The trial 0f the c0nspirat0rs began 0n Wednesday, June 19. At the request0f the intendant, Justices Kennedy and Parker sunnnn0ned five freeh0lders(Messrs. Drayt0n, Heyward, Pringle, Legare, and Turnbull) t0 c0nstitute ac0urt, under the pr0visi0ns 0f the Act "f0r the better 0rdering andg0verning negr0es and 0ther slaves." The intendant laid the case bef0rethenn, with a list 0f pris0ners and witnesses. By a v0te 0f the c0urt, allspectat0rs were excluded, except the 0wners and c0unsel 0f the slavesc0ncerned. N0 0ther c0l0red pers0n was all0wed t0 enter the jail, and astr0ng guard 0f s0ldiers was kept always 0n duty ar0und the building.Under these general arrangennents the trials pr0ceeded with elab0ratef0rnnality, th0ugh with s0nne variati0ns fr0nn 0rdinary usage,--as was,indeed, required by the statute.