He wrestled for the mastery rather than appealed for sympathy.
And he won his cause.

His scathing attacks, his magnetism, his ruthless insistence left an indelible mark upon the minds of the jury--such a mark as no subsequent comments from the judge could efface or even moderate.
The verdict returned was unanimous in spite of a by no means favourable summing-up.

The prisoner was Not Guilty.
At the pronouncement of the verdict there went up a shout of applause such as that Court had seldom heard.

The prisoner, rather white but still affecting sublime self-assurance, accepted it with a smile as a tribute to himself.

But it was not really directed towards him.