In 1724, Maggie Dickson, a fishwife from Musselburgh, was hanged in Edinburgh’s Grassmarket after being convicted under the Concealment of Pregnancy Act.

The Remarkable Case of “Half-Hangit Maggie”

Margaret Dickson—better known as “Half-hangit Maggie”—remains one of the most unusual figures in Scottish legal and cultural history. Her story, rooted in 18th-century Edinburgh, continues to blur the line between documented fact and enduring folklore.

The Execution That Didn’t End
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In 1724, Maggie Dickson, a fish seller from Musselburgh, was convicted under the Concealment …