Historic%20Yorkshire

THE STORY OF YORK CASTLE.
of large size and great dexterity; he was the terror of the
carriers and drovers of the north, whopaid him a regular
blackmail. He frequently gave money to the poor after
making a good haul from the rich, and often robbed
bailiffs and others simply to return their money to the
victims of debt or distraint. The story of his famous
ride is as follows. He had committed a robbery in
London just before dawn, and being recognised he immediatelymounted
his horse, an animal of great endurance,
and by sunset, reckoned to be an interval of fifteen
hours, he entered York, and upon his trial set up an
alibiand was acquitted. On account of this,the " Merrie
Monarch," Charles II., nicknamed him "Swift Nick."
He was afterwards for robbery again sent to York, and
hangedin 1684. Turpin was a much more vulgar description
of rogue, havingbeen guilty of highway robbery,
horse stealing,and murder. He first set up in the business
of stealing cattlein Essex,but afterwards proceeded
to the committal of nearly every enormity in the way
of cruelty and murder. He lived for some time at
Welton, in good repute as a gentlemanhorse-dealer,but
a foolish threat to a gentleman caused him to be summoned
at BeverleyPetty Sessions, whichled to his detection
and conviction. The Beverley magistrates sent him
to York Castle,wherehe was recognised by severalpeople.
An instance of his detection is somewhat characteristic
of the man. A person who pretended to know him, said
"
that this wasnot Turpin,and he would bet half-a-guinea
on it,"upon whichTurpinwhispered to his warder, " Lay
him! I'llgo you halves." He was hangedat York, April
17th, 1739.
Another well known case is that of Mr.
Wortley, an attorney,who, on being arrested by a bailiff,
exclaimed, "I will run you through, thou shalt arrest
none of me," and trying to escape he was prevented,
upon which he thrust the Bailiff through with a rapier.
Mr. Wortley was acquitted. A dreadfulaffair took place
in the early part of the seventeenthcentury,known from
its harrowing particulars as the "Yorkshire tragedy," and
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