The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1865-07-10
Monday Morning, July 0, 1865.
THE DOUBLE ROBBERY

IOWdldo bAO SlOcC vi lllC lctcb ctubuIy NOrUQ-
umberland and the Scottish border were terri
bly, infested by those-to the bucolic mind
particularly obnoxious specimens of the genus
thief known as srievers' or lifters' of cattle.
Almost all the rascals who followed this not
unlucrative profession trusted chiefly to mere
brute force to carry out successfully their ne
tarious schemes. There was, however one ex-
ception to this rule to be found in the person
OF celebrated freebooter, known as Dickey
of Kingswood.' This worthy openly express
ed his disapprobation Of his rivals vulgar mode
Of following their profession and repeatedly
boasted that he could achieve twice as much
by his cunning as they could by their brute
force. Nor was this assertion of his mere
empty boasting-far from ii. J. ssf4af.
In few years time Dickey's name became
the terror OF the country side. No farmer felt
secure when he retired to rest at night that his
cattle might not have vanished ere morning.
So cleveriy, moreover were all Dickey's enter
prises conducted, that no man could ever sue
ceed in making personal acquaintance with
him. He openly set justice at defiance. and
laughed at the futile efforts Of the law to pun
ish him. Perhaps, however, the best way to
illustrate the adroitness and good luck which
characterized all Dickey's proceedings will be
for me to relate the story of one of his ex-
ploits. eiss aeis 7tni- saas
1t appears, then, that during the course Of
his peregrinations through Northumberland
one tine afternoon, ,Dickey's eyeswere gIaddened
by the SIGHT of a pair of fine oxen which were
quietly grazing in a field near Denton Burn.
a village distant three miles fpom Newcastle
Determined to possess them, Dickey hung
about the place till nightfali, watched where
the animals were driven to, and his usual good
fortune assisting him-speedily secured his
prize. He also contrived by the exercise ~
his accustomed cunning, to leave such traces
behind him as made the owner of the oxen
certain that the freebooter had made off to-
wards the Tweed. Thitbefd he accordingly
proceeded in hot haste. In the interim. how
ever. Dickey had lost no time insmalxing tracks,
towards the west country. and SO expedifiotls
were his movements. that n, a short fin,n' he
reached Lanercost in Cumberland. Here he
fell in with on old farmer on horseback. who
being delighted with the appearance of the
oxen. forthwith purchased them. e
Diclxev was of course reioiced of oettimnog i VA
so pleasantly of CHARGE which could NOT fail
to be troublesome-nay. possiblv, danoero,,s--
to him longer to retain. The farmer. nloreoy-
er. was mounted upon splendid mare. which
Dickev. with his peculiar ideas On the snbiect If
1oeun9 and ta3g at once resolved NV fair means
or foul to secure He. Therefore. WILLINGLY AZ
cepted the farmers hospitable inyitation Ia ac-s
company him TO his house in order that thev
MIGHT crack a botfle of wine Il, honor of their
haTpain. Presently Dickev inou;red of tha
farmer If he would sell his mare5
Sell nv marer exclaimed his host. all aefastl
at this proposition. tSelI INV mare No there's
not her equal in the whole north countryp . e
lido not doubt ii Mr. Mnsorave; responded
Dickav: sand from what saw III her 1,aces
this morning. Pm aouite Of yo,Ir onf,,ion tFas
there's NOT her equal within hundred In;Ies II
MS but added the ohseouio,,s Dcl ss;nca ve,,
vii; notsell her 7 can onlv yv;sb Won, Lone l;ss
and cood healtI, to eniov her;
This sentiment was Of col,rse div bono,ed
in bumper. MN
Ihope. Mr.. Musgraye.' next observed Dick
ev. won keen rIose look ont after voIir stable
door. because now. when chat confounded ras-
cal. Dickey of Kinesbury IS allowed to be at
liberty, man can not be sure but that any
fine morning he may find his stable empty :
sStable ha! haF chuckled the farmer. Il
think he continued. that Dickev, of Kings
bury would find it rather difficult to steal nm
mare out of her stable
Indeedp where may her stable be situated p
inquired Dickey, s..tsfl n saa5oY $3.50
tHer stable! God bless Won sirp answered
Mr. Musgrave, her stable is in my bed-room--
Pm bachelor, and SO every night / fasten her
to my bed-post. / have had manger put up
for her in the room and no music IS SO pleas
ant to me as to hear her grinding her corn all
night by nv bedside '9s5g .8lnt
Dickey was astounded-and well he might
beat such unheard of precautions: but. dis
guising his astonishment. he contented himself
by simply expressing to the farmer his hearty
approval of the means he adopted to secure
the safety of his fayorite T7
sI sunnose Won have q GOOD, 1oclr ,,non Won,
hed-ronm door (? was Dicev,s = eyt sltaaIe j,
fCome with me and viii shou - vn,, no
plied the unsIlspecting farmer. Ss''a-S
This was Of course inst what D;clav wont
cd. He examined the lock carefallv and soon
satisfied himself that he could nick II without
much difficulty. He. however, declared to Mr.
Musorave that il was sirst the right sort of a
locks 1T couldn't have been better. in fact Il
was quite non-pickable &C.. &c. 9liaa8 lis. 'fii
Again the loving cup passed round, and af
ter draining a bumper to their next merr,
,naoti,~ TicLau dapor+ad - - : 4
The Old farmer, after his guests leavetakins
had been completed, carefully went the rounds
of his house. locking doors and closing win
dows with all due precaution. He then, as
usual, tied his mare to her accustomed post
retired to bed, and was soon lulled to sleep BY
So the night wore away. Presently. as the
first gray streaks of day began to appear. Mr.
MusSrave awoke and feelino very 1cfld and
chilly, looked around to ascertain the cause
To his astonishment he found that all the Gov
blankets had been spread out upon fhe floor
For what purpose? Thought Mr. Musorave =
Was he the victim of some horrible niobt,,,are
or was he really awake? /? MecbanicaIlv HI,
eye glanced to the spot where his mare shoul6
have been. She was not there She was oon.
stolen! During the NIGHT some Jar;,,e, 9t,;o
had broken into the farmhouse. had n,cled IN.
lock on the door of the bedroom. had snreaC
the blankets over the floor. SO thai t1,a Foof
u 1ACOA