MR. George Norton possitively declares, that what Mary Ager, who was walking along with Mr. Harris, when he had the Misfortune to kill him, deposed concerning his clapping the said Thomas Harris upon the Shoulder, and his asking him who he was, and his Swear­ing that he would lie with her, without any Provocation, was ut­terly false; as was likewise, what she had declared, that he had drawn his Sword first; and that the said Mr. Harris had been wounded by him, as she believ'd, at the first Pass; The Quarrel betwixt Mr. Harris and him happening in the following manner: As he was walking on the 11th of June last, about Eleven a Clock at Night at the Bar in High-Holbourn, near the Fountain-Tavern, being contrary to his Custom, somewhat in Drink, he happened to meet and take the Wall of the beforesaid Thomas Harris, who was leading this Mary Ager; at which, she being much exasperated, called him, without any further Provocation, a Prigg, and a Puppy, for offering to take the Wall of a Woman, adding, that she wondred Mr. Harris would not kick him Into the Kenell, and so push'd him from the Wall. That then, and not before, he asked her who she was, and without any fur­ther Intention of taking her from Mr. Harris, told her, that he would know why she should give him such abusive Language before they parted, and that he would have her before her Betters; upon which, Mr. Harris coming up close to him, told him, he would make him know who she was, and immedlately drew his Sword, and attack'd him so unexpectedly, that he was forc'd to defend himself as well as he could with his Cane, which he did for some time, till Mr. Harris, having cut his Cane in many places, and at last struck it out of his hands, he was forced to have recourse to his Sword; when several Passes were made betwixt them, and the before­mentioned Mary Ager, having taken the opportunity to take away his Sword, he was forced to close in with the said Thomas Harris, and having broke his Sword, with one of the Pieces, he gave, in the greatest heat of Blood, and for the Security of his own Person, the Wound, which proved Fatal to his Enemy, and put him under such an immediate Affliction, that he was no sooner brought into the Watch-house, (which was not above 20 yards from the Place where the Quarrel hapned) but hear­ing that his Wound was judged Mortal, he cryed out to the Chirurgeon, to use his utmost Endeavours to save his Life, and that he should have a 1000 l. secured him for a Reward, expressing his Sorrow for having kill'd a Man, for he did not know what, as was testified by several Watch-men, and the Neighbouring Vintner and his Appren­tice, who were there present, and afterwards Evidences for the King; as Nicholas Mountain, another Watch-man, (who was likewise Sworn for the King) has suffi­ciently [Page] contradicted the deposition of Mary Ager in that Point, relating to Mr. Har­ris, having received his Wound whilst they were passing at one another; the said Mountain having declared possitively, that he found Mr. Harris with a Piece only of his Sword in his Hand, the Point of about a Foot long, lying near him upon the Ground all Bloody, and that his own Sword was found near Mary Ager, clean, without any Marks of Blood; which is a sufficient demonstration that he could not be kill'd before his own Sword was drawn but afterwards when he was forced to close with him to preserve his own Life.

The said Mr. George Norton further declares, that one Mrs. Ellit, living at the sign of the Blew-Ball near the Watch house in High-Holbourn, where the Quarrel happened, heard the first Words about taking the Wall, which prov'd the unfortunate occasion of the Quarrel, upon which she opened her doors, brought out Lights, and took up his Cane, cut and hack'd in many places by Mr. Harris's Sword; as one Mr. Ch [...] ­tam, who happened to pass by accidentally, was an eye-witness, that the said Thomas Harris drew his Sword first against him and that he was fain to defend himself with his Cane, but did not tarry to see the whole issue of this Quarrel; and Mr. Rook heard distinctly out of his Chamber-Window, which he opened at the first Noise, the Clashing of the Sword and Cane, very violently, as if they were striking at one another.

Mr. Norton further says, that there are several Persons of good Credit, who have and are ready at all times to attest, that the abovementioned Thomas Harris was al­ways accounted a very Quarrelsome Person, as Mary Ager was look'd upon by those that knew her well, as a Woman of a very sleight Reputation. One Mr. Graves a Bookbinder, and House-keeper at St. James's has declared, that he used frequently to draw his Sword upon naked People, and that he had been once in danger himself of having been kill'd by him unawares, if a certain Person, who stood by, had not given him timely Notice.

One Mr. Rook, and the Widow of the Deceased Harris has confess'd her self, That the said Thomas Harris had for a considerable time led a very idle and loose Life, That he was addicted to Gaming and other Vices; That he had liv'd with this Woman as if she were his Wife; and the said Widow of Mr. Harris has possitively Affirmed, that her Husband, since his Conversing with this Woman, was turned Strouler up and down the Country, leaving his Wife, and family destitute at home, without the least Care for their Subsistance; and that the said Woman had been an Actress in most Parts of England. The Character of this Woman is confirmed by the Testimony of one Mrs. Ager, the True and Lawful Wife of Mr. Ager, who has deposed in Court, That this Counterfelt Mrs. Ager, had taken upon her the Name of her Husband, with whom she had kept Company for near ten years, to the Destruction of her and her Children, who were thereby reduced to the utmost Extremity.

And one Mr. Dubois has by his Affidavit, declared, That this pretended Mrs. A­ger, has proved the Ruin and Death of several Persons before, and had been likely to have been the occasion of his. That notwithstanding the disadvantageous Cha­racter of this Woman, who was the main Evidence against him; and tho' he brought several Gentlemen of good Reputation and Quality, who gave a good Account of his Civil and Peaceable Deportment, he was upon her Deposition; to wit: That he attempted to take away a Man's Wife from him and Death ensuing) found guilty of Murther; which he again solemnly declares to have been falsely deposed by the said Mary Ager, his Intention being not in the least to take her away, but only to call her to an Account for the ill Language she gave him, upon which the Quarrel arising, as mentioned before; he, what with the Heat of Passion, and part­ly in his own Defence, did give the Wound to Mr. Harris with the broken Piece of his Sword, which proved fatal to him.