Transcription
An account of the wonderful discovery of the murderer of William Begbie, Porter to the British Linen Company's Bank, who was murdered in November, 18O6, in the Bank Close, Nether Bow, and Robbed of nearly £.5,0OO, with the whole particulars how the Mur- derer was discovered. THE murder of WILLIAM BEGBJE porter to the British Linen Combany, who was stabbed in the entry leading to the Bank, which was situated in the Nether Bow ; and robbed of a bag containing bank notes amounting to nearly L.5000 in, the month of November 1806. is the most mysterious affair that has happened in the present generations and from a number of circumstances just published in the life of Moffat, alias Mackcoull, there, is every reason to believe that he was tho murder- er; there is a copy of a memorandum relating to the murder, which was taken by a gentleman on Mackcoull's trial in May 1820, from which we state the following.------In the autumn of 1805, Mackcoull made his daily appearance in the Ship Tavern in Leith, and gave himself out for a British Merchant fled from Hamburgh when the French took possession of that place; he spoke German a little, but upon questioning it was easily found he was no merchant. Mackcoull frequented the ship tavern for about 12 months, and immediately dissappeared after the murder was committed. A sailor, who is now a respectable schoolmaster in Leith, had come home from Lisbon, and having some small present which he brought to his mother, he left Leith with it on the night of the murder; and when on his road, he saw a tall man with a yellow bag under his arm going up the Walk, who he supposed was a smuggler, but who was Begbie; and a man dogging after him, who he supposed was an Excise officer; for fear of his own little present which was seizable, he put it into his breast and keeped behind them watching the officer's motions; but when he came to the head of the North Bridge he missed them, and supposing they had gone up the High Street he pursued his way down the street; but just as he came opposite the bank close he saw the officer coming running out of it with something below his coat, and being afraid of losing his own he made haste to his mother's and delivered the present, and then went di- rect to Leith, from whence he sailed in a day or two, and was taken by the French, and kept in prison until after the peace. The dress and description this sailor give to the supposed officer exact- ly corresponded with that of Mackcoull, and Mackcoull always left Leith abont dusk to go to his lodgings at the foot of New Street ; and the mur- derer ran down Leith Wynd, whence he could easily make to New Street by bye entries. Mackcoull did not make his appearance till 12 months afterwards, and his constant walk was down by Bellevue, where the large notes were found about the same period. Mackcoull immediately changed, his lodgings to a quite different airt. and resided in a remote house beside Boston the gardener, to avoid suspicion ; having some time before lived in Rose Street. The same gentleman called at the prison after Mackcoull's con- demnation, and taking advantage of his situation, (for he was then doubtful of receiving a respite), conversed with him for some time in his cell, in presence of the Governor. He told Captain Sibbald he intended to ask the prisoner a single question relative to the murder of Begbie, but would first humour him with a few jokes, so as to throw him of his guard, and prevent him from thinking that he called on him for any particular purpose ; but desired Cap- tain Sibbald to watch the features of the prisoner when he put his hand to his chin, for he would then put the question be meant. After talking for some time on different topics, he put this very simple question to the prisoner..." By the way, Mackcoull, if I am correct, you resided at the foot of New Street, Canongate, in November, 1806, did you not? He stared...he rolled his eyes ; and, as if falling into a convulsion, threw himself back on his bed! In this position he contnued for a few moments, when as if recol- lecting himself, he.started up, exclaiming wildly, No, by------! I was then in the East Indies-in the West Indies...What do you mean ? ' I mean no harm Mackcoull, I merely asked the question for my own curiosity; for I think when you left these lodgings you went to Dublin, is it not so ? ' Yes, yes, I went to Dublin' he re- plied", .'and I wish I had remained there still?I won L. 10,000 there at the tables, and never knew what it was to want cash.' He now seemed to rave, and lose all temper, and his visitor bade him good night, and left him.
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Date of publication:
1820 shelfmark: Ry.III.a.2(8)
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