London

Informations of Witnesses taken at the parish
of Saint Bridget als Bride in the
Ward of Farringdon without in
London 10th. August 1797 on view
of the body of William Payne< no role > there
lying dead

John Laval< no role > a prisoner for debt in His Majesty< no role > 's
prison of the Fleet maketh oath that on Tuesday
evening the 8th. instant a dispute arose between some of
the prisoners respecting their play at Racquets, That the
deced who was a prisoner came amongst them, & endeavored
to sindicate the Racquet Master who was party in the
dispute, on which words arose between the deced and David
Williams who had just left off playing, in the case of which
the deced called Williams a Damn'd swindling Scoundrel
and a Raschal & used other opprobrious language towards
him and held his fist clinched almost close to William's
face. That Williams uttered expressions towards the deced
but what they were this Dept does not particularly recollect
That then a prisr. of the name of Calvert and the deced had
words together [..] respecting the playing at Racquets
during which [..] Williams turned round & asked
the deced why he trod upon his Toes, and at the same time
he shoved the deced with his Elbow and afterwards struck
him with his fist several blows on his face; all of the blows
were on the deceds face as Dept believes. That the deced did
not return the blows, but turned aside, and then the matter
ended. That a short time afterwards Dept was told the deced
had been taken up stairs very illSays he did not see whether
the deced trod upon William's Toes or not. Several persons neare
about them at this time [..] all standing near together.

John Laval< no role >

Sworn the 10th. Augt.
1797 before me
T: Shelton Corr.