Tragedy at a Scottish Public House, 1755
“London. The following melancholy Affair happened lately at Annan* in Scotland. A Party of Soldiers having gone to assist the Custom-house Officers in making a Seizure of some prohibited Goods that they had been informed were in that Neighbourhood, on their Return, halted at a Publick House, with one of the Smugglers whom they had taken Prisoner, in order to refresh themselves. The Woman of the House pitying the Prisoner, whom they had shut up in another Room, begged Leave to give him a Dram, which they consenting to, she cut the Cords he was tied with, and set him free. The Soldiers immediately pursued, and the Woman unfortunately stepping in the Way, one of them, in firing after the Prisoner, killed her dead on the Spot. This melancholy Accident put a Stop to the Pursuit, and the Man got clear off. What makes it still more lamentable, the Woman was Big with Child at the Time. The Soldier was immediately secured.”
The London Evening-Post, January 14, 1755.
*The town of Annan is situated on the River Annan, nearly 2 miles from its mouth, 15 miles from Dumfries, in the region of Dumfries and Galloway on the Solway Firth in the south of Scotland.
Posted in Scotland, crime, smuggling |
