Corbie’s tavern, near Washington’s quarters, was a kind of rendezvous of the conspirators. There one Gilbert Forbes, a gunsmith, “a short, thick man, with a white coat,” enlisted men, gave them money, and “swore them on the book to secrecy.” From this house a correspondence was kept up with Governor Tryon on shipboard, through a “mulatto-colored negro, dressed in blue clothes.” At this tavern it was supposed Washington’s body-guards were tampered with. Thomas Hickey, one of the guards, a dark-complexioned man, five feet six inches high, and well set, was said not only to be enlisted, but to have aided in corrupting his comrades; among others, Greene the drummer, and Johnson the fifer. It was further testified before the committee, that one Sergeant Graham, an old soldier, formerly of the royal artillery, had been employed by Governor Tryon to prowl round and survey the grounds and works about the city, and on Long Island, and that, on information thus procured, a plan of operations had been concerted. On the arrival of the fleet, a man-of-war should cannonade the battery at Red Hook; while that was doing, a detachment of the army should land below with cannon, and by a circuitous march surprise and storm the works on Long Island. The shipping then, with the remainder of the army, were to divide, one part to run up the Hudson, the other up the East River; troops were to land above New York, secure the pass at King’s Bridge, and cut off all communication between the city and country.[72] Much of the evidence given was of a dubious kind. It was certain that persons had secretly been enlisted, and sworn to hostile operations, but Washington did not think that any regular plan had been digested by the conspirators. “The matter,” writes he, “I am in hopes, by a timely discovery, will be suppressed.”[73] According to the mayor’s own admission before the committee, he had been cognizant of attempts to enlist tories and corrupt Washington’s guards, though he declared that he had discountenanced them. He had on one occasion, also, at the request of Governor Tryon, paid money for him to Gilbert Forbes, the gunsmith, for rifles and round-bored guns which he had already furnished, and for others which he was to make. He had done so, however (according to his account), with great reluctance, and after much hesitation and delay, warning the gunsmith that he would be hanged if found out. The mayor, with a number of others, were detained in prison to await a trial. Thomas Hickey, the individual of Washington’s guard, was tried before a court-martial. He was an Irishman, and had been a deserter from the British army. The court-martial found him guilty of mutiny and sedition, and treacherous correspondence with the enemy, and sentenced him to be hanged.