Baring-Gould also describes
the story of a baronet called Sir Thomas who lived in
a handsome house and park along the coast. The
preventative men had long suspected that Sir Thomas
had more than winked at the receivers of smuggled
goods. His park undulated to the sea, and to a creek,
with a boathouse. But they had never been able to
establish the fact that he favored the smugglers and
allowed them to use his farm and outbuildings.
However, one night
the preventers spied a party of men with kegs on
their shoulders stealing through the night towards
the mansion and then saw the same leave without the
kegs.
The next morning,
the officer in command appeared at Sir Thomas's door
with a few of his men. He apologised for any
inconvenience his visit might occasion. He said that he
was quite sure that Sir Thomas was ignorant of the
use made of his park and even his house, but he had
evidence than "run" goods were brought to
the mansion the night before, and it was this
officer's duty to point this out to Sir Thomas and
ask him to permit a search which would be conducted
with all delicacy possible.
The baronet was an
exceedingly urbane man and promptly expressed his
complete readiness to allow house, cellar, attic --
every part of the house and every outbuilding -- to
be thoroughly searched. He produced keys. He said
that of course the cellar was the most likely place
for illegal spirits and liquor to be stored, let that
be searched first. He had a cellar-book which he
produced saying he would be glad if the officer would
compare what he found below with the entries in his
book.
The government
entered into the search with zest because the
preventers had long suspected Sir Thomas but hey were
disarmed by the frankness which he greeted them. They
ransacked the mansion from cellar to garret and every
part of the outbuildings and found nothing.
The preventers left
empty-handed and crestfallen, having neglected to
look in the family coach which was so laden with rum
kegs that the springs had been choked with wood to
prevent their breaking or showing that the coach was
fully laden.
Baring-Gould, A
Book of Cornwall, page 267.)
