Broadside concerning the trial and sentence of Peter Moffat.

Commentary

This trial report begins: 'A coarect account of the Trial and Sentence of Peter Moffat, for the Murder of his Father, at Kilsyth, on the 2d April 1822, and who is to be Executed at Stirling, on Friday the 28th July, 1826.'

Another broadside in the National Library of Scotland's collection details Moffat's confession and incarceration. Although the first name of the accused differs from this sheet, with him referred to as Thomas, they are most likely the same person. Such inaccuracies were common and merely help to illustrate the lackadaisical approach to reporting that existed. As competition for sales was intense, priority was given to producing sheets for sale as quickly as possible. Inevitably, this was often to the detriment of the facts.

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.

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