Case

William Frankland< no role > a Prisoner in Newgate for Debt having been
very active in promoting a Complaint to the Court of Aldermen
of several Alreses & Extortions committed in the said Goal by Elizabeth
Nicholls< no role > This name instance is in set 1683. Wife of John Nicholls< no role > one of the head Turnkeys & Clerk of the
Papers there, she thought it advisable (in order to prevent a Discovery)
to have the said Frankland removed into the Country and to that
End to have him charged with a Felony in some distant County

For this Purpose she first applyed to John Warwick< no role > (then servant
to the Person who kept the Tap in Newgate) a Creature of her own,
one who had stood on the Pillory once or twice for Perjury, but he
refusing to swear what she desired did however by her directions
apply to Edward Bygrave< no role > a notorious Gambler and who had
some obligations to Mrs. Nicholls for having some time before
got him (as the Newgate Ph [..] ase is) rapped off with him Warwick
and Mrs Nicholls at last prevailed and together concerted their
story.

Bygrave and Nicholls dressed themselves up like Country People
and in Company with Warwick went in a Hackney Coach of Mr
Morris a Justice of the Peace at Kensington Bygrave taking upon
him the Name of John Spruce< no role > and Mrs Nicholls that of his sister
Sarah Spruce< no role > and there Bygrave made and subscribed the Information
hereunto annexed marked (A)

This Information having been taken down in Writing by the Justice
himself and being signed in his presence only he called in Mr
Richard Horton< no role > his Clerk and before him By grave acknowledge the
subscription to be his hand and swore to the Truth of the Information
where upon they had a Warrant of detainer granted and delivered
to Bygrave and by him and Mrs Nicholls sent by a Porter or Ladd
inclosed in a Letter directed to Mr. Bold, This Letter was by the Porter
delivered to Jonathan Keate< no role > under Turnkey who carried it to Mr
Nicholls & he has since Burnt it as he confessed before the Aldermen
and Committee

25th Janry 1739

Warwick made oath of these Facts before the Lord Mayor whereupon
Warrants were granted for apprehending Mrs. Nicholls and Bygrave,
Nicholls got out of the Way & could not be taken, but Bygrave being
taken was committed to Woodstreet Counter and next Day brought
before the acting Justice at Guild Hall .