The others were put on trial together for armed resistance to his majesty's forces, and for killing and slaying three soldiers.
Their counsel pleaded that they were acting under the compulsion of the gang of desperadoes with them, that it was these and these only who had fired upon the soldiers as they ascended the rocks, and that the peasants themselves had no firearms; indeed, it was proved that only five guns were found in the cave.

He admitted that in their desperation at the last moment the men had defended themselves with pikes and bludgeons; but this he urged was but an effort of despair, and not with any premeditated idea of resisting the troops.

He pointed out that as all the soldiers had fallen by gunshot wounds, none of the prisoners at the bar had any hand in their death.

The counsel for the crown did not press for capital sentences.

Two of the men, who had before suffered terms of imprisonment for being concerned in running illicit stills, were sentenced to transportation.