TURPIN - he was a right bastard

The Dark and Dirty Deeds of Dick

Saturday, April 15

Diptych

"Let's bung our Eyes in Drink."

A tall, fresh-coloured Man, very much marked
with the Small Pox, about 26 Years of Age,
about five Feet nine Inches high.
He wears a blue-grey Coat and a natural Wig.

"Only detain our Bird five Minutes at the Star,
and if I don't pluck him to the Pin-Feathers,
call me a Bungler, that's all."

They gave out it was Turpin, but that Fellow,
having done much Mischief of late,
runs in Everybody's Head.

"You have done Wrong in shooting your
Landlord's Cockerel."
"If you'll stay till I reload, I'll shoot you too."

“It having been represented to the King,
that Richard Turpin did,
on Wednesday, the 4th of May last,
barbarously murder Thomas Morris,
Servant to Henry Thompson,
one of the Keepers of Epping Forest,
and commit other Notorious Felonies
and Robberies, near London,
his Majesty is pleased to promise
His most gracious Pardon to
any of his Accomplices, and a Reward of 200 l.
to any Person or Persons
that shall discover him,
so that he may be apprehended and convicted.

Turpin was born at Thackstead, in Essex, is about thirty,
by Trade a Butcher, about five Feet nine Inches high,
very much marked with the Small-Pox, his Cheek-Bones broad,
his Face thinner towards the bottom; his Visage short,
pretty Upright, and broad about the Shoulders.”

2 Comments:

Blogger Daphne said...

A good description - are there any portraits of Dick Turpin still in existence?

5:54 pm  
Blogger Archie Pullen said...

There are a number of pictures of Turpin, including some of him 'in action' threatening old ladies and suchlike. However, none of them seem to have been made within his lifetime, so you'll have to imagine him under the features of Richard O'Sullivan, Sid James, Tom Mix, or whoever takes your fancy. We might have to set up a rogues gallery of their mug-shots and see which proves most popular. I have very fond memories of Mr. O'Sullivan myself, but then I'm just showing my age... I suspect though that in 'real life' Turpin was more like Ray Winstone, who is a little old to play him now but would have been my choice.

10:47 pm  

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