career around 1768, when he copied keys to a bank door and stole £800, then enough to maintain a household for several years. In 1786 he recruited a gang of three thieves: John Brown, a thief on the run from a seven-year sentence of transportation; George Smith of Berkshire, a locksmith who ran a grocer's shop in the Cowgate; and Andrew Ainslie, a shoemaker. By 1785 Brodie was spending his evenings gambling at a tavern on Fleshmarket Close owned by a Mr Clark. But his public reputation was high, and in the summer of 1788 he was chosen to sit on a jury in the High Court. Capture and trial The case that led to Brodie's downfall began on 5 March 1788 when he organised an armed raid on the excise office in Chessels Court on the Canongate. He had made a copy of the entry key using putty on an earlier visit, and having made a key simply unlocked the door. Brodie was accompanied by Smith, Ainslie and Brown. All were dressed in black and Brodie and Brown each carried a pair of flintlock pistols. They began around 8pm and Brodie was in high spirits and was singing The Beggars Opera. They knew that although the excise office was closed, the night watchman did not come until 10pm. On arrival at Chessels Court, Ainslie stood watch outside. The plan was disturbed by James Bonar returning to his office unexpectedly at 8.30pm. The gang escaped with only £16. Brodie hurried home, changed to more normal clothes and went to the house of his mistress, Jean Watt, on Libertons Wynd, hoping to provide an alibi. On the same night, Brown approached the authorities to claim a King's Pardon, which had been offered after a previous robbery, and gave up the names of Smith and Ainslie (initially saying nothing of Brodie's involvement). Brown also showed the authorities a cache of duplicate keys hidden under a stone at the base of Salisbury Crags. Smith and Ainslie were arrested, and the next day Brodie attempted to visit them in prison, but was refused. Realising that he had to leave Edinburgh, Brodie travelled southwards and reached Dover in 18 days, closely pursued by Williamson, a King's Messenger. There Williamson lost the trail. Brodie then backtracked to London where he stayed until 23 March. He then boarded the Leith ship Endeavour under the name of John