But the acquittal on this first charge did not at all secure the escape
of Dalton from danger. Another charge, which had been interwoven with
the first, still impended over him, and no sooner was he declared free
of murder than he was arrested on the charge of forgery, and remanded to
prison to await his trial on that accusation.

Now during the whole course of the trial the public mind had been
intensely excited; all men were eager than vengeance should fall on some
one, and at the outset had made up their minds that Dalton was guilty.
The verdict of acquittal created deep and widespread dissatisfaction,
for it seemed as though justice had been cheated of a victim. When,
therefore, the trial for forgery came on, there weighed against Dalton
all the infamy that had been accumulating against him during the trial
for murder. Had this trial stood alone, the prisoner's counsel might
have successfully pleaded his high character, as well as his wealth,
against this charge, and shown that it was false because it was morally
impossible. But this was no longer of avail, and in the public mind
Frederick Dalton was deemed only a desperate murderer, whose good
reputation was merely the result of life-long hypocrisy, and whose
character was but an empty name.

And so in this trial it was shown that Dalton had first put forth the
forged check, and afterward learning that it was discovered prematurely,
had hurried to Liverpool so as to get it back from Mr. Henderson. His
asserted wealth was not believed in. Efforts were made to show that he
had been connected with men of desperate fortunes, and had himself been
perhaps betting heavily; and all this arts which ate usually employed by
unscrupulous or excited advocates to crush an accused man were freely
put forth. Experts were brought from London to examine Dalton's
handwriting, and compare it with that of the forged check; and these men