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Adam Lyal (deceased) is a role played by the guides of the Cadies and Witchery Tours. He was a genuine historical figure, whose life and death are recorded in the court records in Edinburgh's Signet Libraryhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Signet_Library.

History

Adam Lyal began his life in Edinburgh, in 1785. Little is known about his early years (though being born poor, they were unlikely to have been happy), and the first record of his being employed comes in 1802, when he entered the service of Sir Campbell. Bad health (or laziness) forced him to leave this job and move to Stirling, where there is no record of him having worked either.

In 1805, Adam entered the service of Colonel Dallison of the First Foot Guards, as a personal servant rather than a soldier. Apparently this work suited him, as he remained in this position for over 4 years, spending time in the West Indies and Spain. Unfortunately, the Colonel died on his return to Scotland in 1809, and Adam was forced to move on. He joined the Edinburgh Militia shortly thereafter, but deserted within a year.<ref>SRO - JC26/352 Declaration of Adam Lyal – 27th October 1810</ref>

It is only in 1810 that the details of Adam Lyal’s life became of interest to the authorities, and recorded in more detail. Late in that year Adam travelled to Glasgow and met with his brother John. The two agreed to return to Edinburgh in search of work, and arrived in the Grassmarket on the 22nd of October. They left the next day for Fife, but before leaving Adam purchased two pistols in the Lawnmarket for 35 shillings. He also purchased a barrel key, two flints, five lead bullets and a single blade penknife.<ref>SRO - JC26/358 Declaration of John Lyal – 27th October 1810</ref>

The two brothers claimed later that they had been travelling to Cuparhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cupar, to find work at a new distillery opening there. On the 24th of October, they stayed at a guest house in Ministry, where they stole a quantity of cloth. They committed a number of other petty thefts during their stay in Fife, but their biggest crime was carried out on the 25th of October at mid-day.

On the public road between Stirlinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stirling and Blackford http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackford,_Perthshire, Adam and John Lyal confronted a merchant named Matthew Boyd. The two both pointed their pistols at him and Adam demanded that he turn over his pocket book, or any other valuables he had upon him, threatening to “blow his brains if the whole were not delivered.”

Boyd handed over 126 pounds and 9 shillings. The Lyal brothers had arrived in Fife with only 15 or 16 shillings between them, and now they were rich. They fled the scene and walked to Alloa, where the apparent success of their crime seems to have gone to their heads, for they made no effort to conceal themselves. The pair took a chaise through the length of Queensferry, and then a second into Edinburgh. When they arrived back in the Grassmarket, it was to the Shaws Hotel on Princes Street that they retired for the night, obviously convinced of their safe escape.<ref>SRO - JC26/358 Declaration of John Lyal – 26th October 1810</ref>

In the morning, they went out and spent some of their ill-gotten gains. John purchased new spurs and leathers for 12 shillings, and Adam bought himself a new pair of boots for 2 pounds and 8 shillings. He barely had time to enjoy them, since the pair were arrested on their return to the hotel at 9am on the 26th of October. Their criminal career had lasted only 4 days. John was found in possession of both the pistols and a snuffbox containing gunpowder. Having made a full confession, the two were placed in the Tolbooth prison.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tolbooth to await trial.<ref>SRO - JC26/358 Small Papers (Main Series) High Court Indictment – 15 June 1812</ref>

Their trial began on the 3rd of January 1811. Despite having made a confession earlier, Adam plead not guilty to the indictment. John stood silent. John’s advocate claimed that he was “not a fit object for trial” owing to his “idiocy”, and produced witnesses to confirm this, including the Tolbooth Gaoler. The Judge concurred, and John was returned to the Tolbooth.<ref>High Court of Justiciary – Minute Book Scottish Record Office - JC8/8</ref> Adam Lyal stood trial alone. Within the day he was found guilty, and sentence was deferred until the 12th of February.

On the 12th, Adam stood in the dock as the Judge donned his black cap and pronounced his sentence. He ordered that Adam Lyal be “detained until Wednesday the 27th March", and on that day be taken to a place chosen by the Magistrates of Edinburgh as " a common place of Execution and then and there between the hours of two and four o'clock afternoon to be hanged by the neck by the hands of the Common Executioner upon a Gibbet until he be dead”.<ref>High Court of Justiciary – Minute Book Scottish Record Office - JC8/8</ref>

On Wednesday the 27th of March 1811, Adam Lyal was hanged as a highwayman in the Grassmarket of Edinburgh. He was 26 years old. Brief mentions of his execution were made in the Scotsman and Edinburgh Courant newspapers, but his crimes brought him little notoriety. John Lyal was later tried in 1812 and found guilty, but because of the length of time elapsed since the crime, and the execution of his brother as the leader of the two, the court sentenced him to be “transported” to Australia for the rest of his life. He was eventually carried from the country on the clipper Earl Spencer, in May of 1813.<ref>Convict Transportation Registers SRO – Microfilm: RH4/160/1&7</ref>

Then, a mere 174 years later, a young caterer and erstwhile footballer hoping to start up a ghost tour company leafed through a stack of court records, looking for a suitable character to lead his evening walks. That man was Robin Mitchell, and the rest is history…

Current Location

Today, Adam Lyal (deceased) leads the world-famous Murder & Mystery Tour for the Cadies and Witchery Tours. He can be seen nightly walking the streets of the Old Town in Edinburgh, accompanied by Mad Monks from the Cowgate, witches from the Lawnmarket and William Burke's skeleton.

Politics

Adam Lyal (deceased) is standing as a candidate in the Scottish Parliamentary Elections, to be held on May 3rd 2007. His policies range from campaigning for the minimum wage for MSPs, to sending MSPs out on work placement to help them see what the real world is like. If elected he'll donate his annual salary above the minimum wage to three local charities of his choice.

External links

http://www.witcherytours.com

http://www.myspace.com/adamlyal

References

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