ement of circumstances; others were constructed of
materials the least probable and likely. Every view had, however, its
peculiar advocates, and it was curious to see to what violence was
carried the war of controversy upon the subject.

By the publicity which accompanies such events as these, the ends of
justice are mainly sustained and aided. Discussion suggests inquiry,
and by degrees the general mind is turned with zeal to an investigation
which, under ordinary circumstances, had only occupied the attention of
the authorities.

To any one who has not witnessed a similar movement of popular anxiety,
it would be difficult to believe how completely this topic engrossed
the thoughts of the capital; and through every grade of society the same
intense desire prevailed to unravel this mystery. Amongst the many facts
adduced, was one which attracted a large share of speculation, and this
was the track of footsteps from the very opposite corner of the "Green"
to the fatal spot, and their issue at the little wicket gate of which
we have already spoken. These traces were made by a large foot, and were
unmistakably those of a heavy man, wearing boots such as were usually
worn by gentlemen. One peculiarity of them, too, was, that the heels
were studded with large nails, rarely worn save by the peasantry. A
shoemaker who served on the inquest was heard to remark that a very few
country gentlemen still persisted in having their boots thus provided,
and that he himself had only one such customer, for whom he had just
finished a new pair that were then ready to be sent home.

The remark attracted attention, and led to an examination of the boots,
which, strange to say, were found exactly to correspond with the tracks
in the clay. This fact, coupled with another, that the person for whom
they were made, and who had been impatient to obtain them, had not even
called at the shop or made any inquiry since the night of Rutledge's
death, was of so suspicious a nature, that the boots were taken
possession of by the authorities, and the maker strictly enjoined to the
most guarded secrecy as to the name of him by whom they were ordered.

With every precaution to secure secrecy, the story of the boots got
noised about, and letters poured forth in print to show that the custom
of wearing such heels as were described was by no means so limited as
was at first assumed. In the very thick of discussion on this subject,
there came a post letter