Of those papers part was fully proved to be in Preston's handwriting.

Part was in Ashton's handwriting but this the counsel for the prosecution had not the means of proving.
They therefore rested the case against Ashton on the indisputable facts that the treasonable packet had been found in his bosom, and that he had used language which was quite unintelligible except on the supposition that he had a guilty knowledge of the contents.

[11] Both Preston and Ashton were convicted and sentenced to death.
Ashton was speedily executed.

He might have saved his life by making disclosures.

But though he declared that, if he were spared, he would always be a faithful subject of Their Majesties, he was fully resolved not to give up the names of his accomplices.