David Johnston, a thirty-six-year-old collier residing in Newton, near Edinburgh, was drawn into the Scottish judicial system in the summer of 1661. His legal entanglement began with a confession recorded on July 11, in which he claimed to have entered into a pact with the Devil thirteen years prior. According to his account, this encounter occurred while he was engaged in his daily labor, transporting coal to Edinburgh. As the case progressed, David was further implicated by William King, Walter Cowan, and Margaret Daillis, the latter two of whom were identified as his accomplices in attending witches’ meetings.
The judicial proceedings against David moved with remarkable speed. By July 28, while held in the Tolbooth, he briefly retracted his earlier admissions; however, this reversal was short-lived, as he provided a final confession the following day. His trial on July 29, 1661, was a significant event, attended by the central justiciary and documented in the Books of Adjournal. Despite the use of haircloth—a form of sensory discomfort often employed during interrogation—David was found guilty of the charges. The sentence was carried out with haste; on July 30, he was executed by being strangled and burned.
