Middlesex
to wit}

The Information of John Richards< no role > of the Hamlet of Poplar
and Bluckwall in the said County Foreman to Mr Peter Young< no role >
Ropemaker of Mount pleasant Saint Ann Middlesex
Williams Cole< no role > of Poplur aforesaid Laborer to the said Peter Young< no role >
and Thomas Badcock< no role > a Headborough of the Parish of Saint
Ann Middlesex Taken before me One of his Majestys Justices of
the Peace for the said County

Who being on their Oaths Severally Say and first the said John Richards< no role > for himself
Saith, that about half past five O Clock Yesterday Evening he locked up his
Masters Warehouse at which time he is positive the nineteen pounds weight
of Rope now produced was in the Hemp Loft< no role > of his said Masters Warehouse
Saith that on his leaving the Warehouse he desired Informant (Cole who was
then going home to get some Refreshment) Immediately on his Return to go up
and See if all was Safe, as he Suspected they Roy now present who had been
Loitering about his Masters Rope Ground some time might come and take it
away, Saith that in about three Quarters of an Hour after Informant Cole brought
the Boy who Says his Name is William Greensmith< no role > and the Rope to this Informts
house; Saith that he asked the Boy how he got into the Warehouse to which
he gave him no Answer and upon Informants asking said Boy where he was
going to Sell said Rope told him at an Old Iron Shop near the Silver Lien
Poplarwhereupon Informant asked him of he had Sold any Rope at that Shop
before who told him no but sayed he had been at the Shop the Evening
before and asked if they bought any Old Rope when they told him Yes
Saith that after this Conversation had passed he Informant Cole and the
prisoner went Back to the Warehouse. and made fast the Window from whence
the Rope had been taken That they then returned and called upon Informant
Badcock and gave Charge of the Boy to him That they then told the prisoner
to take the Rope to the Shop where he was going to Sell it. the Boy accordingly
took the Rope Informants following him at some little Distance and Carried
it to an OldShopIron Shop, Kept by the person now present who says
his Name is Thomas Watts< no role > next door to the Silver Lion at Poplar, Smith that in
about five Minutes afterwards as the Boy [..] was coming out at the doorwhenInformants
[..] Informant Badcock Rushed in Informant at that Instant demanding
he Rope as the property of his Master, and Informant Badcock took the said
Thomas Walls< no role > into Custody; Saith that he found the said Rope near the Toes
of Prisoner Watts, and upon his Entrance into the Shop he asked said Boy
if he had got any Money who told him he had and gave Informant the four pence
now produced and sayed he received it of the man meaning the prisoner Watts for said Rope
And the said [..] William Cole< no role > for himself Saith that about a Quarter
after Six O Clock last night he Stopped the prisoner Greensmith in One of Mr
Omens Fields near Limehouse having in his possession the Rope now produced