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Report of the trial and execution of Michael and Peter Scanlan for the murder of Margaret Maxwell on 16th February 1852 : to which is appended a short account of the cases of murder in the county of Fife for a century previous
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This publication details the brutal murder of Margaret Maxwell, a resident of Hilton of Forthar, in the parish of Kettle by two Irish labourers, Michael and Peter Scanlan. The Scanlans were lodging in the house next door to Margaret Maxwell. The motive appeared to be theft as a silver watch, an amount of money and a copy of the New Testament were stolen from Margaret Maxwell. Although the Scanlans were arrested for the murder it was felt that others had been involved and suspicions fell on the community of Irish labourers from the nearby Forthar Lime Works where the stolen watch was recovered. It then transpired that another labourer, Thomas McManus was also involved. Although he was not implicated in the murder itself he had been present when the victim was murdered. Margaret Maxwell sold oatmeal, bread and barley. She was a spinster, aged sixty-six and lived alone. She had lent some money to Peter Scanlan and there had been a dispute about his not paying back the full amount before she was murdered. Her niece, Isabella Webster, testified at the trial against the Scanlans which was held at the High Court of Justiciary. Afterwards, the prisoners were incarcerated in Cupar Prison and executed by hanging in Cupar. There is a black and white illustration depicting Margaret Maxwell's dwelling entitled 'Scene of the Kirkforthar murder: door in the centre - Margt Maxwell's' opposite the title page. The next section of the publication details the 'Trial and execution of James Hay' in Cupar in 1743 who along with an accomplice was charged with horse theft at Flisk. Hay was incarcerated in Cupar Jail and executed by hanging. In 1810, John Dandie, a former private in the Fifeshire Militia, was tried for the murder of John Howie on the turnpike road between Cupar and Colinsburgh. In the end, the jury returned a verdict of 'the libel not proven'. The final trial details the murder of Mr James Millie by John Henderson at Whinnny Park in Monimail, Fife. Mr Millie was born in circa 1783 and ran a damask weaving business founded by his grandfather. He resided at the property Whinny Park. He was murdered by John Henderson who was a native of Dunfermline and had been involved in various thefts and robberies prior to his attack on Mr Millie for whom he briefly worked as a journeyman weaver. The motive of the murder was theft. Henderson was found guilty and was executed by hanging at Cupar Jail. A newspaper article 'Execution of Michael & Peter Scanlan' has been pasted in on the blank pages at the end of the book. An additional newspaper article is pasted in on the next page 'Fife's Black Calendar: Capital Crimes from the Nineteenth Century' and is annotated as being from the' Fife Journal 29th May 1909'
Imprint:
Cupar, 1852
Collation:
36p. : bill., ; 23 cm. newspaper articles
Contents:
Kirkforthar murderTrial and execution of James HayThe murder of John HowieMurder of Mr Millie.
Dewey class:
341.1
Language:
English
Subject:
BRN:
4226801