Trial for Treason. James Watson the elder (1766-1838) was the first to be tried, following a plea of not guilty, entered 9 June 1817. Watson was acquitted on Monday 16 June 1817 and a report of the trial was published the following day. The other defendants, including Arthur Thistlewood, Tomas Preston, and John Hooper were discharged on the same day.

See The Times, 10 June and 17 June 1817.