In the cold cells of York Castle, John Palmer is identified as the elusive Richard “Dick” Turpin in 1739.

Dick Turpin originally followed his fathers trade in 1730’s as a butcher, but began to lose track of a civil life when he joined a gang of deer thieves. Thieving became poaching, which turned into burglary, horse thief and eventually led to him becoming a killer.

Whilst on the run to a hideaway in Epping Forest, Essex, Turpin was seen by a servant of one of the forest keepers called Thomas Morris. Morris tried to capture Turpin with a pistol but Turpin was quicker and shot him.

Turpin then move to Yorkshire under the alias John Palmer. Turpin was imprisoned not long after in the York Castle after being suspected as being a horse thief. From his prison cell he wrote a letter to his brother-in-law, which he subsequently refused to accept so the letter went into authorities hands. James Smith who laugh Turpin how to write, recognised his writing and today win 1739 formally ID him is the Castle.

Being identified as Dick Turpin, Smith collected on the reward originally offered by the Duke of Newcastle following the murder of Thomas Morris. The reward he received was £200, which is around £31,000 in today’s money.

On 22nd March 1739, Turpin was found guilty on two charges of horse thief and sentenced to death. He was executed on 7th April 1739.

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Source and to read some more:

• Wikipedia – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dick_Turpin