The annual commemoration of anti-fascist volunteers who fought fascism in Spain now includes a key contribution from Italian comrades
Edinburgh can take great pride in an episode of its history where a murderous captain of the city guard was brought to justice by a righteous crowd — and nobody snitched to Westminster in the aftermath, writes MAT COWARD

SMUGGLING was widely seen as a victimless crime in 18th century Scotland, so when Andrew Wilson and George Robertson were tried in Edinburgh and sentenced to death, they enjoyed a good deal of public sympathy.
For one thing, the sentence was harsh for an escapade in which no-one had been killed. For another, Wilson had gained popular status for helping his pal escape during a church service.
There had been a previous escape attempt — a traditional sawing-through-the-bars job — but on that occasion Wilson, who was not a skinny man, managed to get wedged in the window, which prevented either of them getting out.



