Catalogue description 4 individual petitions (Dicker, Sam Lidbetter, Foreman of the Jury and Gordon) and 2...

4 individual petitions (Dicker, Sam Lidbetter, Foreman of the Jury and Gordon) and 2 collective petitions (45 people from Battle and 54 people from Lewes) on behalf of Thomas Goodman, hoopmaker, convicted with Edmund Bushby at Sussex Winter Assizes for arson on 3 December 1830. There are signed depositions from: Edward Fuller, Thomas Eaton, William Fuller, William Budgen, Thomas Foord, Edward Wren and William Linden, and 2 confessions from Thomas Goodman: one stating Cobbett urged men to keep a gun and the other a firearm. This prompts further correspondence. There is a later letter from Mr Dicker expressing gratitude for respite of death sentence and hope for further remission which includes newspaper reports of remission and account by W E Baxter printer of public meeting held by Cobbett which he also attended. There is a copy of 'Petition to the King' written by William Cobbett. Grounds for clemency: prisoner's youth (aged 18), an orphan, sober industrious character, led astray by inflammatory lecture by William Cobbett at Battle, jury recommended mercy, penitent, was not a ring leader, carrying out sentence will further civil unrest. Initial sentence: death. HP23