Two friends were involved in a misunderstanding, which lead to one being brutally beaten by the other who had failed to recognise him. It is doubtful they remained friends. . .
“Last Tuesday evening, Mr. Feakins of Easondine, intending to pay a visit to a female acquaintance at Tollthorpe in the county of Rutland, went to the place of her residence, but not finding her at home, imagined she was gone to Mr. Goodwin’s, a miller, at the same place; he therefore went to learn whether she was there or not. – Unfortunately for Mr. Feakins, he was perceived by one of the servants, who informed Mr. Goodwin that a person had been looking in at the window. – Some villains having a short time before attempted to break into his house, he immediately order’d his gun, and followed Mr. Feakins, fired at him, shattered his hand in a most miserable manner, and then struck him a violent blow on the wounded arm with the butt end of his piece, before he knew his person. – Mr. Feakins is in a very dangerous state, a mortification being apprehended; and his arm is necessarily order’d to be cut off. – What renders this misfortune the more distressing to the parties, Mr. Feakins and Mr. Goodwin were intimate acquaintance, and very good friends.”
The Stamford Mercury, 22nd December, 1774.