Another remarkable Tryal was about the Murder of a Constable proceedingsvictim at the Armitage-stairs , for which a poor Waterman proceedingsdefend stood Indicted; there were abundance of Witnesses examined, and the Tryal was very tedious. But the sum of the matter was to this effect: Some Scotchmen, half a dozen or more in all, belonging to a Ship that lay in the River, having been on shore, and 'tis probable taking plentiful Cups, as Sailors use, about nine of the Clock at night were returning to their Vessel; and in order to get to their own boat, some of them stept through a Boat of the Prisoners, in which there was a Boy, whom a Scotch boy of this company either trod upon or affronted, which made him strike him; and the Scotchmen as fast fell on the English boy, who ran and called his Master the Prisoner, and so the Fray encreased: to quell which, the now Prisoner called the Constable living just by, and who was his intimate friend; for at his house he used commonly to leave several Tackling belonging to his Boat, and other officer of Kindness frequently pass'd between them. But so it hapned in the Scuffle, it being pretty dark, the Constable's Brains were beat out, supposed to be done with one of their Poles, or Hooks, which they use with their Boats. The Scotchmen shifted for themselves and got away, and a person that was there alledged, that the now, Prisoner struck the fatal Blow; but besides that there was no former Malice, so 'twas a most unlikely thing, that he should go to hurt one that was his Friend, and came thither at his request to assist him. So that upon the whole matter, it was believed such witness might possibly be mistaken, in so great an Hurry and Confusion so that the Waterman, who had the repute of an honest, civil, quiet man amongst his Neighbours, was Acquitted .