The Cotton Factory Times. — 1888-09-21 (Manchester, Greater Manchester, England)

PROLOGUE.  The streets of Edinburgh were thronged with :rowds of people, all going in the direction of the West Port. It was a cold, wet morning, for the rain had fallen heavily during the night. But aione though it was, an immense multitude had been waiting for many hours in the Lawnmarket to witness the last act of the West Port tragedies. for more than a month the inhabitants of Edinturgh had been looking forward to that day, for the i:otorious William Burke, the perpetrator of the' !lorribje murders that had scared the city, was to Fay the last penalty for his many crimes. ,ido high did public feeling run that the authorities aorned it prudent to remove Burke from Calton Bill Gaol to the lock-up in Liberton's Wynd at four o'clock on the morning of the day previous to that fixed for the execution. This was considered absolutely necessary, as, had the removal taken Flace at a time when the people were about, or were expecting it, the probability was that, instead of undergoing a judicial execution, Burke would have b2an torn to pieces by an infuriated mob. Shortly after noon on the day of his removal preparations were begun at the place of execution in the Lawn. market. Strong poles were fixed in the street to 50p2ort the chain by which the crowd was to be kept back, and on this occasion the space was considerably larger than usual. The work progressed, witnessed by a large crowd, which gradually swelled in size as the excited crowd came to see the erection of the structure that was to work legal vengeance on a hated murderer. At ten o'clock at eight the ceremony of setting up the scaffold was commenced. The din of the workmen, and the clang of the hammers, were mingled with the shouts of the thousands of people who watched the work with grim satisfaction. When all was finished, and the transverse beam looked ready for its weight, the crowd evinced their abhorrence of the monster Burke, and all concerned in the West Port murders, by throe tremendous cheers, which were heard as far away as Princess-street. This was about two o'clock in the morning, and, early though it was, closes and stairs were packed by intending sightseers, who preferred to wait outside all morning rather than run the risk of being disappointed by arriving late., _ .  .. The hours dragged slowly on, and when daylight spproached, the scene presented by the vast concourse was a highly impressive one. Every window giving a view of the place of execution was thronged by as many people as could possibly see the scaffold —every window except one, and to that window the eyes of the crowd often turned, for the word had gone round that the lady in mourning who sat at that window was the sister of Mary Paterson, in whose melancholy fate at the hands of Burke the people of Edinburgh had shown much interest. The lady appeared to be utterly unmindful of the gaze of the crowd. Her eyes seemed fixed upon vacancy, and she probably did not hear the soothing words addressed to her by the young gentleman sitting beside her. But when the crowd below burst forth into a tremendous yell, indicating that the death procession was advancing, the lady roused herself, and looking in the direction whence it came, watched its approach with as keen an interest BA anyone in that immense throng. Suddenly she seized the arm of her companion, and pointing down into the crowd, said excitedly— See, Willie, there's John Haldane! He should be bearing company with that wretch Burke. But for John Haldane, I should not now be alone in the world—my sisters—" The young man whom she had called Willie sprang forward and caught her as she fell back and fainted.  Very few in the crowd had seen the lady lean out of the window and point to a young man, who, muffled up in a *go cloak, had not noticed her. But had it been known that he had been concerned in the horrible traffic carried on by Burke, and the betrayer of one of Burke's victims, he would probably not have been allowed to stand close to the scaffold until the last scene of the dread tragedy had been played out.