"And who the dickens was Hadar?"
"He was a dook—a dook of Edom."
In the churchyard of Thursley stands a large white stone, on which is carved a medallion, that contains the representation of a man falling on the ground, with one arm raised in deprecation, whilst two men are robbing and murdering him, and a third is represented as acting sentinel lest the ruffians should be surprised. On the ground are strewn the garments of the man who is being killed. Beneath this rudely sculptured group is this inscription:—
I N M E M O R Y O F
A generous, but unfortunate Sailor,
Who was barbarously murdered on Hind Head,
On September 24th, 1786,
B Y T H R E E V I L L A I N S,
After he had liberally treated them and promised them his farther Assistance on the Road to Portsmouth.
In the "Royal Huts," a tavern, in which now very good entertainment for man and beast may be had, a tavern which stands somewhat further along the way to Portsmouth than Hind Head, may be seen at this day some rude contemporary paintings representative of the murder.
The ruffians after having killed their victim, robbed him, not only of his money, but also of his clothes, and hastened on their way.
A hue and cry were raised, when the corpse had been discovered, and the men were arrested upon the following day at Sheet, near Peterhead, and were found in possession of the clothing of the deceased. In due course of time they were tried at Kingston, and on the 7th of April, 1787, were hung and gibbeted in chains on Hind Head Hill, beside the old road and close to the scene of their crime.