Page:Life of David Haggart, who was executed at Edinburgh, 18th July, 1821, for the murder of the Dumfries jailor (1).pdf/14

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and Haggart gained an opportunity to escape; he left Perth for Glasgow, and made up his mind to go to Ireland, and started in the Steam Boat; here he was recognised by the Provost of Kircaldy who went ashore at Lamlash; Haggart was ready to jump overboard, but the boat came off without the Provost; he landed in Belfast, where he attended fairs, &c. and was in continual scenes of robbing, knocking down, &c. At Drummore market he was seized and taken before a magistrate; he was asked what name he had, he answered in high Tipperara, it was John M‘Colgan, from Armagh; he was cross examined, and shewn a Dublin paper with a description of his person, &c. he denied being a Scotsman, and passed off the brogue so well that the magistrate was in doubts; but he was ordered to be detained, and three yeomen sat in the courthouse to guard him; he plied them so well with drink, that he prevailed on them to let a young woman bring him some supper and when she came, he got leave to speak with her privately behind the boxes at the court, where there is a large window; he bolted right through the window without being hurt by the fall: he crossed the street, and into an entry, where he saw his keepers below the window staring at