In September 1679, the legal records of Dumfries capture the precarious circumstances of John Alexander, a resident of Kilbride in the parish of Penpoint. At this time, John was identified among a group of individuals placed on a fugitive list, a designation that typically signaled an outstanding summons to appear before the circuit court to answer charges related to witchcraft. The administrative processes of the late seventeenth century often relied upon such lists to compel the attendance of the accused, ensuring that those suspected of maleficium or diabolical association remained within the purview of the judicial system.
Despite the gravity of being named in such proceedings, the outcome for John proved to be a matter of legal negotiation rather than immediate imprisonment or execution. On September 16, 1679—the same day as the scheduled trial proceedings—the records indicate that he was released upon the provision of caution. By securing a surety, John was permitted to remain at liberty under the condition that he would answer the charges at a future date. This procedural step reflects the complex interplay between local communities, the legal authorities, and the accused, offering a rare moment of bureaucratic reprieve within the broader history of the Scottish witch trials.