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together in this fastness of the forest; for it is generally known, at that time there was no regular police, established by government as is now; and the improved state of the roads, together, make it impossible for such daring disturbers of the peace to remain any length of time in one place.
The mail having been robbed upon Stamford ⟨hill,⟩ the bag, and most of the letters, were found scattered about near that part of the forest, which ⟨was⟩ supposed to be the abode of Turpin and his associate: for several circumstances had occured, ⟨to⟩ make it a probable event that he might be ⟨found⟩ thereabouts; besides, the Woodfordstage-coachman who kncw him perfectly well, as well as ⟨his⟩ colleague King, had often been heard to say, ⟨that⟩ if any person would give him arms and a ⟨hundred⟩ pounds dead or alive he would give some ⟨account⟩ of Turpin; but his time was not yet arrived, although he had so long been the terror and talk ⟨of⟩ the country round London, as well as at remote distance.s
Turpin and King next stopped a person of ⟨very⟩ decent appearance, near Hackney, and ⟨demanded⟩ his money: but the gentleman burst into tears, ⟨said⟩ he was in circumstances of distress, and ⟨possessed⟩ only eighteen pence; on which, instead of ⟨robbing⟩ him they made him a present of half-a-crown proof that scentiments of humanity may not be ⟨utterly⟩ banished even from the bosom of a theif. On ⟨their⟩ return to town they robbed a man of ⟨fourteen⟩ shillings, and then went to their old place of ⟨retreat⟩.
Turpin had gone on for a long while in a ⟨most⟩ notorious and defying way, and the reward for apprehending him had induced many to attempt ⟨it⟩. Amongst the rest was the ranger Thomson’s man i in company with a higgler. Turpin was unarmed, standing alonc, and not knowing the man, ⟨took⟩ him for one poaching for hares, and told him ⟨he⟩
