Page 67 - All About History - Issue 26-15

A romanticised painting of a
highway robbery from 1860

In those times, what was called the ‘short drop’
“Turpin’s crimes within the method of hanging strangled the victim to death,
and slowly too. Turpin was left there till later in
gang and alone were vast” the day and eventually cut down and removed to a
tavern in Castlegate in York.
The following morning, Turpin’s corpse was
JamesSmithwassenttoYorktopositively upon me, my lord, because I was not prepared for transferred to the graveyard of St George’s Church
identify Turpin. Word quickly spread that the my defence.” The judge replied: “Why was you not? in Fishergate. The following Tuesday, his corpse
infamous Dick Turpin was a prisoner in York Castle You knew the time of the assizes as well as any was snatched from his grave, but was later
and people from all over the country flocked to person here.” Turpin also claimed that he had been recovered and reburied, this time in quicklime.
the prison to try to grasp at least a glimpse of the told that the trial would be held in Essex and the Turpin’s grave can still be seen, however, there is
notorious highwayman. judge again came back with: “Whoever told you so speculation he was not buried there at all. We will
Turpin was convicted on two indictments were highly to blame; and as your country have probably never know, but the legend of Dick Turpin
of horse theft, but not murder. Stealing horses found you guilty of a crime worthy of death, it is lives on as England’s most infamous highwayman.
had been a capital offence since 1545 and he my office to pronounce sentence against you.”
was sentenced to death by the judge. After his Many people visited Turpin in his cell while Hero or villain?
conviction, he wrote to his father in order to try to he was awaiting his sentence and the York Castle
illicit the help of a “gentleman and lady of rank to jailer was said to have earned about £100 by selling
make interest that his sentence might be remitted; drinks to his visitors. HER ISM
and that he might be transported.” Finally, the day came for Turpin to be taken to Though Turpin was certainly a daring character, he only ever
used his bravery for wrongdoing
Due to his notoriety and character, it came as Knavesmire in York to meet his maker. Due to not
no surprise when nobody spoke up in Turpin’s having a full-time hangman, it was usual that a
A
defence. He had protested throughout his trial pardoned felon be used as executioner. This job VILLAINY
From petty theft to murder, there wasn’t a single alley of
that he had not been given enough time to form was given to a Thomas Hadfield and in an account
crime that Turpin was unwilling to explore
his defence and asked that proceedings should in The Gentleman’s Magazine from 7 April 1739:
be delayed until he could call his witnesses. This “Turpin behaved in an undaunted manner; as he
A
had been refused and the judge asked Turpin if mounted the ladder, feeling his right leg tremble, LEGACY ©LookandLearn;MaryEvans
Turpin’s life has been romanticised in countless novels and
there was any reason why he should not be given he spoke a few words to the topsman, then threw films, making him one of history’s most infamous villains

the death sentence. Turpin replied: “It is very hard himself off, and expir’d in five minutes.”
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