...he was guilty as hell....kept re-swallowing the silver dollar to keep it hidden.....that or the cat that ran the Mortuary did it and planted it on him during the prep of the body.....
My interpretation is as follows...
Trusdale was set up as a fall guy. It was hinted several times that he had a drink problem- something which would make it easy to put him in the frame. Steal his hat from the bar, he probably won't notice (he didn't), plant it on the body (no signs of sexual assault, yet the hat was under her dress), then plant the dollar on him at a later stage.
To me, the dollar is the key part of the story. Having not had chance before his trial or execution, it was planted on him at the morgue - by the same people who told the sheriff it would be best not to return it to the family. Why would Trusdale keep swallowing it all the way to the gallows? Why didn't he return to the bar to spend the dollar he murdered a child for?
The line about Trusdale being upset that his last supper will not have time to digest before his death seems, to me at least, more a realisation about his mortality than a clue about the coin. I believe it was put there as a red herring.
I read the story as one about conspiracy, with the whole town - sheriff apart - knowing what really happened. Was the trial and execution really sped up due to the closing weather and to save a dime or two? Is there any benefits for the judge to act as the prosecution as well? Only if you want to keep the truth hidden...
Let me know your thoughts.