The remaining prisoners, John Harrison, Richard Bradburn, and John Shaw Strange, James Gilchrist, and Charles Cooper, were then called, and severally came to the bar, and held up their hands.
The Lord Chief Justice Abbott.—“Prisoners, attend while the indictment is read;” and then, addressing himself to Mr. Clarke, “Let their names be called over again.”
Their names were accordingly called over; and Mr. Clarke proceeded to read the indictment for high treason, for which see page 90.
On coming to the second count,
Mr. Curwood submitted, that as the overt acts in this count were similar to those in the first count, it was scarcely necessary to give the officer of the court the trouble of reading, or the court the fatigue of listening to it.
The Lord Chief Justice Abbott.—You think it may be dispensed with: very well, This may the more readily be acquiesced in, as all the prisoners have been furnished with copies of the indictment. Unless the prisoners themselves desire it, therefore, this count need not be read. His Lordship then addressed himself to the prisoners, and asked them whether they wished any more of this count to be read? He added, that their counsel thought it unnecessary.
Ings.—I do not think it is necessary.
The other prisoners all acquiesced in this determination.
The succeeding counts were then read, when Mr. Clarke addressed himself to Arthur Thistlewood, and asked him, whether he was guilty or not guilty of the treasons and felonies whereof he stood charged?