Pages 57 - 60....
It was suspected that Farrow intended to kill my aunt because he suspected her of influencing the Squire in his decision to get rid of him. Doubtless this idea arose through circumstances which do not appear to have previously been made public. Not long before the tragedy, my aunt and uncle went abroad for several weeks. Before leaving, they entrusted Farrow with the care of my aunt's favourite dog, a retriever, which was to be kept by him at his cottage during their absence. On their return home, to my aunt's great distress, they discovered that the dog had died from neglect.
For what has been described to me as a "gross dereliction of duty," Farrow was given a fortnight's notice by my uncle to leave his service. Moreover, it is now disclosed by the same authority that the gamekeeper had overheard my aunt alluding to him as "that murderer," meaning, of course, of her dog through negligence. How strange and prophetic that she should have used that word, which may perhaps have sown the seeds of bitterness in Farrow's heart.
.............................
And now we come to the highly important question of motive, which, oddly enough, does not appear to have been alluded to publicly at the inquest, though the jury would naturally have discussed it during their deliberations. As everyone is aware, no sane person would commit premeditated murder without some reason. Farrow was pronounced by a court of law to have been sane at the time of the disaster. What, then, was his motive for killing my uncle?
As a gamekeeper he had proved unsatisfactory, and he must have known that the Squire held a poor opinion of him despite the indulgence and consideration he enjoyed at the hands of a generous, kindly employer. Farrow's position as head keeper at Hanslope was not one to be despised. On the contrary, with so benevolent, tolerant a master, a pleasant outdoor life, good wages, and a comfortable cottage so close to his work, his job was unquestionably an enviable one. What is more he had a good wife and three small children dependent on him. Yet, in spite of all this, he was foolish enough t risk the loss of his excellent position by taking advantage of the squire's goodness. With any other employer it is unlikely he would have enjoyed so much consideration. But he finally overstepped the mark during the absence of his master and mistress.
............................
By their verdict the Coroner's jury found that Farrow was not insane. Legally, therefore, at the time of the shooting he was capable of knowing what e was doing and that it was wrong. It follows that he must have had a reason for killing his master, and there is no evidence of any reason whatsoever other than a desire for revenge. Indeed, so intense and overwhelming was this desire that Farrow was prepared to sacrifice his own life in order to achieve it.