[LinnieBeth]

The Nazgul would have been drawn to the Ring
and
Bill Ferny breaking into the rooms? - Interesting, that has never crossed my mind! I always assumed it was the Ringwraiths, but you make some good points. I must go back and re-read it now!

Very interesting, points, the implication was that the Black Riders did the deed, perhaps Tolkien just "forgot" for a second that the Riders would know the ring wasn't there??
An oversight?

[HairOfTheDog]

Or a wrong assumption on our part... We assume it was the Ringwraiths, but I am not sure that means Tolkien said it was. I still haven't had a chance to review it and see for myself. Maybe Tolkien left clues about Bill Ferny and the Southerner that just never occurred to me.

[cantbebought]

The first part of A Knife in the Dark is 3 of the Nazgul breaking into the house at Crickhollow....Run, Fatty, Run...but has no details on the Prancing Pony attack.
It could have been the Nazgul, but Strider tells the Hobbits:

..."But thier power is in terror, and already some in Bree are in their clutch. They will drive these wretches to some evil work: Feerny, and some of the starngers, and, maybe the gatekeeper too. They had words with Harry at West-gate on Monday. I was watching them. He was white and shaking when they left."

So that's why I suspected the others but it could be either way.