Longden Mackmurdo entered into a Recognizance before the said
Alderman to prosecute the said Thomas Simons< no role > for the said Offence
and that the Deponents John Leeke< no role > and Edward Vint entered (as
this Deponent Edward Longden< no role > Mackmurdo verily believes) into
Recognizance to give Evidence against the said Thomas Simons< no role > ;
And this Deponent Edward Longden Mackmurdo for himself further
said that several Persons of reputation, soon after the said Thomas
Simons was as aforesaid committed to the wood Street Compter ,
applied to this Deponent Edward Longden Mackmurdo respecting
the said Thomas Simons< no role > and the said supposed Offence committed
by him as aforesaid, and Informed this Deponent that the said
Thomas Simons< no role > was a Person of weak Understanding and that he
told them he thought the said Cottons unloading from the said
Waggon were giving away; And this Deponent Edward Longden< no role >
Mackmurdo also saith that several other Persons out of
Northamptonshine (from which County this Deponent Edward
Longden Mackmurdo had been informed the said Thomas Simons< no role >
had but lately come to London) afterwards came to this Deponent
Edward Longden< no role > Mackmurdo, and satisfied him of the Good Character
of the said Thomas Simon< no role > 's Parents, and that they never heard of the
said Thomas Simons< no role > 's being guilty of any Theft and that he was a
Person of very weak Understanding; And this Deponent Edward Longden< no role >
Mackmurdo conceiving it possible from the said Thomas Simsons< no role > 's not
offering as here in before deposed to excuse himself as to the said piece
of Cotton, but persisting in declaring that he considered the same given
to him, and from the Assurances given to this Deponent as aforesaid of
the Character of the said Thomas Simons< no role > and his Parents, and of his
the said Thomas Simons< no role > 's weak Understanding this Deponent
apprehended the said Thomas Simons< no role > might have no felonious
Intention of carrying away the said Piece of Cotton, and therefore this
Deponent Edward Longden Mackmurdo did not further prosecute the
said Thomas Simons< no role > nor did this Deponent Edward Longden< no role >
Mackmurdo or the said other Deponents John Leeke< no role > and Edward Vint< no role >
attend before the grand Jury of London to give any Evidence against
the said Thomas Simons< no role > relating to the Transaction herein before stated