That the goods taken from Inglis & Horner’s shop were sent to Chesterfield in trunks, one of which was purchased by the declarant and another by Ainslie; that the declarant knows the places where they were purchased, and will point them out.
That the first trunk went from this by the Berwick carriers three weeks ago on Wednesday next; that the goods were removed from a cellar, in which they were originally put, in Stevenlaw’s Close, taken for the purpose, notwithstanding of what was said by the declarant in his declaration of Saturday last; that Ainslie went and brought a porter from the street, who received the goods from the declarant and Ainslie half-way or more up Burnet’s Close, where Brown and Ainslie lodged, near the bottom; that the porter had no creel, but only ropes, with which he tied the trunk upon his back; and Ainslie followed him and saw him carry and deliver it to the Berwick carrier’s quarters, for which he received sixpence.
That the second parcel of the above goods were sent under the direction of Elizabeth Scott or Sprott, at William Cowley’s, “Bird in Hand,” Chesterfield, and the reason of putting this was because the initials of her name were upon the top of the trunk; that no letter was wrote to Tasker or Murray about the last parcel of goods, as the declarant’s wife was to have left this on Saturday last, and the declarant told her he had some goods for her to dispose of at Chesterfield; but she knew nothing how the goods were obtained, and is entirely innocent of any participation or knowledge of his crimes.
Declares that Brodie brought with him to the declarant’s house, a day before, as he thinks, the Excise Office was robbed, a coil of ropes, new, which he either had in his possession or must have bought, as also a strong chissel with a brass virral, and two pieces of wax taper; that the brass chissel is, as the declarant believes, now in Brodie’s shop or house.
That the coulter with which the inner door of the Excise Office was broke open, and two iron wedges, were taken from a plough by Brown and Ainslie near to Duddingston, as they said, the Friday before; and the declarant makes no doubt but a black dog, Rodney, might be with them, which used to follow the declarant and them; that the coulter and wedges were left in the cashier’s office, and were concealed in Salisbury Crags from the time the coulter was taken away to the time the Excise Office was broke. This he declares to be truth.
And further declares that the ropes brought by Brodie, as before mentioned, are in the declarant’s house, as also a vice and files and a spring-saw, with which the declarant used to make and alter keys; that the saw the declarant got from Brodie about five or six months ago; that the declarant, before this, bought a saw, with a pair of large pincers, at a hardware shop below Peter Forrester’s, on the High Street, and the declarant inclines to think that Brodie bought his saw at the same place; that in the declarant’s drawer, along with the said saw and files, there will also be found a keyhole saw, which was bought and given to the declarant by Brodie.
This he also declares to be truth; and declares that the declaration emitted by him on Saturday last, so far as is inconsistent with the present, is not true.
George Smith.
Archd. Cockburn.
No. III.
At Edinburgh, 19th March, 1788.