THE CRIMINAL BEFORE THE SENATE. 217 



CHAPTER IX. 



THE FATHER IN THE DEPTH OP HIS DISTRESS. 



BEFORE the Milanese Senate and its President Rigone 1 

 the formal trial of Gianbatista shortly afterwards came on. 

 The administration of the poison not being denied, the 

 pleading for the defendant could be directed only towards 

 the 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 own 

 confession were convincing. Cross-examination showed 

 the existence of such provocation as has been already 

 detailed, and Evangelista declined to aver that his 

 daughter's character was unstained when she married. 

 The case against the character of the dead woman was 

 not, however, closely pressed. Physicians testified, on 

 behalf of the defendant, that poison had not caused 

 Brandonia's death. 



1 De Vita Propria, cap. xliL 



3 Respons. in Grim. Evang. Seroni, ad fin. 



