Bentmore

In the novel Towards Zero, Bentmore was the judge in the Lamorne case. In his summing-up of the case he tried to put the matter in its correct perspective. The jury however believed one of the witnesses, a servant-girl, and chose to ignore the medical evidence.

The case was discussed in detail by Mr Treves' circle of legal friends in the prologue of the novel. The context of the discussion suggests that the servant-girl was a defence witness. Depleach, counsel for the prosecution, made the mistake of relying too much the testimony of one of their witnesses. This however gave Arthur, the defence counsel an opening, probably by bringing in the testimony of the servant girl. In the end the jury believed her and found the accused not guilty.