Robert White

342

Maureen Withey on 3rd November 2025

Robert White, James Edgar, and Andrew Clephane, accused of breaking into the shop of Michael Bogle M'Farlane, haberdasher, Hutchinson Street, Glasgow and stealing therefrom a great quantity of silk shawls and handkerchiefs, lace squares, and other goods to the value of £60, aggravated by their being habit and repute thieves. White and Clephane pleaded not guilty, and Edgar, in whose case the libel was restricted, pleaded guilty to the charges of theft, and habit and repute a thief. After hearing evidence, the jury, without leaving the box, returned their verdict finding Edgar guilty, in terms of his own confession; White guilty of housebreaking and theft; and Clephane  guilty of resetting the goods libelled. After receiving excellent addresses the prisoners were sentenced to the following punishments: Edgar and Clephane to fourteen years transportation; and White to be hanged on Wednesday the 1st Nov. next. The Scots Magazine, 1 Oct 1815. Yesterday morning, a respite, for ten days, was received for Robert White, convicted at the last Glasgow Circuit Court of housebreaking and , theft, and who was to have been executed on Wednesday  next. Caledonian Mercury, 28 Oct 1815. Monday morning, Andrew Clephane, Robert Whyte, James Edgar, William Brash, James Muir, David Gillespie, James Aikman, Collin Telfer, William Gray, and Ewin Scott, from Glasgow,  and James Bird, alias Birds, alias Bridges, alias Barrage, alias Slater, from Ayr, were sent off from Glasgow jail, under a proper escort, at half past six o'clock, for the hulks. As the coach passed the north corner of the jail, Edgar, having drawn his hand from the hand-cuff to which he was joined to other prisoners, got from the coach, by going out at the window, and attempted to escape, which design the darkness of the morning favoured very much ; but Mr Stewart, one of the constables, discovered him, and, attempting to seize him, -was knocked down. He was, however, secured by Captain Brown, of the late horse' patrol, and, sent off after  the other convicts in a post chaise shortly afterwards. They were lodged in Edinburgh jail the same evening; and next day they were forwarded, in irons, to Leith, for embarkation. Caledonian Mercury, 7 Dec 1815.

338

Penny-Lyn Beale on 27th November 2024

Scottish Indexes Crown Office Precognitions Title Precognition against James Edgar, Mary Bruce, Robert White, Andrew Clephane, William Gray Year 1815 NRS Reference AD14/15/54 Accused Name and Designation Age Birthplace Crime Crime Location *** Andrew Clephane, travelling jewellery dealer, formerly silversmith and formerly publican, Gorbals or Saltmarket, Glasgow, Lanarkshire 44 Theft by housebreaking, and reset of theft *** James Edgar, Prisoner in Glasgow, formerly no fixed abode 15 Theft by housebreaking, and reset of theft Mary Bruce (m.s. Bennet), public house keeper, unlicensed (wife of William Bruce, soldier in the Royal Artillery), Saltmarket, Glasgow, Lanarkshire Theft by housebreaking, and reset of theft *** ROBERT WHITE, rope spinner, Glasgow, Lanarkshire and Stirling, Stirlingshire 18 Theft by housebreaking, and reset of theft *** William Gray, packman, Glasgow, Lanarkshire Theft by housebreaking, and reset of theft https://www.scottishindexes.com/adentry.aspx?adid=815054