ing that
some form of manslaughter had been committed, was it the act of one in
full possession of his faculties, or was it the act of one bereft of his
senses?

Generally speaking, public opinion inclined to the latter solution.
Indeed, there seemed to be but one other in any way tenable, and that
was, that the blow was self-inflicted. This theory had many partisans.
The records, if not choked, are well filled with the trials of
individuals who have confessed to crimes of which they were utterly
guiltless. It was discovered that a recent slump in Wall Street had
seriously affected Weldon's credit. It was known that his manner of
living had compelled his wife to return to her father's house, and it
was shown that she had begun an action for divorce. It seemed,
therefore, possible that he had taken his own life in Tristrem's
presence, and that Tristrem, in the horror of the spectacle, had become
mentally unhinged.

In addition to this, there was against Tristrem--aside, of course, from
the confession--barely a scintilla of evidence. The very instrument
which was found on his person, and with which he declared the murder had
been committed, was said not to belong to him. A servant of Weldon's
thought she had once seen it in the possession of her late master. And
it was argued that Tristrem had caught it up when it fell from the hand
of the dead, and, in the consternation of the moment, had thrust it in
his own pocket. Moreover, as suicides go, there was in Weldon's case a
tangible excuse. He was on the edge of bankruptcy, and his matrimonial
venture was evidently infelicitous. His life was an apparent failure.
Many other men have taken their own lives for causes much minor.

The theory of suicide was therefore not untenable, and those who
preferred to believe that a murder had been really committed were at a
loss for a motive. Tristrem and Weldon were known to have been on terms
of intimacy. Tristrem had been absent from the country a number of
months, while Weldon had steadfastly remained in New York. During the
intervening period it was impossible to conjecture the slightest cause
of disagreement. And yet, no sooner did the two men have the opportunity
of meeting, than one fell dead, and the other gave himself up as his
murderer. And if that murder had been really committed, then what was
the motive?

This was the point that particularly perplexed the District Attorney. It
could not have been money. Tristrem had ne