Burke Manuscript

Burke Manuscript: Page 130

Transcript

First ChCh Club – Steward Mr Collins – afterwards Devonshire Arms, G.B.Woodman, now Gladstone

John Wadsworth shoemaker

There was a story or two told in connection with the house when it was the Devonshire, Jack Hart, once a butcher, keeping it. A man of a certain position, well he was a merchant and politician, used to go the rounds, and, wise man, as he thought, when he began to feel tight, on one occasion he gave the landlord his watch and appurtenances, worth a large sum, and then poor silly, off he went for a few days fly round, and on pulling up, missed his property, forgot what he had done with them, concluded he had been robbed, flew to the police and promised them a tenner if they recovered the goods. The force, quite willing, went round the pubs and first shot were told by Hart that he had the goods and at once gave them up. Then the fun commenced. Three of the police were in it and got the ten pounds and divided it. But that was against the rules. It should have gone in to the general pot. Inquiry. Youngest of the three gave evidence first, denied getting the ten pounds (They had agreed to that) two others admitted it. Young one had to clear.