The defendant's lawyer was furious.
No stone was left unturned, however, to prevent the case going to trial.
Pressure of the sharpest and closest kind was brought to bear on the Governor himself--pressure which required backbone to resist.

But he stood by his act: perhaps because he belonged to a different party than that in control of the city government; perhaps because of Peter's account, and the truthfulness in his face as he told it; perhaps because the Attorney-General had found it legal; perhaps because of his wife; perhaps it was a blending of all these.

Certain it is, that all attempts to block failed, and in the last week in August it came before the court.
Peter had kept his clients informed as to his struggles, and they were tremendously proud of the big battle and ultimate success, as indeed were the residents of the whole district, who felt that it was really their own case.

Then the politicians were furious and excited over it, while the almost unexampled act of the Governor had created a good deal of public interest in the case.

So the court was packed and the press had reporters in attendance.