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The Last Hanging at Shotts, Scotland


The Last Hanging at Shotts, Scotland
By Linus Joseph Dewald Jr., Editor
Fall 2001 and Revised 29 Aug 2001

We found a bit of Scottish history posted by Shotts History Group of Shotts, Scotland. It doesn't have anything to do with Prentices, but we think you will enjoy the article.

    The Last Execution at the Cross of Glasgow
    For Highway Robbery

    In the year l8l3, long before the introduction of the railway system, the only means of transit of goods was by coach or carriers’ carts.

    At this time the Shotts’ Iron Company had been established eleven years and were becoming famous for their iron castings, which were sent in carts to Edinburgh and Glasgow. As there were no Banks nearer than Glasgow, a trustworthy servant of the Company, James Ca1der, was in the habit of going to a Glasgow Bank once a fortnight, and. bringing- home money to pay the workmen.

    Early one morning, in the beginning of August 1813 James Calder left Shotts for Glasgow with two horses and. carts. Having delivered his goods, and. made preparations for his return journey, he went to the bank as usual, but on leaving it, he observed two men watching his movements. As he did not like their a appearance, he stood and looked at them, when they slunk away.

    When he had proceeded three or four miles on his homeward. journey he stopped to adjust a portion of the harness, and. was taking his seat on the cart, when to his surprise, he saw the same two men turn a corner of the road, about 100 yards behind him. His suspicions being now thorough1y aroused, he drove on sharply, and soon lost sight of them.

    When he came to Broomhouse, he stopped a little for refreshment. As it was nearly dark he took the precaution to take the bag with the money and put it amongst the corn in the horse-bag, and tie it securely to one of the axles of the cart.

    Shortly after resuming his journey he saw the two caracters again a short distance behind him, and he became certain their intention was robbery. James Calder was a strong, courageous man, and. he was accompanied by a plucky Bulldog, small but game to the backbone; and he said to himself as he walked alongside of his carts, with a stout cudgel in his hand, "The dog and me will be a match for you twa blackguards."

    On he went keeping a sharp lookout. it was late when he reached Bellshill, and. when he came to Holytown, everyone seemd to be in bed. The houses now were few and far between, but he still walked alongside of his horses watching intently. His horses stopped to drink, he listened but nothing seemed to brak the midnight silence. He began to think the rascals had seen he was on his guard, and had turned back. He was now through the small village of Salsburgh, and. within five miles of home. He had seen no appearance of the two men since he left Broomhouse, and he now felt certain they had tired of following him, and very likely by this time were back in Glasgow.

    Thinking all danger was now past, and feeling tired, he sat down in the first cart and took the dog beside him, He began to feel a little sleepy. The horses moved on slowly till they reached Hirst Hill, a bleak and desolate part of the road. The two robbers, who were still on the track of their victim, now stole up to the cart, and dealt the half sleeping carrier a terrible blow with a stick on the side of the head, which broke his jaw blade, and. the stick at the same time. He was soon rendered helpless and one of them rifled his pockets but got no money.

    The dog, during this time had not been idle. He sprang at the ruffians, biting the legs of one of them severely, and. they were forced to leave without finding the plunder they expected. The horses went on of their own accord and. in a short time came to Hirst Farm House, occupied by Robert Chalmers, a shrewd, industrious farmer, who was up early preparing, to go to Glasgow with his horse and cart. <'>He knew James Calder wel1 and spoke to him as usual. Getting no answer he looked into the cart and was horrified to find him covered with blood and insensible. Calder was carried into the farmhouse, restoratives applied, and he recovered so far as be able to tell what happened. His injuries received every attention, and he was removed home next day.

    The worthy farmer went off with his horse and cart to Glasgow. His spirit of indignation was roused at the conduct of the cowardly ruffians, and he pushed on hoping he might overtake them, and be the means of bringing them to justice. About three quarters of a mile from his house he came to where the scuffle had taken place. On the road he found the piece of a broken walking stick. This he lifted and hid in his bag, and went on.

    Day was beginning to break now, and in about an hour he came to Holytown Bridge. Here he saw two men sitting tired and fatigued looking. One of them was dressing his leg which seemed. to be cut and bleeding. The other had in his hand a portion of the broken stick which the farmer saw was corresponded with the piece he had found on the road. They asked if he would give them a lift on the road, as they were on tramp and tired. He told them to jump in, quite pleased with the successful turn of affairs.

    He kept quite cool, and engaged them in conversation till they were near Glasgow. Before entering the town, they, wanted to leave the cart and seemed rather uneasy but the farmer said, "Just sit still, chaps, and come into my quarters in the Gallowgate, and I’ll gie ye a dram." This seemed to allay their fears. On arriving at the Inn, where he put up, he took them into a room and ordered a half mutchkin of whiskey, He told them to help themselves as he was going out to see if his horse was unyoked, and would be back in a minute.

    He then informed the landlord what had happened and told, him to send for two constables and went back beside them. In a few minutes the constables arrived. Great was their surprise when he gave them in charge for Highway robbery. They denied this stoutly but one of them had still the large portion of the broken stick in his hand, and when the other part was brought in from the cart and when put together spliced quite neatly, they were completely non-plussed. The bitten leg was also corroborative evidence and they were lodged in jail.

    Their names were William Muir and William Mudie. Two days after this1 the Carrier’s Dog was brought to the Glasgow prison and a number of men were passed through the room where the dog was, it remained quite quiet until the two robbers were brought in when it got perfectly furious. The culprits were tried at Glasgow on the 14th of October before the Lord Justice Clerk and Lord Succoth and after a long trial during which the prisoners’ guilt was clearly established they were both sentenced to be hanged on Wednesday, 17th November 1813.

    Postscript: One of the principal witnesses was James Calder who by this time was able to be brought to Glasgow. He lived some years after but in his own words he never was the same man afterwards.  Robert Chalmers was instrumental in bringing these men to justice. &sbsp; That was the last execution at the Cross of Glasgow for Highway Robbery.

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