Transcription
Execution at Inverness. An account of the Execution of Robert Ferguson, at Inerness, on Friday the 13th of November, 1812 for the Murder of Captain Munro, late of the 42d regiment of foot-?with an account of his Behaviour, last Speech and dying Declaration, at the place of execution. ON Friday the 13 th of November, 1812, Robert Ferguson was executed at In- Verness, in pursuance of his sentence, for the Murder of Captain C. Munro, late of the 42d regiment of foot. So uncommon a spectacle in that part of the country, attracted a great concourse of spectatprs, who appeared deeply affected at the melancholy occasion. About one o'clock, the unfortunate man was taken from the prison, and led to the place of execution, attended by the Rev. T. Fraser, and the Rev. D. Martin. On arriving at the place of execution, af- ter prayer and praise, in which the prisoner appeared to join most fervently, he addressed the surrounding multitude in the Gaelic language for a considerable time. He acknowledged himself worthy of death for the crime he had committed deplored the sinfulness of his conduct previous to the unfortunate event which rendered him li- liable to punishment, lamented the ignor- ance in which he was educated, and his ne- glect of moral and religious duties. He particularly regretted his disregard of the Sabbath, and his intemperance, which he said, was the immediate cause of the murder of Captain Munro. He then stated,that, since he came to Inverness, he heard his enemies had report- ed, and industriously circulated, that he was guilty of another murder, and that his wife was accessary to the murder of Captain Munro?both these charges he solemnly repelled. He then made many suitable reflections on his situation, and stated, that, till some time after he was confined in Invernesss prison, he had not access to the Scriptures; that by the benevolenee of well disposed persons in Inverness, he was soon taught to read; and that, ever since, the word of God had been his only comfort. Ignominious as his death appeared, he would, from the consolation he had experienced, meet it without dread. He believed that his condemnation was, in the hands of Providence, the occasion of his conversion, and he said he had full as- surance of the forgiveness of sin, through the merits of Jesus Christ. After his exortation he mounted the drop without the least intimidation, and, after delivering a most impressive prayer, he was launched into eternity without a struggle. Throughout the whole of this awful scene the unfortunate man displayed the most he- roic firmness and Christian resignation, and spoke with a clearness and consistency that astonished all who heard him. The body, having hung the usual time, was carried back to the prison, and given over for dissection, in terms of his sentence. The crime for which this unfortunate man suffered was committed on the 2d of June last, in the smithy of George Thomson. Robert Ferguson used some unbecoming language to Captain Munro, who pushed him out of the shop. Ferguson got into a violent passion, and soon returned, armed with a large knife, with which he run at the Captain, who had only a switch in his hand to defend himself. Ferguson, how- ever, soon closed with him, and gave the Captain a mortal wound in the left side of the cavity of the belly, which occasioned his death the day following. Printed by Thomas Duncan, 159, Saltmarket.
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1812 shelfmark: 6.365(102)
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