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Chapter 27. Closing Remarks The Last of the Testimony was heard on the late afternoon of Tuesday, February 5th, 1929.

When Gordon Stewart Northcott packed up and left the court, he seemed upbeat, believing that he had done an exemplary job of defending himself.

Northcott declared to reporters, who were eager to get a quote

for the next morning's papers, that he had overheard members of the prosecution in conversation,

expressing concern that their case was not strong enough and that they would need the press's help.

The defendant said,

One of these men sounded like Sheriff Sweeters, and I heard him say,

We have to do something in a hurry or we will not get a conviction. We will have to get the newspaper men together and work with them because it doesn't look now like we will get

anywhere with this case and we certainly can't

afford to lose it. Northcott also went on to claim that some of his court papers had been

stolen from his cell. Always one to pat himself on the back and make a song and dance out of anything

he did. Northcott said that he had soldiered on,

piecing together a fine defence that would see him walk out of court a free man.

Before closing statements were due to begin,

the defendant told the crowd of reporters,

Of course, after I'm acquitted, I'll be deported to Canada.

Then I'll have to go to work and earn some money to carry on my fight for little mother's freedom. I'll not rest until she is

free again. Then I may do something for Dad and Sanford. Northcott was beyond confident.

His arrogance was astounding. The verdicts had not been reached yet,

and he was already acting as if the jury had dismissed every charge he had faced.

The state's closing remarks began on Wednesday, February 6th. Northcott only occasionally glanced up from the defense's table, and when he did, he sniggered

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