A HUE AND CRY 225 



reward had long been offered for the apprehension of 

 the robber who infested the district, and the appear- 

 ance of a confederate now alarmed Salisbury so 

 greatly that private persons began to advertise in the 

 local papers their readiness to supplement this sum. 

 A public subscription, amounting to twenty guineas, 

 was also raised at Devizes, so that there was every 

 inducement to the peasantry to make a capture. 

 Yet, strange to say, no one, either jDrivate or official 

 persons, laid a hand on them, even though Boulter 

 appears to have been identified with the daring- 

 horseman who robbed everv one crossing; the Plain. 

 The following advertisement appeared 10th January 

 1778:— 



"Whereas divers robberies have been lately committed 

 on the road from Devizes to Salisbury, and also near the 

 town of Devizes : and as it is strongly suspected that one 

 Boulter, with an accomplice, are the persons concerned in 

 these robberies, a reward of thirty guineas is offered for 

 apprehending and bringing to justice the said Boulter, and 

 ten guineas for his accomplice, over and above the reward 

 allowed by Act of Parliament : — to Ije paid, on conviction, 

 at the Bank in Devizes. If either of these persons are 

 taken in any distant part of the country, reasonable charges 

 will also be allowed. Boulter is about five feet eleven 

 inches high, stout made, light hair, crooked nose, brownish 

 complexion, and about thirty years of age. His accomplice, 

 about five feet nine inches high, thin made, long favoured, 

 black hair, and is said to be about twenty -five years of 

 age. 



This publicity did not hinder their enterprises, and 

 speaking of Boulter, a little later, the Salisbury 

 Journal says : ' The robberies he has committed 



Q 



