Middlesex

The Examination and Voluntary Confession of
Hercules Skinner< no role > Taken before me one of his
Majesty's Justices of the Peace of the County
of Middlesex this 13th. day of April 1745 .

This Examinant on his Oath freely and Voluntarily Saith
That on Tuesday the 26th. day of March last about 8. o Clock at night
he met with one James Thomas< no role > , John Hunt< no role > , William Kirby< no role >
John Smith< no role > and William Norman< no role > opposite the End of Wide Gate
Alley in Bishop Gate Street , And then and there said James
Thomas proposed to go a Theiveing that Night with this Examinant
and the rest of them (namely) John Hunt< no role > , William Kirby< no role > , John
Smith and William Norman< no role > , which they all unanimously
Agreed to: And thereupon this Examinant, James Thomas< no role > , and
John Smith< no role > ran a Cross Sd. BppGate Street , And at the Corner of Widegate
Alley saw a Gentlewoman going upto a Door there with a
Velvet Clock on; That whilst she knock't at the Door
James Thomas< no role > said to John Smith< no role > & This Examinant, (at the
same time pointing at the Gentlewoman) thereis a Velvet Cloak,
Let us go and Snatch it, & immediately this Examinant. James
Thomas and John Smith< no role > went nearer up to Sd. Gentlewoman
and as she was standing at the Door John Smith< no role > went close
up behind her and forcibly Snatch'd her Cloak from off her
Shoulders, and ran away with towards Pettycoat Lane
And then James Thomas< no role > went towards BppGate Street again
to said Norman, Kirby & Hunt who were upon the Watch there,
And soon afterwards they all gave this Examinant the Dropp & left
him for that time, And says he saw neither of them any more
that night. But says that about 3. o Clock in the Afternoon of
the next day, said John Smith< no role > came to his Lodgings in Pettycoat
Square Pettycoat Lane, and Said to him this Examinant, What
a Fool we all made of you last night, when we ran away with ye.
Cloak & gave your no Share on't; And then & there told this Examint.
that the sd. Cloack (meaning the Cloak they Snatch'd last night) was
sold by James Thomas< no role > 's wife to one Susan Clarke< no role > for 18. Shills.
and that he had his share of 12s. of the Money.

Taken & Sworn the 13th. day of
April 1745 Before
J Poulson

Hercules Skinner< no role >