Upon examination a wound was found in the back of the head which had
been caused by a bullet. His watch and purse were still in their places,
but his pocket-book was gone. Clasped in one of the hands was a
newspaper, on the blank margin of which were some red letters, rudely
traced, and looking as though they had been written with blood. The
letters were these:

"DALTON SHOT ME BEC--"

It was evident that the writer intended to write the word "because," and
give the reason why he had been shot, but that his strength had failed
in the middle of the word.

A closer search revealed some other things. One was a small stick, the
point of which was reddened with a substance which microscopic
examination afterward showed to be blood. The other was a scarf-pin made
of gold, the head of which consisted of a Maltese cross, of very rich
and elegant design. In the middle was black enamel inclosed by a richly
chased gold border, and at the intersection of the bars was a small
diamond of great splendor. If this cross belonged to the murderer it had
doubtless become loosened, and fallen out while he was stooping over his
victim, and the loss had not been noticed in the excitement of the
occasion.

At the coroner's inquest various important circumstances were brought to
light. The fact that his watch and purse remained made it plain that it
was not a case of common highway robbery, and the loss of the
pocket-book showed that the deed was prompted by a desire for something
more than ordinary plunder. Proceeding from this, various circumstances
arose which, in addition to the terrible accusation traced in blood,