Broadside concerning the proceedings of the Circuit Court of Justiciary, Glasgow

Commentary

This public notice begins: 'A particular account of the proceedings of the Circuit-Court of Justiciary, which was opened at Glasgow on Wednesday the 11th of April, with the sentence of the different criminals.'

This report covers four cases - Isabella Preston for child-murder, John McMillan for murder, David Wilson for embezzlement and theft and William Gordon for theft. The Lord Justice Clerk, Lord Craig's, comments are recorded throughout the proceedings and it is interesting to note that he often makes moral and didactic pronouncements on the prisoners. He also in this case makes a general comment to the court condemning the revolutionary activities in France. The effects of this event on those at the time are quite clearly expressed in this report.

Reports recounting dark and salacious deeds were popular with the public, and, like today's sensationalist tabloids, sold in large numbers. Crimes could generate sequences of sheets covering descriptive accounts, court proceedings, last words, lamentations and executions as they occurred. As competition was fierce, immediacy was paramount, and these occasions provided an opportunity for printers and patterers to maximise sales.

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