Formal witness testimony began on the first day of the trial, with 17 prosecution witnesses called to testify on this date, including the Detective Superintendent of the Surrey Constabulary, who formally introduced into evidence the birch bough murder weapon found on Hankley Common the previous October, and the knife forwarded to Surrey Police by Provost Sergeant Harold Wade. Also to testify was Wolfe's mother, Edith Watts, who formally identified her daughter's crucifix, purse, and elephant charm which had all been found in and around the dell where her daughter had been attacked, and Sergeant Charles Hicks, who testified as to his regularly reading Wolfe's letters to Sangret, then composing his replies. Hicks further testified that Sangret had only informed him of Wolfe's disappearance on 27 September.