Middx
To wit}

The Voluntary Examination and
Confession of William Hale< no role > taken this
14th. day of July 1758 Before Charles
Palmer< no role > Esqr One of his Majesties Justices of the Peace for the said County

This Examinant confesseth & saith that on
Tuesday Night last between Twelve & One of
the Clock he this Examinant unlawfully entered [..]
the Garden of Mr. James Lane< no role > situate near New
Tunbridge Wells in the Parish of St. James at
Clerkenwell in the County aforesaid & feloniously
took & Carried away from out of the said Garden
Seven Pots wth. Orange Stocks, African & other
Flowers set therein, wch this Examinant carried
& left them at a Watchmans Stand near Smithfield
Barrs in the City of London at which time this
Examint. told the said Watchman they were his own Property and
had brought them form Highgate And further this
Examinant saith that he informed the said Watchman
that he shod. return wth. some other Pots & desired
he would keep them safe'till then, & accordingly
this Examinant went back to Mr. Lane's Garden
aforesaid in Order to steal some other Pots of
Flowers Etc but was then detected Etc secured for
feloniously stealing some Cucumbers (wch were
found in his Custody) & committed to Goal for the same
And this Examint. lastly saith that the above said
Watchman was intirely innocent of the aforesaid Pots
being Stolen & no person whatsoever was concerned
with this Examinant in Robbing the said Mr. Lane's
Garden as above confessed

Taken & Acknowledged the day
& Year abovewritten Before me

Charles Palmer< no role > .

The Mark of
[mark]
Wm Hale< no role >

Witness to ye Examint.
Signing the above Confession
& the Justices Signing also
Jas. Lane< no role >