Robert Adams. His evidence was the same as before, with some additions. He said, that when the proposition was made for assassinating the Ministers, it was added, that they had found out where they kept their specie, and that they were to return and plunder it. Bradburn was to make a box for the purpose of sending Castlereagh’s head to Ireland.
In cross-examination by Mr. Curwood, he said he came back to the belief in Christianity about the 24th of February—the day after he was in marvellous great danger of being hanged. The halter might have had some effect. It was never lawful in his sight to sweep off fifteen men in cold blood. He thought it was a cruel act when it was proposed. Nevertheless, from the 12th of January to the 23d of February, he still continued to frequent the society in which that matter was debated. He was once a chairman. The largest body he ever saw collected was in Cato-street. There was a talk of a great many more, but he did not know them by name. His single sword was all he agreed to contribute. He never heard where Mr. Cook’s party were to come from. Nobody objected to the proclamation written by Thistlewood—“Your tyrants are destroyed,” &c.
He did not know a man of the name of Chambers, nor did he ever call upon such a man, and say he would have “wine and blood for supper,” and solicit him to join in this plot. His object in joining their parties was, to search further into the principles of Brunt; he joined them because he had a foolish and curious idea to know what Brunt’s principles were; and for this reason he joined in this plot. He did not know a man of the name of Watman. Tidd did not say he had been deceived in the loft in Cato-street; but he said, “it never can be done.”
Tidd and Davidson now both expressed a wish to ask the witness some questions:
Mr. Baron Garrow humanely interposed, and suggested whether, for their own advantage, it would not be more consistent with prudence to put their questions through their Counsel, as they might do something prejudicial to themselves.
The prisoners both thanked his Lordship, and communicated to Mr. Harmer’s clerk, the inquiries which they wished to be made.
The witness then, in answer to questions put by Mr. Curwood, said, that he could not say that Davidson was armed in Cato-street; he did not notice any arms.
In re-examination by the Solicitor-General, he said that Davidson brought 500 bullets to Fox-court, on the 22d of February. He had changed his religion in consequence of reading Paine’s Age of Reason, which was put into his hand by the prisoner Tidd; he did not see Palin, or Cook, or Potter, in Cato-street; he did not know of what numbers their parties consisted.
Eleanor Walker, Mary Rogers, Joseph Hale, (apprentice to Brunt), were then called; they repeated their former testimony as to the presence of Davidson and Tidd at the meetings in Fox-court.
Hale, in cross-examination by Mr. Curwood, said, that Edwards was oftener at the meetings in Fox-court than Adams.