Some thought the wounds were inflicted by a vigorous man, others, that a woman had imbrued her hands in his blood.
The first, and perhaps most natural supposition, was that some negro, knowing the character of the voyage which the murdered man had contemplated, had taken this desperate mode of arresting his proceedings.

This theory, however, was soon generally abandoned for another.

It was suggested that one of the sailors who had shipped in the slaver and subsequently deserted, knowing the captain was seeking them in every direction, had met him in the street, and fearful of being arrested, or seeking to revenge a personal wrong, had committed the terrible crime.

This hypothesis was, doubtless, as false as either of the others, and more absurd.

It was, nevertheless, adopted by the city authorities, and promptly acted upon, with a disregard to the rights of individuals which seems strangely at variance with republican institutions.