Page:Life of David Haggart who was executed at Edinburgh, 18th July, 1821 for the murder of the Dumfries jailor (2).pdf/2

 LIFE ОF DAVID HAGGART.

DAVID IIAGGART was born at a farm town, called the Golden Acre, near Cannon-mills, Edinburgh, on the 24th of June, 1800, his father was a game-keeper, but afterwards a dog-trainer. He was early put to school, when he acquired a good knowledge of English Grammar, Writing, and Arithmetic. About the age of ten, a trifling accident occured at home, which for fear of punishment from his father, determined him to leave home, and from that moment he dated the commencement of his sinful career. He had made no wick- ed acquaintance as yet, but committed several depredations by himself. The first of these was stealing a Bantam Cock from a woman at the back of the New Town, Edinburgh. Having taken a fancy to it, he offered to buy it, but the woman would not sell it; he fell on the