Both professionally and personally, Sheriff Bates had a lot riding on the return of Henry More Smith to stand trial. We can only imagine the Sheriff’s reaction when told the Lunar Rogue had again escaped. His frustration must have been at a peak as he once again organized a pursuit.

For two weeks they searched in vain and then, on October 26, 1814, just as the Sheriff began to accept the fact that Henry had probably left the province, word came that the Lunar Rogue was back in business in the Fredericton area.

Henry More Smith was reported to be a handsome, quick-witted man of intelligence and charm. A reward had been posted and, if recaptured and convicted, a “rope” awaited him. In spite of this, Henry had not left the area! Was he that confident of his ability to evade capture or was it common sense he lacked?

Henry first turned up about 10 miles out of Fredericton where he spent the night in an abandoned house. The next night he robbed the home of Mr. Wilmot, stole a black pony, rode it to within a couple of miles of Fredericton, and settled comfortably into a hay shed owned by Jack Paterson. Acting not at all like a fugitive, each day Henry slept late, idled away the afternoon, and then rode the pony into town at night to “conduct business”. On his return, he would stash the stolen goods in the hay and turn the pony out to graze. A quiet existence for a rogue but Henry was soon to right that with a visit to the home of the Attorney General.