Murders > Life and adventures of that notorious robber and murderer, Richard Turpin

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Mr. Mason, keeper of Epping Forest; anrt
tne time was fixed for carrying the plan into
execution; but Tnrpin having gone to Lon¬
don to spend Ins share of the former booty,
intoxicated himself to such a degree, that he
totally neglected the appointment. Never¬
theless, three ot the gang (Fielder, Rose, and
Kust) resolved that the absence of their
companion should not frustrate the proposed
eesign; and having taken a solemn oath to
break every article of furniture in Mason’s
house, they set out on their expedition.
Having gained admission, they beat and
kicked the unhappy man with great severity,
finding an old man sitting by the fire-side,
they permitted him to remain uninjured;
the daughter of Mr. Mason escaped their
fury, by running out of the house, and
taking shelter in a pig-sty. After ransac¬
king the lower part of the house, and doing
much mischief, they went up stairs, where
they broke everything that came in their
wa.v among the rest a china punch-bowl,
from which dropped 120 guineas, with which
they immediately decamped. They set out
tor London, in search of Turpin, with whom
they shared the booty, though he had not
taken an active part in the execution of the
villany.
On the 11th of January, 17S5, Turpin and
five of his companions went to the house of
Mr. Saunders, a wealthy farmer of Charlton,
in Kent. Arriving between seven and eight
o’clock in the evening, they knocked at the
door, and inquired if Mr. Saunders was at
home. Being answered in the affirmative,