The Daytona daily news. [volume] (Daytona, Fla.) 1903-1926, 1912-12-31

this late day to W4 sas, AJ
sift the facts from Dtch TURPIH
the fiction. Some historians say he
| was a fascinating daredevil. Others
say he was merely a stupid rufian. It
Is due to this variance as well as to
the strangeness of his alleged ex-
ploits that Turpin figures as historic
BLACKBOARD. Here-as well as truth
can be separated from fancy-is the
usually accepted story OF his life:
Richard-or Dick-Turpin was born
at Hampstead, England, in September.
1709 His parents were poor. They
apprenticed him in early youth to a
butcher. But Dick took a more than
neighborly 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 a hanging
offense." Turpin fed 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 rascais Of
duller brains than his own. More
over, their blunders or treachery
might add to his own danger So he
left the gang after he had learned all
the villainies it's members could
teach him.
Sometimes, In later days, he would
employ one Of his old comrades as an
accomplice. 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 were not
yet invented, News travelled slowly.
So did everything. Now and then q
nssssse or letter was carried fast
'acrcss country. on horseback. with
reaayu sotSpeedy horses waiting from
poiat 10 point But the usual mode OF
travel was over heavy roads In q
heavier stage coach.
There were lines OF stage coaches
drawn by four horses. Passengers
filled the roof and body of the vehicle.
whllseaseaard. armed with a blunder-
buss. sat beside the driver to protect
the lives and valuables the coach car
ried. Gentlemen Of wealth had pri-
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 to- --.-ess ,Ae sta '--.~~s .-s,--. lpv-
haurts. fer highwaymea.
A coach would round a turn in The
road to confront a 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. Net content
with robbing passengers, he would Of
ten play quaint tricks on them. If
his demands for money were resisted
he had no scruples about sending a
pistol bullet through his opponents
brain. Altogether there was much
brutal crime and little poetry about
him.
The most picturesque Of Turpin's
feats was his famous ride from Lon
don to York-an adventure whose
truth some writer's doubt. Dick had
committed an atrocious robbery near
London Knowing he was recognized.
he set out to secure an alibi. Mount
ing his mare, Black Bess, he gaIloped
70 York. The distance was 200 miles
over bad roads. The journey usually
took four days. Dick made It in ff,
teen hours, and his mare dropped
dead as he reached York. When Tur.
pin was arrested for the London rob
berry he proved by reliable witnesses
that he had been loafing about the
York streets fifteen hours after the
crlme-a fact that seemed to forbid
MS having reached there by natural
means. Therefore, it was decided ba
must be innocent.
Turpin was hanged at York Apr51
10. 1920.