Glasgow Courier. — 1857-02-03 (Glasgow, Strathclyde, Scotland)

EXECUTION OF M'LEAN AT LINLITHGOW.  At eight o'clock yesterday morning, Peter Bi'Lean, Who was condemned to death by the High Court of J usticiary on January 12, for the molder of Thomas Maxwell, on the road to Whitburn, between Durhanitown and Bathgate on Nov. 15, 1856, paid the last penalty of the law in front of the County Buildings, Linlithgow. The number of spectators was not so large as had been anticipated, and consisted principally of miners from Bo'ness, Bathgate, and the surrounding districts, and the greatest decorum prevailed. At six o'clock the spectators began to assemble at the hour of the execution. The number might be between four and five thousand. The weather was dull and hazy, and all the town remained shut at the request of the Provost and Magistrates. A detachment of the sth Dragoon Guards were present from Jock's Lodge; and in addition, a 'number of special constables were sworn In to preserve the peace, but fortunately their services were not required. A few minutes before the appointed time the miserable convict was conveyed from the cell where he passed the night to the pinioning-room, by two constables who attended him. He was so weak as to be unable to walk, and seemed helpless as a child, and as he was led to a seat his sobs were heart-rending. The Rev. Dr. Bell and Mr. Webster, the chaplain of the prison, having conducted the religious exercises before he was taken from the room in which he was confined, Cale raft immediately proceeded to the necessary preparations. When the strap was being fastened the convict requested the executioner not to hurt him. The preparations having been completed, he thanked the officers for their attention to his wants while in prison, and ' after bidding them farewell, was led ont of the pinioning-room leaning on the twp constables, and followed by the clergyman who ministered to him, and by the authorities of the burgh. He was almost carried up to the scaffold, where he was accompanied by only the two officers, Dr. Bell, Mr. Webster, and Calcraft. Eight o'clock struck as they reached the scaffold, and in a few minutes after that hour the wretched man was no more. He had asked leave to say a few words to the crowd, and the request basing been complied with, he looked to those around, and in almost inaudible tones exhorted them as follows Good people, take a warning by me. Beware of bad company and drink—keep the Sabbath-day.' Here his voice faltered, and the only other words he uttered was an ejaculation to the Lord to have mercy on his soul, lie shook hands with the persons beside him, gave the fatal signal, and in an instant the drop fell, and he was launched into eternity, He gave one convulsive struggle, which was only observed by those around the gallows, and almost immediately after expired. To the very last moment he persisted in his assertion that he was unconscious of hissing murdered Maxwell, and that the knife with which the deed was committed never belonged to him. The crowd lingered around the scaffold till nine o'clock, when the body of M'Lean was cut down, when they quietly dispersed. The body was put into a coffin preparatory to being interred in the course of the day in the grounds of the New Prison. The public-honses in the burgh were all kept shut by order of the magistrates.