EACON WILLIAM BRODIE roamed the dark dangerous streets of Edinburgh by night, frequenting hellish whorehouses, gambling dens and pubs. His companions were drunkards, whore-masters and burglars. He gambled constantly, incurring great debts.

His talents as a cabinet-maker were well known and appreciated by wealthy memebers of society who allowed a dangerous wolf in amongst the sheep. With access to impressive houses, he secretly made wax impressions of the door keys and he returned time and again, to house after house, to pilfer property, valuables and money.

On October 1st, 1788, Deacon Brodie was put to death before a crowd estimated
at over 40 thousand, for robery. It was rumored that he paid the hangman to slip
the noose around small hooks attached to a harness which would give a very vivid
impression of being hanged, but would actually do little harm...