One of Edinburgh's finest townhouses, Blackhall, in Craig's Close, was the scene of a murder in 1535. Alison Rough, a very wealthy woman indeed, murdered her daughter Kathrine's husband, Alexander Cant. Alison was a property invester and money lender. Her first husband, Jasper, a merchant and lawyer, was killed during the Battle of Flodden in 1513. She went on to remarry, to a man named Thomas Loranstoun, but was later granted a divorce and became a single mother, supporting her children on her own for the next twenty years.

Katherine married Alexander, a wealthy twice widowed merchant, far older than herself. Alison had put together a large dowry to attract the merchant. She saw him as a very good catch indeed for her daughter, as he owned several properties himself, including Blackhall. It seems though that the dowry of 400 marks (about £250, a huge amount then) was never paid, as it's recorded that Alexander was pursuing Alison through the court for it. Feelings ran high and one night an arguement broke out between the three, and Alison killed Alexander.

Alison and Katherine were condemned to death. Alison escaped and went on the run, but was caught within a year and drowned in the Nor' Loch (it being illegal at the time to hang women for murder). Katherine's execution was delayed so that she could give birth to the baby she was carrying, and then she too escaped, leaving the baby girl behind in Edinburgh with her brother. Katherine made it to England, where she met and married a Protestant refugee from Scotland, Alexander Allen, and the pair of them made a life for themselves in Germany. At some point in the 1560's, Katherine granted property to the child she had left behind 30 years ago. Craig's Close and Blackhall can be seen today. They're next to Mary King's Close underneath the City Chambers.