Page images
PDF
EPUB
[ocr errors]

CHRONICLE.

JANUARY.

1st. EDINBURGH.-We regret to state, that last night, being the last of the year, and on that account devoted by immemorial usage, and the custom of the place, to innocent fes tivity, the streets of this city were disgraced by a series of riots, outrages, and robberies, hitherto, we may truly say, without any example. -During almost the whole of the night, after eleven o'clock, a gang of ferocious banditti, armed with bludgeons and other weapons, infested some of the leading streets in this metropolis, and knocked down and robbed, and otherwise most wantonly abused, almost every person who had the misfortune to fall in their way. After they had fairly succeeded in knocking down those of whom they were in pursuit, they proceeded immediately to rifle them of their money and watches; and the least symptom, on their part, of anxiety to save their property, was a provocation to new outrages, which were persevered in until their lives were endangered. One person we have heard of, who, after

VOL. V. PART II.

being knocked down, made several attempts to preserve his watch, when he was so abused and kicked on the head, and in the breast and stomach, that he was glad to escape with his life. Another gentleman, in the same unhappy predicament, succeeded in preserving his watch, though it was pulled so violently that the chain was broke, which, together with the seals he lost.

These outrages were chiefly committed by a band of idle apprentice boys, regularly organized for the purpose, and lurking in stairs and closes, from whence they issued, on a signal given, in large bands, and surrounded and overwhelmed those who were passing by. By the vigilance of the magistrates, who were in the streets, or otherwise actively engaged in the duties of their office, until about five o'clock on Wednesday morning, several of these rioters were apprehend. ed on the spot, some of them with the stolen articles in their possession, and the most vigilant enquiries are going on, with a view to root out this nefarious combination against the peace of society. A reward of 100

A

guineas is offered for the discovery of the offenders.

Dugald Campbell, a police officer, who was wounded, and carried to the Royal Infirmary, is since dead, and another lies dangerously ill.

In addition to the above account, we have now to state, that on the morning of the 1st current, Mr James Campbell, clerk to Messrs John Aitken and Company, merchants in Leith, was attacked on the South Bridge, near to the Tron Church, betwixt one and two o'clock, and so severely struck on the head and other parts of the body, that he died on Tuesday of the wounds he received. It having turned out in the course of investigation that several other persons were severely wounded, the Right Hon. the Lord Provost and Magis. trates, in order the more effectually to lead to the detection of the person or persons guilty of the above of fences, offered a reward of one hundred guineas, to those who shall give such information as shall lead to the detection of the persons guilty.

The following proclamations were also circulated, and advertised in all the newspapers:

Reward of One Hundred Guineas. Whereas outrages of a most violent nature, and hitherto unexampled in Edinburgh, have been committed last night upon several gentlemen and police-officers, when passing along the streets, by knocking them down, maltreating, and robbing them;

The Lord Provost and Magistrates, in order to lead to a discovery of the persons concerned in those proceedings, hereby offer a reward of

One Hundred Guineas, to be paid to informers, upon conviction of the offender or offenders.

Several persons were seized in the course of the night, and brought before the Magistrates and Judge of Police, who were in attendance, and some articles were found in their possession which it is supposed belong to persons who had been robbed. It is requested that such will call at the Council-chamber, to give the requisite information, and to identify their property.

From the whole circumstances that came out, upon investigation last night, there appears to have been a regular plan of robbery previously concerted by the perpetrators, who were almost all boys or young lads, armed with bludgeons for the purpose.

As this is a thing so new in the metropolis, as well as so flagrant in itself, the Lord Provost and Magistrates are determined to follow up the enquiry in the most rigorous manner; and they earnestly call upon all ranks of citizens, especially those who have the charge of apprentices and youth, to give every aid in their power, so as this most atrocious combina. tion may be effectually detected, and a severe public example made of all those concerned in it.

WM. CREECH, Provost,
JOHN WALKER, B.
ARCH. MACKInlay, B.
JOHN WAUGH, B.
ROB. SMITH B.
Council-chamber, Edinburgh,
January 1, 1812.

Murder!

Whereas in the course of the late riots on the streets of this city, on the night of the 31st December last, or morning of the 1st January current, Dugald Campbell, one of the policeofficers, while in the discharge of his

duty, was severely struck and wounded by a number of persons presently unknown, and yesterday died of his wounds;

The Right Hon. the Lord Provost and Magistrates, in order more effectually to lead to the detection of the person or persons guilty of the offence, hereby offer a reward of 100 guineas to those who shall give such information as shall lead to the detection of the persons guilty ; to be paid upon conviction.

Note. The reward now offered is separate and distinct from that advertised for the discovery of those who were generally engaged in the

riots.

Council chamber, Edinburgh,
January 4, 1812.

Notice to the Public. The Right Hon the Lord Provost and Magistrates request that such persons as may have lost watches, in the riot of the 31st ultimo, will transmit, to this office, notes of the makers' names, and numbers, so that they may be immediately advertised. Meantime, watch-makers and others are requested to be careful in purchasing watches from persons unknown to them, and to secure all suspicious persons offering watches for sale. Sufferers will also please transmit a particular note and description of any other article of property they may have lost

It is entreated that those who have sent anonymous information to the Magistrates respecting the late riots, will call in person at this office. Council-chamber, Edinburgh,

January 4, 1812,

Sixty-eight persons were arrested in consequence of these proceedings. The following are the names of those

most actively engaged :-John Skelton, sentenced to be hanged, but reprieved, and ordered to be transported for life. Hugh McIntosh, Niel Sutherland, and Hugh Macdonald, executed: Robert Gunn, and Alex. ander Macdonald alias White, transported for life. George Napier and John Grotto, transported for 14 years. Several banished themselves from the city, some enlisted, and others were sent on board the navy.

2d.The Lord Provost and Magistrates of Edinburgh met the committees of the different public bodies, on the subject of the late riotous proceedings in that city, and to consider of the measures to be pursued for establishing a more efficient police. The Lord Prouost having addressed the meeting at some length, mously agreed to: the following resolutions were unani

sisting of committees appointed by every Imo. That the present meeting, conpublic body of the community of Edinburgh, almost without exception, think it a duty incumbent upon them solemnly to declare, that, in their opinion, the present system of police is totally inadequate to the beneficial purposes for which it was intended.

therefore, to be repealed, and a new bill 2do. That the late police act ought, brought into parliament, with every possible dispatch, containing a powerful system of police, with such subordinate regulations as may appear necessary to remedy the evils at present so universally and justly complained of.

A sub-committee was then appointed, consisting of the Lord Provost and Magistrates, the Lord President, the Lord Chief Baron, Baron Clerk, the Lord Advocate, the Solicitor-General, Mr Sheriff Rae, the City Assessors, the Dean of Faculty, the Deputy-Keeper of the Signet,

William Inglis, Esq. John Tait, Esq. Captain Lowes, &c. &c.

LONDON.-On Friday a Court of Directors was held at the East-India house, when the under-mentioned commanders took leave, viz. Captain Gribble, of the Royal George; Captain Moffat, of the Winchelsea; Captain Lock, of the David Scott; and Captain Welbank, of the Cuffnels, for Madras and China; Captain Robertson, of the Surat Castle, for the Prince of Wales Island and China. Captain M. Craig was sworn into the command of the ship Elphinstone, destined to China direct.

Captain Stopford, who brought the official details of the taking of Batavia, is promoted to the rank of post captain, and will also be rewarded with the sum of 5001. as is customary on similar occasions.

There has been an unfortunate difference between the Board of Council and House of Assembly in St Kitts. We are not informed precisely of the origin of the schism; but it has occasioned a reproachful controversy, which ended in the House of Assembly refusing to take notice of any communications from the goThe statements of the parties implicated have been sent to England.

vernment.

On Thursday, a boy, about ten years of age, son of Mr Niven, manager of the Gilmerton coal-works, was amusing himself on the ice with some of his school-fellows, on a pond near that place, when the ice unfortunately gave way, and he sunk under it. It was about two hours before the body was recovered, and the exertions used to restore animation were, of course, unsuccessful.

During the course of the last week, while a young man, named Stevens, about the age of twelve or thirteen,

was skating on the river Esk, near Lasswade, the ice gave way with him, and he was unfortunately drowned. Every effort to restore him to animation was ineffectual.

MURDERS OF THE MARRS AND WILLIAMSONS.-It will be satisfactory to our readers to be made acquainted with the following circumstances, tending to confirm the conviction of the guilt of Williams, as concerned in the late murders :—The privy belonging to the Pear-Tree public-house, where he lodged, has been searched and examined, and in it has been found buried a pair of blue striped trowsers, much stained with blood from top to bottom; they are spoken to very confidently by Williams's fellow-lodgers at the PearTree, as having been seen frequently lying about the house. A pocketbook has also been found in the same place, containing several instruments and a pair of scissars, which, no doubt, will be proved to have belonged either to Mrs Williamson or Mrs Marr. The trowsers and the pocketbook were discovered thrust down near four feet under the surface of the soil, by a birch-broom, which was also found in a perpendicular position upon the trowsers, but completely covered by the soil. The contents of the pocket-book are quite fresh, and do not appear to have been disturbed.

INTERMENT OF JOHN WILLIAMS THE MURDERER.About ten o' clock on Monday night, Mr Robinson, the high constable of the parish of St George, accompanied by Mr Machin, one of the constables, Mr Harrison, the collector, and Mr Robinson's deputy, went to the prison at Coldbath-Fields, where the body of Williams being delivered to them, was put into a hackney-coach, in

« PreviousContinue »