A Fatal Friendship: Grace Hamilton's Final Act
The Last Days of
A Fatal Friendship:
Grace Hamilton's Final Act
Episode Summary
Trigger warning – This episode covers the topic of suicide.
In this episode, we go back to Glasgow in 1883 and explore the tragic murder of 22-year-old Grace Hamilton, a rising theatrical star. The episode looks at the relationship between Grace, whose real name was Janet Russell, and Galbraith Macpherson, a well-connected gentleman from Glasgow. As jealousy and mental instability intertwine, the narrative unfolds with Galbraith’s violent outburst leading to a shocking murder-suicide. The episode also touches on similar historical crimes in the area, providing a broader context of the period’s societal issues. With detailed accounts from historical newspapers, a picture is painted of the events of December 1833 and the aftermath, offering a poignant look at a historical crime.
Episode Summary
Scotland Then: From Gunpowder Scares to Scotland’s Stormy Past
In this episode listeners are transported back to December 1883, exploring captivating stories from the past. The episode highlights festive preparations with adverts for Christmas sales, a near-disaster at Oban railway station involving gunpowder, and a devastating gale that wreaked havoc across Scotland. Dawn recounts tales of unexpected inheritances, innovative uses of melon seeds, and a series of tragic accidents, including a shooting mishap and fatal incidents involving trains and coal pits. The episode concludes with a light-hearted poem and an invitation to explore historical archives. This engaging journey through history offers a vivid glimpse into the events and lives of 19th-century Scotland.
Murder Of A Pantomime Artist. | The Era | Saturday 15 December 1883 | British Newspaper Archive
Murder and Suicide. | Alloa Circular | Wednesday 12 December 1883 | British Newspaper Archive
Murders. | Manchester Times | Saturday 15 December 1883 | British Newspaper Archive
The Gilfillan Case. | Dundee Courier | Friday 26 April 1878 | British Newspaper Archive
Millport, Great Cumbrae – Wikipedia
BBC – A History of the World – Object : Grand Theatre and Opera House, Glasgow
Oban railway station – Wikipedia
Tay Bridge disaster – Wikipedia
Scottish Murders is a production of Cluarantonn
Hosted by Dawn
Researched and Written by Dawn Young
Edited and Produced by Erin Ferguson – instagram.com/erinfergus0n/
Production Company Name by Granny Robertson
Intro and Outro Music:
ES_Battle of Aonach Mor – Deskant epidemicsound
SHOW:
Support Us: ko-fi.com/scottishmurders
Patreon – patreon.com/scottishmurders
Scottish Murders Merch – teepublic.com/user/scottishmurders
Scottish Digest Merch – teepublic.com/user/scotishdigest
Website – scottishmurders.com
Twitter – @scottishmurders
Instagram – @scottishmurderspodcast
Facebook – facebook.com/scottishmurdurs
YouTube – @ScottishMurders
Linktree – linktr.ee/scottishmurders
Scottish Murders is a member of the Darkcast Network