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Cornish Wreckers

Sir Thomas the Baronet

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.)

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