Chapter 14 Summary

The adjudication room resembles a lecture theater in its layout. Seated beside Baily, Flashy is surprised to see behind them two pretty, giggling "yellow girls" in New Orleans finery, who have the audience's attention. Anderson and Spring sit at one table, Clitheroe and Dunne at another, all facing the sharp-faced adjudicator, who is flanked on either side by an assessor. The clerk reads the specifications and charges being brought in Fairbrother's name. These include piracy for firing on a U.S. Navy vessel and attempting to dispose of evidence by drowning slaves. Anderson objects that neither the vessel nor her captain is American. Clitheroe cites precedents for dealing with a suspected slave ship. After long wrangling about procedure, the hearing begins. Flashy had not known that the defendant must show his innocence in these cases.

Anderson states that the plaintiff must show 1) Balliol...