Long before Father Christmas took to clambering down chimneys in the middle of the night, a Montgomeryshire sweep called Richard Thomas figured that the aperture would prove an excellent means of gaining admittance to the Kinnerton home of Mrs Lloyd. So it happened that on the night of 16th December 1793 the terrified widow awoke to find the sweep in her bed chamber, where he demanded that she hand over her money or be murdered.
Mrs Lloyd gave the rogue what cash she had, it amounted to three shillings, and he made his escape. To no avail, since he was soon caught and tried at the Radnor Assizes. Found guilty, according to the Newgate Calendar if not here, Thomas was executed the following summer.
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