When the judge had taken his seat, and the door opened to admit the four
youthful prisoners, all eyes were turned upon them. Slowly and with
downcast eyes they entered the chamber of justice, and amid an awe-like
stillness that pervaded the room, took their seats in the prisoners'
dock. In spite of all that had transpired, and with the full conviction
that these youthful offenders richly merited whatever judgment they were
to receive, there was not one in that entire audience, whose heart did
not throb with sympathy for the aged parents and relatives of the
accused, and even for the culprits themselves in this, the dreadful hour
of their humiliation and grief.
The trial was not a protracted one. A jury was speedily empaneled, the
low, stern tones of the judge were heard in timely admonition, and the
prosecution was commenced. Upon the prisoners being asked to plead to
the indictments which had been prepared against them, Mr. Kirkman, a
prominent attorney of Geneva, who had been retained to defend the
unfortunate young men, arose, and in impressive tones entered a plea of
guilty. With the keen perceptions of a true lawyer, he felt that the
proofs were too strong to be overcome, and that to attempt to set up any
technical defense would only result in greater hardships to his clients.
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