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The scandal surrounding the trial of Captain Kidd is that he knows too much about ranking officials, and they would rather see him hanged. What kind of damaging testimony might he know? CBS reporters have turned up evidence that if
Captain Kidd is allowed to put off his hanging until the fleet arrives, he has testimony that could shock the authorities, and have officers removed from command. Other factions want to move to have justice carried out swiftly, a matter that would have Captain Kidd dead, and harmless before the fleet arrives.
As the courtroom debate rages on, the captain is taken to the gallows. At the gallows, a festive atmosphere reigns as was typical for public hangings of the time. CBS reporters share some of the customs surrounding such a surreal event.
Back in the court, Captain Kidd isn’t without his supporters fighting for his freedom. Is he as innocent as they make him out to be? Has he been given the short end of the stick in his defense? If evidence has been withheld, why can’t the court just throw the case out, or wait? It all boils down to a power struggle between political factions, and Captain Kidd is just one small human caught in the giant cogs of the machine.
