“This, I declare before God, whose awful tribunal I shall, in all probability, ere long, be summoned to attend, is the truth. Should I die by this case, I have been seduced by a villain, who, I have no doubt, has been employed by Government. I could not have abused confidence reposed in me; and, if I die, I shall die not unworthy the descendant of an ancient Briton! Sooner than I would betray a fellow-man, I would rather suffer a thousand deaths! This is all that I wish to say.”
The prisoner delivered the last part of his speech with great energy, striking his clenched fist on the board before him. He then took his seat with perfect composure, holding in his hand the defence which he had made no use of.
The Chief Baron began to sum up the evidence; but, while his Lordship was proceeding, Brunt said, “My Lord, there are some of the witnesses for the prosecution in Court; and, as their hearing the evidence summed up may prejudice the trial of some of my fellow-prisoners, I hope your Lordship will order them to withdraw.”
Mr. Gurney.—My Lord, they are only those witnesses who were permitted to remain by common consent; they are the officers.
The Lord Chief Baron.—They are only those whom your Counsel have consented to remain.
Mr. Baron Garrow repeated the same observation to the prisoner, who bowed respectfully to the Court, and resumed his seat.
The Chief Baron began his charge to the Jury by telling them, that this was not constructive treason. A nefarious assassination was admitted by the Counsel for the prisoner, and by the prisoner himself, to have been intended; an assassination of some of the most honourable and the most amiable of the King’s subjects.
His Lordship then read the evidence.
In recapitulating the evidence of Adams, his Lordship observed, upon that part where he (Adams) mentioned “that he had been induced to give up Christianity by reading that infernal work, Paine’s Age of Reason, and the writings of Carlile,” that the circumstance was important for the consideration of the Jury. They would weigh every part of his testimony with jealousy, considering the situation in which he was placed, and look upon his statement as requiring corroborative proof. Unless it was supported by such evidence, they would, of course, receive it with considerable hesitation; but if they found it corroborated by the evidence of unsuspected witnesses, they would consider of it accordingly. His Lordship then went through the evidence of the other witnesses, remarking upon those parts where they coincided with the account given by Adams. He then adverted to the arguments of the prisoner’s Counsel, and to the observations of the prisoner himself; which latter (though, perhaps, it might not have produced the impression which they could have wished, for the sake of the prisoner) they would give every attention to.
As soon as his Lordship concluded, and before the Jury retired, one of them addressed the Court: “My Lord, I hope your Lordship will allow me to ask a question as to a point of law.”