Transcription
An Account of the Trial and Sentences of Thomas Hay. for stabbing Wil- liam. Moffat, in Leith, on the 18th of July last, and before his sentence is carried into execution he is to be lashed through the town of Leith on Wednesday 18th February 1824. A case came on for trial yesterday, (2d February 1824,) unpara- lleled by the recent atrocity in Hertfordshire, and can only be compared to some of the crimes which the busy tongue of rum- our had alleged against Thurtell and his gang. In the present instance the accused, Thomas Hay, resided in a solitary manner in a house in King street, Leith, no living creature cohabited with him. Having fitted up his inner room as a human slaugh ter-house, he set out one morning in July last in quest of his in- tended victim, whom he deeoyed to the place of sacrifice, and a- gainst whom he aimed the murderous blow,?but happily failed in the accomplishment of his diabolical purpose. The indictment having been read, the panel pleaded, " I am not guilty my Lord, but Mr Wilson is gnilty of rousing me out of my bed this morning, and bringing me here without my break fast, a state, I presume, which no one present is in besidee myself." Mr William Moffat, wright in Leith, said that on the 18th of July last, he waas walking, and met the prisoner about 8 in the morning, who asked him to go along with him to see some re- pairs he had to make, and requested him to send away two dogs that followed the witness, as the pannel had a cat and kittens in the house, when they got in the house the pannel locked and bolted the door prisoner pressed him to go into another room from the one they first eatered, witness did so, and observed to the pannel that his was-cloth on the floor was not properly laid down, for the red side was uppermost, and the ends lying against the the chairs and bed instead of being laid below them. The pannel invited witness to take a glass of spirits, he then said that he had bought some property in Edinburgh, and, wished witness to put up some partitions, and wished him to go and settle with the person he bought the property from, as his leg was so sore he could not go himself, and asked witness to make out a receipt for what money he would entrust him with, which was £220, and shewed him 12 £20 pound notes. The pannel gave him a letter to read, while doing so he lift up his eyes and saw the panuel unfolding something, which he thought at the time was the money, but shortly after witness was surprised to hear a strong suction of breath very near him, after seeing the prisoner at a distance from him, he locked up and saw prisoner standing over him and making a thrust with a knife, which in attempting to ward off the blow he received in his arm, witness, wrestled with him, and threw him against the bed, and held him on the floor, and succeeded in taking the knife from him, but got the leader of one of the fingers of the right hand, and the leaders of all the fingers of the left hand cut. He then opened the door and called for assistance, prisoner was not intoxicated at the time. Had never quairelled with the prisoner, nor had any words with the prisoner before he stabbed him. The panel's declaration was read. Among other things it stated that Mr Moftat made up to the prisoner in Giles street, on the morning in question, and accompanied him to his house; that the wound was occasioned by his foot tripping while he had the knife in his hand cutting bread and cheese with it, that in falling he upset the table and cut Mr Moffat's arm. He (declar- ant) was unable to say where he purchased the knife, which ap- peared new and never to have been used for any other purpose. He was unable to account for many other circumstances, and re- fused to answer several pertinent questions. After observations at considerable length from the public prosecutorl in which he shewed the enormity of the crime of which the pannel is guilty, and which was powerfully answered by the pannel's agent, the jury deliberated for a short time, and returned a verdict of guilty. The Lord Justice Clerk previous to pronomncing sentence, dwelt greatly on the heinous nature of the crime of which the pannel is found guilty, and remarked, that had his case been in England, the last sentence of the law would have been awarded against him, his Lordship then delivered the sentence of the law, viz. that he will be transported beyond seas for the period of fourteen years ; and previous to which, to be publicity whipt through the streets of Leith, on Wednesday the 18th February 1824
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Date of publication:
1824 shelfmark: F.3.a.14(9)
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