Star.
London, England, 1827-11-20 00:00:00

ABERDEEN, Nov. 17.

Euctmon.—Yesterday Makeirn Gilktftie, Excise
officer at Skene, suffered in front of the gaol of this
city the awful punishment of death for the crime of for-
gery. This unfortunate man had been indicted along
with his clerk, Geotge Skene Edwards, on eight diffe-
rent charges of forgery. A verdict of Guilty of seven
of them was returned against the pannels; but an objec-
tion being taken against the verdict as respected Ed-
wards, on the ground of his not having issued the
forged bills, or, turned them to his own account,
although he had adhibited the forged signatures, his
case was certified to the High Court of Justiciary, Edin-
burgh, before which it is to be beard on Monday, the
19th inst. and to where he was sent off on Thursday
under a proper escort. Gillespie since his condemnation,
had great hopes of obtaining a pardon, and a strong
impression that the powerful interest which was nsed
for him would prove effectual in procuring an extension
of the Royal clemency; from this his mind-could not
be withdrawn, and he placed great reliance on a peti-
tion seat from this quarter, and signed by some persons
of distinguished rank, as well as by others, in his favour;
but although no such weighty influence had almost at
any time been exerted, for saving an individual, so great
and aggravated was his guilt considered, that his case
was pronounced such as could not warrant a recom-
mendation to the Throne for a remission of his
sentence t this was communicated by the Secretary

of State, to his law agent here, in a letter on
Tuesday last, when Gillespie became sensible of his
danger. He appeared horror-struck on receiving the
awful intelligence, which blasted his delusive hopes,
and said he expected it would base been otherwise,
and saying, " Ohl my poor family ! poor orphans r,
part of whom was admitted to take leave of him- on
Thursday,and the scene was of the most affecting nature.
He commended them to Gon, jiining with them in
singing the lest verse of the eighth Paraphrase, whi ch
fie requested might be sung before the execution of
his fatal sentence. About a quarter-past two o'clock
he entered the Court House, genteely dressed in maul-
ing, with deep weepers, attended by the Rev. Mr.
Caountr,Chaplain of the Jail. On his entry, and after
taking his place immediately opposite the bench where
the Magistrates were seated, he seemed much affected,
and being like to faint, he asked for a glass of water;
which was instantly given him; he then said he wished
to address the Magistrates, and as he was now on the
brink of eternity, he was not to die with a lie in bis
mouth, and then at considerable length detailed the
particulars connected with the forgeries of which he
had been convicted, the honest intention he had of
withdrawing them without loss to any one, the means
be had of doing so, and the interview he had with Mr.
Smith, the principal indorser on those bills, when he
found there was something wrong, of which he was
before ignorant ; and solemnly declared, as a dying man,
thathe was innocent of the crime for which he was to suf-
fer. With firm and steady step he moved forward to the
scaffold, where he looked round with great composure,
and having taken leave of the Clergyman and Gentle-
men sear him, submitted himself to the executioner,
and immediately after at 20 minutes from three o'clock,
was launched into eternity, dying almost instanta-
neously. His body, after hanging the usual time, was
cut down, and, being placed in a coffin, was conveyed
away in a hearse to Skene, the place of interment.