The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1867-05-12
THE DOUBLE ROBBERY.

tury, Northumberland and the Scot
tish border were terribly infested by
those-to the bocolic mind-particu-
larly obnoxious specimens of the ge-
nus thief, known as "rievers" or
"lifters" of cattle.
Almost oil the rascals who followed
this unlucrative profession trusted
chiefly to mere brute force to carry
out successfully their nefarious
schemes. There was, however, one
exception to this rule to be found in
the person of q celebrated free
booter, known as 'tDickey of Kings
wood" This worthy openly expressed
his disapprobation of his rivals vul-
gar mode of following their profess
sion, 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 it.
In few years time, Dickey s name
became the terror of the country
side No farmer felt secure, when he
retired Mt night, that his cattle might
have vanished ere morning. So Gle
verify. moreover, were all Dickey's
enterprises conducted, that no man
could ever succeed in making per-
sonal acquaintance with, him. He
openly set Justice at defiance, and
laughed at the futile efforts of the
law to punish him. Perhaps, how
ever, the best way to illustrate the
adroitness and good luck which cha
racterized all Dickey's proceedings
will be for me to relate the story of
one of his exploits.
1t appears, then, that during the
course of his peregrinations through
Northumberland, one fine afternoon,
Dickey's eyes were gladdened by the
sight of pair of fine oxen, which
were quietly grazing in q field near
Denton Burn, village distant three
miles from Newcastle.
Determined to possess them, Dickey
hung about the place till nightfall,
watched where the animals were
driven to, and his usual good fortune
assisted him-speedily secured his
prize. He also contrived, by the ex-
ercise of his accustomed cunning, to
leave such traces behind him as made
the owner of the oxen certain that
the freebooter had made off toward
the Tweed. Thither he accordingly
proceeded i'll hot haste. In the inte-
rim, however, Dickey had lost no time
In making tracks" toward the West
country, and so expeditions were his
movements, that, in short time, he
reached Laneroost, in Cumberland.
Here he fell in with an old farmer, on
horseback, who, being delighted with
the appearance of the oxen, forth
with purchased them.
Dlckey was, of course, reioiced Mt
getting rid so pleasantly of charge
which could not fail to be trouble
some-nay, possibly, dangerons-to
him longer to retain. The former,
moreover, was mounted on q splendid
mare, which Dickey, with his peculiar
ideas on the subject of neun, and
feum, at once resolved, by foul means
or fair, to secure. He, therefore.
willingly accepted the farmers hos,
pitable invitation to accompany him
TO his house, in order that they might
"crack" bottle of wine in honor Of
their bargain. Presently, Dickey in
CURED of the farmer if he would sell
his mare?
"Sell my marer' exclaimed the
host, all aghast at the proposition.
Sell my mare! No.; there's not her
equal in the whole North country T"
u do not doubtit, Mr.. Musgraye.
responded Dickey, ''and from what I
saw of her PAGES this morning, I'm
quite of your opinion, that there's
not her equal within hundred miles
OF us; but" added the obseouious
Dick, "since you will not sell iler. r
can only wish you long life and good
health to enjoy her."
The sentiment was, of course duly
honored in bumper.
81 hope, Mr.. Musgrave, next oh.
served Dickey, "you keep close
lookout after your stable door, be-
cause now, when that confounded
rascal, Dickey of Kingsbury, is ol-
lowed to be at liberty, a man cannot
be sure that any fine morning he may
not find his stable empty" :''
"Stable! hal ha!' chuckled tho
farmer. 81 think" he continued,
s'that Dickey of Kingsbury would
find it rather difficult to steal my mare
out of her stable"
"Indeed! Where Inay her stable
be situated?" inquired Dickey.
"Her stable! God bless you sir"
answered Mr.. Musgrave, cher stable
is IN my bedroom. I'm bachelor,
and so every night I fnSten bnr to NV