Downie, Mary, 95; provides stone, 102
dragging problem, 229–30
dram for guests, 23
dresses, history of, 201
drink, controlled, 15
Dunlop, Mr William Smith, 260; evidence on box, 178–80
Dunoon reacts at Mr Fleming, 256
Dunsmore, Janet, 20
dye evidence, 174–5
dyeing episode, 92
Dykes, Miss, 28, 30, 32, 54, 74; confirms, 240
editorial on Jessie, 268
emigration talk, 81
enquiries, official, 234
enquiry demanded to clear Fleming, 258; questioned, 258; evidence published, 260
evidence from prisoner not permitted, 119; by women, 172
expenditure, weekly, 212
Fairley, Catherine, 93, 111
feeling, local, 103
‘Female Life in Prison,’ 259
fire treatment, 229
Flemings, 17; foregather, 51, 155
Fleming, Mr John, senior, ‘Grandpa,’ 17, 18, 20, 35; alleged murderer, 12; finance, 30; in the garden, 37; supervises scrubbing, 43–4; collects rents, 46; arrested, 64; alleged call, 85; problem, 104; set free, 105; can give evidence, 105; accused in pleading, 126; attack on, 129; appearance, 131; memory, 132; pastor, 132; evidence, 133; hears squeal, 135; seeks Jess, 136–8; goes to church, 139; silverware, 140; recognises Jessie, 141; discovers body, 140; suggests path of murderer, 143; cross-examined, 144; morning activity, 144; nae milk, 144–59; challenged on Jessie, 149–50; shirts, 154–5; clothes, 158; faculties, 183; early confession, 183; villified, 191; criticised, 203; offence to Jess, 218; cleans up, 217; provoked, 218; attacks, 221; directs Jessie, 222; provoked, 223; gives silver, 223; gives money, 224; suffers, 256; possible injustice, 261; defended, 265; last of, 272–3
Fleming, Mr John, (son) evidence 129; denial of key complex, 130
Fleming, Mr John, junior, evidence, 131
Fleming, Dr Joseph, 56–7, 72, 160–1; examined, 162
floor, sooty, 238; washing, 57, 231–2, 262
footmarks, sooty, 239
footprints, 57–8, 70, 76, 166–7, 201; experiments, 77; verification, 78
Fraser, Mrs Christine, 22; certificate, 23
Fraser, name, 76
Galbraith, Mr, 117
Gemmel, Jno., 80; at Edinburgh, 104; follows Strathers, 128; present at enquiry; 251
Gibson, Mrs, 63
Gifford, Mr Adam, 121; attacks Fleming, 133; examines Dr Fleming, 162; addresses the Court, 195
Gilchrist, Mr, testifies against Fleming, 234–5
Glasgow scene, 12
gravestones, 272
Grey, Lord, instructs, 255
Grey, Sir George, 250
Grey, Mrs Samuel, takes Fleming’s child, 235
Gushet, 25
hair cut off in prison, 259
Halliday, Elizabeth, 20, 234; quotes Jessie, 234
Hamilton exhibits, 76; story, 96; investigation, 106; evidence, 177
Hart, William, 108
Hislop, Miss, alleges guilt, 269–70; condemned by press, 70
husband complex, 207–8; involved in declarations, 187
indictment, 125; evidence, 114–5
inquest, no, 64
jaw-box (sink), 70, 164
Jeffrey, Police Officer Robert, 56, 58, 69, 72, 193; the bag, 193
Jess M’Pherson, murdered, 11; family, description, 12; ill-health, 14; physique, history, 16; business, 16, 18; courted, 18; room, 26; missed, 51; discovered, 51–2; wounded, 57; bloodstained clothes, 57; debt, 91; clothes, 95, 98; burial, 102; memorial stone, 102; her story, 218; salary, 263
Jess and Jessie, 17; drinking, 253
Jessie M’Lachlan, trial dress, 11; history, 16, 20,; plan and dress, 21–2; cloak, 21, 24; arrives home, 36; dresses, 36; finance, 38; changes dress, 38–9; trunk, 40–1; poplin dress, 41; movements obscure, 61; synthesised, 61; goes to Hamilton, 62; suspected, 74–5; declarations, 79–80; declarations, 80; admissions and ordeal, 81; fabrications, 86; declaration on clothes, 87; avers return, 82–4; dresses dyed, 88; underwear, 91; case against, 104; denies Hamilton clothes, 107; in prison, 105–6; learns of Fleming’s freedom, 112; depression sets in, 113; discloses story, 114; spontaneous statement, 115–6; as victim, 118; instructed, 120; rent in arrear, 185; not in good health, 192; movements recapitulated, 197; murder reconstructed, 197; presence in house not proved, 199; Clark agrees to read statement, 206; discovers Jess, 216; gets the drink, 215; hears moaning, 216; oath to Fleming, 219, 226; anxious to get doctor, 220; capitally involved, 222; directed by Fleming, 222; Roughhead assessment, 231; arrives home, 233; ‘why’ problem, 232; sentenced, 247; hysterical, 252, 261; last story, 253, 261; in prison, 258; pestered in prison, 258; arranges for child, 259; timing difficulties, 262; bribed by Fleming, 264; last interview with Dixon, 264; confession to Mr Dixon, 266; protests innocence, 267; confession worthless, 268; emigration, 273–4; death, 274; retrospect, 274–5; difficulty of money, 263–4; released, 273
journalists differ, 124
jury, 126; deliberations, 11; remorse, 257
kerchief exhibit, 96
key complex, 53–4, 75, 82–4; denial, 129–30; evidence, 171
kitchen described, 70
Knowles, Mr Sheridan, 33–4
laudanum, 262, 265, 268, 269; dose, 253
Laurie, Mr Donald, 95, 181
Law Faculty edict, 264
light at night, 33, 58
Littlejohn, Mr, 28
lime mixer, 266–7
Lister, Professor (Lord), 234
Lord Provost acts at midnight, 255
lodgers, 14–15
Low Waters, 63, 106
Lundie, Robert, 38, 64, 74; evidence, 177
M’Allister, Mr, 47
M’Call, Assistant Superintendent Alexander, 56, 77; evidence, 168; arrests Jessie, 171; recalled, 193
M’Crone, Miss, 39, 91; evidence on dyeing, 177
M’Donald, John, 84
‘M’Donald, Mrs Mary,’ 38–9
M’Gregor, Mrs, evidence re dress, 176
M’Gregor, James, 22–3, 25
M’Intosh, Ann, 90, 271
M’Intyre, Miss, 30, 32; testifies, supports statement, 240–1; at enquiry, 251
M’Kinnon, Mrs Mary, 20; protests, 236
M’Lachlan, James, 14, 17, 79; finance, 14; character, 64–5; recovers box, 65–6; unfairly questioned, 79; alibi, 94; delivers box, 95; released, 95; betrays, 99, 100; emigrates, 271
M’Lachlan, Jessie. See Jessie.
M’Lachlan, Margaret, evidence of clothes, 181
M’Lachlin, Bernard, 72, 80
M’Lean, Allan, negatives testimony, 239–40
M’Lean sisters, 33
M’Pherson, Jess. See Jess.
M’Quarrie, Mr Donald, 34–5, 48, 190
Macdonald, Mr John, 15
Mackay, Miss, astray, 40; evidence, 40
Maclean, Mr Robert, 121
Macleod, Dr George Husband Baird, 57, 72, 77, 161; experiments, 78; evidence of report, 165
milk, nae, 46, 48
milkboy, 34–5; arrives, 223; pivotal, 118
milkman and milk-boy, 189; nae milk, 190–1
Millar, Thomas, evidence on pawning, 176
Mirrilees, Master, 63
Mitchell, Miss Elizabeth, 49
moans, 32, 55; at night, 241–2
Morton, Peter, 80
money motive, 200
motives, 200; for murder, 198
murder, date, location, 12; night of, 15; motive, 198
Mure, Mr Andrew, 121
name confusion, 16, 103
newspapers, 60, 123–4, 268; competition, 103; report, 265–6; protests, 273
Nish, 36
Pannel (accused), 125–6
pardon, conditional, 256
Paton, Daniel, 49, 158
Paton, George, 34–5, 48; evidence, 189
pawn-shop, 38, 76, 207
pawning evidence, 176; problem resolved, 224
Perth Penitentiary, 258–60
Phillips, Mr Alex., 126
plans, 205; of house, 184–5
plunder motive, 200
police not called, 154
premeditation, 210
presupposition of guilt, 118
prison, Governor of, 264, 269
prisoner’s dress, 124
Pritchard, Dr, 12, 123
Procurator-Fiscal, 80, 104
public interest in trial, 123
question, trick, 99
questioning, fast, 97
railway evidence of box, 180
Rainny, Mrs, obliges, 37
reasonable doubt, 126
reconstruction, judicial, 211
Reid, Mrs, 94; in danger, 102; evidence of box, 180–1
relic in Police Museum, 78
rents, 49; paid, 37; arrears evidence, 185
report by Drs Fleming and Macleod, 105, 162
Ritchie, Mr, 34
room described, 69
Roughead, Mr, 56, 263; records, 103–4; reports, 124; assessment, 231; comments on enquiry, 251
Sandyford Place, 17, 32; details, 25–6
scandal in Kilsyth, 235
screams at night, 241
self-accusation, 263, 272
sentence pronounced, 247; reaction among public, 248
Shaw, Mrs, at Hamilton, 89
sheets as exhibit, 90
sheriffs in attendance, 125
shirts, 169; story of, 138
Sighthill Cemetery, 102
silverware, 38–9, 64, 140, 262; pawned, 84; use of, 157
Slater, Oscar, 12
Smith, Miss, 12
Smith, Mrs Mary, 18; evidence, 191
Smith, Mr Gordon, 117
Smith, William (‘Black Will’), detective, 255, 266
spade, 144–6; enquiry for, 136–7
squeal in the night, 152–4, 179–80
Stalker, Mr John, 126
statement dilemma, 119; delayed, 190; to be read, 213–4; confirms evidence, 226–7; slight error, 229; anticipates prosecution, 231; authentication, 248
stay of execution, 250
Stewart, Mr, 46; awakens, 32; testifies, 243
Stewart, P.C., at Hamilton, 106
Stirling of Kier, Mr, 260–1
story, the last, 253
Strachan, Mr John, solicitor, 111, 122; enthuses with Dixon, 117
Strathern, Mr Sheriff Alexander, 80, 107; at Edinburgh, 104; opens trial, 127
subscription for Jessie, 248–50
summing-up begins, 206
Thompson, Sub-Inspector Audley, 66
Thomson, Audley, detective, 255, 265
Train, Mr, 53
trial, location, duration, 11; opening, 121, 126; second day, 174; third day, 182
trunk collected, 89; for clothes, 90; evidence, 177
verdict of guilty, 212
violence, evidence of, 165
Waddington, Mr, 255
Walker, Mrs, 28, 30, 32, 54–5, 74; confirms, 240–1
washing, evidence of, 163; examined, 203; the floor, 229
Watson, Dr Ebenezer, 53, 68, 160
Wilson, Mr William M’Whirter, 122; writer, 108; advises, 113; is shaken, 114; regrets non-record, 248
witness, accidentally punished, 256
wounds, 68; evidence, 160–1
‘wuddie’ (gallows), 123
Young, Sir George, brought in, 251
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Christianna Brand (1907–1988) was one of the most popular authors of the Golden Age of British mystery writing. Born in Malaya and raised in India, Brand used her experience as a salesgirl as inspiration for her first novel, Death in High Heels (1941), which she based on a fantasy of murdering an irritating coworker. The same year, she debuted her most famous character, Inspector Cockrill, whose adventures she followed until 1957. The film version of the second Cockrill mystery, Green for Danger, is considered one of the best-ever screen adaptations of a classic English mystery.
Brand also found success writing children’s fiction. Her Nurse Matilda series, about a grotesque nanny who tames ill-behaved children, was adapted for the screen in 2005 as Nanny McPhee. Brand received Edgar Award nominations for the short stories “Twist for Twist” and “Poison in the Cup,” as well as a nomination for her nonfiction work Heaven Knows Who.
All rights reserved, including without limitation the right to reproduce this book or any portion thereof in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of the publisher.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, events, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
Copyright © 1960 by Christianna Brand
Cover design by Amanda Shaffer
ISBN: 978-1-5040-3738-9
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