At length, the twelve men being confined, so that _they_ cannot escape, in a sort of box; the Judge and the Lawyers being in their places, attired in the absurd wigs and black gowns [phe-ty-kos] (somebody once whispered in my ear, black-guards) [kon-di-to-ri]; the accused is ordered to stand up. The charge of murder is read;--confused by so much barbarous jargon, that no one but the Judge and the Lawyers understand it--in fact, oftentimes do not understand it--and the criminal often escapes trial because the _proper_ jargon has not been used. This _mixed tongue_ is the only one allowed in these trials, and must be taken from the fountain of Wisdom (as the Law book is called containing it). The speech is uncertain, only known to the Lawyers; and a mistake spoils the whole charge. Well, after more or less wrangling among the Lawyers, the charge finally stands. I must explain; there are _two sides_ of Lawyers--one (hired to do so), by _every means_ in its power tries to get the accused discharged, and is helped to do this by all the machinery of the trial--the other merely watches the proceedings, and sees that they are not too absolutely controlled by the other side. The latter, also, open and state the matter, and conduct it; but neither side works simply to obtain the truth. On the side of the accused, if guilty, the truth is _not_ wanted; and, on the other side, there is no interest in the matter which greatly moves. But the interest for the accused may be not merely to gratify, in some cases, powerful relatives, but to obtain as large _a sum_ of money as the Lawyers can get--which, where life is at stake, may be all the accused has now, or may, if discharged, acquire. In fact, in cases of robbery, the Lawyers for the accused may have received their compensation from the very plunder! The accused says to the charge either _Guilty_ or _Not Guilty_! This is a mere form. Then the names of the twelve men are called over, to see that none have got away--for it is a hateful and disgusting business often, wherein they _instinctively_ feel they really have no function--and yet enforced upon them, often to their actual great loss and suffering. How the scene fairly opens. The twelve little judges in their box; the big one sitting aloft, with pig-tail-ear-flapper wig; the Lawyers in pig-tail wigs and gowns; the officers of the Court; the witnesses, cowering and afraid; the accused in his high, strong cage (or box); and the spectators, friends, relatives, associates of the witnesses and of the accused--women and men--crowding in the dark corners of the Hall of trial.