By his father’s deathbed, a young man agrees to never marry below his station. Later, he falls in love with a lowly governess, impregnates her, and does not marry her. Many years later, as the President of the court of his town, he finds himself having to rule on his illegitimate daughter’s case of infanticide.
Karl Victor von Sendlingen, court president
Franz Victor von Sendlingen, Karl's father
von Sendlingen's grandfather
Maika
Franz, in service with the president
Brigitta, maid to the president
Victorine Lippert, Karl's daughter
Hermine Lippert, Victorine's mother
Werner, vice president
Georg Berger, defense attorney
Public prosecutor
Journalist
Weiden, later husband of Victorine
The last priest