Trial of Feargus O’Connor and 58 others, 1843

Much of the Chartist leadership found itself on trial after the events of the summer of 1842. This page sets out the charges of the Monster Indictment in full, listing the names of the defendants and the verdicts against them.

In August 1842, in the wake of Parliament’s rejection of the second Charter petition, a Chartist conference took place in Manchester. As it convened, strikes protesting at wage cuts imposed by the factory owners broke out first in Ashton, then across Manchester, spreading throughout the North West, down into the Midlands and South Wales and beyond.

Disputes still rage over the underlying causes of the strike wave. The Chartist leader Feargus O’Connor claimed at the time that it was a conspiracy got up by the Anti Corn Law League to discredit Chartism, and there is evidence that mill and factory owners did much to push their workers into strike action and little to prevent the strike spreading.

However, the grievances of those involved were genuine, and the local trade unionists who led the strike were committed and well organised.

And what is clear is that the dispute turned into a substantial and well-organised general strike wave, affecting as many as 32 counties, and with committees issuing permits for those who might work on during the stoppage. The strike has come down through history as the “plug plot riots”, though in truth it was neither a plot nor for the most part a riot.

Many of the delegates to the National Charter Association conference were suspicious of the strike, from the start, detecting the hand of the Anti-Corn Law League. They feared that factory owners had provoked the strike because over-production meant that they had too many goods in stock, and wanted a respite from paying their men’s wages. But, at length, resolutions were passed in support of the strike, and some Chartists placed themselves at the head of events, speaking from platforms and giving political direction.

For days as events unfolded the factories of mills of the North West were closed down by groups of workers who went from place to turning out the workers. With the exception of the work needed to maintain life, no-one worked without a permit from the strike committees. Manchester was in the hands of the working class.

But this was to be no dry run for the later Paris Commune. Without broader political direction – which the Chartists could but did not provide – the strikers were gradually starved back to work, and public order was restored.

As might have been predicted, when the strike failed, many of its leaders, along with the delegates to the conference were arrested.

Feargus O’Connor and 58 others went on trial at Lancaster assizes the following March, charged in what the Chartists dubbed the “monster indictment” with nine counts of inciting riots, risings, strikes and other forms of disorder. Still more men and women – 1,500 in total – were tried elsewhere, particularly in the Black Country and the Potteries, where nail makers, miners and others had been on strike for many months.

The Lancaster trial lasted eight days. The attorney general himself led for the prosecution, and some of the most damning evidence was given by two former Chartists who had turned Queen’s evidence. At the conclusion of the trial, charges had been dropped against seven men, 19 more were acquitted, and the remainder convicted of one or two of the nine counts against them. Sentence was, however, adjourned, and due to a fortuitous legal loophole, never passed. Many of those tried elsewhere were not so fortunate. The Chartist movement, however, had been robbed of its leadership and broken at its very height.

The names shown here are drawn from The Trial of Feargus O’Connor, Barrister-At-Law, and Fifty-Eight Others at Lancaster: On a Charge of Sedition, Conspiracy, Tumult, and Riot
– a contemporary account of the court proceedings published by the Manchester Chartist and later mayor of the town, Abel Heywood.

The Monster Indictment
Michaelmas Term, in the sixth year of Queen Victoria
County Palatine of Lacaster to wit,
Be it remembered that at a Session of our Sovereign Lady Victoria, by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, Queen, defender of the Faith, of hearing and determining and Gaol Delivery held at the Court House, in Liverpool, in and for the County Palatine of Lancaster, on Monday the Tenth Day of October, in the sixth year of the reign of our said Lady the Queen, before her Majesty’s right trusty and well-beloved Cousin and Councillor, James Lord Abinger, Chief Baron of her Majesty’s Court of Exchequer, her Majesty’s trusty and well beloved Sir Edward Hall Alderson, Knight, one of the Barons of her Majesty’s said Court of Exchequer, Sir Creswell Creswell, Knight, one of the Justices of her Majesty’s Court of Common Pleas, and other their companions, Justices and Commissioners of our said Sovereign Lady the Queen, by the letters patent of the said Lady the Queen under the seal of the said County Palatine of Lancaster, to the said Lord Abinger Sir Edward Hall Alderson and Sir Creswell Creswell, and others, or any two or more of them directed and whereof the said Lord Abinger, Sir Edward Hall Alderson and Sir Creswell Creswell (amongst others) our said Sovereign Lady the Queen would have to be onr, as well to hear and determine as inquire by the oaths of honest and lawful men of said County Palatine of Lancaster, and by other ways, means and methods, which they can as well within liberties as without by which the truth of the matter may be better known and inquired into of all treasons, misprisons of treason, insurrections, rebellions, murders, felonies, homicides, burglaries, manslaughters, rapes of women, unlawful congregations and conventicles, unlawful speaking of words, conjunctions, misprisons, confederacies, false allegations, trespasses, riots, routs, retainings, escapes, contempts, falcities, negligences, concealments, maintenances, oppressions, champarties, deceits, and other misdemeanours, offences and injuries whatsoever, and of the accessories to the same, within the county aforesaid, as well against the forms of certain statutes as against the common law, by whomsoever and howsoever had, made, done, perpetrated, or committed, by whom and to whom, when, how and after what manner, and of all other articles and circumstances, the truth of the premises, or any of them in anywise concerning, and the same treasons and other the premises to hear and determine, and the Gaol of the County aforesaid, and also the House of Correction at Kirkdale, in the Hundred of West Derby, in the same County Palatine, to deliver according to law and the custom of the kingdom of our Sovereigtn Lady the Queen, and so forth. It is upon the oaths of twelve Jurors, good and lawful men within the County Palatine aforesaid, impanelled and sworn and charged to inquire and present for our Sovereign Lady the Queen, and for the body of the County Palantine aforesaid, presented as followeth, (that is to say) Lancashire (two wit.) The Jurors for our Lady the Queen upon their present, That

Feargus O’Connor, late of Manchester, in the county of Lancaster, labourer.
Peter Murray M’Douall, late of the same place, labourer.
James Scholefield, late of the same place, labourer.
James Leach, late of the same place, labourer.
Christopher Doyle, late of the same place, labourer.
John Campbell, late of the same place, labourer.
Jonathan Bairstow, late of the same place, labourer.
Bernard McCartney, late of the same place, labourer.
James Arthur, late of the same place, labourer, otherwise called James McArthur.
David Ross, late of the same place, labourer.
Richard Otley, late of the same place, labourer.
George Julian Harney, late of the same place, labourer.
Jams Cartledge, late of the same place, labourer.
Thomas Cooper, late of the same place, labourer.
William Hill, late of the same place, labourer.
Robert Brooke, late of the same place, labourer.
James Taylor, late of the same place, labourer.
John Hoyle, late of the same place, labourer.
John Thornton, late of the same place, labourer.
John Norman, late of the same place, labourer.
Joseph Clarke, late of the same place, labourer.
John Massey, late of the same place, labourer.
John Fletcher, late of the same place, labourer.
Thomas Browne Smith, late of the same place, labourer.
Thomas Fraser, late of the same place, labourer.
John Allinson, late of the same place, labourer.
James Grasby, late of the same place, labourer.
William Beesley, late of the same place, labourer.
James Chippendale, late of the same place, labourer.
Samuel Parkes, late of the same place, labourer.
Thomas Railton, late of the same place, labourer.
Robert Ramsden, late of the same place, labourer.
James Mooney, late of the same place, labourer.
Thomas Mahon, late of the same place, labourer.
James Leach, late of the same place, labourer.
David Morrison, late of the same place, labourer.
John Lomax, late of the same place, labourer.
John Arran, late of the same place, labourer.
James Skevington, late of the same place, labourer.
William Scholefield, late of the same place, labourer.
Richard Pilling, late of the same place, labourer.
William Aitkin, late of the same place, labourer.
Sandy Challenger, late of the same place, labourer, otherwise called Alexander.
George Candalet, late of the same place, labourer.
John Durham, late of the same place, labourer.
James Fenton, late of the same place, labourer.
William Stephenson, late of the same place, labourer.
John Crossley, late of the same place, labourer.
Albert Woolfenden, late of the same place, labourer.
Robert Lees, late of the same place, labourer.
John Lewis, late of the same place, labourer.
Patrick Murphy Brophy, late of the same place, labourer.
George Johnson, late of the same place, labourer.
Thomas Storah, late of the same place, labourer.
William booth, late of the same place, labourer.
John Wilde, late of the same place, labourer.
William Woodruffe, late of the same place, labourer.
Frederick Augustus Taylor, late of the same place, labourer.
Thomas Pitt, late of the same place, labourer.

Together with divers other evil-disposed persons, to the Jurors aforesaid as yet unknown, on the first day of August in the sixth year of the reign of our Sovereign Lady Victoria and on diverse other days and times between that day and the first day of October in the year aforesaid, at the Parish of Manchester, in the county of Lancaster, unlawfully did conspire, confederate, and agree together, by causing to be brought and gathered together divers unlawful tumultuous and riotous assemblies of seditious and eviul-disposed persons in various parts of this Realm, and by forcing and compelling divers of Her Majesty’s peaceable subjects, being then employed in their respective trades, manufactures, and occupations, to desist and depart from their respective employments and work, and by divers seditious and inflammatory speeches, libels, placards, and other publications, to create alarm, discontent, and confusion, with intent thereby unlawfully to effect and bring about a change in the laws and constitution of this realm, against the peace of our said Lady the Queen, Her Crown and Dignity.

Second count. And the Jurors aforesaid, upon their oath aforesaid, do further present that the said Feargus O’Connor, Peter Murray M’Douall, James Scholefield, John Leach, Christopher Doyle, John Campbell, Jonathan Bairstow, Bernard McCartney, James Arthur, otherwise called James McArthur, David Ross, Richard Otley, George Julian Harney, James Cartledge, Thomas Cooper, William Hill, Robert Brooke, James Taylor, John Hoyle, John Thornton, John Norman, Joseph Clarke, John Massey, John Fletcher, Thomas Browne Smith, Thomas Fraser, John Allinson, James Grasby, William Beesley, James Chippendale, Samuel Parkes, Thomas Railton, Robert Ramsden, Robert Mooney, Thomas Mahon, John Leach, David Morrison, John Lomax, John Arran, James Skevington, William Scholefield, Richard Pilling, William Aitken, Sandy Challenger, otherwise called Alexander Challenger, George Candalet, John Durham, James Fenton, William Stephenson, John Crossley, Robert Woolfenden, Robert Lees, John Lewis, Patrick Murphy Brophy, George Johnson, Thomas Storah, William Booth, John Wilde, William Woodruffe, Frederick Augustus Taylor, Thomas Pitt, together with divers others evil disposed persons to the Jurors aforesaid as yet unknown, afterwards to wit on the first day of August, in the year aforesaid, and on divers other days between that day and the first day of October in the year aforesaid, unlawfully did conspire, confederate and agree together by force and violence, and by creating alarm, discontent, tumult and confusion, unlawfully to effect and bring about a change in the laws and constitution of this realm, against the peace of our said Lady the Queen, Her Crown and Dignity.

Third count. And the Jurors aforesaid, on their oath aforesaid, further present that heretofore on the first day of August, in the year aforesaid, and on divers other days and times, between that day and the first day of October in the year aforesaid, and at divers places within this realm, divers evil disposed persons unlawfully and tumultuously assembled together, and by violence, threats and intimidations to divers other persons, being them peaceable subjects of this realm, forced the said last-mentioned subjects, to leave their occupations and employments, and thereby impeded and stopped the labour employed in the lawful and peaceable carrying on, by divers large numbers of the subjects of the realm, of certain trades, manufactures and businesses, and thereby caused great confusion, terror and alarm in the minds of the peaceable subjects of this realm, and that afterwards, to wit, on the first day of August, in the year aforesaid, and on divers other days and times, between that day and the first day of October, in the year aforesaid, at the parish aforesaid, in the county aforesaid, the said Feargus O’Connor, Peter Murray M’Douall, James Scholefield, John Leach, Christopher Doyle, John Campbell, Jonathan Bairstow, Bernard McCartney, James Arthur, otherwise called James McArthur, David Ross, Richard Otley, George Julian Harney, James Cartledge, Thomas Cooper, William Hill, Robert Brooke, James Taylor, John Hoyle, John Thornton, John Norman, Joseph Clarke, John Massey, John Fletcher, Thomas Browne Smith, Thomas Fraser, John Allinson, James Grasby, William Beesley, James Chippendale, Samuel Parkes, Thomas Railton, Robert Ramsden, Robert Mooney, Thomas Mahon, John Leach, David Morrison, John Lomax, John Arran, James Skevington, William Scholefield, Richard Pilling, William Aitken, Sandy Challenger, otherwise called Alexander Challenger, George Candalet, John Durham, James Fenton, William Stephenson, John Crossley, Robert Woolfenden, Robert Lees, John Lewis, Patrick Murphy Brophy, George Johnson, Thomas Storah, William Booth, John Wilde, William Woodruffe, Frederick Augustus Taylor, Thomas Pitt, together with divers others evil disposed persons to the Jurors aforesaid as yet unknown, did unlawfully conspire, combine, confederate and agree together to aid, abet, assist, comfort, support and encourage the said evil disposed persons in this Count first mentioned, to continue and persist in the said unlawful assemblings, threats, intimidations and violence, and in the said impending and stopping of the labour employed in the said trades, manufactures and businesses, with intent thereby to cause terror and alarm in the minds of the peaceable subjects of this realm, and by means of such terror and alarm, violently and unlawfully to cause and procure certain great changes to be made in the constitution of this realm, as by law established against the peace of our Lady the Queen, Her Crown and Dignity.

Fourth count. And the jurors aforesaid, on their oath aforesaid, further present that C and at divers places, divers evil disposed persons unlawfully and tumultuously assembled together, and by violence, threats and intimidations to divers other persons being then peaceable subjects of this realm, forced the said last-mentioned subjects to leave their occupations and employments, and thereby impeded and stopped the labour employed in the lawful and peaceable carrying on by divers large numbers of the subjects of this realm of certain trades, manufactures and businesses and thereby caused great confusion, terror and alarm in the minds of the peaceable subjects of this realm, and, that afterwards, on the first day of August, in the year aforesaid and on divers other days and times, between that day and the first day of October, in the year aforesaid, in the parish aforesaid, in the county aforesaid, the said Feargus O’Connor, Peter Murray M’Douall, James Scholefield, John Leach, Christopher Doyle, John Campbell, Jonathan Bairstow, Bernard McCartney, James Arthur, otherwise called James McArthur, David Ross, Richard Otley, George Julian Harney, James Cartledge, Thomas Cooper, William Hill, Robert Brooke, James Taylor, John Hoyle, John Thornton, John Norman, Joseph Clarke, John Massey, John Fletcher, Thomas Browne Smith, Thomas Fraser, John Allinson, James Grasby, William Beesley, James Chippendale, Samuel Parkes, Thomas Railton, Robert Ramsden, Robert Mooney, Thomas Mahon, John Leach, David Morrison, John Lomax, John Arran, James Skevington, William Scholefield, Richard Pilling, William Aitken, Sandy Challenger, otherwise called Alexander Challenger, George Candalet, John Durham, James Fenton, William Stephenson, John Crossley, Robert Woolfenden, Robert Lees, John Lewis, Patrick Murphy Brophy, George Johnson, Thomas Storah, William Booth, John Wilde, William Woodruffe, Frederick Augustus Taylor, Thomas Pitt, together with divers others evil disposed persons to the Jurors aforesaid as yet unknown, did unlawfully aid, abet, assist, comfort, support and encourage the said evil disposed persons to the jurors aforesaid as yet unknown, did unlawfully aid, abet, assist, comfort and encourage the said evil disposed persons in this count first mentioned to continue and persist in the said unlawful assemblings, threats, intimidations and violence, and in the said impeding and stopping of the labour employed in the said trades, manufactures and businesses, with intent thereby to cause terror and alarm in the minds of the peaceable subjects of this realm and by the means of such terror and alarm, violently and unlawfully to cause and procure certain great changes to be made in the constitution of this realm, as by the law established, against the peace of our said Lady the Queen, Her Crown and Dignity.

Fifth count. And the Jurors aforesaid, on their oath aforesaid, do further present that, Feargus O’Connor, Peter Murray M’Douall, James Scholefield, John Leach, Christopher Doyle, John Campbell, Jonathan Bairstow, Bernard McCartney, James Arthur, otherwise called James McArthur, David Ross, Richard Otley, George Julian Harney, James Cartledge, Thomas Cooper, William Hill, Robert Brooke, James Taylor, John Hoyle, John Thornton, John Norman, Joseph Clarke, John Massey, John Fletcher, Thomas Browne Smith, Thomas Fraser, John Allinson, James Grasby, William Beesley, James Chippendale, Samuel Parkes, Thomas Railton, Robert Ramsden, Robert Mooney, Thomas Mahon, John Leach, David Morrison, John Lomax, John Arran, James Skevington, William Scholefield, Richard Pilling, William Aitken, Sandy Challenger, otherwise called Alexander Challenger, George Candalet, John Durham, James Fenton, William Stephenson, John Crossley, Robert Woolfenden, Robert Lees, John Lewis, Patrick Murphy Brophy, George Johnson, Thomas Storah, William Booth, John Wilde, William Woodruffe, Frederick Augustus Taylor, Thomas Pitt, together with divers others evil disposed persons to the Jurors aforesaid as yet unknown, afterwards, to wit, on the first day of August, in the year aforesaid, and on divers other days between that day and the first day of October, in the year aforesaid, together with divers other evil-disposed persons, to the Jurors as yet unknown, unlawfully did endeavour to excite Her Majesty’s liege subjects to disaffection and hatred of her laws, and unlawfully did endeavour to persuade and encourage the said liege subjects to unite, confederate and agree to leave their several and respective employments, and to produce a cessation of labour, throughout a large portion of this realm, with intent and in order by so doing, to bring about and produce a change in the laws and constitution of this realm, against the peace of our said Lady the Queen, Her Crown and Dignity.

Sixth count. The jurors aforesaid upon their oath aforesaid, further present, that Feargus O’Connor, Peter Murray M’Douall, James Scholefield, John Leach, Christopher Doyle, John Campbell, Jonathan Bairstow, Bernard McCartney, James Arthur, otherwise called James McArthur, David Ross, Richard Otley, George Julian Harney, James Cartledge, Thomas Cooper, William Hill, Robert Brooke, James Taylor, John Hoyle, John Thornton, John Norman, Joseph Clarke, John Massey, John Fletcher, Thomas Browne Smith, Thomas Fraser, John Allinson, James Grasby, William Beesley, James Chippendale, Samuel Parkes, Thomas Railton, Robert Ramsden, Robert Mooney, Thomas Mahon, John Leach, David Morrison, John Lomax, John Arran, James Skevington, William Scholefield, Richard Pilling, William Aitken, Sandy Challenger, otherwise called Alexander Challenger, George Candalet, John Durham, James Fenton, William Stephenson, John Crossley, Robert Woolfenden, Robert Lees, John Lewis, Patrick Murphy Brophy, George Johnson, Thomas Storah, William Booth, John Wilde, William Woodruffe, Frederick Augustus Taylor, Thomas Pitt, together with divers other persons to the Jurors aforesaid as yet unknown, to the number of one thousand and more, on the first day of August, in the sixth year of the reign of our Sovereign Lady Victorian, and on divers other days and times, between that day and the first day of October, in the year aforesaid, at the parish of Manchester, in the county of Lancaster, unlawfully did conspire, confederate and agree together to assemble and meet together unlawfully, riotously and tumultuously, and to cause divers other persons to assemble and meet together, and by threats, menaces, violence and intimidation, unlawfully to force and endeavour to force divers of Her Majesty’s peaceable subjects, being persons them employed in certain manufactures, trades and businesses, to depart from their employment and work, against the peace of our said Lady the Queen, Her Crown and Dignity.

Seventh Count. The Jurors aforesaid, upon their oath aforesaid, do further present that the said Feargus O’Connor, Peter Murray M’Douall, James Scholefield, John Leach, Christopher Doyle, John Campbell, Jonathan Bairstow, Bernard McCartney, James Arthur, otherwise called James McArthur, David Ross, Richard Otley, George Julian Harney, James Cartledge, Thomas Cooper, William Hill, Robert Brooke, James Taylor, John Hoyle, John Thornton, John Norman, Joseph Clarke, John Massey, John Fletcher, Thomas Browne Smith, Thomas Fraser, John Allinson, James Grasby, William Beesley, James Chippendale, Samuel Parkes, Thomas Railton, Robert Ramsden, Robert Mooney, Thomas Mahon, John Leach, David Morrison, John Lomax, John Arran, James Skevington, William Scholefield, Richard Pilling, William Aitken, Sandy Challenger, otherwise called Alexander Challenger, George Candalet, John Durham, James Fenton, William Stephenson, John Crossley, Robert Woolfenden, Robert Lees, John Lewis, Patrick Murphy Brophy, George Johnson, Thomas Storah, William Booth, John Wilde, William Woodruffe, Frederick Augustus Taylor, Thomas Pitt, afterwards, to wit, on the day and year first aforesaid, and on divers other days and times between that day and the first day of October, in the said year, unlawfully, wickedly, and maliciously incited, stirred up and endeavoured to inc9ite and stir up a great number of Her Majesty’s liege subjects, to the jurors aforesaid unknown, with force and arms unlawfully riotously, and tumultuously to assemble and gather together, and by threats, violence, and intimidation, unlawfully to force, and endeavour to force, divers of Her Majesty’s peaceable subjects, being persons them employed in certain manufacures, trades, and businesses, to depart from their employment and work, and against the peace of our said Lady the Queen, Her Crown and Dignity.

Eighth count. And the Jurors aforesaid, on their oath aforesaid, present, that the said Feargus O’Connor, Peter Murray M’Douall, James Scholefield, John Leach, Christopher Doyle, John Campbell, Jonathan Bairstow, Bernard McCartney, James Arthur, otherwise called James McArthur, David Ross, Richard Otley, George Julian Harney, James Cartledge, Thomas Cooper, William Hill, Robert Brooke, James Taylor, John Hoyle, John Thornton, John Norman, Joseph Clarke, John Massey, John Fletcher, Thomas Browne Smith, Thomas Fraser, John Allinson, James Grasby, William Beesley, James Chippendale, Samuel Parkes, Thomas Railton, Robert Ramsden, Robert Mooney, Thomas Mahon, John Leach, David Morrison, John Lomax, John Arran, James Skevington, William Scholefield, Richard Pilling, William Aitken, Sandy Challenger, otherwise called Alexander Challenger, George Candalet, John Durham, James Fenton, William Stephenson, John Crossley, Robert Woolfenden, Robert Lees, John Lewis, Patrick Murphy Brophy, George Johnson, Thomas Storah, William Booth, John Wilde, William Woodruffe, Frederick Augustus Taylor, Thomas Pitt, together with divers other lawless disorderly and evil disposed persons, to the number of one thousand and more, whose names are, to the Jurors aforesaid, as yet unknown, afterwards, to wit, on the first day of August in the year aforesaid, and on divers other days and times between that day and the first day of October in the year aforesaid, with force and arms, at the parish aforesaid, in the county aforesaid, unlawfully did meet and assemble together in a formidable and menacing manner, with clubs, sticks and other offensive weapons, to disturb the tranquillity, peace, and god order of this Realm, in contempt of our said Lady the Queen, Her Crown and Dignity.

Ninth count. And the Jurors aforesaid, on their oaths aforesaid, do further present, that the said Feargus O’Connor, Peter Murray M’Douall, James Scholefield, John Leach, Christopher Doyle, John Campbell, Jonathan Bairstow, Bernard McCartney, James Arthur, otherwise called James McArthur, David Ross, Richard Otley, George Julian Harney, James Cartledge, Thomas Cooper, William Hill, Robert Brooke, James Taylor, John Hoyle, John Thornton, John Norman, Joseph Clarke, John Massey, John Fletcher, Thomas Browne Smith, Thomas Fraser, John Allinson, James Grasby, William Beesley, James Chippendale, Samuel Parkes, Thomas Railton, Robert Ramsden, Robert Mooney, Thomas Mahon, John Leach, David Morrison, John Lomax, John Arran, James Skevington, William Scholefield, Richard Pilling, William Aitken, Sandy Challenger, otherwise called Alexander Challenger, George Candalet, John Durham, James Fenton, William Stephenson, John Crossley, Robert Woolfenden, Robert Lees, John Lewis, Patrick Murphy Brophy, George Johnson, Thomas Storah, William Booth, John Wilde, William Woodruffe, Frederick Augustus Taylor, Thomas Pitt, together with divers other evil disposed persons, to the number of one thousand and more, whose names are to the jurors aforesaid as yet unknown, afterwards, to wit on the first day of August in the year aforesaid, and on divers other days and times between that day and the first day of October in the year aforesaid, with force and arms at the parish aforesaid, in the county aforesaid, unlawfully, riotously, routously, and tumultuously did assemble and gather together to disturb the peace of our said Lady the Queen, and being then and there so assembled and gathered together, did then and there make a great noise, riot, rout, tumult and disturbance, and did then and there, unlawfully, riotously, routously and tumultuously, remain and continue together, making such a riot, rout, noise, tumult, and disturbance, for a long space of time, to wit, for the space of six hours and more then next following, to the great terror of the liege subjects of our said Lady the Queen, then and there being in contempt of our said Lady the Queen, and her Laws, and against the Peace of our said Lady the Queen, Her Crown and Dignity.

Witnesses
Richard Beswick
Richard Griffin
Archibald McMullin
Nathaniel Higgin
Henry Mason
William Clayton
James Buckley
Luke McDermot
Joseph Armitage
John Robinson
William Standrin
John Fisher
William Ledward
Semeon Titton
John Fairweather
Morris Yaccoby
Robert Newton
Joseph Little
John Heap
John Robinson Scott
Peter Jameson
Abraham Longson

After a trial lasting eight days, the jury returned its verdict. Seven were acquitted by consent, 16 were found guilty on the fourth count, 15 guilty on the fifth count, and 19 not guilty of all charges.

List of prisoners found guilty on the fourth and fifth counts, and of those acquitted.
Fourth count
F A Taylor, James Arthur, J R H Bairstow,
Robert Brook, John Campbell, Thomas Cooper,
George Candelet, John Durham, C Doyle,
James Fenton, James Leach, John Leach,
P M M’Douall, James Mooney, David Morrison,
Bernard McCartney.

Fifth count
William Aitkin, John Arran, William Beesley,
A Challenger, G J Harney, William Hill,
John Hoyle, John Norman, Feargus O’Connor,
Richard Otley, Samuel Parkes, Thomas Railton,
Robert Ramsden, James Skevington, Wm Woodruffe.
Acquitted by consent
John Atkinson, James Cartledge, George Johnson,
William Scholefield, John Thornton, John Wilde,
Thomas Pitt.

Not guilty
Patrick Broply, J Chippendale, Joseph Clarke,
John Crossley, Thomas Fraser, John Lomax,
Thomas Mahon, David Ross, Albert Wolfenden,
Thomas Storah, William Booth, John Fletcher,
James Grasby, John Massey, Richard Pilling,
James Scholefield, Wm Stephenson, James Taylor,
Thomas Browne Smith.