An Authentic History of the Cato-Street Conspiracy / With the trials at large of the conspirators, for high treason and murder, a description of their weapons and combustible machines, and every particular connected with the rise, progress, discovery, and termination of the horrid plot

by George Theodore Wilkinson

The Lord Chief Justice.—You swear the contents of your affidavit are true?

Wilson.—Yes.

The Lord Chief Justice.—Let the plea be received.

The plea was handed accordingly to Mr. Shelton.

The Lord Chief Justice.—The plea is received by the Court. It is for the Attorney General to consider what he proposes to do with it. For the present, take that man back.

The prisoner stood back. Harrison, Bradburn, Strange, Gilchrist, and Cooper, then pleaded Not Guilty, and pursued the course adopted by the other prisoners.

Thistlewood, Brunt, Tidd, Wilson, Harrison, and Strange, were then arraigned on a second indictment, charging them, in various counts, with the wilful murder of Richard Smithers, in the parish of Marylebone, in the county of Middlesex, on the 23d of February last.

They all pleaded Not Guilty, with the exception of Wilson, who again pleaded the misnomer, and a plea was ordered to be prepared accordingly.

Ings now attracted the attention of the Court, and said, “I wish to speak, if I am permitted. I wish to know whether we are going to be tried altogether or separately? My wish is to be tried separately. I think I shall be able to prove that I am innocent of the charges alleged against me.”