deacon brodie
The real story behind Edinburgh's most enduring legend
Deacon Brodie's Trial
On Wednesday, 27 August 1788 at nine o'clock in the morning, the trial of William Brodie and George Smith began. (For background on the Scottish legal system, click here.) Weeks before, forty-five of Deacon Brodie's peers had been call for jury duty. and were sworn in at the trial. (For a list of jurors, click here.) Deacon Brodie's trial was complex compared to most 18th century Scottish legal proceedings. Dozens of witnesses were called to the stand and a physical evidence was presented by the prosecution. We have broken up the trial into separate pages for either each witness or phase of the trial. Should you wish to review the transcript in whole, Roughead's The Trial of Deacon Brodie presents this information in a contiguous, easy to read format. Any commentary on trial proceedings within this website has been noted by [Author's note:] within the transcript. Bracketed information without the Author's note designation are trial transcript descriptions. Below is an outline for the linked pages relating to the trial in the order of trial events. Some elements, such as witness lists for the prosecution and defense, are corollary documents and are listed as such. We are continually adding to this section, so please visit frequently for updates.
Witnesses for the Prosecution
1. William Scott, Procurator-Fiscal of the county of Edinburgh.
2. Joseph Mack, writer in the Sheriff-Clerk’s Office of Edinburgh.
3. Thomas Longlands, solicitor-at-law in London.
4. John Geddes, tobacconist in Mid-Calder.
5. Margaret Tweddle, spouse of John Geddes.
6. Robert Smith, wright in Edinburgh.
7. James Laing, writer in Edinburgh.
8. John Macleish, clerk to Hugh Buchan, City Chamberlain of Edinburgh.
9. John Duncan, door-keeper to the Excise Office, Edinburgh.
10. William Mackay, porter in the Canongate of Edinburgh.
11. Alexander Thomson, accountant of Excise.
12. Laurence Dundas, housekeeper of the Excise Office.
13. Janet Baxter, servant to Adam Pearson, assistant secretary of the Excise.
14. James Bonar, deputy-solicitor of Excise, Edinburgh.
15. Isobel Wilson, spouse of Adam Robertson, wright in Duddingston.
16. John Kinnear, servant to the Earl of Abercorn at Duddingston.
17. Grahame Campbell, sometime servant to the panel, George Smith.
18. Mary Hubbart [Hubburt], wife of George Smith
19. Daniel Maclean, waiter to William Drysdale, innkeeper in the New Town.
20. John Clerk, book-keeper to William Drysdale innkeeper in the New Town.
21. David Robertson, merchant in Edinburgh.
22. William Middleton, indweller in Edinburgh.
23. Alexander Williamson, sheriff-officer in Edinburgh.
24. James Murray, sheriff-officer in Edinburgh.
Witnesses for the Defense
1. Matthew Sheriff, upholsterer in Edinburgh.
2. Jean Watt, residenter in Libberton’s Wynd.
3. Peggy Giles, servant to Mr. Graham, publican at Mutton-hole, near Edinburgh.
4. Helen Alison or Wallace, spouse to William Wallace, mason, in Libberton’s Wynd.
5. James Murray, sheriff-officer in Edinburgh.
6. James Laing, writer in the Council Chamber, Edinburgh.
7. Robert Smith, wright in Edinburgh, sometime foreman to Mr. Brodie.
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