The Cairo bulletin., 1912-09-10


the fiction. Some historians say ne
was fascinating daredevil. Others
say he was merely a stupid rufaan. 1t
is due to this variance as well as TO
the strangeness Of his alleged ex
ploits that Turpin figures as a historic
BLACKBOARD. Here-as well as truth
can be separated from fancy-is the
usually accepted story OF his'life:
Richard-or Turpln was born
at Hampstead, England, in September.
N09. His parents were poor They
apprenticed him In early youth to a
butcher. But Dick took more than
neigbborly interest in other peoples
cattle. At last he was caught steal
ing steers that had been sent to his
employer for butchering, To steal
cattle in those days was o hanging
offense." Turpin fled for his life,
scoring the first of his many escapes
from justice.
He joined a gang of thieves and
became their leader But he soon
tired of associating with rascals of
duller brains than his own. More
over, their hlunders or treachery
might add to his own danger. So he
left the gang after he had learned all
the yilainies its members could
teach him.
Sometimes, in later days. he would
employ one of his old comrades as an
accomplce. But most of his crimes
were committed single-handed. He
became a highwayman and his name
quickly spread terror throughout the
whole countryside.
Railroads and telegraph we've not
yet invented News travelled slowly
So did everything Now and then q
message or letter was carried fast
across country, on horseback, with
relays Of speedy horses waiting from
point to point. But thesusual mode Of
travel was over heavy roads in a
heavier stage coach.
There we're lines of stage coaches
drawn by four horses. Passengers
filled the roof and body of the vehicle,
while guard armed with blunder-
buss. sat beside the driver to protect
the lives and valuabes the coach car
ried. Gentlemen OF wealth had prl-
vate coaches in which they travelled
between their country homes and Lon
don
Naturally, the coaches often held
large sums of money and jewelry, and
the passengers were in the habit OF
carrying plenty Of cash with them,
| All this made the. stage lines favorite
haunts for highwaymen.
| A coach would round turn In the
road to confront masked horseman
whose leveled pistols threatened the
guard even, while his disguised voice
croaked. STAND and deliver!" Often
the masked man would overawe the
| passengers, make them line up In the
| road, rob them and the coach, then
| jump on his horse and gallop away
with his plumber Before the police
could be,notified he was usually many
miles away.
Turpin was one OF the most daring
of these highwaymen Not content
with robbing passengers, he would OF
ten play quaint tricks on them. i
his demands for money We're resisted
lie had no scruples about sending
pistol bullet through his opponent!
brain. Altogether there was musl
brutal crime and little poetry abou
him.
The most picturesque Of Turpini
feats was his famous ride from Lon
don to York-an adventure who's
truth some writer's doubt Dick ha'
committed an atrocious robbery nea
London. Knowing he was recognized
he set out to secure an alibi. Mount
Jig his mare, Black P&s, he gallope'
: to York. The distance was 200 mile
over bad roads. The journey usual
I took four days Dick made 1t in fl
, teen hours, and his mare droppe'
dead as he reached York. When TUT
pin was arrested for the London ROT
berry he proved by reliable witnesse
that he had been loafing about tn
: York streets fifteen hours after tn
crime--a fact that seemed to ferbi
his having reached there by nature
means Therefore, It was decided h
must be innocent.
Turpin was hanged at York Apr
TO- 1920.