Camden History

On Monday 5 August 1862, Richard Peniston a hackney cabdriver, was waiting on the rank in Great Quebec Street at 12.40 lunchtime. This was a road running south of the Marylebone Road, and today is called Upper Montagu Road near Gloucester Place. He was approached by well-dressed man driving a phaeton (a lightweight carriage) with a pair of horses who suddenly, and without warning, hit the cab man’s horse with an axe just behind its ear. When Peniston shouted at him, the man also aimed a blow at Peniston which missed, and he galloped off. A second cabdriver, Edward Gilbert, saw what had happened and chased the phaeton into Montagu Street and then into Baker Street and north to Grove End Road in St John’s Wood. During the chase, the man turned and pointed a pistol at Gibert saying, ‘If you don’t stop, I’ll blow your brains out’. Gilbert pulled up his horse and hid in the bottom of the cab seat. When he put his head up, the man fired at him and rode off. Fearlessly, Gibert continued the p