Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1862-07-28
THE DOUBLE ROBBERY.

SOuhy Oh Northumoerland, (England,) and
tne border were terribly infested by those-to
the oucollc INDEPENDENTLY obnoxious spe-
clmens OF the FsRHS thief known as "rieyersn
or "Ittsrs' OF cattle. Almost all the rascals
Wno followed this not unlucrative profession
trusted chiefly to mere brute force to carry
ont successfully their nefarious schemes.
1Ie'e I was, however, one exception to this
Tuie to oe found In the person Of a celebrated
freebooter, known as ''Dickey of Kingswood.
hls worthy openly expressed his disapproba-
ilon ol his rivals vulgar mode of following
tHeir profession, and repeatedly boasted that
nc could achieve twice as much by his cun-
nipg as they could by their brute force Nor
was this assertion of his mere empty boasting
Tar from 1t. In few years time Dickey's
hsme became terror Of the country side Ne
farmer felt secure when he retired to rest at
nisat that his cattle might not have vanished
ere morning. SO cleyerly, moreover, were all
DiGkey enterprises conducted, that no man
could ever succeed in making personal ac-
qualntance with him. He openly set Justice
81 def ance, and laughed at the futile efforts cf
mo law to punish him. Perhaps, however,
ne oest way to illustrate the adrcitness and
good luck which characterized all Dickey's
Proceedings will be for me to relate the story
Of one Of his exploits.
Ii appears, then, that during the course of
hIS peregrinatiOns through Northumberland
one line afternoon, Dickey's eyes were glad
dencd by the sight Of pair of fine oxen
which were quiStly grazing in a field near
Denton Burn, a village distant three miles
from Newcastle
Determined to possess them, Dickey hung
ABOUT the place till nightfall, watching where
the animals were driven to, and-his usual
good fortune assisting him-speedily secured
MS prize. lie also cOntriYed, by the exercise
ut hls accustomed cunning, to leave such ira
ces behind him as made the owner of the oxen
certain that the freebooter had made off to-
wards the Tweed. Thither he accordingly
proceeded in hot haste. In the interim, how
ever, Dickey had lost no time in making
tracks towards the west country, and so ex-
}ecluOus were his movements that in O short
t.ne he reached Lanercost in Cumberland.
Here he fell In with an old farmer on horse
back, who, being delighted with the appearance
OF the oxen, forthwith purchased them.
Dickey was of course rejoiced at getting rid
go pleasantly OF charge which could not fail
20 trouoie-nsy, possibly, dangerOuS-tO him
longer to retain. The farmer, moreover, was
mounted upon splendid mare, which Dickey,
WITH his peculiar ideas on the subject Of DIsuHs
2ld tuHH, at once resolved, by fair means or
I'ut, 10 secure lie therefore willingly accept
Ct the farmers hospita ble invitation to accom-
Iapy him to his house in order that they
might crack" bottle of wine in honor Of
their bargain. Presently Dickey inquired Of
the farmer if he would sell him his mare?
Sell you my mare" exclaimed his host,
all aghast at this proposition. "Sell my mare,
>
tle whole north country
i &c not doubt it, Mr.. Musgrave," re-
sVJlied Dickey land from what / saw of
her PAGES this morning, am quite of your
opinion that there's not her equal within a
hundred miles OF us; but added the obsequi-
Gus Dick, ''sincs you will not sell her, can
only wish you long life and good health TO en-
JJy her "
This sentiment was Of course duly honored
u q bumper.
4 hope, Mr. Musgravs," next observed
Dickey, that you keep close lookout after
ycur stable-door, because now, when that con-
l0unded rascal Dickey Of Kingswood is allow
81 to be at liberty, man cannet be sure but
that any fine morning he may find his stable
empty" q
stable ha, IA. chuckled the farmer
4 think" he continued, "that Dickey Of
kingswOod would find it rather difficult to
steal nsg mare out of her stablel''
Indeed where may her stable be situat-
ed2' inquired Dickey.
"Her stable God bless you, sir !" answer
cd Mr.. Musgraye, "her stable Is in my bed
room am bachelor, and so every night l
flsten her TO my bed-post. have had Q man
ger put up for her in the room, and no music
Is so pleasant to me as to hear her grinding
her corn all night by my bedside"
Dickey was astonished-as well he might be
at such unheard-Of precautions; but, ,disguis-
ing his sstonishment, he c0ntented himself by
simply expressing to the farmer his hearty
approval Of the means he adopted to secure
the safety Of his favOrite.
i suppose you have good lock upon your
bedroom door ?" was Dickey's next ''feeler. u
Come with me- and will show it you, u
replied the unsuspecting farmer.
This was Of course just what Dickey wanted
He examined the lOsk carefully, and soon
satisfied himself that he could pick it without
IRu;h difficulty. He. however, declared to
Mr.. Musgrave that it was ',just the right sort
of Lock" 'it couldn't have been better, in
iset; lit was quite nOn-pickable, &s-, &c
Again the loving cup passed round, and
after draining bumper 10 their ''next merry
meeting" Dickey departed.
The old farmer, after his guests leave
taking had been completed, carefully WeRt
the rounds Of his house, locking doors and
closing WlndcHs with all due precaution. He
then, as usual tied his mare to her aesustom-
ed post retired to bed, and was soon lulIed 10
sleep by the sound of his fayorite's grinding
her corn. :
SO the night wore away Presently, as the
first gray streaks of day began to appear, Mr..
Musgraye swOke, and feeling very cold and
chilly looked round to ascertain the cause. To
his astOnishment, he found that all the cover
lets had been taken of his bed, and that his
blankets had been spread out upon the floor
For what purpose? thought Mr.. Musgrave
Was he the victim Of some horrible nightmare,
or was he really awake Mechanically, his
eye glanced 70 the spot Wnere MS mare should
have been. Sac was not there, She was gon e
stolen Daring the night some daring thiei
had broken into the farm house, had picked
the lock on the door of tho bed. room, had
spread the blankets over the floor, so that the
hoofs Of the mare should make no noise, and
had thus triumphantly made of With his prize.
OF course Mr.. Musgrays reused his house
hold, and commenced vigorous search after
the thief. 1t was useless. The despoiIer had
left no traces behind him, and SO Mr.. Mus
grave was Obliged to return home disconsolate,
and to content himself with venting curses
neither few nor far between-upon the thief
In the meantime out friend Dickey-for his
was the deed-Was comfortably mounted upon
Mr.. Musgraye's favorite mare, and was every
moment Increasing the distance between her
outraged owner and himself So great was
the speed Of the mare, that by break of day
Gckey felt himself secure from pursuit. He
had directed his steps to the eastward, and