1743
In Septr. Session 1743.

Thomas Eastmead< no role > and his Wife were Indicted, on the Oyer and
Terminer Commission, for keeping a Bawdy House in Bell Savage Yard .

The Reasons for finding the Indictment on that Commission, rather
than on the Comission of the Peace, were

1st

To avoid the great Expence & delays attending Writs of Certiorari and
Procedendo (practices of late much set on foot, by the knowing Sollicitors,
to obstruct the Course of Justice) and

2dly.

That the Example of Prosecution, as well as Punishment, might be
as notorious as the House itself.

Soon afterwards the Defts. being taken up, entered into a Recognizance
before Colll. De Veil to appear at the next Session; and accordingly in

Octor. Session

They Appeared, and having Pleaded, Not Guilty, entered into the
usual Recognizance to prosecute their Traverse with effect at the ensuing
SessionBut instead thereof, in

Decemr. Session

The Defts. having obtained a Certiorari, Signed by the Lord Ch: Justice
Lee, to remove this Indictment into the Court of King's Bench , brought
the same to the Old Baily to be Allowed; but Mr. Ford suspecting that
this Writ had been fraudulently obtained, refused to Allow it, and upon
Enquiry it appeared that the Lord Chief Justice had been Imposed upon,
for which the Clerk in the Crown Office who issued the Wait, was
Dismist.

The Defts. finding themselves thus disappointed, moved the Court
to Put off the Trial till the next Session, from an Apprehension (Sworn to)
that their Certiorari would have been allowed; with which reason the
Court being dissatisfied, refused to put it off; but afterwards the Court
making a General Adjournment of all the Traverses on the Oyer and
Terminer Commission, this went off with the rest.

Janry. Session

The Defts. made Default, whereby the Recognizance so entered into
by them in Octor. Session, became Estreatable, and they themselves again
subject to the Magistrate's Warrant, had not the Prosecutor himself
brought a Certiorari.