his body outside, and then went back calmly to her bedroom. In spite of all that, she is no cold-blooded murderess. What Mason communicates here is the complexity of emotions. Life is, by no means, a glass door through which we can see with great clarity what lies ahead of us. Therefore, we must look far and aim high before pronouncing judgement on anyone or anything.
Mason's characters are human beings by excellence. They love and they hate, they commit wrongs and they strive for good, they lie and then confess the truth, they feel anger and they experience remorse. In short, they are complex and very well-written.
The plot follows the progress and fate of Stella Ballantyne along the years of a sad and abusive matrimony. It occasionally uncovers the ashes of a long-forgotten love interest for her first suitor, but mainly places her affection and respect with Richard Hazlewood; the man who gave her happiness and hope.
The tale is also one of hypocrisy and prejudice, truths and lies, and more importantly good and evil. Mason's focal character is a woman who had shot her husband in the dead of night, dragged his body outside, and then went back calmly to her bedroom. In spite of all that, she is no cold-blooded murderess. What Mason communicates here is the complexity of emotions. Life is, by no means, a glass door through which we can see with great clarity what lies ahead of us. Therefore, we must look far and aim high before pronouncing judgement on anyone or anything.
April 1, 2022
Well-written and engaging. The ending was less-than-satisfying, but I don't know how he could have ended it differently. Two people learn how they have misunderstood each other, with far-reaching consequences. A recurring quotation: "People get what they want if they want it enough, but they can't control the price they have to pay."
January 19, 2017
Legal and psychological thriller
Really well crafted"mystery," with courtroom drama, psychological twists and some ironic social commentary. You can't ask for anything more. I'll be reading more by this author.
Really well crafted"mystery," with courtroom drama, psychological twists and some ironic social commentary. You can't ask for anything more. I'll be reading more by this author.
April 7, 2021
As Sir Walter Scott observed in 180i
"Oh, what a tangled web we weabe,
When first we practice to deceive."
A young man from a family of modest means has great ambitions. The best way to realize those dreams - become a famous barrister, try for a seat in parliament - is to study law. He is ready to begin his practice and takes a little vacation in Sussex. There he meets an attractive young woman. She falls for him, and he for her, but he wants to wait until he has become more established. He says he shall be in bed late and up early for a good while, likely only able to afford to rent rooms. He is afraid that part of his life will make her feel isolated and lonely, while she believes if they're working together, then they will both appreciate the rewards more. He refuses, as he has seen marriages fail for others who have married too early in the career building process. He leaves to start his career.
What he won't learn until much later is that she was quite broken-hearted, so when invited, she agreed to visit a friend in India during the cold season. She is, of course, taken to social events by her hosts, and as often happens in the social scene, she drifts into marriage with a man whom she doesn't realize is a secret drunk and a violent man. He is a captain in the Raj, and spends a great deal of time touring various military camps.
The young man has a case that takes him to India. His host takes him to visit a friend, amd he sees a photo of his long-ago vacation romance in her house. He mentions it. The woman of the house agrees to see him and lets him know that the brute she has married is hurting her. The friend almost begs him to visit and see what he can do. The man writes a letter of introduction to him, and since he is in the field, the man almost gives up until he has word that they are camped close to the railhead. He receives an invitation to visit. He notices the man sneak-drinking very heavily. He is seeing and hearing things that aren't there. He belittles his wife and his guest. His fears seem to be about a photograph he has of 9 men, 8 of whom are imprisoned or dead, the 9th, the leader, is currently on trial. He asks the young visitor if he would consent to take the photo so that he is no longer under threat by the remaining members who haven't been caught. The young man agrees. At one point, the young man hears the young woman wishing herself dead. He had left his pipe behind on purpose, hoping to speak with her, and sees her with a rook rifle, a small rifle used for bird hunting. Like any small gauge rifle, it can still be fatal up close. She is only making sure the breach is empty and ready for.loading when he returns. There is no time, though he tells her he will write, and she tells him not to bother as she would never get the letter. The next day, he is to leave India. But before he can leave, the young woman is arrested for the murder of her husband, even though she had at the time he returned for his pipe the night before, not found the cartridges for the gun.
He stays in India...he lays low and follows the trial. When it becomes obvious the tide is going to go againat her, he contacts both legal teams and says he was there the night of the murder, but had left the tent to catch the train. He says he was supposed to be on a boat on the way back, but that he stayed to hand the photo the man had given him over to those in charge of the trial of the 9th man. He makes his statement, but perjures himself - he uses a hallucination the man had and presents it as fact, saying that he saw it as well, and tells them of the man's fears that someone would kill him for the photo because it would be evidence for the prosecution of the 9th man. He intimates that person may have killed the man. The woman is acquitted, and goes to England on the same day as the young man, but pn a different boat.
The young man is in Parliament now, and feels he has lost the young woman, plus contact between them now would seem suspicious. Meanwhile, she has rented the cottage in which she lived with her parents, who are now dead. There is a lot of censure from those who believe her still guilty, which includes the gentry on charge of the place - the man of the couple is a barrister and knows the young man, in fact, has worked with him. In the lesser house for lesser gentry lives the woman's widower brother, whose son is in the Coldstream Guards, and at 34, has gotten along very well. He is visiting his dad, who likes to go against the main opinions and writes pamphlets which he sends off to MPs and others. The cottage is just across from their larger house. They invite the young woman to prove they believe her innocent. Later, the man invites his sister and brother in law to a dinner party that includes the young woman. The sister is convinced of her guilt. Though the BIL has adopted a wait and see attitude. Then the young woman falls in love with the pamphleteer's son, and his belief in her innocence becomes doubt. How will he reconcile this?
"Oh, what a tangled web we weabe,
When first we practice to deceive."
A young man from a family of modest means has great ambitions. The best way to realize those dreams - become a famous barrister, try for a seat in parliament - is to study law. He is ready to begin his practice and takes a little vacation in Sussex. There he meets an attractive young woman. She falls for him, and he for her, but he wants to wait until he has become more established. He says he shall be in bed late and up early for a good while, likely only able to afford to rent rooms. He is afraid that part of his life will make her feel isolated and lonely, while she believes if they're working together, then they will both appreciate the rewards more. He refuses, as he has seen marriages fail for others who have married too early in the career building process. He leaves to start his career.
What he won't learn until much later is that she was quite broken-hearted, so when invited, she agreed to visit a friend in India during the cold season. She is, of course, taken to social events by her hosts, and as often happens in the social scene, she drifts into marriage with a man whom she doesn't realize is a secret drunk and a violent man. He is a captain in the Raj, and spends a great deal of time touring various military camps.
The young man has a case that takes him to India. His host takes him to visit a friend, amd he sees a photo of his long-ago vacation romance in her house. He mentions it. The woman of the house agrees to see him and lets him know that the brute she has married is hurting her. The friend almost begs him to visit and see what he can do. The man writes a letter of introduction to him, and since he is in the field, the man almost gives up until he has word that they are camped close to the railhead. He receives an invitation to visit. He notices the man sneak-drinking very heavily. He is seeing and hearing things that aren't there. He belittles his wife and his guest. His fears seem to be about a photograph he has of 9 men, 8 of whom are imprisoned or dead, the 9th, the leader, is currently on trial. He asks the young visitor if he would consent to take the photo so that he is no longer under threat by the remaining members who haven't been caught. The young man agrees. At one point, the young man hears the young woman wishing herself dead. He had left his pipe behind on purpose, hoping to speak with her, and sees her with a rook rifle, a small rifle used for bird hunting. Like any small gauge rifle, it can still be fatal up close. She is only making sure the breach is empty and ready for.loading when he returns. There is no time, though he tells her he will write, and she tells him not to bother as she would never get the letter. The next day, he is to leave India. But before he can leave, the young woman is arrested for the murder of her husband, even though she had at the time he returned for his pipe the night before, not found the cartridges for the gun.
He stays in India...he lays low and follows the trial. When it becomes obvious the tide is going to go againat her, he contacts both legal teams and says he was there the night of the murder, but had left the tent to catch the train. He says he was supposed to be on a boat on the way back, but that he stayed to hand the photo the man had given him over to those in charge of the trial of the 9th man. He makes his statement, but perjures himself - he uses a hallucination the man had and presents it as fact, saying that he saw it as well, and tells them of the man's fears that someone would kill him for the photo because it would be evidence for the prosecution of the 9th man. He intimates that person may have killed the man. The woman is acquitted, and goes to England on the same day as the young man, but pn a different boat.
The young man is in Parliament now, and feels he has lost the young woman, plus contact between them now would seem suspicious. Meanwhile, she has rented the cottage in which she lived with her parents, who are now dead. There is a lot of censure from those who believe her still guilty, which includes the gentry on charge of the place - the man of the couple is a barrister and knows the young man, in fact, has worked with him. In the lesser house for lesser gentry lives the woman's widower brother, whose son is in the Coldstream Guards, and at 34, has gotten along very well. He is visiting his dad, who likes to go against the main opinions and writes pamphlets which he sends off to MPs and others. The cottage is just across from their larger house. They invite the young woman to prove they believe her innocent. Later, the man invites his sister and brother in law to a dinner party that includes the young woman. The sister is convinced of her guilt. Though the BIL has adopted a wait and see attitude. Then the young woman falls in love with the pamphleteer's son, and his belief in her innocence becomes doubt. How will he reconcile this?
November 14, 2014
The more that I read of this book which B&N wanted me to review, the less I liked it. The author seemed to be changing facts around all the time. Stella, apparently was not the young naive woman with whom Henry had fallen in love right years before. Was she or her brutal husband the victim? Do we really care?
October 28, 2018
Not the riveting courtroom drama I anticipated. This, rather, was a tragic love story. And what one man would do for the woman he loved, and she for him. Lives gone wrong, love endures. This was a great story.
November 8, 2018
Older but great
Loved it. It us very well written, and keeps you guessing right up until the end. A little intrigue, a little romance, a little deceit. What's not to like? Nice to curl up with in front of a fire. I will read the others.
Loved it. It us very well written, and keeps you guessing right up until the end. A little intrigue, a little romance, a little deceit. What's not to like? Nice to curl up with in front of a fire. I will read the others.
August 16, 2017
Well-written and researched classic thriller. Pleasant and classic mystery/romance. Well narrated. Free on Librivox.org recommended for the "tired of reading that modern trash" readers.
February 11, 2019
Ok.
I like it for the hopeless romantic in me, that saves the book for me.
It’s not particularly well written at times, the narrative doesn’t flow as smooth all the way through, and Mason seems to reveal some of his prejudices and the views of his time (India as the dark exotic land of secrets, Victorian sense of honor).
I like it for the hopeless romantic in me, that saves the book for me.
It’s not particularly well written at times, the narrative doesn’t flow as smooth all the way through, and Mason seems to reveal some of his prejudices and the views of his time (India as the dark exotic land of secrets, Victorian sense of honor).
May 9, 2020
I didn't find it enthralling.
August 13, 2021
cute, but not too interesting
January 29, 2023
Subtle
A murder mystery that is no mystery that becomes a mystery until it is all solved and then it reverses and that's interesting
A murder mystery that is no mystery that becomes a mystery until it is all solved and then it reverses and that's interesting
January 18, 2020
From The Four Feathers to the four featherheads.
Maybe that's a bit harsh, but the principal characters in this drama, especially during the opening act in India, were stiff and dull, even faintly ridiculous at times in their mannered staginess.
Stella Ballantyne is married to a brutal husband. An old flame, barrister Henry Thresk, visits the couple and witnesses her distress. After he leaves Stephen Ballantyne is found dead, shot with his wife's gun. In the resulting court case, Thresk intentionally dishonours his professional vows in order to gain Stella a reprieve.
If the case as outlined by Mason bore any accuracy to how a similar real-life case would have been tried in court it didn't reflect well on the logic of criminal prosecution back then. Crucial focus was given to a particular aspect of the evidence which seemed largely irrelevant to me, and indeed when it was finally explained away it explained nothing.
Things did improve a little with a change in scene to England with the introduction of the fourth featherhead Mr Hazelwood, an eccentric contrarian to public opinion. His son Richard says of him, "My father was born predestined to believe that all the people whom he knows are invariably wrong, and all the people he doesn't know are invariably right."
Mr Hazelwood is made to regret his liberal principles once a dilemma arrives at his own door and is exposed as little more than a 'sentimental philosopher.' I didn't expect Mason, a Liberal MP, to hang the poor fellow out to dry.
Mason adapted this novel into a successful play, or maybe he too swiftly adapted his successful play into an unsuccessful novel? They appeared in the same year anyhow.
Maybe that's a bit harsh, but the principal characters in this drama, especially during the opening act in India, were stiff and dull, even faintly ridiculous at times in their mannered staginess.
Stella Ballantyne is married to a brutal husband. An old flame, barrister Henry Thresk, visits the couple and witnesses her distress. After he leaves Stephen Ballantyne is found dead, shot with his wife's gun. In the resulting court case, Thresk intentionally dishonours his professional vows in order to gain Stella a reprieve.
If the case as outlined by Mason bore any accuracy to how a similar real-life case would have been tried in court it didn't reflect well on the logic of criminal prosecution back then. Crucial focus was given to a particular aspect of the evidence which seemed largely irrelevant to me, and indeed when it was finally explained away it explained nothing.
Things did improve a little with a change in scene to England with the introduction of the fourth featherhead Mr Hazelwood, an eccentric contrarian to public opinion. His son Richard says of him, "My father was born predestined to believe that all the people whom he knows are invariably wrong, and all the people he doesn't know are invariably right."
Mr Hazelwood is made to regret his liberal principles once a dilemma arrives at his own door and is exposed as little more than a 'sentimental philosopher.' I didn't expect Mason, a Liberal MP, to hang the poor fellow out to dry.
Mason adapted this novel into a successful play, or maybe he too swiftly adapted his successful play into an unsuccessful novel? They appeared in the same year anyhow.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews