Turpin next acquainted his associates that there was an old woman at Leighton, who was in possession of a great sum of money, which he was sure was hoarded in her house; whereupon, agreeing to rob her they proceeded to her house, when one of them knocked at the door; and the rest forcing their way into the house, tied handkerchiefs over the eyes of the old woman and her maid, and fastened a boy, her son, to the bedstead. This being done, Turpin demanded what money was in the house; and the owner hesitating to tell him, he threatened to set her on the fire if she did not make an immediate discovery: still she declined to give them any information; on which the villains actually placed her on the fire, where she sat till anguish compelled her to discover her hidden treasure; when the robbers possessed themselves of above 400l. and decamped with the booty.
Some little time after this they agreed rob the house of a farmer at Rippleside, near Barking, and knocking at the door, the people declined to open it; on which they broke it open; and having bound the farmer, his wife, his son-in-law, and the servant-maid, they robbed the house of about 700l, which delighted Turpin so much that he exclaimed, “Ay, this will do! this is the thing, if it would but always be so!” and the robbers retired with their prize, which amounted to above 80l. a man.
This desperate gang, flushed with success now determined to attack the house of
