The police, jointly and severally, had made up their minds as to the facts of Pauline Pennington’s death. They were certain that Emily Duane in a moment of impulsive anger had pushed her over the rail and then, horrified and frightened at what she had done, had run away to hide.
They reconstructed the crime to their own satisfaction, timing it to coincide with Jim Pennington’s absence at the Wallace shop. They were sure that Emily came along just after he had left his wife, and that the two women quarrelled, and Emily, with her quick temper and her active muscles, had given the other a push that sent her to her death.
This, they conceded, was probably impulsive and not intentional, but perhaps Mrs. Pennington was standing insecurely, and the rail of that bridge was admittedly rather low.
