William Beatson

341

Maureen Withey on 17th January 2024

Edinburgh News. William Beatson, David Beatson, junior, Neil.son Forhsyth, and Robert Kay, were placed at the bar, charged with assaulting, stabbing, and wounding Thomas Newbigging, James Newbigging, Daniel Cormack, and Roderic M'Lennan, and also charged with robbing the two former of their hats, ' handkerchief, and 1s. 6d. in silver, on the morning of the 1st of January last- to all of which the prisoners pleaded Not Guilty. Thomas Newbigging being sworn, deposed, that he passed down Leith Wynd on the morning of the 1st of January, along with his brother James and Daniel Cormack ; when passing along Dallas Street six or eight persons crossed from the railing of the old Physic Garden, and came round them, shook their hands, wished  them a happy new year, and then began shoving them about. He desired them to keep back : he was asked for his watch, and he felt a hand at his fob, but he had not his watch with him! One of the persons attacked his brother, who cried out he was robbed. William. Beatson was that person.- he lost his hat, in which was a cotton handkerchief, but cannot say if it was knocked off or taken ; he looked about, but did not see it, and the men ran off'; he pursued, and at the east gate of Lady Glenorchy's church seized Kay, who resisted, and held him for ten. minutes; the others came up and[ surrounded him, and made several blows at him, from which he defended himself as well as he could with his back to the wall, still keeping hold of Kay, whom he dragged round the corner towards the Physic Garden,, where he was struck with a sharp instrument in the hand, and received a stab in the neck. He called out that the villains had struck him With a knife ; he saw William Beaston withdraw his hand, and run off; witness let go Kay, and pursued Beatson up Leith Wynd, where he knocked him down. At this moment his brother came up and exclaimed Oh, brother, I have lost my hand ! Witness said that was impossible, and his brother replied that he had lost the use of it. Witness was afraid to look at the hand, from the state it was in. His brother and he had been tasting spirits, but were perfectly sober.- David Beaston put his hand into Witness's right band waistcoat pocket, but there was nothing in it. Is certain be of the identity of the Beatsons- and Kay, but has no knowledge of Forsyth. James Newbigging corroborated his brother's testimony as to the commencement of the assault,.in which he said he lost his hat, handkerchief, and 1s. 6d.- …. Caledonian Mercury, 20 July 1822.

338

Penny-Lyn Beale on 24th May 2021

1830 - New South Wales and Tasmania, Australia Convict Musters, Tasmania. Year; 1830 No; 630 Name; David Beatson. Ship arrived by; Competitor To whom assigned/Occupation; MISSING 1835 - New South Wales and Tasmania, Australia Convict Musters, Tasmania. 1835 Remarks; TICKET OF LEAVE