An item of news concerning a savage murder in Newcastle appeared in newspapers around the country 270 years ago.
The Derby Mercury reported how on May 30, 1752: "About 10 at night, some company went into a public house in the Bigg Market where words arose between Ewen McDonald, a recruit in General Guise's regiment, quartered in this town, and that company. From words they came to blows which caused some of the company to leave the room. But McDonald followed them out, laid hold on one Mr Robert Parker - a cooper (barrel maker) of this town - and wickedly stabbed him in the neck in so desperate a manner that he died immediately."
At that point, the report continued, a squad of musketeers apprehended the killer, took him to the guard house, then on to Newgate Prison where he would remain until facing trial at the assizes and certain execution after the coroner's inquest delivered a verdict of 'wilful murder' on the incident.
