Wearing a policeman's coat gave no authority when the officer exceeded his jurisdiction.

He had argued this before Lord Chief Justice Erie in the Court of Common Pleas, and that learned judge did not venture to contradict the argument which he submitted.

There was another reason why they should spare these men, although he hardly expected the Government to listen, because the Government sent down one of the judges who was predetermined to convict the prisoners; it was that the offence was purely a political one.

The death of Brett was a sad mischance, but no one who read the evidence could regard the killing of Brett as an intentional murder.

Legally, it was murder; morally, it was homicide in the rescue of a political captive.