Transcription
LAST WORDS AND DYING DECLARATION
OF JOCK HEIGH THE HANGMAN. Just Published, the Last Speech, Confession and Dying Declaration
of JOCK HEIGH, the Hangman ; also an Account of his Strange
an Singular Behaviour on the Scaffold, on Monday morning, at the
Execution of James Bell, with some just Remarks on that Shameful
occasion. The greater part of our
townsfolk will recollect of
the late finisher of the LAW,
who went under the name of
Jock Heigh. This indispen
sable functionary, who was
a complete eccentric,. is said
to have gloried in his not
very enviable profession, and
on his death bed he had the
happy consolation of never
having bungled a job during
his long practise. T he fol-
lowing extract from the Ob-
server Newspaper on the
conduct of the present Ex-
ecutioner, speaks the mind
of almost every one who wit-
nessed the horrid scene of
Monday last- When the prisoner was
getting his arms pinioned the
executioner gave a sample of
that inefficiency, that was
afterwards like to have been
attended with disagreeable
consequences he cried like
a child, and made one or two
abortive attempts before he
could accomplish the task. Whither this irresolution or
incapacity proceeded from a
want of nerve, or from an
over quantity of stimulants
we cannot say. When the
culprit was on the scaffold
he made one or two very
awkward attempts to adjust
the rope. but not hitting the
length, he tried to rectify the
mistake but he Was equally
unsuccessful This bungling
so exasperated the spectators
that the result was like to be
similar to that of Johnston
In 1819, had not a gentle
man pushed him aside, and
tied the rope with his own
hand, This course of bung-
ling did not terminate here,
for when the culprit jerked
aside the fatal signal with
which the drop should have
sumultaneously given way. a
few, moments of dreadful suspense
occuried, during which time the
miserable victim shook terribly,
This was the first performance of
his functionary in Edinburgh, &
we trust it will be the last, Mardon Laws Milne and James
Watters. convicted of stealing a
Silk handkerchief from a green in
park Place ; also of breaking into
house in George Street.
Milne was sentenced to 7 years
and Watters 14 years punishment.
Daniel Haunan,shoemaker, was
convicted of breaking into a house
In Carnegie street and stealing
from a drawer, three Sovereigns,
two guinea and eight one pound
Notes, the property of Daniel.
Fraser, residing there. Sentenced to 7 years transport.
ation. John Good convicted of breaking
into the shop of Mr Burke, broker,
and stealing some articles of wear
ing apparel. Sentenced to 7 year transport-
ation. Jean Forbes pled guilty to a charge
of vending a counterfeit coin, and
and was sentenced to transportation
for 7 years. Walter Glover and David Adams,
Both of notorious bad character.
were convicted entering a house
a Ferniebank, and stealing a shirt
and 5 yards cloth, Both prisoners sentenced to 14
years transportation. Thomas Alexander, a boy 18
years of age, was charged with 2
different acts viz ?with breaking
into the house of Lady Gordon, at
Gordonton. and afterwards setting
fire to the premises. Sentenced to 7 years transportation
John Ferguson belonging to Alloa,
was charged with the murder of
of Andrew Fl.ckhart, Flesher, by
stabbing him on the left breast
with a knife or some other sharp
instrument, on the road leading
from Tullibody to Alloa, on the
night of the 22d April. It appeared by the evindence that
as the deceased was carrying some
sharp instruements required in
in business; had fallen when one
of the knives entered his breast,
Verdeict not guilty
WALLAM REID Printer ,EDINBURGH
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