Middlesex
to wit}

The Information of William Watson< no role > [..]
[..]
taken and made on Oath before me one of his
Majestys Justices of the peace in and for the said
County the fourth day of September 1782

This Informant Saith That he is Servant to Captain James
Best< no role > of the Ninety second Regiment of Foot that on Friday the
Seventeenth day of May [..] This Examinant in Company with
his Master, Mr. John Heard< no role > deased, and a little Boy went
about Twenty Minuted after Eleven O'Clock at night from Old Street
towards Islington That near the Shepherd and Shepherdess they met
four men three of then appeared to be tall and the other a Short man
that as soon as they passed them the said four men immediately turned
back and and presented Weapons to them and demanded their money
whereupon a Scaffle Ensued amongst them all And this Informant snapt
a pistol at the Shartest Man and which missed fire, And a Pistol was
also Snaped at this Informant which also missed fire, That then Mc. Herd
and Captain Best attempted to make their Escape the boy also ran away and
this Informant was behind, That two of the men the Shortest and one of the
tall men Ran on in [..] pursuit of Mr. Herd and Captain Best
That the two others were behind with this Informant one of whom cut this
Informant Several times with a Hanger or Cutlas and this Informant fell
down with the Blows, that he was soon afterwards pushed into a ditch [..] but
raised himself up against the Bank where this Informant was Robbed by a
Man whom this Informant believes to be William Milburn< no role > the Person admitted
an Evidence and now here present of [..] about Nine shillings and a half penny
with a particular mark on it, a Soldiers pass and a Bill of Expences at an Inn
That just at the time this Informant was pushed into the ditch he heard the report
of a Pistol or Blunderbuss which he believes killed the said Mr. Herd, That soon
after this Informant was robbed two or three of the persons returned to the [..]
who had robbed him and then they all went off together. Immediately af [..]
thatthis Informant went on towards Islington about forty or Fifty [..]
and in the Path way found Mr. Herd lying deadin thewith his [..]
out. That this Informant then went to the Britania Publickon [..] at Is [..]
and desired some persons to go to the spot to bring away the [..]
and then this Informant went and had his own wounds dressed

Taken and Sworn the
[..] and year above said
before me}

D Wilmot

William Watson< no role >