Chapter Seven

• Author: Richard D. Schneider
• Pages: 69-70

 

Cae Svn

   consultation, which took place between ten and

eleven o’clock on Tuesday night, it was announced to Edward Drum-

mond’s family and friends “that his dissolution was at hand”– that

in fact “mortication” had already set in; all human aid would con-

sequently be of no avail. Although he had gradually been sinking the

whole of the day, the nal turn occurred about seven o’clock, when his

three brothers and sister were summoned and began their vigil at his

bedside until the end, comforted by the assurances of his doctors, who

were also with him till his last moments, that for some time previous

to his death he had been entirely free from pain.

A messenger was dispatched to convey the melancholy tidings to

Queen Victoria, whose aunt the queen dowager (widow of William

IV) had sent her messenger to Drummond’s kin with words “of pro-

found sympathy and condolence.” e Times closed its headline article

“Death of Mr. Drummond” with these words of tribute:

e unfortunate gentleman, who was in his st year, bore a most es-

timable character, and was beloved by all who had the pleasure of his

acquaintance; and it is impossible to describe the gloom which the

melancholy event has cast over the circle in which he moved.

As the press would soon report, Daniel M’Naughten, with the

death of Edward Drummond, now stood accused of murder.



   before, the Glasgow Chronicle had run a story, “e As-

sassin M’Naughten,” in which it was revealed that Daniel M’Naughten

was the illegitimate son of a Daniel M’Naughten, Sr., formerly

a wood-turner in the city of Glasgow, who was still alive, but who,