In spite of the fact that the rebellious overthrew the government, and caused that the Chief Judge be murdered while he sat upon the Judgment-Seat, they were unable, as they desired, to establish a kingship to rule over the land. In the spasmodic attempts by Nephite Royalists to place a king at the head of their government, they never succeeded to permanently change the form of its administrative powers. Although the Heaven-inspired laws of the Republic were sometimes perverted to meet the criminal tendencies of the wicked or feed their greed, they were not made subject to the despotic rule of a king. This was especially true at times when the Gadianton Robbers elected men to governmental offices, and forthwith proceeded to fulfil their unrighteous purposes.