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John Holden. Dublin, cardmaker. 3 January 1674.
On way to London met one Warburton in Chester, who asked him to inquire for a kinsman John Warburton at the White Hart, Dunstable. When he did so, was told J.wife had fled for killing a man, a fellow servant. Later, in Dublin, he accidentally met J.wife, who confessed to the murder. DEPOSITION The examinacon of John Holder of Lazyhill, in the parish of St Andrewes and citty of Dublin cardmaker, taken before Josua Allen Esquire Lord Mayor of the said citty the 3d of January 1673 Who being duly sworne uppon the holy Evangelists, and examined, saith, That about Michaelmas last, or some little before, he the examt having occasion to go for London, went hence, and in order to his journey, came to the citty of Chester, and at his going from thence he the examt met with one Warburton, who travelled about three myles on the road with him the examt. And understanding that the examt was traveling to London, he the said Warburton, desired by the examt to call at the signe of the White Hart in Dunstable, for a kinsman of his, one John Warburton, who lived there, And to remember his love to him. And the examt saith that coming uppon his said road to Dunstable aforesaid he called at the said house, and enquired for the said John Warburton unto which answer was made to the examt by some of the family that he the said John was lately gone away, and left the said house for killing of one of his fellow servants, in an house at the signe of the Beare, next dore to the signe of the Hart aforesaid where they lived, At which time the examt made no stay at all in the said towne, not so much as to drink. But saith that at his coming back from London, he called in Dunstable aforesaid, at the said house the signe of the Beare & againe enquired after the said John Warburton, where the Mistress of the house told the examt that he was fled for killing a man in her house, and that shee was sorry for it, for that shee had suffered much damage by it, and beleeved that if he had not fled he would not have suffered, for the fact, And the examt further saith, that uppon Weddensday last, being the last day of December, he the Examt having occasion to go to the house of one Brackley in Oxmantowne, Dublin, heard of the name of Warburton, And accedentally there mett with the said John Warburton, and drinking a quart of beer with him had some discourse with him touching his kinsman in Chester the examt then telling him that at his said going to London, and coming back he had at his desire enquired at Dunstable for one John Warburton where the examt was informed, that he was fled from thence for killing a man, at the signe of the Beare in the said towne. And the examt saith that the said Warburton then confessed & acknowledged to the examt that he was the man John Warburton, that lived at Dunstable aforesaid, and that had killed a man in the house above mentioned. And that he was sorry that he had fledd for it, the which he also confessed unto Alderman Richard Hanway & further saith not John Houlder Sworne before me Jos Allen