Broadside entitled 'Trial and Sentence'

Commentary

This trial report begins: 'The Trial and Sentence of William Adams, alias Reid, for the Robbery of Michael Pirnie, who is to be executed at Edinburgh on 6th January, 1830.' The reoprt was published on 1st December 1829.

This broadside gives a brief summary of Adams' trial, including the indictment and Michael Pirnie's statement to the courtroom. Although it appears that the jury, whilst finding him guilty, recommended leniency, the Lord Justice Clerk chose to sentence the accused to be executed. A brief but insightful biography of Adams is provided at the end of the sheet. Finally, a broadside detailing the execution of William Adams is also to be found in the National Library of Scotland's collection.

Broadsides are single sheets of paper, printed on one side, to be read unfolded. They carried public information such as proclamations as well as ballads and news of the day. Cheaply available, they were sold on the streets by pedlars and chapmen. Broadsides offer a valuable insight into many aspects of the society they were published in, and the National Library of Scotland holds over 250,000 of them.

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