ends, Lady Fowlis next had recourse to poison; and numerous were the
consultations held to concoct drugs and devise means for administering
them. The same assistants figured as the chief agents in this equally
abominable work. A stoup full of poisoned ale was first mixed in the
barn of Drumnyer, but opportunity not serving for its immediate use, it
was kept three nights in the kiln, and the stoup being leaky, the liquor
was lost, all but a very small quantity; to prove the strength of which,
Lady Fowlis caused her servant lad, Donald Mackay, to swallow it. The
three confederates were assembled on this occasion, and as the draught
did not kill the boy, but only threw him into a state of stupor, Loskie
Loncart was dismissed, with an injunction to make "ane pig-full of
ranker poysoune." The obedient hag prepared the potion, and sent it to
her patroness, by whom it was delivered to her nurse, Mary More, to be
conveyed to Angus Leith's house, where the young laird then was, that
it might be employed for his destruction. Night was the time chosen for
despatching her on this errand: she broke the vessel by the way, spilt
the liquor, and, wishing probably to ascertain the nature of what had
been intrusted to her under such circumstances of mystery, tasted it,
and paid the forfeit of her curiosity with her life; and what helps to
show the deadly qualities of their preparation, the indictment adds,
that "the place quhair the said pig brak, the gers that grew upon the
samin wes so hirch by (beyond) the natur of other gers, that nather cow
nor scheip evir preavit (tasted) thairof." It were endless to detail all
the traffickings and messengers kept scouring the country to collect the
required quantity of poison. Loskie Loncart was lodged and maintained a
whole summer in Christian Ross's house, for the greater convenience of
assisting to drug drinks, and devise means of administering them.
M'Gillievoricdam was sent to consult the gipsies about the most
effectual way of poisoning the young laird. He also purchased a quantity
of the powder used to destroy rats, of a merchant in Elgin, and another
portion in Tain, and was strictly questioned by Lady Fowlis, whether it
would suit best to mix the ingredient with egg, brose, or kail. No
fitting opportunity seems to have occurred for administering any of the
portions to Robert Monro; but, after three interviews, John M'Farquhar,
Lady Balnagown's cook, was prevailed upon by the present of two ells of
grey cloth, a shirt, and twelve and fourpence (Scots), to lend them his
aid in accomplishing their purpose on his mistress. That young lady
being to entertain a party of friends one night at her house at Ardmore,
a witch, named Catherine Mynday, carried poison thither to M'Farquhar,
who poured it on the principal dish, which was kidneys. This woman
remained to witness the effects, and afterwards declared that she
"skunnerit," or revolted at the sight, which was "the sarest and maist
cruell that evir scho saw, seeing the vomit and vexacioun that was on
the young Lady Balnagown and her company." The victim of these horrible
practices did not die immediately, but contracted a deadly sickness,
"quhairin," says the indictment, "scho remains yet (that is twelve years
after taking the poison) incurable."
The persons named as privy to the designs of Lady Fowlis were numerous,
and included the daughter of a baronet of her own name, whose interest
in the matter seems to have been merely that of a connexion, or, at
most, a clanswoman; and the bribes with which she purchased assistance
and secrecy were of the paltriest kind. She provided lodgings in the
houses of her adherents, for some whom she wished to have near her, for
the better maturing of her schemes. The cook of young Lady Balnagown was
bribed, as we have seen, with little more than a shirt and a shilling
sterling! The fidelity of Christian Ross was bespoken, by reminding her
that she ought not to reveal anything against one who was her lady and
mistress. Another of the gang was paid with 'ane-half furlett of meill.'
M'Gillievoricdam got four ells of linen for his trouble, but, besides,
appropriated six and eightpence (Scots) of the money given to him to be
expended for poison; at other times, however, this person was
conciliated with 20s., a firlot of meal, five ells of linen, and 16s.
The brother of Lady Fowlis is also said to have promised to Thomas
M'Kane More M'Allan M'Evoch 'ane garmounthe of clais' (suit of clothes)
for his services in the same base plot.
From a review of this whole case, with others of the same date, it will
appear that the crimes of former times were distinguished from those of
the present day, not so much by the greater atrocity of any single act,
as by the length of time for which they were meditated, and the number
of persons admitted to a knowledge of them, without any fear of
disclosure. They were the offspring of habitual thought rather than the
effect of sudden starts of passion.
Immediately after the acquittal of Lady Fowlis, her step-son and
prosecutor, the seventeenth Baron of Fowlis, was presented at the bar on
an accusation in some respects similar, of which he also was found not
guilty, by a jury, the majority of whom had sat on the preceding trial.
In January, 1588-9, this gentleman being taken ill, sent a servant with
his own horse, to bring to his assistance Marion M'Ingarach, who is
characterised as being 'ane of the maist notorious and rank wichis in
all this realme,' and who, as soon as she entered the house where he lay
sick, gave him three drinks of water from three stones (probably rude
stone cups). After a long consultation, she declared there was no hope
of recovery, unless the principal man of the patient's house should
suffer death for him; and it was determined, after some discussion, that
this substitute should be George Monro, eldest son of Catharine Monro,
Lady Fowlis. A plan was next devised for transferring the _onus
moriendi_, for the present, to George; according to which, in the first
place, no person was to have admittance to the house in which Hector
lay, until his half-brother came; and on his arrival, the sick man, with
his left hand, was to take his visitor by the right, and not to speak
until spoken to by him. In conformity with these injunctions, several
friends, who called to inquire for the patient, were excluded, and
messengers were despatched, both to George Monro's house and to other
parts of the country, where he was thought to be engaged in the sports
of the chase. Before he could be found, seven expresses had been sent
after him, and five days expired. On the intelligence that his brother
desired earnestly to see him, he repaired to the place, and was received
in the form prescribed by the witch, Hector with his hand grasping
George's right, and abstaining from speaking until asked "how he did,"
to which he replied, "the better that you have come to visit me," and he
uttered not a word more, notwithstanding his urgency to obtain an
interview. The younger Monro having, in this manner, been brought fairly
within the compass of the witch's spells, she that night mustered
certain of her accomplices, and having provided spades, repaired to a
spot where two lairds' lands met, and, at 'ane after midnycht,' digged a
grave of the exact length of Hector Monro, and laid the turf of it
carefully aside. They then came home, and M'Ingarach gave her assistants
instructions concerning the part that each was to perform in the
remaining ceremonies. The object--namely, the preservation of Hector's
life and the death of George in his stead--being now openly stated, some
of those present objected, that if the latter should be cut off
suddenly, the hue and cry would be raised, and all their lives would be
in danger. They therefore pressed the presiding witch not to make the
sacrifice immediately, but to cause it to follow after such an interval
as might obviate suspicion, which she accordingly engaged to accomplish,
and warranted him to live till the 17th day of the ensuing April, at
least. This being arranged to the satisfaction of the persons assembled,
the sick man was laid in a pair of blankets, and carried out to the
place where the grave had been prepared. The party were strictly
enjoined to be silent, and only M'Ingarrach, and Christian Neill,
Hector's foster-mother, were to utter the necessary incantations. Being
come to the spot, their living burden was deposited in the grave, the
turf being spread over him, and held down with staves. M'Ingarrach stood
by the side of the grave, and Neill, holding a boy, a son of Hector
Leith, by the hand, ran the breadth of nine rings, then returned, and
demanded, 'which is your choice?' Thereupon the other replied, 'Mr.
Hector, I choose you to live, and your brother George to die for you.'
This form of conjuration was twice gone through that night; and, on its
completion, the sick man was lifted, carried home--not one of the
company uttering a word further--and replaced in bed.
To the efficacy of this spell was attributed not only the recovery of
Hector, but the death of George Monro, though the latter continued in
perfect health not only for the time warranted by the witch, but for a
year longer. He was taken ill in April, 1590, and died on the 3rd of
June following. M'Ingarrach was highly favoured by the gentleman who
supposed he owed to her his life. As soon as his health was restored,
'be the dewilisch moyan foirsaid,' he carried her to the house of his
uncle at Kilurmmody, where she was entertained with as much obsequious
attention as if she had been his spouse, and obtained such pre-eminence
in the country that no one durst offend her, though her ostensible
character was only that of keeper to his sheep. Upon the information of
Lady Fowlis, the protector of M'Ingarrach was compelled to present her
at Aberdeen, where she was examined before the king, and produced the
stones out of which she had made the baron drink. These enchanted cups
were delivered to the keeping of the justice clerk; but we are not
informed as to the fate of the witch herself.
The indictment charged the prisoner that 'ye gat yowr health be the
develisch means foirsaid.' And further, it said, 'ye are indicted for
art and part of the cruel, odious, and shameful slaughter of the said
George Monro, your brother, by the enchantments and witchcrafts used
upon him by you and of your devise, by speaking to him within youre bed,
taking of him by the right hand, conform to the injunctions given to you
by the said Marian Ingarrach, in the said month of January, 1589 years;
_throw the which inchantmentis he tuke ane deidlie seiknets in the
moneth of Apryle, 1590 yetris, and continew and thairin until Junii
thairafter, diceissit in the said moneth of Junii, being the third day
of that instant_!'
JAMES HARDY VAUX,
TRANSPORTED FOR PRIVATELY STEALING.
The adventures of James Hardy Vaux are not inferior in interest to those
of the renowned Guzman d'Alfarache, or Lazarillo de Tormes, and like
those celebrated rogues, in order that the public may profit by his
example, he has given the world a narrative of his exploits, in which
philosophers may read the workings of an unprincipled conscience, the
legislator may discover the effect of the existing laws upon the mind of
a criminal, and by means of which the citizen may learn to detect the
frauds by which he is so constantly, and, but too frequently, so
successfully beset. So excellent a moral is to be derived from the
memoirs of this criminal, well written as they appear to be, that we
shall furnish the reader with occasional extracts from them, giving an
abridgment of those portions of them which present features of less
interest.
James Hardy Vaux was born at Guildford, in the county of Surrey, in the
year 1782, where his father, who was a foreigner, lived in the service
of a Mr. Sumner, as cook and house-steward. It appears that the mother
of this unfortunate man was born of highly respectable parents, her
father being a Mr. Lowe, a solicitor in London, and that her marriage
with her husband took place much against the wishes of her friends. In
1785, Mr. Lowe retired from business, and going to live in the country,
he took with him his little grandson, whom he treated with parental
fondness; sent him to school, and gave him a liberal education, such as
to qualify him for his own profession. Mrs. Vaux's first imprudence had
partially alienated the affections of her parents, and her subsequent
conduct did not tend to restore their good opinion. Young Vaux,
therefore, was entirely abandoned to the care of his grandfather and
grandmother, and he complains that his natural parents never treated him
with anything like a proper affection.
After six years' residence in the country, Mr. Lowe was prevailed upon
to live with his daughter and son-in-law, who had recently commenced the
hat business at Great Turnstile, Holborn. Young Vaux, being at this time
nine years old, was sent to a respectable boarding-school at Stockwell;
and after three years he returned to his grandfather, who had quitted,
in consequence of family disagreements, the house of his son-in-law, and
then resided in one of the squares. Mrs. Lowe's health declining, the
family removed to Wisbeach, Cambridgeshire, where they continued for
some time, and then returned to their original residence in Shropshire,
young Vaux being now fourteen years of age. Here he became acquainted
with the son of John Maultrie, Esq., a resident in the vicinity, and, on
that youth's removal to college, his father proposed to pay for Vaux to
accompany him; but his indecision and obstinacy rendered the proffered
kindness of no avail. The army or navy was his ambition; but, as his
grandfather would not consent to his entering either of these
professions, the desire was abandoned, and, after much hesitation, he
was ultimately bound an apprentice to Parker and Co. linen-drapers, at
Liverpool.
As this step may be called his first entrance into life, we will let him
speak for himself, as his conduct in his first situation clearly
indicates his character, while it forcibly reminds youth of the danger
they run in yielding to the first incentives to crime. "I was now," said
Hardy Vaux, "turned of fourteen; my health and constitution good, my
spirits elevated, and I felt all those pleasing sensations which
naturally arise in a youthful mind, happy in conscious innocence, and
flattered by the prospect of rising to honourable independence. The
gaiety and bustle of this beautiful and improving borough at once
charmed and amused me; I spent a week in viewing the public buildings,
the environs, &c.; but, above all, my admiration was excited by the
numerous and capacious docks, by which ships of large burden are
admitted, as it were, into the heart of the town, and discharge their
rich and varied cargoes with surprising facility, which are deposited in
spacious warehouses, of amazing extent, and from twelve to fourteen
stories high, with which these noble docks are nearly surrounded.
"The opportunities I had, during my residence in Liverpool, of viewing
the daily arrivals and sailings of merchant ships to and from all parts
of the world, particularly the Guineamen, which formed a remarkably fine
class of vessels, revived the latent desire I had for a seafaring life;
and I wanted but little incitement, had the smallest opportunity
offered, to take French leave of my masters, and gratify my rambling
propensity. However, the bustle in which I was continually involved, and
the new scenes of amusement which every succeeding day presented,
suppressed the inclination for a time; but that it was not totally
subdued will be seen hereafter. The establishment and economy of our
house were upon the most regular plan; the former consisted of six
apprentices (myself among the number), and four assistants at very
liberal stipends, besides, a nephew of the elder partner, who
superintended the whole and officiated in the counting-house; there were
also several porters and other subordinates, for all of whom full
employment was found. Being the junior apprentice, it was my province to
polish the counters, trim the lamps, carry out small parcels, and to
perform other inferior duties; when disengaged from which, I assisted in
waiting on retail customers and making myself otherwise useful behind
the counter. We had a plentiful table appropriated to us, to which we
retired in turn during the hours of business, commodious and airy
chambers, and, in short, we enjoyed every comfort we could desire. For
the first month of my probation I behaved extremely well, and by my
quickness and assiduity gained the good opinion of my employers, who
wrote of me in the most favourable terms to my friends in Shropshire;
nor did my expenses exceed my allowance for pocket-money, which was
fully adequate to every rational enjoyment.
"Among my fellow-apprentices was a young man named King, some years
older than myself, with whom, from a similarity of sentiment, I formed a
close intimacy. He was of an excellent disposition, but a great lover of
pleasure; and as his servitude was far advanced, and his prospects
peculiarly flattering, he was under very little restraint, but gave the
rein to his passion for dissipation. His expenses were profuse, but
whether he indulged in them at the expense of his probity I could never
ascertain. He soon introduced me to several young men of his own stamp,
and I became in a short time as great a rake as the best of them: nor
was our conversation confined to our own sex, scarcely a night passing
without our visiting one or other of those houses consecrated to the
Cyprian Goddess, with which the town of Liverpool abounds. In such a
course of life, it is not likely that I could submit to limited hours:
my companions and I seldom returned home before midnight, and sometimes
not until the ensuing morning. Though we took measures to keep this from
the ears of our employers, it could not fail to be known in time; and
the consequence was a strong but tender remonstrance on my imprudence,
which much affected me at the moment; but the impression was transitory
and soon effaced. I plunged deeper and deeper into the vortex of folly
and dissipation, until I was obliged to have recourse for advice to the
Ãsculapius of Gilead House. This irregular mode of life had borne hard
upon my finances, and I had not, as yet, had recourse to fraud or
peculation. I was liberally supplied by my relations on leaving
Shropshire, and had received my first quarterly allowance; but an event,
which soon followed, tempted me to the first breach of confidence and
integrity. I had in my youth been passionately fond of cocking, a sport
for which the county of Salop has been always famed; and, though so
young, I had constantly kept several cocks at walk, unknown to my
parents; so that I had acquired a considerable share of experience and
knowledge on the subject. One day, when I was sent with some muslins to
wait on a lady in the environs of Liverpool, near the canal, I
accidentally passed a cock-pit, where a great crowd was assembled; and I
understood that a grand main was about to commence. Elated at this
pleasing intelligence, I hastened to execute my commission; and
returning to the house, entered it, and, leaving my wrapper of goods in
the care of the landlady, I ascended to the pit, and took my seat. The
company was, as usual, of a motley description; but there were many
genteel persons. I ventured a few trifling bets at first with various
success; but at length an opportunity offering, which I considered as
next to a certainty, I laid the odds to a large amount, flattering
myself that, by this stroke of judgment, I should be enabled to figure
away with increased éclat among my gay companions. After I had so done,
greater odds were still vociferated; but in a moment the scene was
changed! the fallen cock, in the agonies of death, made a desperate
effort, and, rising for a moment, cut the throat of his antagonist, who
was standing over him, in the act of crowing with exultation on his
victory! The latter immediately fell, choked with the effusion of blood,
nor did the victor survive him many moments. The whole pit resounded
with acclamation, and the discord which ensued beggars description. I
was not the only sufferer by this revolution of fortune; many others had
laid higher odds than myself, and to a much greater amount. I was soon
surrounded by my creditors, to whom I disbursed every shilling I had
about me, among which were some pounds I had just received from the lady
for goods, and for which I had given her a receipt. I was still
something deficient, for which I pledged my honour to one of the
parties, giving my address, and promising payment on an early day. I now
returned home, filled with remorse and shame; but, as the first false
step of a young person insensibly leads to another, I added to my guilt
by concealing the affair from my employers, and directed them to book
the articles the lady had selected. I had a degree of false shame about
me, which rendered me incapable of confessing the truth and promising
amendment, or all might still have been well. In the evening I had
recourse to the bottle to drown my chagrin; and I determined to purloin
a certain sum every day, in the course of my attendance on retail
customers, until I had liquidated my debt of honour! Then I vowed to
stop and reform. Delusive idea! how little did I then know my own
weakness, or the futility of such resolutions in a young mind! And who,
that once begins a career of vice, can say to himself, "Thus far will I
go, and no farther?" After I had discharged my engagement I found a
small sum must be raised for pocket-money, and other exigencies, as it
would be above two months before I could expect a remittance.
"I therefore continued my peculation, and at length my evil genius
suggested to me, that I might, by venturing a small sum, become more
fortunate at the cock-pit, and repair the loss I had sustained; as
miracles don't happen every day, and the odds must win in the long run.
Thus I argued with myself; and, fatally for me, I tried the experiment.
"From this moment I never missed a day's fighting at the cock-pit; and
when sent on business which required my speedy return, I could not tear
myself from the spot, but frequently stayed out several hours, and,
afterwards forged a lie to account for my delay. I sometimes came off a
winner; but, as I was not then acquainted with the art of hedging, by
which the knowing ones commonly saved themselves, I was sure to be a
loser at every week's end. But I managed matters so well, that my
frequent secretions from the till were not discovered, however they
might be suspected. The extensive trade of the shop rendered it next to
impossible; and what I abstracted was a trifle compared to the gross
receipts of the day. My continued misconduct became now the subject of
frequent remonstrances on the part of Mr. Parker, the resident partner;
which not having had the desired effect, that gentleman wrote to my
friends, informing them in general terms that I had unhappily formed
improper connexions, and that my late levity of conduct rendered me
unfit to be received into their house; therefore desiring I might be
recalled without delay. Mr. Parker concluded with a remark, which I
shall never forget, and which was peculiarly gratifying to my
grandfather's (perhaps too partial) feelings: after expatiating on my
general capacity for business, he added, 'his smartness and activity are
really wonderful.' This letter produced a speedy answer, in consequence
of which I was directed to hasten my departure, which took place in a
few days, Mr. Parker giving me a great deal of wholesome advice at
parting; observing that although it was not in his power to charge me
with any direct criminality, my inconsiderate behaviour, and the
continued excesses of my conduct, left but too much room for
unfavourable conjectures.
"Behold me now returned to my grandfather, after an absence of nearly
five months; and this excursion may be called my first entrance into
life. I could not help blushing at the consciousness of my own
unworthiness; but the blind partiality of my dear parents induced them
to believe me less culpable than I really was, and to listen readily to
anything I had to offer in palliation of my errors."
Having now tasted the vicious cup of pleasure, Vaux found a village too
limited a sphere for his ambition, and resolved to try his fortune in
London. His grandfather, having many friends in his own profession, gave
him letters of introduction, which, on his arrival in the metropolis,
procured him a situation as copying clerk in a solicitor's office.
Resolving to be master of his own conduct, he did not visit the house of
his father, who by this time had tried many businesses, but was
unfortunate in all; but took private lodgings, and for three months
conducted himself with great propriety. But, getting acquainted with
several young persons of both sexes, he gradually gave way to
dissipation, visited the theatres, and became irregular in his
attendance at his office, in consequence of which he was formally
dismissed.
Finding it still necessary to have some employment, he procured, through
one of his dissipated companions, the son of a wealthy citizen, a
situation, as clerk in the warehouse of Messrs. Key and Sons, wholesale
stationers, in Abchurch Lane, Lombard Street, at a guinea a week. Here,
however, he continued but for a short time; for he could not endure a
confinement in the East End, so far from the resort of his old
acquaintances, who chiefly frequented Covent Garden and the purlieus of
Drury Lane.