Middlesex

The several Informations of Abraham
Underdown< no role > Jacob Freeman< no role > and Ann Clemments< no role >
Taken the 24th. day of May 1786

Who upon their Oaths severally say And first the said
Abraham Underdown< no role > for himself Saith That he keeps
Hosiers Shop No. 182 in High Holborn That on Monday
last about 8. o Clock in the Evening Two Women who say
their Names are Elizabeth Bailey< no role > and Ann Smith< no role > came
into his Shop and asked to be Shewn some Silk
Handkerchiefs He produced some at 4s. a piece and he
offered him Three Shillings and Six pence a piece for Two which
he Refused to take They then went away and in about
5 Minutes afterwards he Missed a piece containing Four
Handkerchiefs and he immediately Suspected They had
Taken them That he pursued them and he saw them Standing
in a Court called Ragged Staff Court in Drury Lane
That they were going on down Drury Lane when he Stopped
them and desired they would go back with him to the Shop
but they refused and went on and he followed Them as far
as Fleet Street when he got Assistance and Secured Them
and gave them in Charge to the Constables who Took them
to the Round House upon such Charge That no person had
been in his Shop to bug day Goods from the time the prisoners came in to the
time of his Missing the Handkerchiefs And this Informant
lastly saith That the Handkerchiefs now produced are is property
the same that were Stolen as aforesaid and are of the Value
of Ten Shillings & upwards.

And this informant Jacob Freeman< no role > for
himself Saith That upon the said Mr: Under downs Information
he took the prisoners into Custody and Searched them That
he found upon Smith 2s. and 4d. the other had no Money
He then desired the prosecutor to take him to the [..] where
the woman were Standing and finding it was a Court