My death would not affect the prospects of the accused.

And so in one or two other cases that I have in hand; they could be equally well conducted by someone else.

The inference is that our friend is not connected with any of these cases, but that he believes me to possess some exclusive information concerning him--believes me to be the one person in the world who suspects and can convict him.

Let us assume the existence of such a person--a person of whose guilt I alone have evidence.

Now this person, being unaware that I have communicated my knowledge to a third party, would reasonably suppose that by making away with me he had put himself in a position of security.
"Here, then, is our first point.