BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 361
hoisted Blue Peter; while all agreed that he set the darbies and .u$les charmingly,
and that nothing was wanting to complete his full dress but a nosegay,
which he would easily procure among the Flowers of Edinburgh.” The prisoner
arrived in Glasgow on the 8th of April 1812-was committed for trial-and
while in jail offered to put the bank in possession of $1000 of their money,
which their agent in London actually procured from Mr. Harmer, who was then
Mackcoull’s solicitor.’ He also gave a bill for $400, granted by himself on
Ann Wheeler, his sister, with her endorsation. Notwithstanding this implied
admission of his guilt, he ran his letters against the King’s Advocate ; and it
being supposed that sufficient proof could not be procured to convict him
capitally, he was liberated on the 2d July 1812.
Mackcoull now returned to London, and with great activity set about cashing
his Scotch notes. Besides employing a confidential individual in the business,
he made several journeys to Scotland, buying bills on London in various
names. On the last of these expeditions, in 181 3, having been seen by Mr.
I)enovan, who then superintended the Leith Police, his motions were carefully
observed, After purchasing bills, amounting to nearly $1 000, at various banking
establishments in Edinburgh and Leith, he was again apprehended on the
5th of March, when just on the eve of sailing by one of the smacks. He was
next day examined before the Magistrates of Edinburgh ; but, from a belief
that he could not be legally prosecuted after having “run his letters” on the
former occasion, Mackcoull was again set at liberty. His bills and money,
however-with the exception of 336 (in English notes)-were retained in the
hands of Mr. Callander, the City Clerk. That he did not insist on having the
whole of the money restored to him at that time was probably owing to his
anxiety to escape.
In October 1813, while Mackcoull was confined in Newgate for a breach of
the peace, committed in the house of his wife (for at that time he was not
living with her), the Paisley Union Bank obtained possession of the bills from
the Magistrates of Edinburgh, on lodging a bond of indemnity and relief; but
it was not till 1815 that he mustered assurance enough to demand restitution.
He first wrote several letters to Mr. Callander-next came himself to Edinburgh
-called at the British Linen Company’s Office, and imperiously demanded the
bills he had purchased from them in 1813. He wrote a statement of his case
to the then Lord Advocate (Colquhoun of Killermont) ; and, failing to procure
his interference, made personal application to the Council Chambers, where
his conduct was such as to cause the city officers to turn him out.
Mackcoull first brought his case before the Sheriff Court, but not meeting
with success, he commenced a series of proceedings in the Supreme Court,
which lasted several years, and in which he had well-nigh been victorious. The
1 This snm had been deposited for the purpose by Mackcoull’s mother. As an instance of his
villany, after the death of Old Uunpowder (as he called her), he instituted a process against Mr.
Harmer, on the ground that he had no authorityfvom him for paying away the money, and was
actually successful.
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