For the Prosecutors

The King
agt
Bygrave otherwise Spruce
Brief to Oppose the Defts. being Bailed

Wm. Frankland< no role > a Prisoner in Newgate for Debt having been
very active in Promoting a Complaint to the Court of Aldermen
of several Abuses & Extersions Committed in the sd. Goal by Mrs.
Nicholls Wife of Nicholls the Head Turnkey & Clerk of the papers
there, She thought it adviseable to have the sd. Frankland removed
into the County and in order thereto to here him charged with a
Felony in some distant County

For this Purpose she first applied to John Warwick< no role > an under
Turnkey & a Creature of her own One who had been in the Pillory
once or twice for twice for Perjury, but he declining to Swear what
she desired did however by Directions apply to Edward Bygrave< no role >
a Notorious Gambler & who had some Obligations to Mrs. Nicholls
for having some time before got him (as the Newgate Phase is)
rapped off. With him Warwick & Mrs. Nicholls at last
prevailed & having together concerted their Story Bygrave & Nichols
drest themselves up like County people & in Company with
Warwick went in a Hackney Coach to Mr. Morrice a Justice
of the Peace at Kensington Bygrave taking upon him the Name
of John Spruce< no role > & Mrs. Nichols that of his Sister & there Bygrave
made & subscribed the Information hereunto annext marked
The Information having been taken down in writing by the
Justice himself & being signed in his Presence only the Justice
called in Mr. Richd. Horton< no role > his Clerk & before him Bygrave
acknowledged the Subscription to be his Hand & Swore to the Truth
of the Information whereupon they had a Warrt. of Detainer
granted them

25 Jany. 1739

Worwick made Oath of the Facts before the Lord Mayor
whereupon Warrts. were granted for apprehending Nichols &
Bygrave Nicholls got out of the way but Bygrave being taken
up was committed to Wood Street Compter & next day brought before
the Acting Justice at Guild hall

Warwick again made Oath as before & Mr. Horton the Justices
Clerk attending with the Original Information made before Mr.
Morrice Swore that Bygrave was the Man who made it by the
Name of Spruce the Acting Justice being about to commit Bygrave
to Newgate he freely confessed the whole Fact acknowledged the
Name John Spruce subscribed to the Information to be of his own
Hand writing & desired Favour in regard he had been drawn in by