They Are The
Companions And Neighbors Of The Captain, It Is Said, - Men Who Know
Him In His Business And Domestic Relations, And Who Knew Him In
His Early Youth.
They are also men of the highest standing in the
community, and who, as the captain's employers, must be supposed
to know his character.
This testimony is then contrasted with
that of some half dozen obscure sailors, who, the counsel will
not forget to add, are exasperated against the captain because
he has found it necessary to punish them moderately, and who
have combined against him, and if they have not fabricated a
story entirely, have at least so exaggerated it, that little
confidence can be placed in it.
The next thing to be done is to show to the court and jury that the
captain is a poor man, and has a wife and family, or other friends,
depending upon him for support; that if he is fined, it will only be
taking bread from the mouths of the innocent and helpless, and laying
a burden upon them which their whole lives will not be able to work
off; and that if he is imprisoned, the confinement, to be sure,
he will have to bear, but the distress consequent upon the cutting
him off from his labor and means of earning his wages, will fall
upon a poor wife and helpless children, or upon an infirm parent.
These two topics, well put, and urged home earnestly, seldom fail
of their effect.
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