The Dead Drummer: a Legend of Salisbury Plain. 217 



Both men having now been heard, the prisoner persisted in his 

 confession, though he declined signing it; and as his manner no 

 longer indicated anything like aberration of mind, he was com- 

 mitted to the city-gaol in order to take his trial at the ensuing 

 Huntingdon assizes. His companion Shepherd was at the same 

 time bound in a recognizance to give evidence of what he had 

 heard him confess. 



This affair having been re-published in the London Journals, 

 soon attracted general attention; and on the following Thursday, 

 22nd June, two letters reached Salisbury, both of which are inter- 

 esting. The first is from John, fourth Earl of Sandwich. 



To the Worshipful the Mayor of Salisbury. 



1 ' Hertford Street. 



"Sir. Having thrown my eyes by accident on the enclosed article in yester- 

 day's Morning Post, I take the earliest opportunity to inform you that a murder 

 of a drummer within four miles of Huntingdon happened about the time men- 

 tioned in the article, and the circumstances appear very similar to those therein 

 described. I must most earnestly recommend it to you to detain the man, and 

 to write to me for further particulars, with which I will take care that you shall 

 be fully supplied. I must beg at the same time that you will let me know 

 every thing that has appeared on the examination of the man before you, or 

 whatever can be collected from him upon any further investigation. The drum- 

 mer was killed and his body found at a place called Weybridge, between Bugden 

 and Alconbury, in the great North road. I am, Sir, your obedient, humble 

 servant, "Sandwich. 



"P.S. I have dated this from my house in London, intending to have put it 

 into the post to-morrow in town; but as I think the business requires despatch, 

 have sent it from hence by express. 



" Maidenhead Bridge, 21 June 1786. 



The other letter is from Owen Fann, Esq. the coroner of the 

 county of Huntingdon. 



To the Worshipful the Mayor of Salisbury. 



"Sir. On reading in a newspaper yesterday, of a drummer-boy being mur- 

 dered by a sailor, it struck me with an idea that it might be the same drummer 

 that was murdered in Huntingdonshire, but that I think the offender's name 

 was then different, and his being called a sailor did not confirm my first appre- 

 hensions: but by the account I have just read in the Morning Post I think there 

 is no doubt of the man you have committed being the real person. I was the 

 coroner who took the inquisition on view of the body of the drummer. If I re- 

 collect, the offender was then a late recruit in the same regiment with the 

 drummer boy, with whom he went to the Officer, Major Reynolds, then of Did- 



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