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Richard Harnell, alias "Little Dick" The following is based on a report from the 25th of April 1801 edition of the Cornwall Gazette Newspaper . Richard Harnell. alias "Little Dick" was charged with firing a gun at an Officer of the Excise whilst trying to evade capture. In the month of May 1792, the prisoner and others were on board a lugger which the Excise believed to be carrying smuggled goods they were ordered to stop and the prisoner fired his pistol. in the ensueing chase the lugger and its crew evaded capture and it is believed that they escaped to Guernsey in the Channel Islands. The evidence not making out the identity of the prisoner as being the person who actually was concerned in the transaction, the Jury under the direction of the Learned Judge, Lord Kenyon, acquitted the prisoner. Harnell was, however, detained to be tried for a misdemeanor, for which he stood charged at a subsequent period.
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