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Auction: 14035 - Postal History, Autographs and Historical Documents
Lot: 3053

Historical Documents
Highway Robbery Notice
1834 (26 February) "The Atrocious Murder of Mr. John Richardson". With large woodblock illustration showing the robbery in progress. Extensively detailing this murder of Mr. John Richardson who was Steward to John Perkins of Bletchley. He travelled to Epsom Corn-Market, received £23.3s mostly in Bank of England notes from Mr. Stokes of Ewell that day, upon traveling back to Bletchley was attacked by two men at Purchell's Gap on Epsom Downs. He fired a pistol at one but missed. One of the robbers then fired at him and killed him. A £100 Reward was offered that evening which was increased to £300 the next day. There is an eye witness account and a Coroner's report. But this poster ends with the words "But not withstanding the great reward of £300 and the exertions of the Police, it is generally supposed the perpetrators will not be discovered, unless one of the accomplices should split". Printed by G. Smeeton, 74, Tooley St. Southwark. Advertising they print these Broadsides of Executions & Murders etc. Also they offer Hawkers of these advantageous terms. Size 10× 14½ inch. Repair at upper left corner, very scarce. Photo

Highway robbery with murder was becoming quite rare by the 1830s, so this event created quite a sensation, the Home Secretary Lord Melbourne was informed the next day, thus the Government added £100 to the Reward. Over 1,000 people attended the funeral of Mr. Richardson at Ashtead Church. Upwards of 30 people were taken into custody and questioned. One of the Bank of England notes was recovered in Brighton. Several months passed then in August one John Young confessed to the murder while awaiting execution at Winchester for violent Burglary

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Estimate
£400 to £500