The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1826-07-18 00:00:00

said " loose the napkin, and we will get the -- the more easily
choked." He could only once ay out " murder," they gripped
him so hard. When beginning to rise, the man at his head dashed
him down again, while the other stepped over his body and went
south a little, when they went into the fields. The moon was shin-
ing clear. After he was knocked down the women attempted to
hold one of the men, but he threatened them, and they fled to some
houses about fifty yards distant, where they roused some persons.
But the men were off before the women came back. He followed
them through one field and part of a second, but was afraid of being
murdered, and returned to the road, where he met the gills, and a
man whom they had mused. The three men appeared to be
dressed as coal carters, with jackets and trowsers ; and from the feel
of one of the jackets, it was velveteen or new corduroy.
Mary Somerville was at Lauder fair in April last, along with
-Elizabeth Lawrie, and they came together to Edinburgh, on foot.
James Hunter made up to them on &sutra-hill, and they agreed to
come to Edinburgh along with him. They came to Dalkeith, af.
ter passing which, at Craigover Brae, about 12 at night, three men
' palmed them, going towards Dalkeith. The men only went past a
short distance, when they returned, and one of them tripped
Hunter, and knocked him known. Witness called to the men to
let Hunter alone. Two of the men got on the top of Hunter with
their knees, to keep him down. Witness went forward to Bullet
Hunter, when one of them struck at her, and said he would knock
her down. The third man never came forward. Saw the men
rifling Hunter's pockets, on which witness ran away for assistance.
Lawrie had run away before this. The one who was rifling
Hunter's pockets was the same us he who struck him. Heard
Hunter call nut to lease some lire in him ; he appeared to be cry-
ing with difficulty. Went to a house at the toot of the brae, and
gave an alarm, and after a long time a man got up, and as they were
proceeding to the spot where Hunter was, they met him, who
said be had lost between ten and eleven pounds; his face
was bloody, and his neckcloth was away from his neck. It
was moonlight; the men were dressed in dark jackets and Dow-
sers. One of the men was of a dark complexion. IVitness
saw a man two days after in the Police-office, whom she recognised
as being the person who knocked Hunter down. The panne! Ful.
lerton is the person. Saw another man in the Police-office, who
was like one of the persons who assaulted Hunter; the panne( Ren-
ton Is the one she alludes to. lie waselle man who offered to strike
'rime's; cannot speak so certainly as to him as of Fullerton.
Elizabeth Lamle corroborated the evidence of the preceding wit-
ness in &most all particulars. Fullerton is like the man who
attacked Hunter, but cannot say positively that he is the person,
although site thought when she saw him in the Police-office that
he was the man.
Margaret Sutherland, servant to James II unter, remembers his
going to Lauder fair; site gave him eleven pounds that morning;
did not observe what bank the notes were of.
David Finlayson keeps a spirit shop at Edmondstone, and knows
the pannels; remembers the day of Lauder fair in April last; both
the prisoners were in his house that day ' • four men came about five
in the afternoon, one of whom was Renton ; one of them went
away ; about eight Fullerton came in, and the four remained till
about a quarter from twelve. It is about a mile from his house to
Craignver Brae ; saw Fullerton, Renton, and Reid again about an
hour after they got two halt mutchkins of whisky after coming
back ; Reid paid for the whisky with a twenty shilling note, which
witness changed ; they remained till between four and five in the
morning ; was in the came room with them all the time, and heard
their conversation ; heard them say that, while they had been ab-
sent, they had been et Fullerton's aunt's house.
By the Cole RT—Did not observe any of them have an umbrella
when they came back; they had a good deal of drink, which was
all paid for by Reid, both before they went out the first time and
after they came bark a second time. The first time Ile paid it in
silver.
James fill'Arthur„ hostler, Dalkeith, recollects that about half.
past six o'clock in the morning of the day after Lauder fair, three
men came into his master's house. The patinas at the bar are two
of them ; they drank half a mutchkin of whisky. One of them
gave the witness a guinea note to change to pay for the liquor. He
took the note Rom his breast or side pocket. They seemed to the
witness as if they had not gut any sleep the preceding night; they
asked if there was any stege.coach to start at that time to Edin-
burgh? Witness informed them there was none; they then went
to know the hire of a post-chaise, but at last declined taking it.
After leasing hit master's house, they went southwards, instead of
going toward. Edinburgh.
George Comae, a boy not twelve years of age, was then examined,
but was not put upon oath. He recollected the pannels coming to
the house of a Mr. Cosser about half-past six o'clock on the morn-
ing after Lauder fair. One of di' changed a note, and paid the
thank, Saw him hare several more notes, which he took from his
title pocket.
James Drummond, publican, Dalkeith, knows the pannel, An-
drew Fullerton. He and other two men came to hishouse between
seven and eight o'clock on the morning after Lauder fair; they
seemed to be much fatigued. They asked if witness's wife was up,
as they wanted some breakfast. Witness asked them if they had
called in at Lawrie's Den ? They answered, it was dark when
they passed it.
Robertson. publican, recollecat that the day after last Lauder
fair, three men called at his house between ten and eleven o'clock
forenoon. He knew one, Alexander Finlayson, but the others he
did not know. The mantels are the other two men. They remained
about art hour in the house. They had some drink, and offered
in payment a pound note of the Renfrew bank, which witness re-
fused to change. One of the pannels then gave witness a note on
Sir Wm. Forbes's bank, which he changed, deducting the reckon-
ing, which amounted to Is. 10d.
Alczandir Finlaysoti, carter, met the pannels driving stones fient
Niddry to Dalkeith on the day after Lauder fair ; had two half
mutchkins with them and sonic beer; one of them produced a mate,
which he heard was of the Renfrew hank ; another note of Sir
William Forbes's bank was then offered, and silver was given in
exchange for it.
Robert King, coal merchant. Edinburgh, paid Reid (the person
absconded) for his services- The sum lie paid was liis. ; never
gave hint any paper money, as he had not been in his service for so
long a period se his wages would amount to a pound note.
The case being closed for the prosecution, three witnesses were
called to speak to the character of the pannels. Their evidence went
to show that the pannels had previously borne a good character, and
that for three years, during which period Itillarton had been in the
witness's (Mr. George Russell's) service, he considered him to be
a sober, itiduettious. and honest young man.
The LORD ADVOCATE addressed the Jury on the part of the
Crown. He said, that in the circumstances of the case, as they
had been detailed in evidence, he could not consent to restrict the
libel; and willing, as he always was, to give to unfortunate indi-
viduate such as those now at the bar, every advantage of any dis-
crepancy in evidence, still he maintained that the case had been
so clearly made out, particularly against Fullerton, that he with
confidence called for a verdict of guilty at their hands.
Mr. Vocative sr then addressed the Jury on the part of the
pannels. in a speech of considerable length ; after which—
The LORD JUSTICE CLERK summed up the evidence.
The Jury retired fora few minutes, and returned with a verdict
unanimously finding Fullerton Guilty of the charge as libelled, and
the charge against Renton Not Proven.
Lord MAceEezir. said, that as to Renton, the Jury having
found the libel not peeves, he would, of course, fall to be assoilzied
and dismissed from the bar ; but, with regard to Fullerton, how.
ever painful it might be for hint to perform the auty, he cow*
have no hesitation as to the course he was bound to follow. The
crime of robbery had ever been, and now was, a capital crime. He
therefore could propose nothing else than a sentence of' death ; and
that that punishment shoulti take place, in the usual form, on
Wednesday, the 16th of August.
The Loan JUSTICE CLERK addressed Fullerton nearly as M.
lows :—Ater a full and impartial investigation, the prisoner has,
by the unanimous verdict of a Jury. been convicted of' the heinous
crimes of assault and robbery. His Lordship was sorry to state,
that the crime appeared to have been committed with circumstances
of so gre t aggravation and hostility towards Hunter, as pre-
cluded all hope of any alleviation of the sentence. The verdict
of the Jury had established in the clearest manna' that the pannel
had been concerned in a furious attack upon an individual ; he had
been knocked to the gri u and while lying there, he was kept
down by force, while the fannel did every thing in Ms power to
prarent d im calling for assistance, and at one time indicated a dia-
bolical purpose on his life, by removing his neckcloth that he might
thereby the more easily cheek him, while be lay in a defeneekes
state. Had not other eyes witnessed the assault sal thepluederiug,
which was committed within fifty yards of the habitations of rata,
bis Lordship feared that the crime might have still been one of a
more heist us nature. For, in his opinion, if the assault had been
committed in a more lonely place, it was not improbable that the
victim might have suffered death. Therefore the paned had awns
reason to be grateful that he was convicted of a crime abort of mur-
der. His Lordship did not mention these eimaaalegele
vats the feelings of the paenel, but to remove say
his mintl—thst he might not lay the flattering unetielebelibbad,
that there was any airman!' the royal clemency being egteledid tahim
—the pen nel could entertain no hopeof mercy but Deaths 4thalglity.
fits Lordship then adverted at considerable length to the rob-
bery for which Mitchell and Sharp were convicted, and which were
committed in the same parish about two years ago. In that case
the pannels, though sentenced to be executed, had their punish-
Tent commuted, in consideration of the circumstances of the assault

being of the most trivial description ; but in the present case the
assault had been to the dilation of blood, and even with more hor-
rible views. Hie lordship noticed these fActs only for the purpose
of making the panned fully aware of the awful situation in which
he mood, that he might prepare to appear before the judgment seat
of his God, for in a very few days he must close his eyes on this
terrestrial scene. After directing the pAnnel to tall to his sexist.
ante the ill iniatere of the Gospel, his Lordship concluded by pro.
flouncing the awful sentence, ordaining him to be executed on 11 ed-
nesday, the 16th of August next.
In dismissing Renton, his Lordship saki that never had any man
stood at the bar of that Court in more perilous circumstances ; and
never had any man more reason to be circuniepect as to his future
conduct. Renton was then modeled, and dismissed from the bar.
The pooch behaved with great decorum during the trial, and
even while the awful sentence was pronouncing, Fullerton did nt I
seem to feel the situation he stood in. but oft his being lad out buret
icto a toed of tears, and Renton also burrs forth into loud lama.
tenons.

FIRE ON THE CON TINRWT.—•It appears that 39 houses
and 70 outbildior, the value of which was above 80,000
dollars, were destroyed by the late fire at Osterode. The
damage caused by the fire at Elie is above 160,000'
dollars.