Broadside entitled 'Execution'

Commentary

This broadside continues: '. . . for the Murder of Mary Fletcher, aged 85, at Candie End, or Curshot, parish ot Muiravonside, who suffered at Stirling, this morning, Oct. 4, 1843, together with his behaviour in the Condemned Cell.' It was published by Muir of Glasgow, and most likely sold for one penny.

Competition was tough amongst the numerous broadside printers in existence, and time was of the essence as each printer strived to be the first with the latest news. This was especially true in crime reporting, where the details of a particular case from the apprehension of the perpetrator to their last words on the gallows were carefully followed. As can be seen here, however, accuracy often suffered: within the first two paragraphs of this report Allan Mair's age is recorded as 80, 84 and 85.

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.

previous