To Burlingame's mind Orlando was not the man to kill another by strangling him to death.

It was not in keeping with his character.

It was too aboriginal.
The Coroner believed the story solely because Orlando's frankness and straightforwardness filled him with confidence.

Also men of rude sense, like Jonas Billings, were willing to take bets, five to one, that Orlando was innocent.
The Young Doctor had not an instant's doubt, but he could not at first fix his suspicions in a likely quarter.

He had examined the body, and there were no marks save bruises at the throat.