Today in History: Highwayman Dick Turbin Was Betrayed by His Own Handwriting

On this day (February 23) in 1739, a schoolteacher named James Smith recognized the handwriting of notorious outlaw, Dick Turbin, on an envelope in a post office. Turbin had been arrested under an alias (Palmer) and had written to his brother-in-law who refused to pay the charges on the letter saying he didn’t know anyone in York (where “Palmer” was under arrest). But the envelope got noticed by Smith who recognized the handwriting. The letter was opened and through it the authorities realized they had the famous highwayman in their possession. It makes me wonder what kind of student Turbin was to have made such an impression on his teacher that he remembered his handwriting years later…