Welcome back to "This Day in Scottish History." I'm your host, Colin MacDonald. Today, we delve into a tale of crime, punishment, and survival—a story that has captured the imaginations of Scots for nearly three centuries. On September 2, 1724, an execution was carried out in Edinburgh that would not go as planned. This is the story of Maggie Dickson, or as she's famously known, "Half-Hangit Maggie."
Maggie Dickson was born around 1702 in Musselburgh, a town just east of Edinburgh. Little is known about her early life, but it is believed she married a fisherman from her hometown. The circumstances surrounding her departure from Musselburgh are shrouded in mystery. Some accounts suggest she fled from a violent husband, others say she was abandoned, while some even claim she ran away with a lover to the North of England. Whatever the reason, Maggie eventually found herself in the Scottish Borders, working at an inn in Kelso.
In 1723, Maggie became pregnant after a brief affair, possibly with the innkeeper's son. Concealing her pregnancy, Maggie gave birth prematurely. The baby, however, did not survive—whether it was stillborn or died shortly after birth remains unclear. Desperate and terrified, Maggie attempted to dispose of the body near the banks of the River Tweed. This act led to her arrest and subsequent transport to Edinburgh for trial.
Maggie's trial was a grim affair. She was charged, either under the Concealment of Birth Act or, more likely, for the murder of her child. The evidence against her was shaky at best, with conflicting testimonies about whether the child was born alive. Nevertheless, Maggie was found guilty and sentenced to death by hanging.
On September 2, 1724, the day of her execution, Maggie was led to the Grassmarket in Edinburgh, a place notorious for public hangings. A crowd gathered to witness her fate, as was customary for such grim spectacles. Maggie was hanged, and by all accounts, appeared to be dead. Her body was taken down and prepared for transport back to Musselburgh, where her friends and family intended to give her a proper burial.
But here's where the story takes an extraordinary turn. As Maggie's coffin was being transported, it was noticed that the lid began to move. Some say her family heard a faint knocking from within. When they opened the coffin, they found Maggie alive, having survived the hangman’s noose with little more than a sore neck.
Chaos ensued. There were calls for Maggie to be hanged again, but a quick-thinking lawyer intervened, arguing that Maggie had already been executed as per her sentence. To hang her again would constitute "double jeopardy," a legal principle preventing someone from being tried or punished twice for the same offense. Additionally, some viewed her survival as an act of divine intervention—a sign that her life was meant to be spared.
Whatever the reason, Maggie was free to go. Her remarkable survival earned her the nickname "Half-Hangit Maggie," and she became something of a local legend. Many speculated about how she managed to survive. Some believed it was sheer luck or fate. Others suggested Maggie had struck a deal with the rope maker, ensuring the rope would break early. Regardless of the truth, Maggie’s story captured the public's imagination.
Following her near-execution, Maggie returned to East Lothian, where she lived a relatively quiet life for another 40 years. Her tale, however, was far from forgotten. Today, Maggie Dickson is commemorated in Edinburgh by Maggie Dickson's Pub, located near the very spot where she was hanged. The pub, overlooking the Grassmarket, is a constant reminder of one of the most astonishing episodes in Edinburgh’s criminal history.
Maggie’s story is a complex one, filled with tragedy, resilience, and mystery. Over the years, it has been told and retold, each time with a new twist, reflecting the changing values and beliefs of society. Was Maggie a victim of harsh justice, a cunning survivor, or simply a woman caught in the wrong place at the wrong time? The answer may never be clear, but her legacy as "Half-Hangit Maggie" lives on, a vivid reminder of Scotland's tumultuous past.
Thank you for joining us on this journey through history. Tune in tomorrow for another enlightening episode of "This Day in Scottish History." I'm Colin MacDonald, Haste Ye Back!
September 2, 1724 - The Tale of Half-Hangit Maggie