Westminster to Wit

The Information of Benjamin Shaw< no role > Shopman to John Fieldsend< no role >
of No. 25 Oxford Street Linen Draper Alexander Burrows< no role >
of the Oxford Coffee house in the Strand William Marsh< no role > a
Lodged at the Masons Arms in Mattocks Street Hanover
Square and James Owen< no role > Servant to the said John
Fieldsend< no role > taken before me this 27th. day of May
1786

Who being upon Oath say and first the said Benjamin Shaw< no role >
says that this Morning between twelve and one o Clock aperson now present
who calls himself William Brown< no role > came into the said Mr. Fieldsends
Shop, and asked to look at some ribbed Cotton Stockingsthat he
shewed him aparcel containing eleven pairthat said Brown then
said he wished to took at some with a broader ribb, which this
Informant fetched him, leaving the eleven pair before himthis
upon this Informant's return to said Brown with the third parcel
he missed two of the eleven pairthat said Brown offered him three
shillingg and expence for apair of those which he last brought, and
which were four shillings a pairthat said Brown then offered
three Shillings and nine pence, when this Informant desired said
James Owen< no role > to come round to him; for that the said Brown had
taken two pair of Stockingsthat said Brown then threw down
four Shillings and ran out of the Shop - that Informant pursued
him and apprehended him the corner of Hanway Street Oxford Street
and further saith that the two pair of Stockings now produced by the
said James Owen< no role > he is very sure are the same that were so stolen
as aforesaid - the said Alexander Burrows< no role > says that between the
hours of twelve and one o Clock this forenoon he saw several persons
in pursuit of said Brown in Oxford Street - that some of said
persons seized him by the Collar, at which time he saw a pair of
Cotton Stockings now produced drop from him, immediately after which
he delivered them to said James Owen< no role > the said William Marsh< no role >
says that he saw said Brown pursuing at this timethat he saw
him throw four him the other pair of Cotton Stockings now produced which