I I - American Memory

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Houfe, they got to the Side of a Lane near it, waiting
foe an Opportunity, and with that View tied their
Horfes amongft fome Furze Bufhes, and concealed
themfelves under them, intending to have furprized
fomebody pafling by that Way, and to have obliged
them to have ihewn them the Way to the Door ; but
while they were thus lying purdue there, they heard
feveral Perfons riding along together, which happened
to be fome of the neighbouring Farmers, who had been
at the Juftices, and over-hearing their Difcourfe, fup-
pofed the Jullice had other Company flill remaining in
Jiis Houfe, they did not think it advifeable to attempt
it at that Time, therefore adjourned their Delign, which
fo far proved of Advantage to them, that it prevented
their being then taken, which otherwife they could hard-
ly have avoided, by Reafon they having been obferved
in the Neighbourhood, were fuipefted to be Smagkrs;
and Information had been given to tlie Cujiom-Houfe,
.and other Officers thereabouts; and a Party of Dra-
goons were out in Search for them, whom they met,
but not having any Thing with them, they fufFered
them to pafs; whereas if they had committed the Rob-
bery which they intended, and been ilopp'd by the
Soldiers, the Goods upon Search would have been
found upon them, and tho' they might have been only
ftopp'd on Sufpicion of being Smuglers, they would
thereby be difcovered to have been Houfe-breakers, and
committed accordingly.
On ^uefday the 11 th of February, Wheeler, Fielding,
Schooling, and others of the Gang, had made an Ap-
pointment to meet at a Publick Houfe in King-ftreei,
Holbourn, with an Intent to go to Neiuberry in Berk-
jhire, upon Information given them by a Woman who
kept Company with one of them, and who was very
affiduous and induftrious in her Perfuafions and Affiltance
to them in going upon fuch Exploits, and who had
fucn Knowledge of the Perfon at Nevjberry, who they
intended to vifit in the unwarrantable Method they had
done others before. While they were waiting there.
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