"Mr. Eyre Kingdon," reported The Western Times in 1835, "is a well-meaning young gentleman, of considerable talent, and great zeal." by which The Times meant to convey that, in the newspaper's opinion, John Eyre Kingdon was a somewhat foolish, young, Tory busybody. They expressed themselves carefully because he was the Mayor's son.
Seven years later, John, no longer so young but married and with a family, resided in one of the smart, new houses at Mount Radford (No. 4) and seems still to have been a busybody albeit clearly a plucky one or perhaps, one should say that he was an early gentleman consulting-detective predating Sherlock Holmes by some 50 years. Anyway, The Times of April 29th was pleased to report this snippet of news:
"Mr Eyre Kingdon is well known for his activity in aiding the police to apprehend thieves. A vagabond went to him the other day, and said, for a pint of beer he would disclose where the spirits stolen from the Cattle Market Inn were 'planted.'
"Mr Eyre gave a quart, proud of the confidence reposed in him. The fellow then said that the jars were planted in the river, and the thieves intended to fish them up at night.
"Mr. Eyre took his station at an early hour of the night, but the thieves never came to 'fish,' so that he lost his quart and caught a cold. It is possible that the thieves saw him, and would not go to the 'plant'."
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The Cattle Market Inn was a 'commodious and well-accustomed public-house' in the Bonhay where could be found a 'dancing room' and 'girls of a loose character.'
Newspaper punsters seem to have been more subtle in 1842, 'caught' and 'quart' are so nicely juxtaposed.
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