A Dark City
Delve into the dark heart of Glasgow, a city with history steeped in mystery and violence. A Dark City takes you behind the headlines to explore the city's most notorious murders - stories that shocked the nation, shattered communities and left scars that still linger. From cold blooded killers to infamous gangland slayings, we uncover the chilling details, the victims stories and the impact on Glasgow's streets.
A Dark City
Susan Newell
Glasgow's shadowy past holds few stories as haunting as that of Susan Newell, the last woman ever executed in Scotland. When 13-year-old newspaper boy John Johnston was found murdered in June 1923, few could have predicted the shocking chain of events that would follow.
What drives a desperate mother to commit murder? Born into poverty and widowed during World War I, Susan Newell's life was defined by hardship. After remarrying and settling in Coatbridge with her young daughter Janet, she found herself reportedly abandoned by her second husband, penniless and facing eviction. On that fateful June day, something inside her snapped during an interaction with young Johnston.
The aftermath proved even more disturbing than the crime itself. With her daughter in tow, Newell attempted to dispose of Johnston's body by concealing it in a go-kart and wheeling it through the streets. This macabre journey, which even included accepting a ride from an unsuspecting lorry driver, earned the case its nickname: "The Go-Kart Tragedy." Her eventual capture in Glasgow's Duke Street led to one of Scotland's most sensational murder trials.
Despite a jury's unprecedented plea for mercy, citing Newell's desperate circumstances, the legal system showed no leniency. Her execution on October 10, 1923, at Duke Street Prison marked a significant moment in Scottish legal history—she refused the traditional white hood, facing her fate with a final act of defiance. While capital punishment for men continued for decades afterward, no woman would again walk to Scotland's gallows.
This episode explores not just the brutal facts of the case, but the harsh social conditions of 1920s Glasgow that formed its backdrop. We examine how poverty, gender expectations, and an uncompromising justice system collided to create this tragic footnote in Scottish criminal history. What does Newell's case tell us about how society viewed women who committed violent crimes? And how did her execution contribute to the eventual abolition of capital punishment?
Listen now to discover the full story of Susan Newell and the complex legacy she left behind. If you're fascinated by true crime with historical significance, subscribe to A Dark City for more untold stories from Glasgow's shadowy past.
Welcome to A Dark City, the podcast that delves into the shadowy underbelly of Glasgow, a city with a storied past and a reputation for resilience. Here we uncover the chilling true stories of serious crimes that have left their mark on the city's history, from notorious gangland wars to unsolved mysteries. Join us as we explore the darker side of Glasgow and the people whose lives were forever changed by its crimes the tragic case of Susan Newell, the last woman hanged in Scotland. Susan Newell's name is etched into Scottish legal history for a grim distinction she was the last woman to face the ultimate penalty of death by hanging in the nation. Her execution in 1923 for the murder of a 13-year-old newspaper boy, john Johnston, brought to a close an era of capital punishment for women in Scotland. Newell's story is a tragic confluence of poverty, desperation, a brutal crime and the unyielding legal standards of her time, which even a jury's plea for mercy could not sway. Born Susan McAllister in 1893, newell's early life was marked by hardship. She came from a poor background, a circumstance that would shadow her throughout her life. She married and had a daughter, janet MacLeod, but was widowed when her first husband was killed in World War I. By 1923, she had remarried John Newell, an ex-serviceman, then employed as a Glasgow subway worker. The couple, along with young Janet, resided in a rented room in Newland Street in Coatbridge, just outside Glasgow. Their existence precarious and defined by poverty.
Speaker 1:The crime that would lead Susan Newell to the gallows occurred on June 20th. The crime that would lead Susan Newell to the gallows occurred on June 20th 1923. The victim was John Johnston, a local newspaper boy. The exact trigger for the murder remains somewhat opaque, though later accounts suggest Newell, in a state of extreme destitution and possibly facing eviction after allegedly being abandoned by her husband without money, may have flown into a rage. Some reports suggested the immediate catalyst was an argument when Johnston refused to give her a newspaper without payment. What is undisputed is that John Johnston was brutally strangled.
Speaker 1:The aftermath of the murder was both desperate and damning for Newell. In a grim attempt to dispose of the body, she, accompanied by her young daughter, janet, wrapped Johnston's remains and concealed them in a go-kart, a type of pram. This macabre procession through the streets earned the case the sensational nicknames the Go-Kart Tragedy and the Coatbridge Murder. Newell and Janet travelled from Coatbridge towards Glasgow even receiving a lift for a portion of the journey from an unsuspecting lorry driver. Their suspicious behaviour, particularly Newell's struggle with the unwieldy bundle, eventually drew the attention of locals upon their arrival in Duke Street, glasgow Police were alerted and followed Newell as she entered a backcourt, emerging shortly after without the go-kart. The discovery of John Johnston's body quickly led to her apprehension. Her husband, john Newell, was initially also sought by the police and surrendered himself in Harrington. However, he had a solid alibi he had been attending his brother's funeral at the time of the murder. The charges against him were subsequently dropped.
Speaker 1:The police investigation into the murder committed by Susan Newell began after the disappearance of 13-year-old John Johnston on June 20, 1923, in Coatbridge, just outside Glasgow. On June 21, 1923, the day after Johnston's disappearance, susan Newell and her daughter were observed pushing a go-kart with an unusually large and unwieldy bundle. They were seen leaving Coatbridge on the Glasgow Road and were even offered a lift by a truck driver who dropped them off in the east end of Glasgow on Duke Street. Locals in the Duke Street area became suspicious of Newell due to the bundle. Police were informed and subsequently followed Newell as she entered a back court. She emerged without the bundle, leading police to apprehend her. The bundle was then discovered, revealing the body of John Johnston. On June 22, 1923, newell was arrested and taken to the police station at Tobago Street. Police were also searching for a man in connection with the case, john Newell. Susan's husband eventually surrendered himself to the police in Haddington. A post-mortem examination of John Johnston's body was conducted at Glasgow Central Police Mortuary on June 22, 1923. It confirmed that the boy had died by strangulation. The truck driver who gave Newell and her daughter a lift came forward as a witness. Crucially, susan Newell's daughter also provided testimony against her mother, describing how the paperboy's body had been transported on a go-kart through the streets. The police investigation led to the collection of several items as evidence for the trial. These productions included photographs and plans of the crime scene, medical reports, the go-kart used to transport the body, two bed covers and a poker.
Speaker 1:On June 26, 1923, both Susan Newell and her husband John Newell appeared at Airdrie Sheriff Court where they were formally accused of murder. They both pleaded not guilty and were remanded in prison. Susan Newell's trial commenced in September 1923 at the High Court in Glasgow, presided over by Lord Alness. The prosecution's case rested heavily on circumstantial evidence and the powerful, poignant testimony of Newell's own daughter, Janet. The child described the horrific journey with the go-kart and even recounted sitting on the bundle containing Johnston's body while they were in the lorry. Forensic testimony, likely from the esteemed Professor John Glaister Sr, would have detailed the cause of death and any physical evidence linking Newell to the crime.
Speaker 1:A plea of insanity was entered on Newell's behalf, a common defence in such desperate cases. However, medical examinations found no certifiable evidence of mental instability according to the standards of the day and the plea was rejected. The jury, after a 35-minute deliberation, returned a majority verdict of guilty. Crucially, however, the foreman of the jury conveyed their unanimous and strong recommendation for mercy. They suggested that Newell had committed the crime in a moment of frenzy, overwhelmed by her dire circumstances of poverty and abandonment. Despite this plea for clemency from the very jury that convicted her and a subsequent petition to the Secretary of State for Scotland, viscount Novar, arguing for the sentence to be commuted to penal servitude on account of her gender, destitution and claims of abandonment, official mercy was not forthcoming. Viscount Novar stated he would not interfere with the due process of the law. Consequently, on the morning of October 10th 1923, susan Newell was executed by hanging at Duke Street Prison in Glasgow. Accounts from the time note that she refused the traditional white hood. Her execution was a significant event she was the first woman to be hanged in Glasgow in 70 years and, as history would record, the very last woman to be executed in Scotland.
Speaker 1:Susan Newell's case resonates beyond the brutal facts of the crime itself. It highlights the harsh social conditions and gendered desperations of the early 20th century. The jury's recommendation for mercy suggests a societal grappling with the circumstances that might drive a woman to such an act. Yet the state's unyielding stance underscored the severity with which murder was viewed, regardless of perceived mitigating factors. The death penalty for murder in Great Britain, including Scotland, was eventually abolished by the Murder Abolition of Death Penalty Act 1965, which was made permanent in 1969. Capital punishment for all crimes was effectively ended in 1998. Susan Newell's tragic end therefore stands as a sombre historical marker a final chapter in a long and often controversial history of capital punishment for women in Scotland, and a case that continues to evoke a sense of sorrow for both the young life lost and the desperate woman who took it.
Speaker 1:The police investigation led to a comprehensive trial with 70 witnesses cited, 40 of whom gave evidence on the first day alone. While John Newell presented an alibi, the police investigation and collected evidence including his wife's daughter's testimony focused the case on Susan Newell. Doctors also examined Susan Newell to assess her sanity. Doctors also examined Susan Newell to assess her sanity, finding no evidence of mental instability, the investigation relying heavily on the suspicious circumstances surrounding the body's disposal and the subsequent eyewitness accounts built. The case that led to Susan Newell, often referred to as the Go-Kart Tragedy or the Coatbridge Murder, was a highly publicised trial in Scotland in 1923. It captured significant public attention due to the gruesome nature of the crime and the fact that a woman was accused of such an act.
Speaker 1:On June 26th 1923, susan Newell and her husband, john Newell, appeared at Airdrie Sheriff Court and were formally accused of the murder of John Johnston. Both pleaded not guilty and were remanded in prison. The indictment against them included a list of 19 productions, evidence such as photographs, plans of the crime scene, medical reports, the go-kart, two bed covers and a poker. There was also a list of 17 witnesses. Doctors were involved in examining Susan Newell to assess her mental state and they found no evidence of mental instability. The trial took place at the Criminal Courthouse in Glasgow beginning on September 18th 1923, and was presided over by Lord Alniss.
Speaker 1:Initially, both Susan Newell and her husband, john Newell, were on trial for the murder. A crucial witness for the prosecution was Susan Newell's daughter, janet. She testified against her mother, describing how the paperboy's body had been wheeled through the streets on a go-kart. This testimony was highly impactful. The truck driver who gave Newell and her daughter a lift also provided evidence confirming their presence with the suspicious bundle. Professor John Glaister senior, a prominent forensic expert of the time, was a key witness for the Crown, presenting medical evidence related to John Johnston's strangulation. Both Susan and John Newell pleaded not guilty. John Newell lodged a special defence of alibi, stating he was at his brother's funeral at the time of the murder. After hearing his evidence, the Crown withdrew the charge against him and he was discharged. The defence for Susan Newell put forward a plea of insanity. However, this plea was rejected by the court based on the medical examinations that found no evidence of mental instability.
Speaker 1:As there were no direct eyewitnesses to the actual killing, the prosecution relied heavily on circumstantial evidence, including the discovery of the body with Newell, her suspicious behaviour and her daughter's testimony. The jury retired to consider their verdict After only 35 minutes. They returned with a majority verdict of guilty against Susan Newell, while one juror dissented. The foreman also indicated that the jury was unanimous in strongly recommending Mercy for Newell. Despite the recommendation for Mercy, susan Newell was sentenced to death by hanging. The date of execution was set for October 10th 1923. Susan Newell was executed by hanging at Duke Street Prison in Glasgow on October 10th 1923. She holds the grim distinction of being the last woman to be executed in Scotland. The jury's finding, though not part of the formal verdict, suggested the crime was committed in a moment of frenzy due to Newell being left without money by her husband and facing eviction. The guilty verdict against Susan Newell for the murder of John Johnston had profound and lasting consequences both for Newell personally and for the history of capital punishment in Scotland.
Speaker 1:Immediate aftermath for Susan Newell Despite the jury's strong recommendation for mercy, lord Alness, the presiding judge, had no discretion under the law at the time. The mandatory sentence for murder was death by hanging. He formally sentenced Susan Newell to be hanged by the neck until she was dead, with the execution date set for October 10th 1923. In the days leading up to her scheduled execution, efforts were made to secure a reprieve. A petition was submitted to the Secretary of State for Scotland. A reprieve A petition was submitted to the Secretary of State for Scotland, viscount Novar, pleading for the sentence to be commuted to penal servitude. The petition highlighted her gender, her destitute circumstances and the fact that her husband had abandoned her, leaving her homeless and penniless. However, the Secretary of State ultimately rejected the plea, stating he would not interfere with the course of justice.
Speaker 1:The go-kart tragedy had already generated immense public interest throughout the investigation and trial. The gruesome nature of the crime, combined with the rarity of a woman being charged with murder, ensured that the case remained at the forefront of public attention. While there wasn't a widespread public outcry to abolish capital punishment immediately after Newell's execution, her case, as the last woman to be hanged in Scotland, did contribute to the ongoing national debate about the morality and necessity of the death penalty. Her circumstances a desperate woman abandoned by her husband likely evoked a degree of sympathy even among those who supported capital punishment in principle. Susan Newell's execution marked a significant point in Scottish legal history. Her name is forever linked with the end of female capital punishment in the country, while capital punishment for men continued for several more decades in the UK. Her case became a poignant reminder of the ultimate and irreversible nature of the death penalty.
Speaker 1:The Susan Newell case has been revisited in historical accounts and true crime analyses, often serving as a case study for the social conditions of the time, the role of women in the justice system and the evolution of legal practices surrounding capital punishment. The death sentence handed down to Susan Newell and her subsequent execution in 1923 hold significant historical weight, particularly in the context of capital punishment in Scotland and the wider United Kingdom. Susan Newell's most enduring legacy is her status as the last woman to be judicially executed in Scotland. This fact alone places her case in a unique historical position. While capital punishment for men continued in Scotland and the rest of the UK for several more decades, her execution marked a de facto end to the practice for women in that specific legal jurisdiction. This is a crucial distinction, highlighting a shift in judicial and public attitudes, even if not immediately codified into law.
Speaker 1:While the jury found her guilty and a plea of insanity was rejected, the context of her crime and the jury's strong recommendation for mercy highlight the prevailing social conditions and, arguably, an implicit gender bias in how such cases were viewed. The jury's note that the crime was committed in a moment of frenzy because she was left without money by her husband and was about to be turned from her home into the street underscores the extreme poverty and lack of social safety nets for women in that era. Her desperate circumstances, though not excusing the crime, likely contributed to the jury's sympathy. Historically, society has often struggled with the concept of women committing violent crimes, especially murder. While not universally true, there was often a tendency to attribute such acts by women to madness or extreme emotional distress, rather than calculated malice. The jury's recommendation for mercy might reflect a reluctance to see a woman go to the gallows, even when the evidence pointed to guilt.
Speaker 1:While Newell's execution didn't immediately trigger the abolition of capital punishment, it became one of many high-profile cases that, over time, contributed to the growing public and political unease with the death penalty in the UK. Cases involving women, especially those like Newell who were seen as victims of their circumstances, often generated significant public debate and highlighted the perceived harshness and irrevocability of capital punishment. Each last execution last woman, last man, last for a specific crime tended to focus public attention on the practice, making it increasingly difficult for the state to carry out executions without considerable scrutiny. While not a direct cause, newell's case was a step on the road towards the eventual abolition of capital punishment in the UK in the latter half of the 20th century.
Speaker 1:The rejection of the petition for clemency, despite the jury's recommendation, powerfully illustrates the rigid nature of the law at the time. The judge had no choice but to impose the death sentence once a guilty verdict for murder was returned, regardless of mitigating circumstances or calls for mercy. This strict application of the law, even in the face of public sympathy, often fuelled arguments for legal reform and the introduction of greater judicial discretion or alternative punishments. Susan Newell's case remains a stark reminder of a more severe era of criminal justice. Her execution, occurring in a public prison but still behind closed doors, marked a period when the state exercised its ultimate power in response to serious crime. It stands as a significant, albeit sombre, landmark in the history of capital punishment in Scotland, influencing subsequent debates and reforms that ultimately led to the end of the death penalty. Thank you.