BRIGHTLY. The prisoner’s name is Francis Halcom. He is a native of Creelsboro’, Tennessee, on the Cumberland river. I have known the family since my childhood. With the exception of three years in Massachusetts for education, Creelsboro’ has always been his home. When Tennessee withdrew from the confederation, he immediately went north, raised troops, and has since led them on to pillage and murder in his native state. Yesterday, he was captured with arms in his hands, fighting as becomes a traitor. (_Steps aside._) HOOD. D’Arneaux, take the stand. (_Sworn._) Tell the court what you know of this case. D’A. I am acquainted with all the facts related by Captain Brightly. In addition, while the prisoner was absent in Massachusetts, his family was assassinated, and home burned, on account of political differences. When the war broke out, he was exiled for the same reason. HOOD. You would defend this murderer? D’A. Justice demands _all_ the facts. HOOD. Which palliate nothing. D’A. Had the assassin destroyed my family, and deprived me of my civil rights in the name of the state, _I too would have been a traitor!_ HOOD. Leave your sword at my headquarters, and consider yourself under arrest. Step aside. D’A. I wash my hands of this murder about to be consummated. HOOD. Go to your quarters, sir. I command here. (_D’A. leaves slowly. To Halcom._) You have heard the evidence against you—what have you to say? HALCOM. Of what use is a defence in such a court as this? HOOD. The court will hear an excuse, even. HALCOM. The principal evidence is guilty of the murder of my family. BRIGHTLY. I demand that he shall be made to prove that. HALCOM. The closing of my life saves his. BRIGHTLY. I demand an end of this cant. HOOD. I will hold him responsible for every word he speaks. HALCOM. Who speaks of responsibility? The history of today is yet to be written. When it is, a page will be given to the infamy of the leaders of this revolt. Two thousand years of the world’s best civilization tramples with disdain on the barbarisms for which you contend. Justice, Christianity and manhood alike repudiate the dishonor your sword sustains. What is treason? (_Pointing to B._) To defend my country against such reptiles as that! BRIGHTLY. Will the court listen to this croaking liar longer? HOOD. Leave him to his falsehoods. They but invite the bullet still more. HALCOM. Most wise judge! How evenly are the scales of justice balanced in your court! How commendable are the tales that suit the judge! How villainously disgusting are the defensive presumptions of the prisoner, that might so basely impugn the intentions of the court! HOOD. Who hatches crime, will defend a lie! HALCOM. Who subverts justice, is a traitor to God! BRIGHTLY. Let the bullet settle this at once. HOOD. (_To the court._) Gentlemen of the court, you have heard the evidence. Is the prisoner guilty? ALL. Aye, guilty!