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Margaret McGregor

Age: unknown

Sex: female

Date: 28 Jul 1911

Place: 35 Findlay Street, Cowcaddens, Glasgow

Margaret McGregor was found dead at her house. Her son was tried for her murder but the case was found not proven.

He was charged with having beaten her, throwing her violently down and compressing her throat.

The son said that she had fallen down the stairs.

Margaret McGregor's daughter said that Margaret McGregor had lived with her son and that they would have frequent quarrels. She said that on 28 July 1911 that her brother came to her house very drunk and told her that he had not had his clothes off all night and that Margaret McGregor was lying on the floor like a filthy old beast.

She said that when she asked him what was wrong with her, asking if she was dead, her brother replied, 'Dead drunk, you mean'. He said that he also told her that he did not miss her the previous night and that if she kept on nagging him that he would have to do something.

She said that when she went to Margaret McGregor's house that she found her lying on the floor undressed and that Margaret McGregor began to cry and said that her brother asked her what she was crying about, noting that she was only plugged with drink.

At the trial Margaret McGregor's daughter said that whilst Margaret McGregor took drink that she was not often drunk and that she was a hard-working respectable woman. She added that when Margaret McGregor was sober that she hardly spoke to anyone but that when she was in drink that she spoke too much.

Several of the neighbours gave evidence of hearing thuds in Margaret McGregor's house and screaming.

The medical evidence showed that Margaret McGregor died from fracture of the skull and compression of the brain caused by violence and that the injury to her head could not have been caused by a fall unless she had been violently pushed or thrown.

However, Margaret McGregor's son said that Margaret McGregor was a confirmed drunkard and that her injuries were caused by her falling out of bed whilst drunk.

However, the jury found the charge of culpable homicide not proved. However Margaret McGregor's son was convicted of assaulting Margaret McGregor on 24 July 1911.

Margaret McGregor was also known as Margaret Ritchie.


*map pointers are rough estimates based on known location details as per Place field above.

see www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk

see National Records Of Scotland - JC26/1911/48

see Dundee Courier - Wednesday 18 October 1911