William Brodie
(Frey)
Gently clouds were drifting through the Edinburgh skies
as the crowd, it was slowly expanding
they were waiting by the tolbooth, for a most established man who’s life was both, misterious and outstanding
His trade was the woodworks, he presided the guild a respectable craftsman, successful and skilled
he rubbed shoulders with the gentry, with Raeburn and Burns Dr. Jekyll in the daytime, but at night
his companions were whoremasters, drunkards and thieves he supported two mistresses with their five kids
he gambled with playing cards and with loaded dice transforming into Mr Hyde was the price
His profession was his guarantee to access thievishly many noble houses with impressions of the keys
he teamed up with a locksmith and then started ruthlessly a new live as a burglar – with best relations
Goldsmiths and tobacconists, banks and in one case they even stole the Edinburgh college silver mace thoroughly intoxicated by the night-time thrill their ambitions kept on growing into a baleful plan
Pursuing his way on the dark side of the town
for more than ten years, goes the deacon
fleeced down to the bone, but Brodie was not tracked down still shining in society as a beacon
He partnered up with John Brown, Andrew Ainslie and George Smith for a most spectacular enterprise that would magnify the myth
an armed raid on the excise office on the canongate
was scheduled in the early march of 1788
After breaking into the office with a coulter they had nicked
a deputy solicitor showed up with the effect
that they left the place without the chash locked up in the drawer they only looted 16 pounds then they fell apart
Free pardon was proclaimed along with a reward for anyone with helpful information
John Brown he took the bate so Brodie had to flee and took the ship to Holland in desperation
Aiming for America and heading to the port
they chased him down in Amsterdam and brought his case to court found guilty by the judge and sentenced to be hanged
he tried to bribe the hangman he had a final plan
A crowd of 40’000 awaited him outside
as he stepped up to the gallows, calm and head up high
a collar and a metal tube inserted down his throat
stopped his neck from breaking as he dangled from the rope
He may have survived and made his way to France or maybe this is just another story
outstanding not only the final public dance
of the unforgotten William Brodie
