25th September 1808, The York Examiner:

A new criminal has begun operating in our city, robbing the houses of wealthier families in the dead of night. With impressive stealth and a talent for escaping the law, this thief is worthy of the name ‘The Black Cat’. The authorities are confident that they will be captured soon.

11th February 1810, The Manchester Telegraph:

Travellers between Manchester and Liverpool should beware that the route has been targeted several times in the past week by a masked thief known as the Black Cat. Working under the cover of darkness, this armed criminal arrives on horseback, as if out of thin air, and takes whatever they desire.

13th March 1813, The Coventry Gazette:

Residents of Coventry should despair that the famed highwayman ‘The Black Cat’ appears to have taken up residence in the area, having recently terrorised the towns of Bath, Leicester and Cheltenham. The thief has become more ambitious in recent months, attempting more and more daring schemes, often resorting to violence when victims do not comply. Since the best efforts of the authorities across England have so far failed to capture the menace, let us simply hope that they leave our city quickly.

8th November 1813, The London Evening Times:

Duchess Mary Chesterton is sad to announce that her husband, Duke John Chesterton, has died unexpectedly, cruelly taken from the world only a couple of months after their marriage. As the late Duke’s previous wife and son were lost to consumption last year, the Chesterton title and estate have passed to his nephew, Thomas.

Outside the bounds of St George's Fields burial ground lies a small, unassuming headstone, engraved with the simple message: “For Hattie Bodkin, The Black Cat. You will be missed.” Below the words, there is a traced outline of a cat laying down to sleep.

The grave does not have many visitors, but perhaps the more surprising fact is that it has any visitors at all, given the misdeeds of its occupant and the unknown circumstances under which this memorial appeared. News of the death of the Black Cat attracts the attention of criminals across the country – from allies who received helpful advice from the highwayman in their youths, to enemies who begrudgingly pay respect to the foe who bested them.

Closer to home, Harriet Bodley touched many lives, for better or for worse. It is, of course, highly improper for a member of the Ton to venture beyond the grounds of the church’s burial area to visit a memorial to a disgraced criminal who wreaked havoc across the city, but somehow that does not stop them from doing so. Angry, confused, admiring or seeking closure for emotions they do not even understand, a brave few sneak into this forbidden territory and pay their final respects to the Black Cat who both terrified and enthralled her captive audience.

[The following is written by Anna R]

An excerpt from The Death of Highwaymen:

In a small but significant way, it can be seen by some that the death of the highwayman came when the reputation of Harriet Bodkin, The Black Cat of Coventry, came to light. While many Highwaymen would limit their crimes to highway robbery and assault, the Black Cat seemed to have added murder, hired assassination, fraud, housebreaking, and many other crimes to her list. Bodkin's grave, outside St George's Fields burial ground, has become a legend within London's criminal underworld. It is said by some that soil taken from the grave and sprinkled around a house will cast discord amongst its occupants, allowing opportunity for malaise to befall.