Witness—I am certain Mr. Brodie did not leave the room.
The Lord Advocate—Did you, on your way home, hear any clock strike or bell ring? or how do you know that it was precisely a few minutes from eight o’clock when you left Mr. Brodie?
Witness—I do not remember to have heard any clock strike or bell ring on my way home, but I had a clock in my house and a watch in my pocket. I am sure that I reached my own house within a few minutes of eight, either before or after it, and I had occasion to remark the hour from Mr. Brodie being so immediately afterwards accused of having that night broke into the Excise Office, a thing which I did not then, and which I do not yet, believe.
Jean Watt
2. Jean Watt, residenter in Libberton’s Wynd, called in and sworn.
The Lord Advocate—I wish to know from this woman whether or not she is married. (To witness)—Are you married?[20]
Witness—No; I am not married.
[The examination was then allowed to proceed.]
I am well acquainted with the prisoner, William Brodie. I remember that on Wednesday, the 5th of March last, Mr. Brodie came to my house just at the time the eight o’clock bell was ringing, and he remained in it all night, and was not out from the time he came in until a little before nine o’clock next morning. We went early to bed, about ten o’clock, as Mr. Brodie complained that night of being much indisposed with a sore throat.