The only thing needed to show guilt or innocence is sufficient light:
Aaron Burr once defended a prisoner charged with murder, and as
the trial proceeded it became too manifest to him that the guilt
of the murder lay between the prisoner and one of the witnesses
for the prosecution. He accordingly subjected this witness to
a searching and relentless cross-examination; and then, as he
addrest the jury in the gathering dusk of evening, he brought
into strong relief every fact that bore against this witness,
and suddenly seizing two candelabra from the table, he threw a
glare of light on the witness’s face, and exclaimed, “Behold the
murderer, gentlemen!” Alarmed and conscience-stricken, the man
reeled as from a blow, turned ghastly pale, and left the court.
The advocate concluded his speech in a tone of triumph, and the
jury acquitted the prisoner. (Text.)--CROAKE JAMES,
“Curiosities of Law and Lawyers.”
(1328)
H