and, strange to say, a
button of the exact kind was found behind the counter of the shop where
the thefts occurred. No public action was taken in the matter, but it
came to be strongly suspected that the professional thief-taker had
himself been guilty of thieving. Other suspicious circumstances
occurred, but he was a clever man, and nothing was brought home against
him. It was believed, however, that something of the truth had become
known at head quarters, as his appointment was a few months later
cancelled, and he was not appointed elsewhere. He continued to reside in
Horncastle and, having no employment, he accepted the post of water
bailiff to the local angling association, which he filled for some time,
until he eventually disappeared from the scene of his labours, which were
thought by not a few to be somewhat "fishy" in the unfavourable sense of
being at least questionable in their nature.

He had not left the town very long when it became known that certain
parties had received from him some of the goods which had disappeared
from the grocer's shop, which had been robbed. Sundry hams were found
concealed in a hay loft, and it was generally believed that the robbery
of an inn in the town, not far from the shop in question, as well as
other thefts in the country around, had been perpetrated by him.

PUBLICHOUSES

One of the remarkable features of Horncastle is the number of its
publichouses, and these were far more numerous formerly than at the
present day. This was, of course, mainly due to the great number of
dealers who attended the horse fairs, not only from all parts of England
and Ireland, but from most countries on the continent; especially the
great August fair, which formerly lasted no less than three weeks. The
present facilities for rapid travel, by rail, and quicker means of
communication, which now enable dealers to hear of horses for sale, and
to visit them in their owners stables, before they are brought to the
fair, has altered all this, and the fairs now last only a few days at the
most.

These publichouses had also generally attached to them large yards, and
extensive stabling (as may still be seen), where the best horses were
shewn and tried, without appearing in the streets. In consequence of the
reduced need for such accommodation many of these publichouses have
disappeared. Among the names of those which have been lost, are the
Royal Oak, the Peal of Bells, Cock and Breec