David Cameron, James Johnston, and Robert White, were charged with having conjointly attacked and robbed John Pennycuick, gardener and spirit dealer, residing in Causewayside, while in Salisbury Road, on the 6th of March last. The prisoners pled not guilty, and evidence was led which clearly sustained the charge. It appeared that they waylaid Pennycuick for the purpose of robbing him. The three prisoners, along with a fourth, who turned King’s evidence, rushed upon him from a concealed part of the road, and knocked him down, kicked him, and severely castigated him with gutta-percha life-preservers. They then rifled his pockets, obtaining only 6s 1d, and decamped. The jury returned a unanimous verdict of guilty, and the prisoners were each sentenced to ten years’ penal servitude. They left the bar, defiantly shouting—”Cheer up for Chatham; there’s nae gruel there.”

Peter M’Ginnes and Robert Reid were charged with assaulting a gentleman in a common stair leading to his house at Tollcross on the 28th January, and with robbing him of a silver watch. The police officer, named Barclay, deponed that he saw the gentleman going along Lauriston Place, in the company of the prisoners, on the night of the robbery; and suspecting their design, he secreted himself in a passage on the opposite side of the street. While there, he heard a smothered scream proceed from where the prisoners were, and a sound as of the falling of a heavy body. He then saw them rush from an entry, and take to their heels. He gave chase, but did not succeed in effecting their capture. They were afterwards recognised by M’Levy, detective officer, and apprehended. The jury found the panels guilty by a majority; and sentence was passed of six years’ penal servitude.

Caledonian Mercury, Saturday May 8 , 1858

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