Tom is forced to serve on a jury in the case of a rancher accused of rustling cattle, for which the judge is calling for hanging, and a public auction of the man's land, if he is found guilty. It quickly becomes apparent that everyone else on the jury is too anxious to convict, despite weak evidence, and that they are too afraid to defy the wealthy rancher who has brought the charges and wants the accused man's land. Tom holds out for acquittal and persuades the jurors to hold a secret ballot. But the deadlocked verdict is only the beginning of the problems Tom and the jurors will have to deal with.
—rbecker28