Document: Declaration of G. Baxter and others that they saw Commissary Keyser examine beavers in the public store and later saw him with beavers under his arm

We, the undersigned, attest, testify and declare, in place and with promise of a solemn oath if necessary, at the request of Peter Antony, that it is true and truthful that about a year ago, the exact day being not known to us, in the afternoon, as we were coming out of the honorable director's garden into the fort, we saw the [ door ] [ of the ] storehouse, standing open in which were Adriaen Keyser and Pieter Antony. In said storehouse stood a case with beavers, in which Adriaen Keyser was rummaging, examing the same. Being asked [ what he was doing ], he gave us for answer that the case in falling had sprung open and that he was busy closing it, but we do not know whether he abstracted any of [ the beavers ].

Sergeant Daniel Litschoe and Ensign Gorge Baxter further declare that shortly after they saw Adriaen Keyser go past the wooden horse with beavers under his arm, but they do not know where he got them or how many there were. All of which we, the undersigned, declare to be true and truthful, offering to confirm the same on oath if necessary This day, the 31st of July 1649, New Amsterdam.

Geo. Baxter
August Herrman
D. Litscho
Cor. van Tienhoven