The Janet Rogers Murder
Episode Summary
In March 1866, Janet Rogers had gone to her brother’s farm to help him out for a while. Two days after her arrival, Janet was found savagely and brutally murdered.
Please Be Advised – This episode may contain content that some may find distressing. As always, we advise listener discretion. This episode it not suitable for anyone under the age of 13.
Listen on:
Murder most foul: 1866 Perthshire murder axe slaying remains unsolved – The Courier
Solving a murder in the family – BBC News
New examination of 150-year-old unsolved Perthshire murder – BBC News
PressReader.com – Your favorite newspapers and magazines.
rinderpest virus in 19th century – Bing
Scotland’s Inventions | Scotland.org
Forgandenny, a Place in History | Home
Murder most foul: 1866 Perthshire murder axe slaying remains unsolved – Evening Exp
The Mount Stewart Murder
by Chris Paton
Synopsis
In March 1866, Janet Rogers travelled to the Perthshire-based farm of her brother, William Henderson, to help with chores while he looked for a new domestic servant. Three days later she was found dead in the farm kitchen, killed by multiple blows from an axe. Ploughman James Crichton was suspected of the atrocity, and after a lengthy investigation was arrested and tried in Perth, with the case duly found non-proven.
Was Crichton the guilty party? If not, why did William Henderson try to frame him? Why was the previous servant on the farm sacked, and why did she wait eight months to accuse Crichton of being responsible? And what led to Henderson being driven insane, ultimately to end his days in a Perthshire lunatic asylum?
The murder investigation remains the UK’s oldest unsolved murder case. Just who was the killer at Mount Stewart Farm?
Scottish Murders is a production of Cluarantonn
Hosted by Dawn and Cole
Researched and Written by Dawn Young
Produced and Edited by Dawn Young and Peter Bull
Production Company Name by Granny Robertson
Music:
Dawn of the Fairies by Derek & Brandon Fiechter
Gothic Wedding by Derek & Brandon Fiechter
I just finished listening to your podcast about Janet Rogers murder – I have a question. Maybe I missed it and may have to listen again. Did the police ever question Crichton’s wife?
Thanks so much for getting in touch. I am surprised Cole didn’t pick up on the fact that I hadn’t mentioned this, she usually does pick up on the odd things haha. In the Mount Stewart Murder book it told of what had been said to police by Crichton’s son James, by Christina Miller (Mrs Crichton’s cousin) by Crichton’s next door neighbours (James Barlas, Jean and their son Robert) and William Henderson, but not one thing that had been said to police by Mrs Martha Crichton. The book said at one point that the police had attended the Crichtons’ home but had asked Martha and Christina to leave the house while they spoke to Crichton alone. I’m sure they would have spoken to her at some point, but I can only think that this information has been lost. Such a good question, sorry I didn’t acknowledge it in the episode.
Thanks again for getting in touch, always great to hear from a listener, and hope I answered your question.
Dawn
I just listened to the podcast for Janet’s murder today whilst at work! The longer the story, the better, in my opinion! These older cases are wonderful. A real step-by-step Sherlock Holmes kind of vibe with the absence of modern forensics. I also have a question though it seems rather silly. Did the police ever have Betsy take a look at Crichton? It’s understood that her sight was failing her, but was she never called on to take a look at Crichton, perhaps at a similar distance and angle away to see if HE was who she saw, if she even truly saw anyone?
Hello Beverly, thanks so much for your message. It’s definitely not a silly question, it’s something I didn’t cover in the episode but was in the Mount Stewart Murder book, there really was so much more in the book that I just couldn’t fit into the episode. The Mount Stewart Murder book says that William Henderson went to speak to Betsy at her home in Perth after she had given the description to the police of the man she had seen talking to Janet at the door, before saying that she wasn’t sure anymore because of her eyesight. According to Betsy, William Henderson had pressed her that maybe it had been Crichton she had seen instead that day, but Betsy had denied the possibility of this to William. So, I can only assume that either Betsy already knew of Crichton and knew that it wasn’t him she had seen, or she had been asked at some point to rule Crichton out, either way she definitely said that it wasn’t him she had seen at the door that day speaking to Janet. I hope that answers your question. If you have any more, let me know. I really enjoyed covering this case too, so different to how murders are approached now.