Broadside entitled 'The second last speech of Mort Collins'

Commentary

This broadside begins: 'The second last Speech of Mort Collins, who was execute at Glasgow on Wednesday the seventh of Novr. 1792, for the murder of John Panton, giving an account of his behaviour in prison and on the scaffold. To which is added the copy of a letter with his own hand to a friend. Also, the copy of a letter he received from Capt. Cook, while under sentence of death.'

Irish-born soldier Mortimer Collins was only 22. He and his friend Peter Owens had been drinking heavily on the night of 25th July 1792 and had run into John Panton, keeper of Glasgow's house of correction, or Bridewell. Collins chased Panton up Jaffray's Close and murdered him, stabbing him with his bayonet. The executioner was the reviled John Sutherland, also known as 'Hangy Jock'.

Captain Cook was probably Collins' commanding officer.

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