page_title: William Spiggot
section_title: First Trial and Refusal to Plead
hierarchical_section_title: William Spiggot / Biography / First Trial and Refusal to Plead
caption_attribution_description: English: Copper plate published by Alexander Hogg in his 1780 edition of the Malefactor Register, picturing the press punishment for those who refuse to plead.Français&#160;: Gravure sur cuivre publiée par Alexander Hogg en 1780 dans son édition du Malefactor's Register (Registre des Criminels). La gravure illustre la punition appelée "peine forte et dure" infligée aux accusés refusant de plaider lors de leur procès.
context_page_description: William Spiggot was a highwayman who was captured by Jonathan Wild's men in 1721. During his trial at the Old Bailey, he at first refused to plead and was therefore sentenced to be pressed until he pleaded. This was called Peine forte et dure. He was later executed, after a second trial when he pleaded not guilty, on 11 February 1721 at Tyburn, London.
context_section_description: During the 13 January 1721 session at the Old Bailey Court, William Spiggot and Thomas Phillips (alias Cross) were judged for highway robberies and violent thefts. But as they were brought to the bar, they refused to plead. They declared that until their belongings, money and horses were given back to them, they would remain silent. The court reminded them of William and Mary's 1692 act titled "An Act for encourageing the apprehending of Highway Men". Part IV of this act stipulates clearly that when highwaymen are arrested, the apprehender can take the horses, money and other belongings from the felon. Still they both refused to speak. At the time, a refusal to plead would lead to a heavy judgement also called Peine forte et dure, which is to be pressed with heavy weights either until death or until one would speak. The judge threatened them, describing how the sentence should be carried out. The atrocity of the sentence was thought to dissuade felons from non pleading and that they would submit themselves to a trial by a jury. But still, the convicts stayed mute.
  They were brought back to Newgate Prison to receive their sentence. On their arrival in the Press (the room where the heavy judgment should be carried out), Thomas Phillips asked to be brought back to court in order to plead. On the other hand, Spiggot endured the Press. His legs and arms were kept outstreched by cords, while he laid almost naked on the floor. Some 350 pounds (about 160 kg) of iron were put on his breast. Apart for groans and "pray for me!", Spiggot kept silent. He had just a cloth covering his face but he also complained about a heavy weight on his head; according to the Ordinary of Newgate Thomas Purney, this was due to the blood pressure as the blood was "flush'd and forc'd up into his face". After half an hour, 50 pounds (about 23 kg) were added on his chest. The excruciating pain made the weak prisoner accept to be brought back to court in order to plead not guilty.
caption: The punishment peine forte et dure for a refusal to plead in London. Engraving published in the 1780 edition of the Malefactor's Register or Newgate Calendar
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