florentines, and rasdimore silks, some of them whole, others cut pieces.
Most of the armozeens and lutestrings have yellow lists or selveges,
with some red threads on the outer edge; others of the lutestrings, and
all the florentines have white selveges. All of the silks were rolled on
pins or blocks, upon the end of most of which is the following mark I.
L. S. with the number of the piece and quantity of the yards in figures.
Several pieces of cambric, some whole, some cut--also a piece of plain
white sattin. It is more than probable that the said goods may be cut in
such a manner as to cause them, when exposed to sale, to have the
appearance of remnants.
The value of the above goods is equal to from £400 to £500 Sterling, so
far as yet discovered.
Whoever will give to William Scott, procurator-fiscal of this County,
within three months of this date, such information as will be the means
of leading to a discovery of the person or persons who committed the
aforesaid shop-breaking and theft, or will cause apprehend or imprison
the said person or persons, shall, upon conviction of the offender or
offenders, receive a reward of ONE HUNDRED POUNDS Sterling, and the
informer’s name, if required, concealed.
_N.B._ If articles, similar to those above described, are offered to
sale or discovered in the custody of any person of suspicious
appearance, it is intreated that the goods may be stopped, and the
person or persons in whose custody they are found secured, till notice
is sent as above; for which a handsome reward will be given, besides all
charges paid.
SHOP-BREAKING AND THEFT.
Whitehall, Jan. 25. 1788.
WHEREAS, upon the night of the 8th or morning of the 9th of January
instant, the shop of Mess. INGLIS, HORNER & Co., Silk Mercers in
Edinburgh, was broke into, and articles taken therefrom amounting
to upwards of £300 value; and as the persons guilty of this robbery
have not as yet been discovered, notwithstanding every exertion
that has been made; and the offer of £100 of reward for that
purpose, his Majesty’s most gracious pardon is hereby offered to an
accomplice, if there was more than one concerned, who shall, within
six months from this date, give such information to William Scott,
procurator-fiscal for the shire of Edinburgh, as shall be the means
of apprehending and securing all or any of the persons guilty of or
accessory to the said crime.
SYDNEY.
BESIDES his Majesty’s most gracious pardon, the sum of ONE HUNDRED and
FIFTY POUNDS Sterling, in place of £100 formerly advertised, is now
offered to any person or persons who will, within six months from this
date, give to the above William Scott such information as shall be the
means of leading to a discovery of the person or persons who committed
the aforesaid Shop-breaking and Theft, or will cause apprehend and
imprison the said person or persons in any sure prison, to be paid upon
conviction of the offender or offenders; and the informer’s name, if
required, concealed.
And further, as a discovery in the premises, even although conviction
should not follow, is of material consequence to the public, in case any
person, within the above space, will give to the said William Scott
satisfactory information by whom the said Shop-breaking and Theft was
committed, a reward of TWENTY GUINEAS will be given, whether the
offenders are convicted or not.
The goods stolen from Mess. Inglis, Horner & Co.’s shop were a
considerable quantity of black lutestrings, black armozeens, black
florentines, and rasdimore silks, some of them whole, others cut pieces.
Most of the armozeens and lutestrings have yellow lists or selveges,
with some red threads on the outer edge; others of the lutestrings, and
all the florentines have white selveges. All of the silks were rolled on
pins or blocks, upon the end of most of which is the following mark I.
L. S. with the number of the piece and quantity of the yards in
figures.--Several pieces of cambric, some whole, some cut--Also a piece
of plain white sattin. It is more than probable that the said goods may
be cut in such a manner as to cause them, when exposed to sale, to have
the appearance of remnants.
The value of the above goods is upwards of £300 Sterling, so far as yet
discovered.
_N.B._ If articles, similar to those above described, are offered to
sale or discovered in the custody of any person of suspicious
appearance, it is intreated that the goods may be stopped, and the
person or persons in whose custody they are found secured, till notice
is sent as above; for which a handsome reward will be given, besides all
charges paid.
Sheriff Clerk’s Office, Edinburgh, March 12. 1788.
TWO HUNDRED POUNDS
OF REWARD.
WHEREAS WILLIAM BRODIE, a considerable House-Carpenter and Burgess of
the City of Edinburgh, has been charged with being concerned in breaking
into the General Excise Office for Scotland, and stealing from the
Cashier’s office there a sum of money--and as the said William Brodie
has either made his escape from Edinburgh, or is still concealed about
that place--a REWARD of ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY POUNDS STERLING is hereby
offered to any person who will produce him alive at the Sheriff Clerk’s
Office, Edinburgh, or will secure him, so as he may be brought there
within a month from this date; and FIFTY POUNDS STERLING MORE, payable
upon his conviction, by William Scott, procurator-fiscal for the shire
of Edinburgh.
WILLIAM SCOTT.
DESCRIPTION.
WILLIAM BRODIE is about five feet four inches--is about forty-eight
years of age, but looks rather younger than he is--broad at the
shoulders, and very small over the loins--has dark brown full eyes, with
large black eye-brows--under the right eye there is the scar of a cut,
which is still a little sore at the point of the eye next the nose, and
a cast with his eye that gives him somewhat the look of a Jew--a sallow
complexion--a particular motion with his mouth and lips when he speaks,
which he does full and slow, his mouth being commonly open at the time,
and his tongue doubling up, as it were, shows itself towards the roof of
his mouth--black hair, twisted, turned up, and tied behind, coming far
down upon each cheek, and the whiskers very sandy at the end; high
topped in the front, and frizzed at the side--high smooth forehead--has
a particular air in his walk, takes long steps, strikes the ground first
with his heel, bending both feet inwards before he moves them,
again--usually wears a stick under hand, and moves in a proud swaggering
sort of style--his legs small above the ancle, large ancle bones and a
large foot, high brawns, small at the knees, which bend when he walks,
as if through weakness--Was dressed in a black coat, vest, breeches, and
stockings, a striped duffle great coat, and silver shoe-buckles.
APPENDIX IX.
NARRATIVE OF THE FACTS RESPECTING THE BREAKING INTO THE SHOP AT THE
HEAD OF BRIDGE STREET, BELONGING TO JOHN AND ANDREW BRUCE,
MERCHANTS IN EDINBURGH, ON THE NIGHT BETWIXT THE 24TH AND 25TH
DECEMBER, 1786.
The trial of William Brodie and George Smith being at present in the
press for publication, Mess. Bruces furnished the publishers with the
following facts, in order that they might publish the same along with
the trial. These gentlemen, however, having declined to do so, as not
being any part of the trial, Mess. Bruces now take this opportunity of
laying before the Public the whole facts that have come out relative to
the breaking of their shop; which, they have too much reason to believe,
was meant to be concealed altogether. But, in justice to themselves,
they wish to lay the whole candidly before the Public; and shall only
add further that there is not one word in the following narrative but
what is consistent with truth.
In the course of the precognitions taken by the Sheriff respecting the
crimes committed by Brodie, Smith, Brown, and Ainslie, Mess. John and
Andrew Bruce, Merchants in Edinburgh, applied to the Procurator Fiscal
to know if any facts had come out respecting the breaking of their shop
at the head of Bridge Street; and always received for answer, that
whenever any thing occurred about breaking their shop, they would be
informed of it. The Procurator Fiscal, however, never gave the Mess.
Bruces any information on that head, although the very warrant on which
Smith and Ainslie were incarcerated in March last, bore that it was on
suspicion of breaking their shop.
When Smith and Brodie received their Indictment on the 19th of July
last, it then appeared that no crime was specified in the Indictment but
the breaking into the Excise Office. Mess. Bruces then applied to the
Procurator Fiscal to know if any thing had come out, or was taken down
in the precognition respecting the breaking of their shop; when he told
them that nothing had been taken down thereanent; though Mess. Bruces
were informed by Smith that he had, when examined before the Sheriff,
declared every fact concerning it.
Mess. Bruces were at a loss to account for this extraordinary neglect of
not taking down into the precognition all the facts that Smith had
declared relative to their shop. They were in justice entitled to this,
so as at least to have been satisfied in knowing who had done them the
injury; and it might have led to a complete proof of the fact, so as to
entitle them to restitution of the value stolen from them from the funds
of those who had been guilty of the crime. They signified to the
Procurator Fiscal that they wished still to have an examination of all
concerned. But this he declined, by saying it was impossible to do it
now--that they were indicted.
Mess. Bruce therefore drew up a memorial, and laid it before his
Majesty’s Advocate, in order to get, if possible, an examination
respecting the breaking of their shop; when his Lordship was pleased to
signify that it could still be done, and desired an application might be
made to the Sheriff for that purpose; which was done accordingly by a
Petition of the following tenor:--
Unto the Right Honourable the Sheriff-Depute of the County of Edinburgh,
or his Substitute,
The PETITION of JOHN and ANDREW BRUCE, Merchants in
Edinburgh.
HUMBLY SHEWETH,
That on the night betwixt the 24th and 25th days of December 1786, the
petitioners shop, at the head of Bridge Street, was broke into, and
several gold watches, seals, rings, and other articles, were carried
off, to the value of about £350 Sterling. The petitioners applied to the
Procurator Fiscal upon this occasion, who assured them that every step
should be taken to endeavour to find out the persons who had robbed them
of their property.
No intelligence, however, could be got respecting this business till the
beginning of March last, when Brown gave information of him and his
associates, Smith, Ainslie, and Brodie, being the persons who had
committed so many offences of that kind; and, accordingly, the
Procurator-Fiscal presented a petition to your Lordship, stating the
fact of the petitioners’ shop being broke, and referring to a list of
articles stolen therefrom; and that there was reason to believe that
Smith and Ainslie were the persons guilty of that crime, upon which they
were apprehended, and incarcerated in the Tolbooth of Edinburgh, where
they have remained ever since; and Smith and Brodie are now indicted to
be tried for certain crimes, other than that of breaking the
petitioners’ shop.
When the petitioners learned that no notice of their shop was taken in
the indictment, they applied to the Procurator-Fiscal to know what facts
had come out in the precognition regarding the breaking of their shop,
when he informed them that not a word respecting their shop had been
taken down in the precognition, though he admitted, when Smith was
examined before your Lordship, he had acknowledged the fact that he was
the person who had broke the petitioners’ shop, with the knowledge, and
by the advice of Brodie: That Brodie had actually got part of the
articles stolen therefrom, particularly some gold seals, and a gold
watch-key, and some rings.
In these circumstances the petitioners were at a loss to know how to
conduct themselves, in order still to get an examination of Smith,
Brodie, and their associates, as there might be some difficulty in the
matter, now that Smith and Brodie were indicted. However, as they are
indicted for other crimes, the petitioners took the liberty of stating
the matter in a memorial to His Majesty’s advocate who is of opinion
that Smith, Brodie, and all others concerned, or suspected, might still
be examined with regard to the breaking into the petitioners’ shop; and
desired that the present application might be made to your Lordship for
that purpose.
The petitioners are informed that Smith, though indicted, is still
willing to declare every fact and circumstance respecting this matter.
They are also informed that Brodie’s watch, with some seals, are in the
hands of Sir Sampson Wright, at London, and to be transmitted here.
They, therefore, humbly trust that proper orders will be given to
preserve these articles entire; and that inspection of them will be
given to the petitioners, that it may be known whether they are any of
the articles stolen from their shop.
May it therefore please your Lordship, to take the declarations of
the said Smith, Brodie, Ainslie, and Brown, and anyother persons
that may be thought necessary, and condescended on by the
petitioners; and to give information to the petitioners when such
examinations are to take place, that they, or their counsel, may
attend, to put all pertinent questions to such as shall be examined
respecting the breaking into the petitioners’ shop; and to give
inspection of Mr. Brodie’s watch, seals, and other trinkets that
may be along therewith, to the petitioners, so soon as they arrive.
According to Justice, &c.
JOHN and ANDREW BRUCE.
July 25th 1788.
* * * * *
The desire of the petition was granted by the Sheriff on the 26th of
July; and, on the 28th of that month, the Sheriff-substitute, with the
Procurator Fiscal, and Mr. Bruce, went to the prison to Smith; and the
Sheriff-substitute informed him he was to come to take down his
declaration respecting Mess. Bruce’s shop-breaking, but not with regard
to anything contained in his Indictment; and therefore hoped he would
tell the truth. To which Smith answered, he had no objection to tell the
whole truth; he thought it a piece of justice to do so; That he had
formerly declared all he knew concerning that matter before the Sheriff,
but he believed it was not taken down.
Smith was then examined, who declared, in substance, as follows:--
That, in the month of November, 1786, the declarant and Brodie had laid
a plan to break into a hardware shop on Bridge Street, belonging to
Davidson M‘Kain: That they accordingly went there one night with a
parcel of false keys and a small crow iron, and opened the door by
unlocking the padlock and lock thereof with the false keys; after which
they went and hid the false keys and crow iron, in case any of these
articles should be found upon them, and then returned to the shop: That
Smith was to go into the shop, and Brodie to watch at the outside of the
door: That the declarant carried with him a dark lanthorn, which he
lighted: That their intention was only to look at the goods, but not to
carry them off that night: That the declarant remained in the shop for
about half an hour; and, after being some time there Brodie called out
“What made him stay so long--was he taking an inventory of the shop?”
That the declarant only brought away with him that night seventeen steel
watch-chains, and a small red pocket-book. The steel chains the
declarant afterwards sold along with some other goods of his own to an
auctioneer, and the pocket-book he afterwards made a present of to
Michael Henderson, Stabler in Grassmarket, his daughter.
That the declarant and Brodie afterwards, in about a fortnight, went
back to rob M‘Kain’s shop completely, and opened the door as formerly,
when Smith went in, and left Brodie to watch without; but he was not a
few minutes in the shop, when he heard a person in the room immediately
below rise out of his bed, and come towards the door; on which the
declarant pulled up the shop-door, and ran straight into the street,
without carrying any thing with him.
That he found Brodie had fled; and the declarant, on going up to the
main street, found Brodie standing at the head of the entry into the Old
Green Market: That, a little after this, the declarant and Brodie walked
arm-in-arm down Bridge Street, in order to see what they could observe
about the shop; and, in passing down the street, they saw a man looking
out at the door immediately under M‘Kain’s shop, and a guard soldier
standing opposite, at the head of the stair which goes down to the Flesh
Market; so that the declarant and Brodie passed on along the Bridge, and
afterwards went to their several homes, as nothing could be done further
that night.
That Brodie told the declarant that the shop at the head of Bridge
Street, belonging to Mess. Bruces, would be a very proper shop for
breaking into as it contained valuable goods, and he knew the lock would
be easily opened, as it was a plain lock, his men having lately altered
that shop-door at the lowering of the streets: That the plan of breaking
into this shop was accordingly concerted betwixt them, and they agreed
to meet on the evening of the 24th of December 1786, being a Saturday,
at the house of James Clark, Vintner in the head of the Flesh Market
Close, where they generally met with other company to gamble: That,
having met there, they played at the game of hazard, till the declarant
lost all his money; but at this time Brodie was in luck, and gaining
money: That the declarant often asked Brodie to go with him on their own
business; but Brodie, as he was gaining money, declined going, and
desired the declarant to stay a little, and he would go with him.
The declarant, however, turned impatient, as it was near four in the
morning, and the time for doing their business was going; he therefore
left the room, and went by himself to Mess. Bruces shop, when he opened
the door with false keys, and, after getting in, lighted a dark
lanthorn, and took out of the show-boxes or glasses on the counter, and
from the inside of the windows, ten watches, five of them gold, three
silver, and two metal, with the whole rings, lockets, and other
jewellery and gold trinkets in the show-boxes, all of which he put into
two old black stockings, and carried them to the stable of Michael
Henderson, in the Grass-Market, where he hid them under some rubbish
below the manger, and afterwards went home to his own room in the
Grass-Market.
That he staid there till near eight in the morning, and then went up to
Mr Brodie’s house, when the maid told him that Mr Brodie was in bed; and
the declarant then left his name, and said he wanted to see him, and
thereafter returned home to his own room: That, after staying there some
time, Mr Brodie came and called for him, when the declarant told him
what he had done, and desired Mr Brodie to stay there till he would go
for the goods: That the declarant accordingly went to the stable, and
brought the two black stockings, containing the goods, and poured them
out upon a bed in a closet off his room, and then said to Mr Brodie,
“You see what luck I have been in; you might have been there; but as you
did not go, you cannot expect a full share; but there are the goods,
pick out what you choose for yourself”; upon which Brodie took a gold
seal, a gold watch-key set with garnet stones, and two gold rings: That
the declarant and Brodie went twice over the goods, in order to
ascertain their value; and the declarant, who was himself skilled in
articles in that line, was of opinion they would have cost Mess. Bruces
about £350 Sterling.
That, after this, the goods were again put into the black stockings, and
carried back to Michael Henderson’s stable: And, in the course of that
day, being Sunday, the declarant and Brodie frequently passed Mess.
Bruces shop-door, to see in what situation the door stood, and to learn
if the robbery had been discovered; and nothing appearing, the declarant
proposed to Brodie to go back that night, in order to sweep the shop
clean; but Brodie objected to this, saying that a discovery might have
been made, and a watch set to entrap them; on which account they
desisted from the attempt.
That, after this, Brodie and the declarant had several meetings,
consulting about the safest way to dispose of the goods: and, upon the
Tuesday evening, it was concerted between them, that the declarant
should go off next day for England with the goods; and at that time
Brodie gave the declarant five guineas and a half to carry his expenses
on the road; and, to evade suspicion, the declarant set out early next
morning, and travelled on foot as far as Dunbar, where he took the
mail-coach, and went to Chesterfield in England, and there sold the
whole goods taken out of Mess. Bruces shop, except what Mr Brodie got,
for £105 Sterling, to John Tasker alias Murray, who, he knew, had been
banished from Scotland: That the declarant sent a twenty-pound note of
this money in a letter to Mr Brodie, informing him of the sale, and
desiring him to pay himself what the declarant had borrowed, and supply
his wife with money till the declarant’s return.
That the declarant staid for some weeks in England, during which time he
had several letters from Brodie; and, on his return, gave to Brodie
three ten-pound notes more of the money to keep for him, and to prevent
suspicion by the declarant’s having so much money about him, which money
Brodie gave him as he wanted it, but gained a great part of it at play.
That among the goods sold to Tasker, there was a particular gold watch,
which Tasker said he would wear himself, and, to prevent a detection,
got the name and number altered by a man at Leeds, and which watch
Tasker was wearing when the declarant left England.
* * * * *
Mr BRODIE was examined the same day, and being interrogated, declared,
That he had been employed by the Magistrates of Edinburgh to alter the
door of Mess. Bruces’ shop, at the head of Bridge Street; that his men
altered it accordingly, after the streets had been lowered.
And being interrogated, If he was at that time acquainted with George
Smith, present prisoner in the Tolbooth?--declares, That he does not at
present remember at what time he became acquainted with Smith--But, as
the declarant has other business of his own at present to take up his
time, declines to give any further answer to this or any other question
at present.
Being further interrogated, If he recollects receiving from George Smith
a gold seal, a gold watch-key, and two gold rings?--he declines to
answer this or any other question, for the reason above stated.
And being desired to sign this declaration, he refused so to do.
* * * * *
ANNE HIBUTT, spouse of George Smith, was also examined, who declared,
That one morning Brodie came to the room where her husband and she
resided, and examined a parcel of jewellery goods; and she saw Mr Brodie
get the seal, watch-key, and rings mentioned in her husband’s
declaration.
That she saw Brodie give her husband some money the night before he went
to England; and, during her husband’s absence, she received money from
Mr Brodie.
* * * * *
ANDREW AINSLIE was examined, and declared as to the time of his becoming
acquainted with Brodie and Smith: That he was at Glasgow at the time
Mess. Bruces’ shop was broke; but, on his return to Edinburgh, was
informed of the particulars by Smith.
That he often saw, in Mr Brodie’s possession, hanging at his watch, a
gold seal and watch-key, which Brodie said, these, with some other
trifles, were the only things he had got of what was taken out of Mess.
Bruces’ shop; and has often heard Smith and Brodie quarrelling, and
Brodie grumbling and complaining that he had never got his proper share
of the goods taken out of that shop.
* * * * *
JOHN BROWN, _alias_ Humphry Moore, declared as to the time he became
acquainted with Smith and Brodie: The first time he saw Brodie was
supping in Smith’s house: That he was not come to Edinburgh when Mess.
Bruces’ shop was broke.