Page:Account of the trial of Captain John Porteous.pdf/4

( 4 ) fire, and upon his so firing, the said Charles Husband, at least one or other of the Persons particularly above named, or more of them, did immediately fall to the Ground, having received a mortal Wound or Wounds, whereof they soon after died, &c.

Among the Defences offered for the Pannel are these, That he was ordered to attend the Execution of Andrew Wilson, with the greatest Part of the City Guard, and to support the Executioner in the Discharge of his Office; and the Magistrates apprehending a violent Attempt to rescue the said Wilson, he had Directions given him to repel Force by Force; That to make these Directions effectual, Powder and Ball were delivered out of the Town's Magazine to the Guard the Morning of the Execution, with Directions to load their Pieces; That the Pannel with the Town Guard, accordingly attended the Execution; That when the Offender was hung up on the Gibbet, the Magistrates retir'd from the Scaffold, and repair'd to a House over-against it in the Grass-market, That after the Offender had hung for some Time, the Multitude became unruly, and began to fling Stones of great Size, and with great Violence; That some of the Guard were thereby hurt, one had his Shoulder blade broke, others were bruised, and the Timber of the Drum was beat to Pieces; That the Insolence of the Mob growing still greater, and they pressing from all Sides upon the Guard, the Pannel, who apprehended they might have intended to carry off the Criminal, who by this Time was cut down, in order to attempt the recovering him to Life, found it necessary for him to keep off the Multitude by Threats and Menaces; That to