An Englishman and his butler arrive in Jacksonville in 1905, intent on swindling prominent businessman Lucas Porter with a real estate scam. The plan is spoiled when their mark is murdered before they can set him up. Plan B is to swindle the entire town by selling bonds, the proceeds of which will be used to build a steel foundry. Police Chief Charles Cooper ignores the conmen to focus on the murder and arrests a likely suspect. But Detective Lambert Van Poole convinces the Chief that this is no simple murder, and he produces a list of suspects that include the victim's paramour, his son-in-law, the Englishman and the Chairman of the County Commission. The investigation ends up as a Coroner's Inquest presided over by Justice of the Peace Elmer Titshaw. In spite of everyone's best effort, justice is served as to the murder. As for the swindle, one man got considerably richer.