Page:Life and adventures of that notorious robber and murderer, Richard Turpin.pdf/20

Rh Yorkshire, and either sold or exchanged them.

He often accompanied the neighbouring gentlemen on their parties of hunting and shooting, and one evening, on a return from an expedition of the latter kind, he wantonly shot a cock belonging to his landlord. On this, Mr. Hall, a neighbour, said, “You have done wrong in shooting your landlord’s cock;” to which Turpin replied, that if he would stay while he loaded his gun, he would shoot him. Irritated by this insult Mr. Hall informed the landlord of what had passed; and application being made to some Magistrates, a warrant was granted for the apprehension of the offender, who was taken into custody, and carried before a bench of justices, then assembled at the Quarter Sessions, at Beverley, when security was demanded for his good behaviour; but being unable or unwilling to give the same, he was committed to Bridewell.

Oninquiry, it appeared that he made frequent journeys into Lincolnshire, and on his return always abounded in money, and was likewise in possession of several horses; so that it was conjectured he was a horse-stealer and highwayman. On this the Magistrates went to him on the following day, and demanded who he was, where he lived, and what was his employment? He replied in substance, “that about two years ago he had lived at Long Sutton, in Lincolnshire, and was by trade a butcher, but that having contracted several debts, for sheep that proved rotten, he was obliged to abscond, and