January 1778

Felony That the said John Ross< no role > charged the said Thomas Knowland< no role >
with the Offence before John Gretton< no role > Esquire as a Justice of the Peace for
County of Middlesex that the said Thomas Knowland< no role > was taken up by
Warrant of the said John Gretton< no role > and the matter was heard before him
in his Judicial Capacity and that the said Thomas Knowland< no role > was
Committed to Prison by the said Justice that afterwards the said John
Gretton< no role > the Justice made out a Bill to the said John Ross< no role > and among
other charges demanded of him the said John Ross< no role > for informations to
Shillings and for recognizances thirteen Shillings which Demond y [..]
Committee conceive to be Extortionate Oppressive and illegal Your Com [..]
have Subjoined to this Article a more particular Account of this transact [..]
as stated by the said John Ross< no role > marked A to which Your Committee

By the affidavit of Catharine Murphy< no role > a poor infirm Woman
aged 69 It appeared to Your Committee that the said Catharine was
forcibly taken before the said Justice without any Warrant or even infor [..]
That after being closely confined by order of the said Justice from two [..]
in the afternoon 'till ten o' Clock at night in his House during which to [..]
she was rummaged and pulled about by the said Justice was afterw [..]
committed to the House of Correction at Clerkenwell for unlawfully of
to Sale a Quantity of Tea without License or permit as appears by the
Warrant of Commitment to her affidavit annexed where she remains
untill the next day when was then discharged by the said Justice her
having paid to the said Justice himself the Sum of one pound eleven
Shillings and six pence for such her Discharge all which your Comm [..]
conceive to be extortionate oppressive and illegal Your Committee have
annexed a more particular account of this Transaction as Stated in [..]
said Affidavit of the said Catharine together with the Affidavit or Th [..]
Dunn and Benjamin Vids relative thereto marked B to which your
Committee refer

Upon the Examination of Thomas Torry a credible person [..]
Oath It appeared to your Committee that on the 15th day of August last
was Summoned to appear the same day before John Gretton< no role > Esquire
at his House in Margaret Street at seven o' Clock in the Evening to a [..]
the Complaint of Robert Knighton< no role > ( who it appeared to your Committee [..]
as Clerk to the said Justice) for contempt in not paying the fees of [..]
of eight Shillings according to Process issued out against him again
the Statute That the said Thomas Terry< no role > about eight o' Clock the sa [..]
Evening was apprehended by a Warrant granted by said Justice
for the said Offence and taken before him and that when before the [..]