In part 1 of the poem "The Highwayman" by Alfred Noyes, a highwayman arrives at an inn at night for a tryst with the innkeeper's daughter Bess. The highwayman is in love with Bess, and he informs her that he will return with the gold of his plunder either that night or the next night and that she should watch for him.

However, Tim the ostler has been listening. This man is also in love with the innkeeper's daughter, and he overhears the highwayman's plans. Tim the ostler is primarily responsible for the tragedy of the death of Bess and of the highwayman, informing "King George's men" about when the highwayman will return.

In part 2 of the poem, the "red coat troop" arrives. These soldiers are the ones directly responsible for the tragedy. In answer to Tim's summons, they tie up Bess with a musket pointed at her chest and wait at the window for the highwayman to return. Bess shoots herself to warn her lover, and then the soldiers shoot the highwayman when he rides back after learning what has happened to Bess.

We see, then, that Tim the ostler is primarily responsible because he is the one who tells the authorities about where the highwayman will be, and "King George's men," the soldiers, are responsible for the actual violence because they set the trap, forcing Bess to shoot herself and then shooting the highwayman.