"Notwithstanding all the precautions I shall take to obviate so untoward a result, it is just possible that my death may be laid at the door of some innocent person. Many a guiltless man has been done to death by circumstantial evidence, and such a thing might easily happen again. I charge you, therefore, as my eldest son, that in the event of anyone being accused of my death, you at once make public such facts as will suffice to free him from so heinous a charge. Better, a thousand times better, that the whole truth should be told, than that the accusation of being a murderer should cling to anyone for an hour! I lay upon you this most solemn duty, being perfectly satisfied that I could entrust it into no better hands. My fervent hope, however, is that no such contingency may arise. Should it do so, your duty will lie plainly before you, and I feel satisfied that you will not shrink from doing it.
"And now, what shall I say more? I dare not write one-twentieth part of that which I feel, for fear I should break down; and I need all the strength I can summon to my aid to go through the ordeal before me. You will continue to be what you have always been--a good son and a good brother. You will treat your father's memory in your thoughts as leniently as you can. I have been weak, foolish--criminal, even; but had fortune smiled on my schemes, all this would have remained unknown, even to you. I should have lived and died prosperous and respected, and the local newspaper, in its obituary notice, would have attributed to me half the virtues under the sun. But should the world ever come to know that which I have here revealed to you, then the colors it would paint me in would be black indeed.
"I can write no more.
"Farewell, a long farewell.
"Your unhappy father,
"James Hazeldine."
Edward Hazeldine was still sitting with his father's open letter in his hand, in a maze of grief, shame, and perplexity, when there came a knock at his office door. He put the letter carefully out of sight, and then said, "Come in." A servant entered.
"If you please, sir, the Coroner has sent for you, and you are wanted immediately."
The Coroner and jury had met in a room of the "White Lion Hotel," a house not more than two or three hundred yards from the Bank. The twelve good men and true were either tradesmen or private householders of the town, all of whom had known, and most of them had done business with, the late Mr. Hazeldine.
After viewing the body, which still lay in the room where it had been found, the jury went back to the hotel. The proceedings were watched by Mr. Prestwich, solicitor, retained by Mr. Edward Hazeldine, on behalf of the relatives of the deceased. Mr. Mace and three of his men were in attendance.