evidence in the trial, says: "There is one Alan Stewart, a distant

friend of the late Ardshiel's, who is in the French service, and came

over in March last, as he said to some, in order to settle at home; to

others, that he was to go soon back; and was, as I hear, the day that

the murder was committed, seen not far from the place where it happened,

and is not now to be seen; by which it is believed he was the actor. He

is a desperate foolish fellow; and if he is guilty, came to the country

for that very purpose. He is a tall, pock-pitted lad, very black hair,

and wore a blue coat and metal buttons, an old red vest, and breeches of

the same colour." A second witness testified to having seen him wearing

"a blue coat with silver buttons, a red waistcoat, black shag breeches,

tartan hose, and a feathered hat, with a big coat, dun coloured," a

costume referred to by one of the counsel as "French cloathes which were

remarkable."

There are many incidents given in the trial that point to Alan's fiery

spirit and Highland quickness to take offence. One witness "declared

also That the said Alan Breck threatened that he would challenge

Ballieveolan and his sons to fight because of his removing the

declarant last year from Glenduror." On another page: "Duncan Campbell,

change-keeper at Annat, aged thirty-five years, married, witness cited,

sworn, purged and examined ut supra, depones, That, in the month of

April last, the deponent met with Alan Breck Stewart, with whom he was

not acquainted, and John Stewart, in Auchnacoan, in the house of the

walk miller of Auchofragan, and went on with them to the house: Alan

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