Transcription
EXECUTION An account of the Execution of Robert Emond, who was executed this morning March 17, 183O, at the Head of Libberton's Wynd. for the Murder of Mrs Franks and her Daughter at Haddington, in October last. This morning, Wednesday 17th March, Robert Emond suffered the last sentence of the law, at the-usual place of execution, head of Libberton's wynd. Since this unhappy culprit's trial, he has at different times made various confessions of his guilt, and the reasons which prompted him to commit the horrid deeds. He seems to have had brought himself to think that he was utterly despised by Mrs Franks and his wife and on being opposed by them in any of his foolish specu- lations in trade, although for his own ultimate good, was consider- by him as resulting- from that deep-rooted apathy, as he thought, they treated him with. Thus circumstance after circumstance only served still more to impress upon his bewildered mind the false ideas with which he nourished it, and at last so overpowering were their fell effects, that, revenge now took full possession of his breast. It would appear from his confessions, that he had no intention to take the life of Magdalene Franks, but after having committed the one deed, he, to avoid discovery, committed the second. His sister repeatedly visited him in the jail; she had come to Edin- burgh previous to the trial; her visits were in no ways made to console her guilty brother, but rather to grapple at any effects he- was in possession of, as she said to pay the heavy expence to which she had been put in attending his trial, &c. His brother, a blind man, was very much affected at meeting and parting with him. His mother, about ten days back, came to Edinburgh, and some affecting scenes passed between them; she seems to have had more partiality for Emond than the rest of her family, she is about 70, and get home in better health than was anticipated. Different reports were spread about of Emond's attempts to commit suicide, which, from his manner and restlessness, we have no doubt but he would have done so, but. in addition to his being- strongly ironed, watchmen were placed with him night and day, and the strictest search made on the persons of any of his friends who were admitted to him;?in fact he could not make the least motion or move himself, but the eyes of his watchers were on him. Indeed, one attempt was made to convey a deadly poison to him- by a near female relation, but she was immediately detected. Emond shewed repeatedly what mast be the awful state of a mur- derer's mind. His nights were passed in broken slumbers, from which he gen- erally awaked in hurried starts, betraying an awful state of mind wich he felt himself quite unable to describe In the daytime beex- hibited the same restlessness and uneasine ss, and was haunted by the phantoms of his bleeding victims, untill his mind, overwhelmed by midnight visions and day dreams of guilt and punishment, be- came excited to a state bordering on frenzy, under the influence of which he talked wildly and incoherently ; but these paroxyms were seldom of a long continuance, as he generally found relief in tears. and when his mind was somewhat eased, he resumed his natural manner. He did not seem much concerned when the murder of Mrs Franks was mentioned, but whenever the name of Magdalene Franks was mentioned or the idea came across his mind, he was immediately seized with the most dreadful fits of despair,, and ex- claimed, 'The innocent blood calls for vengeance.' He payed attention to the clergy and others who spoke to him on religious matters, and received them with great civility, and even dwelt upon the subjects stated, with a kind of seeming inward pleasure. He had some. peculiar opinions of his own, which, though absurd, he strongly dinged to. Emond was previously brought from the Calton Jail to the Lock- up-house. He was awakened about 6 o'clock, and spent the time till nearly 8 preparing himself for his Awful end. When he was told the magistrates were in readiness for him, he quietly submitt- ed to his arms being- fastened. They moved op Libbertons a Wynd at a few minutes past 8 ; the crowd assembled wa.s great, and a general movement was made when be ascended the scaffold, A short time only was spout in prayer. &c. when be mounted the drap and on giving the signal was instantly launched into eternity.
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Date of publication:
1830 shelfmark: F.3.a.13(84)
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