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- Alias: The Lunar Rogue; Alias: Henry Frederic Moon; Alias: William Newman; Alias: Henry Hopkins
The Lunar Rogue- Although Henry More Smith is one of the most interesting reprobates in New Brunswick history he was never actually incarcerated in York County Jail on Brunswick Street. He was a fugitive from Nova Scotia who came to New Brunswick in 1812. Records show that he was sentenced to death for stealing a horse and was sent to Kingston Jail, Kings County. More Smith, however, had other plans. The wily thief faked a grave illness as part of a cunning escape plan, a plan that was ultimately successful.
Once free, More Smith traveled up the St. John River to Fredericton and continued his life of crime. Though he was arrested and remanded to Kingston, the authorities were not able to keep a hold on the slippery More Smith, for he escaped en route to the jail. Having once again obtained his freedom, More Smith gambled it again. He had the nerve to slip his way, undetected, into the official residence of Thomas Wetmore, Attorney General of New Brunswick, during a dinnerparty. The Lunar Rogue made off with top-hats, cloaks, and other articles belonging to the guests.
More Smith's adventures in Fredericton eventually came to an end. He was arrested and sent to the York County Jail, then on King street, and eventually escorted back to Kingston by the Sheriff of York County.
Waiting for the Gallows - While in Kingston, More Smith managed to slip out of his shackles on several occasions. This provoked the jailor to chain the prisoner's hands and feet and place an iron collar around his neck. He was then chained to the floor. Despite these measures, Smith proved to be irrepressible. By letter, Sheriff Bates complained to the Attorney General that the prisoner was impossibly disruptive:
"After securing him with strong chains to his neck and legs, and with handcuffs, he continued beating the floor; hallooing day and night with little intermission, making different sounds; sometimes with jinkling his chains and sometimes without, apparently in different parts of the gaol, insomuch when we found the largest chain parted about the middle and tied with a string, which clearly proves that irons and chains are no security for him."
Although he was heavily chained and shackled, More Smith found an outlet for his creative nature. He formed an entire "family" of life-like marionettes out of straw from his mattress and shreds of his own clothing, with blood and charcoal serving as paint.
The eccentric prisoner left a strong impression on Sheriff Bates and the community of onlookers who had witnessed his talents. They believed it was a shame to execute this remarkable character. Bates traveled to Fredericton to plead on behalf of his prisoner. He was given assurance from the Attorney General that More Smith would be granted a pardon if he would leave the province, never to return. The Mysterious Stranger fulfilled that promise and Sheriff Bates would never again lay eyes on the wily and irrepressible Lunar Rogue. Little did he know that over 200 years later his legacy lives on in the form of a pub at 625 King Street.
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Abt 1793 - Yes, date unknown