THE CRIMINAL BEFORE THE SENATE.

217

CHAPTER IX.

THE FATHER IN THE DEPTH OF HIS DISTRESS.

Before the Milanese Senate and its President Rigone 1the formal trial of Gianbatista shortly afterwards came on.The administration of the poison not being denied, thepleading for the defendant could be directed only towardsthe mitigation of punishment. Sixty-four pleas in miti-gation were devised in his behalf 2 .

The accusation against Aldo had not been maintained,but against Gianbatista the proofs apart from his ownconfession were convincing. Cross-examination showedthe existence of such provocation as has been alreadydetailed, and Evangelista declined to aver that hisdaughter’s character was unstained when she married.The case against the character of the dead woman wasnot, however, closely pressed. Physicians testified, onbehalf of the defendant, that poison had not causedBrandonia’s death.

1 De Vita Propria, cap. xlii.

2 Respons. in Crim. Evang. Seroni, ad fin.