I have as much right to believe that this was the case, as any man to believe the contrary.

Indeed, from what we know of the character of this wretched traitor and thief, it is not hard to believe that the attack upon this stranger would come from him." And so O'Hara proceeded with his most extraordinary defence.

Theory after theory he advanced, quoting instance after instance of extraordinary killings that were discovered to be accidental or in self-defence, till with the bewildered jury no theory explanatory of the crime committed in the basement of Paulina's house was too fantastic to be considered possible.
In his closing appeal O'Hara carried the jury back to the point from which he had set out.

With tears in his voice he recounted the scene of the parting between the prisoner and his children.

He drew a harrowing picture of the unhappy fate of wife and children left defenceless and in poverty to become the prey of such men as Rosenblatt.