He refused to take a sum of money, and said that unless
I consented to his marriage with Madge he would publish the whole
affair. I implored him to give me time to think, so he said he would
give me two days, but no more, and left the house, taking the marriage
certificate with him. I was in despair, and saw that the only way to
save myself was to obtain possession of the marriage certificate and
deny everything. With this idea in my mind I followed him up to town
and saw him meet Moreland, and drink with him. They went into the hotel
in Russell Street, and when Whyte came out, at half-past twelve, he was
quite intoxicated. I saw him go along to the Scotch Church, near the
Bourke and Wills' monument, and cling to the lamp-post at the corner. I
thought I would then be able to get the certificate from him, as he was
so drunk, when I saw a gentleman in a light coat--I did not know it
was Fitzgerald--come up to him and hail a cab for him. I saw there was
nothing more to be done at that time, so, in despair, went home and
waited for the next day, in fear lest he should carry out his
determination. Nothing, however, turned up, and I was beginning to
think that Whyte had abandoned his purpose, when I heard that he had
been murdered in the hansom cab. I was in great fear lest the marriage
certificate should be found on him, but nothing was said about it. This
I could not understand at all. I knew he had
it on him, and I could only conclude that the murderer, whoever he was,
had taken it from the body, and would sooner or later come to me to
extort money, knowing that I dare not denounce him.
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