At a special session of the Court of Common Pleas held at Pollard’s Tavern during a fast-moving blizzard, Hallowell gathers to hear two linked matters: whether Joseph North will be charged over Rebecca Foster’s accusation, and what is to be made of Joshua Burgess’s death. Martha Ballard and Dr. Benjamin Page are called to testify first about Burgess’s body. Martha calmly explains that Burgess’s broken neck and rope burns fit hanging, but his many fresh bruises show he was beaten while still alive, making suicide impossible. Page initially tries to defend his earlier opinion, then changes course and reveals that Burgess fought with Martha’s son Cyrus the night before he died.

The judges press Martha about when she learned of the fight and whether Cyrus confessed. Martha explains that Cyrus defended her daughter at a dance, that witnesses saw Burgess leave alive, and that Cyrus was home later that night. Cyrus is brought forward, and Martha angrily clarifies that although he is mute, he is not deaf and can read and write. Cyrus admits the altercation but denies killing Burgess; the judges order a written deposition from him. Martha is then recused from further participation in the murder inquiry, and the court leaves Burgess’s cause of death officially unresolved while continuing to investigate.

The hearing shifts to Isaac Foster after Sally Pierce repeats her claim that Rebecca once said, “Isaac did kill him.” Martha counters that Sally overheard only part of the sentence and that Rebecca actually said she hoped Isaac had killed Burgess. Rebecca confirms Martha’s version, exposing Sally’s testimony as incomplete. The court then turns fully to Rebecca’s accusation against Joseph North.

Rebecca gives a long, painful account of the night North and Burgess forced their way into her home while Isaac was away. She describes being struck by the door, dragged to the bedroom while dazed, stripped, and assaulted by both men. Burgess raped her first; then North deliberately prolonged and brutalized the attack, insulting her and terrorizing her into silence by reminding her that her children were nearby. Rebecca explains that she told no one immediately because North himself was the judge who would have heard any complaint.

Martha is called again to confirm Rebecca’s injuries and to present her diary entries and later interactions with North. North pleads not guilty, points to his reputation, and offers Lidia North as an alibi, while trying to recast the case as a grudge involving Isaac Foster’s dispute with the town. After recess, the judges decide that charges will be brought against North, but because no witness saw the assault itself, they reduce the matter to attempted rape rather than a capital rape charge. They order North held at Fort Western until trial three months later, but when called forward to acknowledge the ruling, he is gone: Joseph North has fled.