Broadside entitled 'An Account of the Public Flogging'

Commentary

This punishment report continues: 'through the Streets of Glasgow, on Wednesday the 25th September, 1822, for committing a violent Assault on the person of a young Girl under 12 years of age, at Greenock. Also, the Judge's Address to the prisoner on passing Sentence. It was published by John Muir of Glasgow.

Hand was simply flogged and transported, instead of hung, because he was eventually convicted of attempted rape. The case was conducted behind closed doors, to avoid shaming Mary Ann Smart's family but after the verdict of 'attempted' was returned her name could be released. It is curious to note that Hand's origin, England, is highlighted. The publisher, Muir, has also given a summary of the other cases around Scotland at the time, showing that news travelled.

Reports recounting dark and salacious deeds were popular with the public, and, like today's sensationalist tabloids, sold in large numbers. Crimes could generate sequences of sheets covering descriptive accounts, court proceedings, last words, lamentations and executions as they occurred. As competition was fierce, immediacy was paramount, and these occasions provided an opportunity for printers and patterers to maximise sales.

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