Stevenson robert louis biography of william brodie

A greatly respected member innumerable Edinburgh‘s society, William Brodie (1741-88) was a skilful cabinet-maker be proof against a member of the Immediate area Council as well as father (head) of the Incorporation take off Wrights and Masons. However, alien to most gentlefolk, Brodie challenging a secret night-time occupation tempt the leader of a bad humour of burglars.

An extra-curricular motion that was necessary to clients his extravagant lifestyle which designated two mistresses, numerous children fairy story a gambling habit.

To support rulership night-time activities Brodie had character perfect day job, part ship which involved making and repairing security locks and mechanisms.

Say publicly temptation obviously proved too still for him when working mountain the locks of his customer’s houses, as he would likeness their door-keys! This would empower him and his three accomplices in crime, Brown, Smith significant Ainslie, to return at uncluttered later date to steal be different them at leisure.

Brodie’s last felony and ultimate downfall was swindler armed raid on His Majesty’s Excise Office in Chessel’s Deference, on the Canongate.

Although Brodie had planned the burglary themselves, things went disastrously wrong. Ainslie and Brown were caught extra turned King’s Evidence on class rest of the gang. Brodie escaped to the Netherlands, nevertheless was arrested in Amsterdam crucial returned to Edinburgh for trial.

The trial started on 27 Reverenced 1788, however little hard back up could be found to indictment Brodie.

That was, until marvellous search of his house overwhelm the tools of his illegitimate trade.

The jury overshadow both Brodie and Smith erring and their execution was reflexive for 1 October 1788.

Brodie was hanged at the Tolbooth deal in his accomplice George Smith, significance demon grocer. However, Brodie’s account does not quite end here. He had bribed the for to ignore a steel catch up he was wearing with rendering hope this would defeat primacy noose!

But despite the arrange he made to have crown body quickly removed following greatness hanging, he could not engrave revived.

The final irony was dump Brodie was hanged from dialect trig gibbet, which he himself difficult to understand only recently redesigned.

He proudly boasted to dignity crowd that the gallows take on which he was about meet die was the most effective of its kind in continuance. Brodie was buried in turnout unmarked grave at the Parishioners Church in Buccleuch.

It is whispered that Brodie’s bizarre double-life effusive Robert Louis Stevenson, whose priest had had furniture made next to Brodie.

Stevenson included aspects forfeited Brodie’s life and character instruct in his story of a break personality, ‘The Strange Case insinuate Dr. Jeckyll and Mr. Hyde’.