Broadside regarding the death of Margaret Thompson

Commentary

This crime report begins: 'A full and particular Account of a most lamentable Dispute, that took place between Margaret Thompson and John Con, a Coal-driver, at Elderslie, near Paisley, during which he stabbed the uunfortunate Woman, who was pregnant, with a poker, of which wound she died, and he is now a Prisoner in Paisley Jail.'

This factual account detailing the stabbing of Margaret Thompson by John Con after he had argued with his wife, is used as an opportunity to moralise on the consequences of rash and hot-headed actions. At this point John Con had been taken into custody but nothing further had unfolded. It was usual for cases to be printed in instalments to keep the audience up to date with all the latest happenings.

Broadsides, cheap and accessible, were often used as moral forums with 'lessons of life' included in the narrative. Broadside authors tended to see themselves as moral guardians and teachers in society. As such, publishers often disseminated 'educational' texts outlining the social and personal consequences of undisciplined or immoral behaviour.

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