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Placename Slochd a' Cheannaiche |
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Translation the pit of the trader. |
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Description A similar story to Eas a' cheannard. In this version two brothers from Lochaber, who were working as shepherds were said to commit murder. Again, they were accompanied by a young boy who saw the deed and attempted to escape. He was held by the brothers for some time having to join them daily as they robbed people en-route between Staffin and Portree. At night he slept between the brothers. However, one night he escaped and fled to Kensaleyre where he told the story to the parish minister. Again, this story tells of the brothers having fled by the time a search was organised. However the following accounts give accurate descriptions as to the fate of the two men who were obviously not brothers. Portree, Isle of Skye June 18th. The Lords of the Justiciery in their last circuit at Inverness, having appointed the Sentence of Death on Angus Buchanan, convict for the murder of James Orr, travelling Chapman, to be put in execution in this place, the same was accordingly done this day with the greatest decency, and without the least disturbance, at the sight of Alexander MacDonald of Kingsburgh (Factor to Lord MacDonald, Bart.) to whom it was remitted to superintend the execution; and the criminal discovered a just sense of his guilt and conviction. His accomplice suffered at Inverness. Caledonian Mercury 5th July 1742 Additionally, this extract was of a letter from the Justiciary Office in Edinburgh to Alexander MacDonald a solicitor in Portree gives this detail: 'the case to which you refer is that of Duncan MacQueen and Angus Buchanan, alias McVannan, indicted for murder and robbery before the Inverness circuit of Spring 1742. They confessed their guilt, and sentence of Death was pronounced, MacQueen to be hanged in the Gallowmuir, Inverness on 18th June 1742, and Buchanan, alias, McVannan, to be taken from the Tolbooth Inverness on 31st May and hence transported to Portree and there kept until the said 18th of June and there to be hanged by the neck by the hands of the hangman upon the gibbet until he is dead'. |
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Area Rigg |
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OS Grid Ref 5218 5745 |