With reference to the interview with Mr. Henderson, it was maintained
that it arose, as he himself said, from a desire to shield the real
culprit, whom he knew, and for whom he felt a strong and unusual regard.
Who this culprit was the defense did not assert, nor could they imagine,
though they tried every possible way of finding him out. Whoever he was,
he appeared to be the only one who could have had a motive strong enough
for the murder of Mr. Henderson. The unknown assassin had evidently done
the deed so as to obtain possession of the forged check, and prevent its
being used against him. In this he was unsuccessful, since the check had
already been intrusted to the hands of others; but the aim of the
assassin was sufficiently evident.

Again, as to the writing in blood, a vigorous effort was made to show
that this was a conspiracy against an innocent man. It was argued that
Mr. Henderson did not write it at all; and efforts were made to prove
that the wound in his head must have caused instantaneous death. He
himself, therefore, could not have written it, but it must have been the
work of some one who was plotting against Dalton, or who was eager to
divert suspicion from himself.

The testimony of the Maltese cross was met by counter-testimony to the
effect that Dalton had never worn such an ornament. His servants all
swore that they had never seen it before. Mr. Henderson's clerks also
swore that Mr. Dalton wore no pin at all on that morning of the
interview.

And, finally, an effort was made to prove an _alibi_. It was shown
that Dalton's occupation of his time during that evening could be
accounted for with the exception of one hour. Witnesses were produced