The Virginia Gazette

Edinburgh, Dec. 20. John Young, late Serjeant in Lord Ancram's Regiment of Foot, was executed here Yesterday Afternoon, pursuant to the Sentence of the High Court of Justiciary, pronounced against him on a Remit made to that Court by the Lords of Session; before whom a full Proof was deduced of Young's having vended false Notes of the Royal Bank of Scotland, knowing them to be so forged and fabricated.

This unhappy Man had amused himself, before Trial, with the Hopes of being acquitted; and after Sentence with those of obtaining a Pardon; for which great Interest was used by the Officers of the Army, &c. though all to no Purpose; the Hurt done to publick Credit by such destructive Practices rendering it necessary that an Example should be made to deter others from committing the like in Time coming. Indeed this unfortunate Man complain'd bitterly of his hard Fate, in being made the only Sacrifice to Justice, while two others, rather more culpable than he, they being the very Engravers and Fabricators of the Notes, found Means to save themselves by immediately turning Evidences against him, who did not scruple to accuse them of Perjury, though with what Truth I cannot determine.

Young, however, on the Day, nay, at the very Time of Execution, betook himself to a very unusual Expedient to save his Life for a Time, seeing then all his Hopes of Pardon entirely baffled: The Magistrates appointed to witness the Ceremony having assembled about Two o'Clock, at the Prison Door, accompanied by the proper Officers, the Guard, and an infinite Multitude of Spectators; they, attended by two Clergymen, went up to the Prisoner, and after having read over to him the Sentence, they asked his Objections to the executing the same. Young answer'd, that he had none: But observing that the Sentence appointed the Execution to be perform'd betwixt the Hours of Two and Four in the After- noon, that suggested a Thought to him, that if he could preserve his Life 'til past Four, the Magistrates could not afterwards execute him. Accord- ingly he desired Leave to retire a short Time with the two Reverend Mi- nisters, for ghostly Consolation, which being granted, he returned with them to the Iron Room, where he had been confined since under Sen- tence; and after talking a little with them, he beg'd they would allow him to spend a few Minutes in private Devotion, which seeming reason- able they withdrew, and he usher'd the Clergymen to the outer Door of his Apartment, which shutting behind them, he retired to the inner Room, the Iron Door of which he also immediately bolted.

Soon after, the Officers of Justice, surprized at his Delay, endeavoured to open his Door, which to their great Surprize they found bolted: Then they knock'd, and desired him to come out. No, said he, in this Place I am resolv'd to defend my Life to the utmost of my Power.

On this the Door was attempted to be forced, but it, as is said, being of Iron, in vain were the most violent Endeavours used for that Purpose. This extraordinary Accident was immediately rumoured about. My Lord Provost was sent for, and accordingly appeared in Person. The City Clock was stopped; and Surprize and Expectation appeared in every Face.

A considerable Time being spent to no Purpose in forcing the Door, that Attempt was given over, and the only possible Method of getting in was found to be by breaking up the Floor of the Room over Head of the Pri- soner, which at length was, in about two Hours, effectuated; and a Pa- sage being open, a Gun was presented to him, the Prisoner, in order to terrify
They endeavoured to terrify him, and compel him to open the Door; but this did not frighten him in the least; or he said, that as he had lived so he desired to die, like a Soldier. The Fellow, however, who held the Gun, being a little remiss, Young making a Leap up, laid hold of the Muzzle, and pulled it down, threatening, upon getting Possession of the Piece, to shoot the first Man that dared to enter; but happily the Gun was unloaded, which prevented so fatal a Catastrophe. Rewards were then offered to such of the City Guard as would go down and seize him; at length after several refusing, one Fellow had the Courage to go down, whom Young welcomed with a violent Blow on the Breast from the Butt of his Gun, that laid the Soldier on the Ground. Just after three or four Men jumped in at once, and at length, after a violent Struggle, bound the unhappy Victim; who still refusing to walk, the Door was opened, and he dragged headlong down Stairs, in a most deplorable Condition. When he was brought out, he asked if it was yet Four o'Clock (as indeed it then was) but being answered, he should be hanged were it past Eight, he immediately composed himself to suffer that so much dreaded Death. Still, however, did he refuse being Accessory to his own Murder (as he was pleased to term it) by walking as usual to the Place of Execution: He was therefore forced up upon a Cart, where the Hangman, sitting by him, holding the End of the Rope, which was immediately put about his Neck, he was in this Manner dragged to the Grass Market, amidst Thousands of amazed Spectators, and there hanged by the Neck till he was dead.

This poor Man had served in the Army many Years with Reputation; he was beloved by his Officers, being never before convicted of the least Offence.

The extraordinary Manner of his Exit, the strenuous Efforts to preserve his Life, and the unhappy Success that attended them, made him an Object truly worthy of Compassion; and it is indeed doubted if so unusual a Case has occurred in the present Age.