CAPTAIN PORTEOUS' DEATH WARRANT.

Timaru Herald, Volume L, Issue 4844, 15 May 1890, Page 3

CAPTAIN PORTEOUS' DEATH WARRANT.

A few days ago Mr Dowoll, m his rooms, 18 Goorgo atreofc, Edinburgh, oold tlio libraries of tho lnta David Grievo, Portobollo, nnd tho late Maurice Tothinn, of St. GiUhorino'a. Among t.lio books was a curious portfolio of ancient MB3, which contained, among other historical nnd legal dooumonta, tho original death warrant passed on Oaptain l'orteoue, of Heart of Mid-lothian notoriety. Tlio Tolumo was purchased by Mr John Grant, bookseller, George- IV. Bridge The documout is as fulluws : — " Iffor as muoh us by the venuo of anc azzizo Boturned against John FortooiiD, Into ono of thn lioutonanta of tho city guard of Edinburgh, pannoll, ho is found guilty of firing his gun among tho .pooplo assembled at tho placo of Elocution of Androw Wileon upon tho ffourteonth day of Aprilo last as also that he gave orders to tho Soldiers then under hie Command to firo, and upon his and their so firing, tho persons mentioned m Ibo ihdiolmont raised Agairet him tlioronnnent woro Killed and Wounded woroforo ho 13 by us tho Lord Juslico Otiirk and nornod and Adjudged to bo token from tlio Tolbooth of Edinburgh upon Wedncaduy, tho eighth day of tfopteruber, noxt to Oomo to tho Grass Morccat of Edinburgh tho Chmmiu placo of Execution of the gnid Burgh betwixt tho hours of two and four of llio Clnclt of tho aftornoon of tho Said Day, and tliero to bo hangctl by tho neck upon a Qibbot until ho bo dead. 'Xheeo therefore rcquiro tho Magietralca at Edinburgh to Sco tho forcsaicl onpitul Bentoneo oF Doalh pronounced against tho Said John Portcus put to Duo Elocution m all points as they shall bo Answernblo at their highest porill given al Kilinburgh tho Tweulioth day of July, Ouo Tlioueriiid oovon hundred nnd thirty-six yean. Aud. Vlult-Ucr ; 3a. Moo koiusin ; I). KmUino j Wo, I'ringlo j Gilb. Elliott," Tnronliro genius ii invadiug Iho pulpit. Tho Vionr of Biuton, tho Boy. W. Maxim, rcoonlly told a mooting of churchwardens ho had inrontcd a dovico to " stop jams m tho pulpit." Bovon out of every ton clergymen, prcnoh 100 long, His invention is an oxlinguijlior m wood or galvanised iron, six focL by four, which will descend on the preacher at tho cad of twonty minutes, and at onco put him out nnd his oratory. Punch proIpoecd this method umny years ago.