Constable David MCDONALD (26)
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PC McDonald died of blood poisoning after a stab wound to his leg became infected.
On 24th May 1882 PC David McDonald of the Leith Burgh Police attempted to arrest a male for causing a disturbance at the Shore in Leith. A violent struggle ensued as the man, who had previous convictions for theft and breach of the peace, pulled a knife and struck the constable on his left leg.
PC McDonald was obviously not a man to be trifled with and put up a furious defence with his police baton. Due to the seriousness of the offence the accused was sent to the Sheriff court. When he pled guilty, the sheriff, noting some fairly substantial injuries, stated that ‘the policemen use their batons too freely’ and fined him 5 shillings or 3 days imprisonment, ignoring the fact that PC McDonald had been fighting for his very life.
Although he survived the attack, PC McDonald became ill at the beginning of June and was taken to the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary. He died on the 20th June from blood poisoning.
His attacker was again taken into custody and this time sent for trial for murder.
I’m not sure if there is any direct correlation, but it is noted that in August 1883, one Alexander Duguid appeared at the Leith Police Court for brandishing a knife at PC Norman McLean and threatening to stab him in his heart. Bailie McIntosh took a rather dimmer view than the Sheriff had and sentenced Duguid to 60 days with hard labour!
David McDonald was 26 years old and single, a native of Latheron, Caithness-shire where his parents still lived. His colleagues of the Leith Burgh Police raised a subscription for a tombstone in his memory.
PC McDonald’s name is engraved on the Scottish Police Memorial and will never be forgotten.
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