BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 257
this degrading vice to account as a source of revenue ; and it appears, from an
action raised against him by one Hamilton, a chimney-sweeper, that he did not
scruple to have recourse to the usual tricks resorted to by professed gamblers.1
In the gratification of this ruling passion, he was in the habit of meeting, almost
nightly, a club of gamblers at a house of a most disreputable description, kept by
a person of the name of Clark, in the Fleshmarket Close. Xotwithstanding his
profligate habits, Brodie had the address to prevent them from becoming public ;
and he contrived to maintain a fair character among his fellow-citizens. So
successful was he in blihding the world, that he continued a member of the
Council until within a short period of the time he committed the crime for which
he afterwards suffered ; and it is a singular fact that, little more than a month
previously, he sat as a juryman in a criminal cause, in that very court where
he himself soon afterwards received sentence of death !
Although Brodie had for many years been licentious and dissipated, it is
believed that it was not until 1786 that he commenced that career of crime which
he ultimately expiated on the scaffold. About that time he became acquainted
with his fellow-culprit, George Smith ; and shortly afterwards, at the gambling
haunt, with Ainslie and Brown-men of the lowest grade and most abandoned
principles. The motives that induced Brodie to league himself with these
desperate men are not very obvious. In comfortable circumstances, and holding
situations of trust among his fellow-citizens, it is not easy to guess what could
impel him to a line of conduct so very unaccountable. Let his motives have
been what they might, however, Erodie, from his professional knowledge and his
station in society, had great facilities for furthering his contemplated depredations,
and he became the leader of these miscreants, who acted by his orders,
and were guided by his information.
About the latter end of 1787 a series of robberies were committed in and
around Edinburgh, and no clue could be had of the perpetrators. Shops were
opened, and goods disappeared, as if by magic.' The whole city at last became
alarmed. In the most of these Brodie was either actively or passively concerned ;
but it was not until the last " fatal affair "-the robbery of the Excise 05cethat
he was discovered, and the whole machinery laid open.
This undertaking, it appears, was wholly suggested and planned by Brodie.
In this action he is accused of having used loaded or false dice, by which Hamilton lost upwards
of six guineas. ' An old lady mentions that a female friend of hers, who, from indisposition, was unable to go
one Sunday to church, was, during divine worship, and in the absence of her servant, surprised by
the entrance of a man, with a crape over his face, into the room where she was sitting. He very
coolly took up the keys which were lying on the table before her, opened her bureau, and took out II
considerable sum of money that had been placed there. He meddled with nothing else, but immediately
re-locked the bureau, replaced the keys on the table, and, making a low bow, retired. The lady was
panic-struck the whole time. Upon the exit of her mysterious visitor, she exclaimed, "Surely that was
Deacon Brodie ! " But the improbability of a person of his opulence turning a housebreaker, induced
her tu preserve silence at the time. Subsequent events, however, soon proved the truth of her aunnisea.
2 L
258 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
A friend of his, a Mr. Corbett from Stirling, had occasion to visit the Excise
Office for the purpose of drawing money. Brodie accompanied him ; and while
in the cashier’s room the idea first occurred to him. He immediately acquainted
his colleagues with the design, and frequently after made calls at the Office,
under a pretence of asking for Mr. Corbett, but with the sole purpose of becoming
better acquainted with the premises. On one of these visits in company
with Smith, he observed the key of the outer door hanging on a nail, from
which he took an impression of the wards with putty ; and on the night of the
30th November, with the key formed from this model, they opened the outer
door, by way of experiment, but proceeded no farther.
It was not till the 5th of March following that the final attempt was made;
on which occasion all hands were engaged. Their plan of procedure was previously
well concerted, and their tools prepared. They were to meet in the house
of Smith about seven o’clock ; but Brodie did not appear till eight, when he
came dressed in an old-fashioned suit of black, and armed with:a brace of pistols.
He seemed in high spirits for the adventure, and was chanting the well-known
ditty from the “ Beggars’ Opera : ”-
“ Let us take the road,
Hark ! I hear the sound of coaches !
The hour of attack approaches ;
To your arms, brave boys, and load.
See the ball I hold ;
Let the chemists toil like asses-
Our fire their fire surpasses,
And turns our lead to gold.”
Brodie also brought with him some small keys and a double picklock. Particular
duties were assigned to each. Ainslie was to keep watch in the courtyard-
Brodie inside the outer door-while Smith and Brown were to enter the
cashier’s room. The mode of giving alarm was by means of a whistle bought
by Brodie the day before, with which Ainslie was to call once, if only one person
approached-if two or more, he was to call thrice, and then proceed himself to
the back of the building to assist Brown and Smith in escaping by the windows,
All of them, save Ainslie, were armed with pistols. Brown and Smith had
pieces of crape over their faces. They chose the hour of attack from the circumstance
of the office being generally shut at eight o’clock, and no watchman being
stationed till ten.
Ainslie and Brodie
took up their respective positions, while Brown and Smith proceeded to the
more arduous task of breaking into the cashier’s room. Smith opened the first
door with a pair of curling-irons ; but, in forcing the second or inner door, they
had to use both the iron crow and the coulter of a plough, which they had previously
stolen for the purpose. Having with them a dark lantern, they searched
the whole apartment, opening every desk and press in it. While thus engaged
a discovery had nearly taken place, the Deputy-Solicitor, Mr. James Bonnar,
having occasion to return to the offibe about half-past eight. The outer door he
The party accordingly advanced to the scene of action.
