Facts of the case

Jameson is nothing short of brilliant in her defense. He basis his argument on her right to defend herself against rape and also cross-examines prosecution witnesses to show without a doubt that she was being raped systematically over a period of years. Most of the witnesses don't want to admit this, and the prosecution successfully object to his arguments and conclusions.

The most important part of any jury trial is jury instruction - the part where the Judge guides the jury to their conclusion and hints at the direction in which their considerations should go. Jameson's contention that as a woman Celia has a right to defend herself falls on deaf ears. Judge Hall will not allow her to be considered more than property, and so she is sentenced to be executed. Jameson is furious and works to file an appeal to the Missouri Supreme Court. The Court ignores him, but a couple of days before she is scheduled to die, Celia is released from jail, but only to find that Jameson's appeal has been denied. The Supreme Court upholds the ruling that states a slave is the property of the owner and therefore has no legal rights whatsoever.

At the end of December, Celia is hanged.