BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 2 59
found shut, and on opening it a man in black (Brodie) hurriedly passed him, a
circumstance to which, not having the slightest suspicion, he paid no attention.
He went to his room up stairs, where he remained only a few minutes, and then
returned, shutting the outer door hastily behind him. Perceiving this, Ainslie
became alarmed, gave the signal, and retreated. Smith and Brown did not
observe the call, but thinking themselves in danger when they heard Mr. Bonnar
coming down stairs, they cocked their pistols, determined not to be taken. After
remaining about half-an-hour, they got off with their booty, which, much to their
disappointment, amounted only to &16 odds, while they expected to have found
as many hundreds.’ On coming out, they were surprised not to find either
Brodie or Amslie ; but, after returning to their former rendezvous, the latter
soon joined them. In order to prevent suspicion, Brown and Ainslie immediately
went to one Fraser’s, who kept a Tavern in the New Town, where, in company
with some others, they supped and spent the night. Brodie, it appears,
had hurried home, where he changed his dress, and then proceeded to the house
of Jean Watt (who had several children to him) in Libberton’s Wynd, where
he remained all night. The parties met on the Friday evening following, and
divided the booty in equal portions.
The robbery having been discovered about ten o’clock the same night it was
committed, the town was in consternation, and the police on the alert in all
directions. Brown (alias Humphry Moore), who appears to have been the
greatest villain of the whole, was at the time under sentence of transportation
for a crime committed in England ; and having seen an advertisement from the
Secretary of State’s Office, offering a reward and a pardon to any person who
should discover the robbery of Inglis and Horner’s shop, he resolved on turning
King’s evidence, foreseeing that the public prosecutor would be under the necessity
of obtaining pardon for his previous offence before he could be admitted as a
witness. Accordingly, on Friday evening, immediately after securing his dividend
at Smith‘s, he proceeded to the Procurator-Fiscal’s, and gave information,
but without at the time mentioning Brodie’s name as connected with the transaction.*
He likewise conducted the officers of justice to Salisbury Crags, where
they found a number of keys concealed under a large stone, which he said were
intended for future operations. In consequence of this, Ainslie, Smith, and his
wife and servant-maid, were all apprehended ; and, after a precognition, lodged
in prison.
Brodie, suspecting he stood on ticklish ground, fled on Sunday morning ; and
from the masterly manner in which he accomplished his escape, baffled all pursuit
for a time. On the Wednesday following, Mr. Williamson, King’s messenger
for Scotland, was despatched in search of him. He traced Brodie to Dunbar
and Newcastle, and afterwards to London ; from thence Williamson went to
In their search they had overlooked a concealed drawer in one of the desks, where, at the veri
The reason of this appears to have been an intention to procure money from Bmdie for secrecy,
time, there was €600 deposited.
as, on ascertaining that he had fled, he no longer kept silence.
