Desperation and poverty drove a youth to highway robbery and horse stealing on the Great North Road near Stamford. He might have frightened a small boy, but the boy’s father was made of sterner stuff and he apprehended the culprit at The Bull and Swan.
“One of the most extraordinary cases of highway -robbery and horse-stealing ever heard of occurred last Sunday morning, on the great road a mile and a half north of Stilton. A son of Mr. C. R. Roberts, of Alwalton, between 8 and 9 years of age, was riding to Stilton to fetch his father’s letters from the Post-office, when he was met and accosted, in the parish of Haddon, by a well-dressed youth about 18 years old, who seized the reins and desired young Roberts to dismount. The latter demurred; on which his assailant presented a pistol, and swore that he would blow out his brains unless he instantly obeyed. The boy therefore got off; on which the highwayman mounted, and saying that ‘if the boy’s father wanted the horse, he would find him the next night at York,’ rode away towards Wansford. The poor boy made the best of his way back to Alwalton (about two miles), and informed his father what had occurred. Mr. Roberts called two neighbours to his assisstnace; and after dispatching them in pursuit on the roads to Oundle and Peterboro’, himself set off on the great north road, and soon discovered that he was in the route of the thief. On ascending the hill where the Whitewater toll-bar formerly stood, two miles from Stamford, he perceived him on the road; and remembering that he was represented to be armed, Mr. R. approached leisurely, and accosted him civilly. The thief returned the salutation like a gentleman, and the two jogged on together for a short distance, conversing about the horse which the young man was riding, the paces of which Mr. Roberts affected to admire; and the enquiry whether he could purchase the animal, was answered with the observation that the price would be the only difficulty. On their reaching the toll-bar a mile from the town,it turned out that the young gentleman had (as he said) ‘no change,’ but Mr. Roberts offering to pay the threehalfpence for him, the two again set forward, and renewed the conversation about the horse until they reached the Bull and Swan inn in St. Martin’s, where Mr. Roberts said he should stop for a time, and he invited his companion to turn in and take a glass with him. The latter agreed; and on riding under the gateway, Mr. Roberts alertly slipped off his horse, and catching the young man in his arms as he also alighted, pinioned him so as to prevent his using pistols, and called for help, which being instantly given, the youth was effectually secured. In his side-pocket was found a new pistol loaded with ball, with several other balls, powder, &co. Perceiving that Mr. Roberts was the owner of the hose he had stolen, the youth became disheartened, and in a short time acknowledged the felony, stating that distress had driven him to it, as when he stopped Mr. R’s son he had only one penny in his pocket. He subsequently stated that his name was Charles Cole, and that his friends lived at No. 7, Carter-street, Park-lane, Westminster; that he robbed them, and dare not return; and that he was making his way on foot to the residence of his aunt, Mrs. Ord, Nunthorpe Hall, near York, and slept on Saturday night in a barn at Alconbury Hill. He was given into the custody of the Police, and on Monday was taken back to Huntingdonshire, and underwent a long examination before Lord George Gordon, by whom he was fully committed to Huntingdon gaol for trial at the next session, on the charge of highway robbery.”
The Stamford Mercury, 29th January, 1841.