Newspaper Extract
Daring Robbery at home of John Hardwick of Guilthwaite
Another of those daring robberies which have been so frequently committed of late in various parts of the West Riding, but particularly in the neighbourhood of the large towns, was perpetrated on the premises of Mr. John Hardwick, a farmer residing at a place called Guilthwaite, a few miles from Rotherham, on Monday last.
Mr. Hardwick was about to take an additional farm in the immediate vicinity of his own, and had provided himself with between £200 and £300 for payment of the valuation which had just been made.
Of this £37 in gold and loose silver were deposited in a box in Mr. Hardwick’s bedroom, and 2 rolls of £5 notes, £100 in each roll were secreted in a pair of old boots which were left with other items of clothing in the bedroom.
On Monday Mr. Hardwick and his wife went to Rotherham market, locking up the bedroom and also the house before leaving.
Very shortly after their departure two men made an appearance on the premises, and seizing a lad named Samuel Law about 15 years of age, who was looking after the cows, presented a pistol to his head and commanded him to be silent. They dragged him into the cowhouse put a turnip in his mouth and tied him securely. They broke into the house by removing a square of glass in one of the lower windows. They appear to have gone direct to the room where the money was and forced the door. The box containing the money was forced open with a carving knife and the contents removed. They missed the money concealed in the old boots.
After ransacking the bedroom they went downstairs in search of more booty, but succeeded only in obtaining a silver watch from a delf closet.
They left by the back door. Soon after a sister of Mrs. Hardwick called at the house and the robbery was discovered. A neighbour was summoned to the premises when Mr. Hardwick returned. He immediately went in search of the boy Law who was exhausted after being bound and gagged for 3 hours. He gave a description of the two persons who were seen by others shortly before the robbery took place.
Mr. Hardwick had frequently been robbed of poultry and once or twice shot and wounded the marauders. His house dog was poisoned a few days before.
Source: Leeds Mercury 1st March, 1856
