Crime & punishment > Whinny Park murder

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one of the Dunfermline officers, went to examine this
place together.
On inquiry if there were any lodgers in this house, the
people answered, “ they had one Irishman, but he had
been up and away by six o’clock.” “ We had better search,
however,” said Kennedy ; and in the first bed room they
entered, Brebner observing clothes on a chair, recognis¬
ed them at once, and exclaimed, “ We have him now.”
The lodger slept, or pretended to sleep wonderfully sound:
on being touched, however, he got up with a convulsive
start, and exclaimed, “ What’s wrang ? what’s wrang ?”
He was immediately recognised, and having been desired
to dress himself, the warrant was read to him ; on hear¬
ing it, he observed composedly, “ I am as innocent of
that crime as you are.” The Dunfermline officer said,
“ John, we have two warrants against you for thieving ;
but this is a worse business than ours—you are in the
claw now, I am afraid.” He expressed much reluctance
to walk through the streets of Dunfermline, and wished
to have the gig brought to the place where he had slept.
He was however manacled, and taken to the inn. He
declined taking any breakfast; but after setting out in
the gig with the officer and Brehner, he displayed the
greatest composure, answering their questions readily as
to the names of places along the road, and dwelling on
the appearance of the country, where he knew it better
than they did. They arrived at Cupar about half-past
three o’clock, just as the congregations were dispersing
from afternoon’s service. The expedition used by the
officer selected by the Sheriff, may be judged, when we
mention that he only left the scene of the murder about
12 o’clock on Saturday night, went to Dunfermline, call¬
ing at most of the public houses on the way ; and had re¬
turned, and got the man lodged in Cupar Jail by half¬
past 3 o’clock on Sunday afternoon, though he was ob¬
liged, from the necessity of changing the gig, to go and
return by the circuitous road of Kirkaldy. One circum¬
stance deserves to be noticed: at almost every public
house where he called, he met with the most prompt at¬
tention, and frequently with essential information. There
was one house, however, near Orr’s Bridge, kept by a