deacon brodie

The real story behind Edinburgh's most enduring legend

Deacon Brodie, william brodie, edinburgh, scotland, theif, trial

James Murray Testimony

Witness number Twenty-four For the Prosecution of Deacon Brodie and George Smith

 

James Murray, sheriff-officer in Edinburgh, called in and sworn.

James Murray — I was employed, along with Alexander Williamson and some others, to search the prisoner’s (William Brodie) house upon the 10th of March last. In the course of the search we found a pair of pistols in a green cloth covered with earth in the fireplace of a shed. I think that it was myself that dug them out of the earth. [Here the pistols libelled on were shown to the witness.] These are the pistols that were so found. I afterwards saw one part of the dark lanthorn (dark lantern)  found in a necessary house, and another part of a dark lanthorn (dark lantern)  found in a pen where game-cocks had been kept. I accompanied the other prisoner, George Smith, upon the 16th of March, to the bottom of Allan’s Close, and he there pointed out a hole in a wall, where, he said, there were some articles hid. I put in my hand and brought out a false key, a pair of curling irons, and a small crow. [Here the articles formerly produced were shown to the witness.] These are the same that were so found.

Cross-examined by Mr. John Clerk — You say that you put in your hand and brought out these articles; are you sure it was not George Smith who did so?

James Murray — I put in my hand; George Smith could not, being handcuffed.

 

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