A 19thC Cornish woman sees a headless rider at night, who is a smuggler in disguise.

In further illustration of the way in which the more reckless and daring were wont to profit by the prevailing superstition, it may be pointed out that the places most celebrated as the haunts of spirits were commonly found to be the favourite haunts of the smugglers too!On one occasion a woman living in Island Road, St Ives, went out from her house at a late hour of the night in order to draw water for the washing day on the morrow. A few moments later she returned to her. husband in great affright. 'What's all the pore weth 'ee, Jinnifer?' he inquired on seeing her terrified countenance. 'Why,' she exclaimed, 'I hadn't gone but a bit of way from the door when I seed a geat wagon coming down the street. I could hear the whip crack, though the hosses' hoofs was muffled. As it passed, I called out "Good night" to the man, but he never answered a word. And then when I looked up against him, I saw all to wance that he 'adn' got no head! I tell 'ee, Jan, 'twas the devil hisself I seed.''Aais, you,' replied her husband, suppressing a smile, 'and what's more he '11 have 'ee too if you go foorth again. It edn' gone twelve yet, you know!'Such devices as these were commonly employed by the smugglers in order to deter gossiping neighbours from prying upon them when they were at their work.