Transcription
A Full and Particular Account of the Trial and Senetnce of WILLIAM THOMSON, JAMES THMSON, and JOHN, FRAM, who are to be Executed at Dalkeith, on Thursday 1st March, 1827, for Highway Robbery. YESTERDAY, Monday, 22d January, 1827, came on before the High Court of Justicary, the trial of William Thomson, James Thomson, and John Fram, labourers, accused of attacking and assaulting, on the 30th November last, at or near the foot of Langside Brae, in the parish of Dalkeith, George Dickson, farmer, Cousland, who was return- ing home from Dalkelth market, when they seized hold of his horse ,and struck the said G. Dickson several sever blows on the face, head, and breast, with large wooden bludgeons, or other offencive weapons, by which he was severly wounded, to the great efusion of his blood ; and that they afterwards robbed him of a silver hunting watch....a copy of the Scotsman, and a letter addressed to Mrs Dick- son, besides several memorandums. George Dickson was in Dalkeith on the 30th day of November,....he left it at 5 o'clock in the after- noon, on horseback, quite sober. He took the di- rect road by the Cow Bridge, and Langside Brae, to Cousland. Thers is a plantation on the west side of the brae, and on the east side there is a smaller one, of about two acres. There is a small burn at the bottom of the brae, near which there were several piles of stones laid up for breaking. He was at Langside Brae about 10 minutes past 5, it was twilight; when at the foot of the brae, a man started out from these stones, and took hold of the reins of his horse. He had a large stick in his hand, with which he made a stroke at witness. It appeared to be a stick, neatly cut, having a large, knot at one end. Witness gave his horse a touch with his foot, upon which the animal reared, but the moment he came down, another man seized him on the other side. The horse reared several times, witness always endeavouring to bring him. above his assailants, but every time he came to his feet he was seized by one of the fellows. Witness received a severe blow on the side of the head ; and when the horse came to his feet the last time, one of the men pulled out witness's watch, (which he described) and some papers, which were in his side, pocket ; also a newspaper, which was in his coat pocket. Witness here identified a letter and some papers : and stated, that he received in all, four se- vere blows upon the head. He lost a great quan- tity of blood. He said that there were four men in the party, and one cried twice, ' Murder the-------, murder him.' Witness looked at the prisoners : He said he knew them all by sight; they were all of the party who robbed him. Three of the four men had on dark coloured clothes, and one had on a red vest with stone coloured sleeves,...it was Fram who was thus dressed. It was William Thomson who came forward and gave him the first blow : it was Fram who cried out ' Murder him.' A man, or rather a boy (William Leslie) was brought into Court, and identified as the fourth of the party. The whole, or most of the party, had sticks newly cut_ The Lord Justice Clerk, in an address which oc- cupied an hour and a half, laid before the jury the whole case, as brought out in evidence. After which, the jury, without leaving the box, unaui- mously found all the prisonrs guilty, but recomend- ed James Thomson and John Fram to the mercy of the crown. They were then sentenced to be executed on Thursday the 1st of March, at or near Dalkeith, or such other place as the Sheriff should fix upon.
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Date of publication:
1827 shelfmark: F.3.a.14(36)
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