Deacon Brodie was not short on ambition. He surpassed his father’s accomplishments and tenures within the Guild Court and as the leader of the Wrights and Masons. The transference of Brodie’s drive extended from his “day job” world into the aspirations of his gang. The below statement was made by Brodie gang member, George Smith, in a 22 August 1788 “break glass in case of emergency” statement to be read at his trial should Smith’s lawyers see the right opportunity. That opening never came, and Smith danced at the end of a rope the same as Brodie for robbing the Edinburgh’s Excise Office. Smith’s statement outlined the plans he and Deacon Brodie had made for future criminal endeavors. The following list shows a quantum leap in the complexities and payoffs of felonious acumen to pull off.

I made that confession to prevent more dreadful mischief being done to this injured country from persons whom it least suspected; for God, who seeth in secret, only knows where the evil would have stopped. And, if possible, to make some small reparation for the violent wrongs I have myself been guilty of, I request the indulgence of the Court to suffer me to read over a list of such robberies as my accomplices and myself had determined to commit, had we not been timeously prevented.

1. On Dalgleish and Dickie, watchmakers.
2. On White and Mitchell lottery office keepers.
3. On a rich baker near Brodie’s Close—the name forgot.
4. The Council Chamber, for the Mace.
5. The Chamberlain's Office, for money.
6. Forrester and Co.'s Jewellers.
7. Gilchrist and Co.'s, Linen-drapers.
8. Besides these, and as depredations of greater magnitude, the Bank of Scotland (or Old Bank) was to have been broke into.
9. The Stirling Stage Coach, carrying a thousand pounds to pay the Carron workmen, was to have been stopped and robbed.
10. Mr. Latimer, Collector of Excise for the Dalkeith district, reported to have generally from one to two thousand pounds, was to have been robbed.

George Smith’s list is audacious, to say the least. If all these future targets were hit, the take would have been upwards of £7500. To put this figure in perspective relative to the economy of the 1780s, the Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce looked to improve conditions of the Lighthouse on May Island in 1786. The Chamber hired a full-time keeper for £7 a year. The question still remains, what was Deacon Brodie going to do with all the money he was planning on taking?