Ephraim was a friend in need for James Goss. James ended his days as a bankrupt, who was prone to epileptic fits and in his old age took to drinking rather more than was good for him.
James also built himself a house in Stringy Bark forest. Palings lovingly adzed, a shingle roof and a forest view. What more could he ask for? Windows, that’s what. Two empty spaces in the front needed to be filled. Window sashes were a bit harder to build and glass not procurable from the forest. Wily James approached an empty house, “The Hermitage” and deftly removed a couple of the highly desired items. Unfortunately, when the theft was reported, a check of other buildings revealed that the windows in James Goss’s house exactly matched those missing from the Hermitage, four panes wide and with brass fittings. He was caught. A good lawyer was needed and he found one in person of Mr F R Lees. Witnesses were needed. Among them, who should volunteer other than one Ephraim Doe? Mr Lees read to him all of the depositions made before the committing magistrate and tutored Ephraim to make a statement in James’s defence. Whether Ephraim’s statement even made it to court is debatable.
Other witnesses stated that James had inherited the sashes when he married a widow. They had belonged to her previous husband. The magistrate was not happy. The witnesses had been trained and in addressing the jury, he commented severely on Mr Lees conduct. Why were the other witnesses statements allowed in court? Maybe Ephraim went a bit too far. Three years later, his family again colluded to give a statement of events, this time in the defence of Ephraim and Bridget. Again, their stories were too similar.
The jury found James Goss guilty
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