8
| Elspeth. Reid theft, Jan. 14, |
1785
|
| Thomas Donaldson, Wm. Buchanan, and Wm. M‘leod, housebreaking, May 23, |
1823
|
| Malcolm Gillespie, forgery, Nov. 17, |
26
|
| Catherine Davidson, murder, Oct 30, |
36
|
| James Burnet, murder, May 28, |
49
|
| James Robb. murder, Oct. 10, |
19
|
| George Christie, robbery and double murder, Jan 13, |
53
|
JEDBURURGH.
| David Douglas, robbery, Nov. 18, |
1768
|
| Wm. Murray, theft, May 26, |
80
|
| Charles Mercer, rape, Oct 10, |
1809
|
| John Gibson, murder. May 12, |
14
|
| Robert Scott, murder, Oct. 23, |
23
|
| James Rogers, murder, Oct. 20, |
31
|
| J. Wilson, murder, Sept. 23, |
49
|
FOR WITCHCRAFT.
| Allison Pearson, Fifeshire, practising sorcery, and invoking the devil, strangled and burned, |
1568
|
| Euphane M'Calzeane, Edinburgh, burned alive, |
1591
|
| Patrick Lawrie, consulting with the devil, burned |
1605
|
| Isobel Elliot, for having carnal copulation with the devil, strangled and burned |
1678
|
WILLIAM CALCRAFT, the general executioner for Great Britain, and who officiated here on the 11th August, 1853, was born in the year 1801, of humble, but industrious parents, in a little village about ten miles from London, situate in the county of Essex. When 19 years of age he was appointed to the office of Newgate Hangman, and on being installed swore tothe following oath:—
“I do swear to hang or behead, and to draw and quarter, or otherwise destroy all felons and enemies of the peace of our Lord the King, and of his subjects duly sentenced according to Law, and I will do the like like unto father, mother, sister or brother, and all other kindred whatsoever, without favour or hindrance. So help me God.”
Thereupon a black veil is thrown over him at his rising, when he is conducted out of the court, amid the groanings of the assemblage, the tolling of the death-bell, and the horrifying words of the city judge grating in his ears—‘‘Get thee hence, wretch!’
The hall in which the oath is administered contains a table with the following articles placed thereon : — An axe, well sharpened — the same that is used for the beheading of traitors — a pair of leg-irons—handcuffs — and other fetters — a small coil of rope — and a pair of white caps.
