| His real name was Hurst. He came down from London on purpose for my horse. He arrived at Royston in the morning and was met at the Chequers public-house by Fairmanner, they both went to the sign of the Coach and Horses, and staid there until evening. About seven o'clock in the evening they went to Bassingbourn, and broke open two of Mr. Joshua Lilley's stables, but there were no horses in them. They tried to catch a young mare which was in the yard, but she galloped about so much that they were afraid of being found out. Fairmanner took the stable fork and stabbed the mare twice. When they left Mr. Lilley's yard, Hurst said he would go for my horse, he was determined to have one from somewhere.Fairmanner then left him, and they saw no more of each other that night. Hurst came to my yard about 8 o'clock. It was a very dark and wet night. He could not get into the farm yard, for the gates were new ones, and they stuck so fast that he thought they were locked. He then went round the Church-yard, got over the wall into the garden, went round the large barn, and got into the farm-yard. He turned some pigs out of the cart lodge and laid himself in their place, until he saw my man come out with a lantern, and who was going to rack up the horses. He then went into the middle of the yard, and the stable door being open he saw the very horse he wanted. When the groom came out and locked the door, he returned to his former situation and remained there, until he thought we were all safe in bed, which was about eleven o'clock. He then got a plunder stick from one of the carts, and broke open the stable door. Having procured the horse, he went into the chaise-house for a saddle and bridle, and left the yard as quietly as possible. As he was leaving, the wind blew the gate violently, and made a great noise, which caused him to gallop all the way to Royston. When he arrived there the mail-coach was changing horses at the Bull Inn, and he kept very near it all the way to London, going by the side of it through the toll-bars, in order, that he might not be suspected. He then went to Green Street, Blackfriars Bridge, and remained there during the whole of Saturday. On Sunday he set off for Sumerton, in Oxfordshire, where he was found by me. On the Monday after we arrived at Bassingbourn, I took Hurst before a Bench of Magistrates. On being asked if he had anything to say in his defence, he replied, "Nothing, I stole the gentleman's horse, and must abide be the laws of my country." He was then ordered to be taken to Cambridge Castle. On the following day (Tuesday), I went to Bedford, with a note from Mr. Pym, directed to Mr. M----, the magistrate, to request that my former horse should be delivered up to me, as he had been sent to the George Inn to keep, and had been concealed there in a unwarrantable a manner, without having first advertised him. When I gave th note to Mr. M---, he said he should not give up the horse. I told him, if he did not choose to give him up, I should bring an action against him for damages, to which he replied I might do as I pleased. I said, "If one penny would fetch him over the bridge now, I would not have him." I then left Mr. M---, but he vey soon sent my horse to the inn where I was. On the 5th of March 1823, I went to Bedford Assizes, having been bound over to prosecute Roberts for stealing my first horse. I was bound over, also to prosecute Whitbread and Tansley for having had him in their possession, knowing him to have been stolen. The prisoners were brought forward, charged with so many robberies, that they were found guilty, and sentence of death was passed on them before my trial came on. I asked the Learned Judge if they were to be tried upon my indictment, he replied, they had been tried for capital offences, and found guilty, it was therefore not necessary to try them on any further indictment. I then left the Court. On the 12th of March (Wednesday), I went to Cambridge to prosecute Hurst alias Goodman. On the following day the Grand Jury found a true bill against him for stealing my second horse, also, for stealing my saddle and bridle, and also for stealing Mr. Elbourne's pony, at the same time that he and Roberts stole my first horse. On Friday morning, he was placed at the bar, and pleaded guilty to the three indictments mentioned above. Then the Learned Judge passed the dreadful sentence of the law upon the unfortunate man, who seemed very much affected when he was taken from the bar. I immediately begged of his Lordship to recommend him to mercy. His Lordship said my request should be attended to, and he was afterwards reprieved. It would be needles to say that the expenses incurred by my numerous searches, and the trials consequent upon them, amounted to a very large sum. Allowing for the subscriptions very kindly raised by the gentlemen in the neighbourhood, I was more than 200 pounds out of pocket.* ( * The largeness of this sum will be easily accounted for by those who are at all acquainted with the numerous expenses to which Mr. Cambridge must necessarily have been subjected, for he had been very actively employed in searching for other offenders, who were exposed to him by Hurst and Roberts in their confessions, and who wee connected with many other robberies. ) I wrote the account of my adventures, thinking that if it were printed the perusal of it might cause some of my surviving friends to remember me when laid beneath the green turf. Owen Cambridge. |
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