"In the light of that martial code whereby it was formally to be judged, innocence and guilt personified in Claggart and Budd in effect changed places. In a legal view the apparent victim of the tragedy was he who had sought to victimize a man blameless; and the indisputable deed of the latter, navally regarded, constituted the most heinous of military crimes."
Herman Melville

January 1, 1970

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Original Language: English

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Ch. 21

https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Herman_Melville