Sheppard had a Brother, nam’d Thomas, a Carpenter by Profession, tho’ a notorious Thief and House-breaker by Practice.  This Thomas being committed to Newgate for breaking the House of Mrs. Mary Cook a Linnen-Draper, in Clare-street, Clare-Market, on the 5th of February last, and stealing Goods to the value of between 50, and 60 l. he impeach’d his Brother John Sheppard, and Edgworth Bess as being concerned with him in the Fact; and these three were also Charg’d with being concern’d together, in breaking the House of Mr. William Phillips in Drury-Lane, and stealing divers Goods, the Property of Mrs. Kendrick a Lodger in the House, on the 14th of the said February:  All possible endeavours were us’d by Mrs. Cook and Mr. Phillips, to get John Sheppard and Edgworth Bess Apprehended, but to no purpose, till the following Accident.

Sheppard was now upon his wicked Range in London, committing Robberies every where at Discretion; but one Day meeting with his Acquaintance, James Sykes, alias Hell and Fury, sometimes a Chair-man, and at others a Running Foot-man.  This Sykes invited him to go to one Redgate’s, a Victualling-house near the Seven Dials, to play at Skettles, Sheppard comply’d, and Sykes secretly sent for Mr. Price a Constable in St. Giles’s Parish, and Charg’d him with his Friend Sheppard for the Robbing of Mrs. Cook, &c. Sheppard was carried before Justice Parry, who order’d him to St. Giles’s Round-house till the next Morning for farther Examination:  He was Confin’d in the Upper part of the Place, being two Stories from the Ground, but ’ere two Hours came about, by only the help of a Razor, and the Stretcher of a Chair, he broke open the Top of the Round house, and tying together a Sheet and Blanket, by them descended into the Church-yard and Escap’d, leaving the Parish to Repair the Damage, and Repent of the Affront put upon his Skill and Capacity.

On the 19th of May last in the Evening, Sheppard with another Robber named Benson, were passing thro’ Leicester-fields, where a Gentleman stood accusing a Woman with an attempt to steal his Watch, a Mobb was gathered about the Disputants, and Sheppard’s Companion being a Master, got in amongst them and pick’d the Gentleman’s Pocket in good earnest of the Watch; the Scene was surprizingly chang’d, from an imaginary Robbery to a real one; and in a moment ensued an Out-cry of stop Thief, Sheppard and Benson took to their Heels, and Sheppard was seiz’d by a Serjeant of the Guard at Leicester House, crying out stop Thief with much earnestness.  He was convey’d to St. Ann’s Round House in Soho, and kept secure till the next Morning, when Edgworth Bess came to visit