The King
agt
Thomas Biss}
On the Prosecution of John Lyon
for Felony.

London, to wit,

John Lyon< no role > of the Parish of Saint George Southwark in the
County of Surrey Baker maketh Oath and saith that on Monday the
fifteenth of this Instant April his pocket was picked and one linen
Handkerchief his property of the Value of Six pence feloniously
stolen thereout and instantly found upon the above named Thomas
Biss< no role > near the Corn Market in Mark Lane whom this Deponent
immediately apprehended and conveyed before Mr Alderman Plomer
then sitting at the Guild hall of the City of London aforesaid who was
pleased to commit the said Thomas Biss to Newgate for the said
Felony and to bind this Deponent in the Sum of Ten Pounds by
Recognizance to his Majesty upon Condition that he prosecuted the
said Thomas Biss for the Felony aforesaid at this present Session
And this Deponent further upon his Oath saith that he did on
Wednesday last prefer a Bill of Indictment for the said Offence
against the said Thomas Biss which was found a True Bill And
that he this Deponent did Yesterday (being the first Day the London July
(at this Session) in the Morning go to the Corn Exchange Coffeehouse
in Mark Lane aforesaid to find Benjamin Fackerell< no role > the Person
joined as a Witness with this Deponent upon the Back of the said
Indictment where he stayed a little Time and was unable to get to
the Court with his said Witness until after Ten o'Clock in the Forenoon
when to his Surprize he was informed the said Thomas Biss had been
discharged for Want of this Deponent's Attending to give Evidence against
him And further this Deponent upon his Oath saith that he never before this
Prosecution did attend a Session at the Old Bailey upon any Business whose
and being ignorant of the practice of the Court he did not think the Tryal of the
Defendant would have come on so soon And lastly that he did not absent himself
through Contempt of the Court or through any Design or Collusion with the
Defendant or any person whatsoever to procure his Discharge for want of
Evidence or otherwise howsoever.

Sworn at the Session House in the Old
Bailey this 23d Day of April 1776.
Before me.

John Sawbridge< no role > Mayor

John Lyon