Crime & punishment > Whinny Park murder

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even by those who advocate most strictly the forms of
the law.
To recur to the behaviour of Henderson while in con¬
finement, we may remark, in general, that it was seen in
a different light by every one. according to the ideas he
entertained of his guilt or innocence. Those who be¬
lieved the former (which, with few exceptions, was the
case with all,) imagined that his conduct was marked by
an assumed boldness and hardihood, which was unbefit*
ting his condition : and they believed that the situation
of a man, at one time reading religious books to prepare
for death, and at another time inventing the circumstances
of a defence to save his life, was appalling and fearful.
To those who could see his connection with the crime in
a different view, any frivolity of manner, or disregard of
popular opinion, might appear to arise from a very dif¬
ferent state of feeling.
Henderson remained in the jail from Sunday the 25th
July to Tuesday the 7th September.
On the morning of the latter day he was taken in a
carriage to Perth, accompanied by the officers. A great
crowd was assembled to see him depart, who hissed
and huzzaed as the carriage passed them ; he appeared
to be quite collected and even smiled : but it was evi¬
dent to those who saw him nearer, that much of this was
assumed ; and however much he might endeavour to con¬
ceal his feelings, his situation and the triumphant shouts
of the populace certainly affected him deeply.
At Newburgh the people, who knew that he was to
pass in the morning, had assembled in great numbers at
the Inn where carriages usually stop; they were crowd¬
ed even on the tops of the neighbouring houses: and
when the coach appeared, testified by loud shouts their
belief and exultation that the day of retribution was come.
The officers, seeing the crowd of people, and the temper
they were in, did not stop, as they usually do to break¬
fast, but hurried directly forward.