Westminster to Wit

The Information of Jacob Kollhoffer< no role > of Vine Street Piccadilly Taylor
Thomas Aldred< no role > Servant to Messrs: Stiff and Wightman of
New Street Covent Garden - Hardwaremen James Wightman< no role >
of New Street aforesaid Hardwareman and Francis Humpage< no role >
of Clerkenwell Constable taken before me this 10th. day of
October 1786 .

Who being upon Oath say, and first the said Jacob Kollhoffer< no role >
says that the twelve double gross of Metal buttons now produced by the
said James Wightman< no role > he is very sure are his property and immediately
before the Fire took place in his House on Monday Night the second of
October instant he is very sure were in his cutting Room in his
Garret packed in a Box like that now produced by Francis Humphage< no role >
and does verily believe that the said Box and Buttons were
feloniously Stolen by some person or persons during the Fire
and the said Thomas Aldred< no role > says that on Thursday Night the 5th of
October instant about seven o'Clock the Prisoner Fox came to his
Masters Shop and produced the two buttons now produced saying
that he had twelve double gross of them to Sell and asked him
of they wanted such, adding that he had taken them for a
Debt of £15 when he appointed him to call again the next
day, at which time his Master would be in the way, and give
him an Answer - And the said James Wightman< no role > says that the
said Mr. Kellhoffer came to this Informants Shop about twelve
o'Clock [..] on Friday the 6th. of October instant, said that he had
lost a Quantity of Metal buttons at the Fire in Vine Street and
if such should be offered to them, requested they would stop the
person who brought themThat in about an hour afterwards
the Prisoner Fox came with two Patterns of Metal Buttons for
Coat and Waistcoat for which per gross he asked 4s..6d saying
that he had twelve double gross to SellThat from the