18 March 1789

William Robins< no role > on his oath saith on Tuesday the 20th of
March instant he saw the person present who says his name is
Richard Merchant< no role > on Whitechapel workhouse about noon
says he went up at the Request of John Powell< no role > the master
of said workhouse to see what said Richard was about
he the said Master having told him that he had forbid him going on
the roof of the house and that he suspected him of going up
to steal the lead says he went [..] to the foot of the Ladder
where was John Barnes< no role > that he desired Barnes not to go
up went himself up and near the Trap door he heard
something fall one oneside of said Doorsays he asked
Merchant what he was doing there who answered he
was come after his Tools that were there and went to
another trap door that he searched and found one of the
pieces of lead produced within Two feet of the Trap door
where he heard the noise says John Barnes< no role > went up directly
as he this informant came down from the workhouse

Wm. Robins< no role >

John Barnes< no role > on his Oath saith The master of the workhouse
ordered him to go a Top of the Workhouse on Tuesday last
to see what Richard Merchant< no role > was doingThat he went
up and Saw said Richard Much something down which
he Judged to be leadThat Merchant stood on the ladder to
prevent his getting on the roof he came down to his Master
and told him of his being prevented going on the Roof
that he went up again and found five of the pieces of
Lead produced close together which he brought down
his said Master caused the said Richard Merchant to be
secured

Taken and Sworn
The 14th day of March 1789
Before me

John Staples< no role >

his
John [mark] Barnes< no role >
mark

Richard Merchant< no role > says the Hammer and Trowel produced
is his property that he took said lead to bury a Brush work with

Taken signed and declared to be true

This 14th. day of March 1789
Before me

John Staples< no role >

Richard Marchant< no role >