Who Killed
Mary Gunn?
Episode Summary
In this episode of Scottish Murders, Dawn covers the perplexing, unsolved 1913 murder of Mary Spear Gunn at Portencross. Drawing on Stephen Brown’s meticulously researched book, “Who Killed Mary Gunn?”, the story explores Mary’s life, her relationships, and the fateful night she was gunned down in the remote North Bank Cottage. Dawn walks listeners through the night’s chilling events, police investigations, suspects, and enduring mysteries, focusing on Stephen’s theory of the case. Was it a crime of passion, jealousy, or something more hidden? With lost evidence and rumours swirling around the small Ayrshire community, the episode unravels possible motives and suspects—leaving the question of Mary’s killer, and the roles of Andrew and Elizabeth Gibson, tantalisingly unanswered.
Join Dawn as she invites you to consider the clues and form your own theory about this haunting century-old Scottish mystery.
The Cottage Murder. | Dundee Evening Telegraph | Tuesday 21 October 1913 | British Newspaper Archive
Cup Waiting For? | Edinburgh Evening News | Tuesday 21 October 1913 | British Newspaper Archive
Old Photographs Of Portencross North Ayrshire Scotland – YouTube
File:Storm over Portencross pier – geograph.org.uk – 4532498.jpg – Wikimedia Commons
File:Coastline north of Portencross – geograph.org.uk – 7637682.jpg – Wikimedia Commons
File:The Throughlet at Portencross, looking South.JPG – Wikimedia Commons
File:The Portencross Murder – geograph.org.uk – 5138172.jpg – Wikimedia Commons
File:The Portencross Murder – Northbank Cottage – geograph.org.uk – 7374657.jpg – Wikimedia Commons
File:The Portencross Murder – Northbank Cottage – geograph.org.uk – 7706490.jpg – Wikimedia Commons
File:Coastal Path at Portencross – geograph.org.uk – 4128604.jpg – Wikimedia Commons
File:Rocky Coastline at Portencross – geograph.org.uk – 4128592.jpg – Wikimedia Commons
File:Rocky Shoreline at Portencross – geograph.org.uk – 4128589.jpg – Wikimedia Commons
File:Portencross Hamlet – geograph.org.uk – 4128593.jpg – Wikimedia Commons
File:Portencross Hamlet – panoramio.jpg – Wikimedia Commons
File:Portencross Castle – geograph.org.uk – 5307539.jpg – Wikimedia Commons
File:Cumbrae Cottage, Portencross – geograph.org.uk – 6835407.jpg – Wikimedia Commons
File:Little Cumbrae – geograph.org.uk – 7724888.jpg – Wikimedia Commons
File:Cottages at Portencross – geograph.org.uk – 5856073.jpg – Wikimedia Commons
File:Northbank Farm.JPG – Wikimedia Commons
Scottish Chronicle. | The Scots Magazine | Wednesday 01 January 1812 | British Newspaper Archive
High Court Of Justiciary. | Caledonian Mercury | Saturday 21 March 1812 | British Newspaper Archive
SPMT Roll of Honour | Scottish Police memorial Trust
Narrative | Caledonian Mercury | Saturday 02 May 1812 | British Newspaper Archive
High Court Of Justiciary. | Caledonian Mercury | Thursday 02 April 1812 | British Newspaper Archive
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