The Tolboath] WILSON EXECUTED. 129
tVilson and Robertson were sentenced to death,
without the slightest hope of a pardon. While the
criminals were lying in the Tolbooth of Edinburgh,
by the aid of two horse-stealers, who were confined
in a cell immediately above them, they succeeded
in cutting the iron stanchels of a window, singing
psalms the while to drown all sound. One of
the horse-stealers succeeded in getting through the
.aperture, and the
other might have
escaped in the
.same way but for
the obstinacy of
Wilson, who insisted
on making
the next attempt.
Being a bulky man
.he stuck fast between
the bars, the
gudeman of the
Tolbooth was
speedily made
aware of the attempt,
and took
sure means to preclude
a repetition
of it. The character
of Wilson the
smuggler was not
without some no-
0le qualities, and
he felt poignant
regret for the selfish
obstinacy by
which he had prevented
the escape
,of young Robertson;
thus he
formed the secret
resolution of saving
his comrade?s
escape, which no one for a moment thought Qf
marring.
The success of this &ring achievement, though
it doubly sealed his own fate, removed a load of
remorse from the mind of Wilson, and excited so
much sympathy in his behalf, that it was currently
rumoured an attempt would be made to rescue him
at the place of execution. When the day for that
came-the 14th
April, 1736 -it
was found that the
magistrates had
taken ample precautions
to enforce
the law. Around
the scaffold was a
strong body of the
City Guard, while
a detachment of
the Welsh Fusiliers
-which young
Elliot of Stobs,
the future Lord
Heathfield, had
just joined as a
volunteer-was
under arms in the
principal street.
Vast multitudes
had assembled, but
their behaviour was
subdued and orderly
until the
terrible sentence
had been executed,
and the body
of Wilson swung
from the lofty gibbet
in the Grassmarket.
Then a
RELICS FROM THE TOLBOOTH NOW IN THE SCOTTISH ANTIOUARIAN MUSEUM. yell Of rage and
life, at any risk I, Girdle; z, Fetter-lack; 3, Padlock; 4 Staple; 5, Iron Gaud. execration burst
s f his own. On
the Sunday before the execution, according to the
astom of the period, the criminals were taken to
that part of St. Giles?s named the Tolbooth kirk, to
hear the sermon preached for their especial benefit,
?but under custody of four soldiers of the City
,Guard, armed with their bayonets. On the dismissal
of the congregation, Wilson, who was an
:active and powerful man, suddenly seized two of
the soldiers, one with each hand, a third with
his teeth, and calling to Robertson, ?Run,
Geordie, run!? saw, with satisfaction, the latter
knock the fourth soldier down, and achieve an
17
from the people,
who broke through all restraint, and assailed the
City Guard with every missile they could fmd.
The body of Andrew Wilson was cut down, and
an attempt made to carry it OK It was interred
at Pathhead, the burial register of which records
that ?? The corpse of Andrew Wilson, baker, son
to Andrew Wilson, baker and inn-dweller in Dunfiikier
(Qui mortuit GaJZflocio Edinbutgam), was
interred on the 5th April, 1736.? An old denizen
of Pathhead declared that he saw Wilson?s grave
opened, and could not but remark upon the size
and texture of his bones.
