The Examination of Richard Roberts< no role > now a Prisoner in the
Poultry Compter London taken before me one of his Majestys
Justices of the Peace for the City of London and the Liberties
thereof this Sixteenth Day of September 1747.

London to wit

This Examinant on his Oath saith That he hath known
and been intimately acquainted with William Martin< no role > now a Prisoner
in Newgate and George Brown< no role > who is not yet taken for the space of
Twelve Months last past during which Time they followed the Business
of Carmen at Botolph Wharf and frequently were employed in
carrying sundry Sorts of Merchandizes to diverse Places in and about
the said City and in particular about a Month ago, he this Examinant
the said William Martin< no role > and George Brown< no role > were employed in the
Lading of Carts and driving the same to the East India Warehouse from
Botolph Wharf with Chests of Tea belonging to the East India Company
That there he this Examinant and the said two other Persons
seeing several other Carmen (who were also employed in lading and
carrying the said Tea in their Carts to the said Warehouse whose Names
he this Examinant doth not know) very busy and expert in plundering
and making Holes in the Chests, shaking them about and raising up
the Tops thereof whereby they got great Quartitys of Tea, induced this
Examinant and the said two other Persons to make and Attempt of the
like kind and accordingly they consulted together and at last came to
a Resolution to plunder the Chests as well as the rest whereupon he
this Examinant and the said William Martin< no role > laid hold of several Chests
that were then upon the Wharfe made Holes in them and shock Tear
thereout whereby they got about half a pound which they sold at then
Coopers