Transcription
An Account of the Execution of ANDAREW FULLARTON,who suffered at Edinburgh, on Wednesday the 16th August, 1826, for Highway Robbery, between Edin- burgh and Dalkeith, on the 18th April last, with his last Dying Confession, and Behaviour on the Scaffold. EDINBURGH, 16th August, 1826.?This mor- ning, at nine o'clock, ANDREW FULLAR- TON, Late quarrier in this neighbourhood, was Executed here, at the head of Libberton Wynd, Lawnmarket, far Highway Robbery, committed by brutally assaulting James Hunter, cow-feeder, St. L'eonard's, near Edinburgh, on the road betwixt Edinburgh and Dalkeith, on his return from Lauder fair, in company with two women, whom he met on the road, and robbing him of nearly Eleven Pounds, an umbrella, and neckcloth, on the night of the 18th April last, along with two other men. Soon after this crime was thus committed, Ful- larton and Renton, a labourer, were apprehended, on suspicion of being two of the persons concerned, Reid, who was also supposed to be the third man, having made his escape. He has been apprehended since, however, and is now in Jail. On the 14th of July last,Renton and Fullarton were tried before the High Court of Justiciary on this charge. The evidence as to the circumstances of the assault, which appeared to have been a very brutal one, was stated with great minuteness by Mr Hunter; and he was corroborated in every respect by the two females who were present, one of whom identified Fullarton as one of those who committed the crime, After several other witnesses were examined, and the evidence summed up, the Jury returned a ver- dict, unanimously finding Fullarton Guilty, and the libel not proven against Renton. He, after a proper admonition, was dismissed from the bar ; and Fullerton, after a feeling and impressive address from the Lord Justice Clerk, who urged him to lay- aside any hope that the last sentence of the law would not be carried into effect, was sentenced to be execuled here on the 16th of August, between 3 and 10 forenoon. He displayed the greatest for- titude during the trial, and even when the awful sentence was pronouncing ; but his wife, who was present, gave vent to her feelings in the most heart- rending cries. After his condemnation, Fullarton, we heard, behaved every way becoming his awful situation. Acknowledged his guilt, and the justice of his sen- tence. Regretted exceedingly his committing the crime for which he suffered, and ascribed it solely to the influence of drink and bad company. He urged, even on the scaffold, the propriety of people, particularly young people, keeping good company, avoiding Sabbath-breaking, and drunkenness, as these were invariably the causes that led to the committal of every other crime. He appea red, de- cently dressed, on the scaffold, shortly after eight o'clock, where a considerable time was spent in re- ligious exercises ; and then, after cordially bidding farewell to all around him, he mounted the fatal drop. While the executioner was adjusting the ap- paratus of death, he was observed in most fervent prayer for several minutes, after which he dropt the signal, and was instantly launched into that world from which no traveller returns, amidst a vast con- course of spectators, about nine o'clock. The sole purpose of the law, in punishing crimes, being, " to deter others from committing the like in all time coming," the example made here to-day, of a handsome young man, said formerly to be of a good moral character, only 26 years of age, being cut off, by an ignominious death, from all he held dear on earth, for the paltry consideration of a;few shillings, surely ought to operate deeply on the minds and conduct of all who witnessed it, and ef- fectually prevent the like from occurring again in our day and generation. Printed for the Booksellers in Town and Country.
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Date of publication:
1826 shelfmark: Ry.III.a.2(72)
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