James McKay

Murderer

1known / alleged victims

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Case Facts

Gender: male
Country: United Kingdom
Location: Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom
Date of birth: 1887
Age at first offence: 39
Characteristics: parricide, dismemberment
Victim profile: His aged mother, Mrs Agnes Arbuckle
Method of murder: ???
Date(s) of murder: October 12, 1926
Years active: 1926
Date of arrest: 3 days after
Status: Executed
Executed by hanging on January 24, 1927

Case Summary

Background

James McKay was convicted of the murder of his aged mother, Mrs Agnes Arbuckle.

The offence

Parts of Mrs Agnes Arbuckle’s dismembered body were found in a sack on the banks of the River Clyde, while the other sections were discovered in a coal bunker at her Glasgow home.

Trial

McKay was sentenced by Lord Ormindale at the Glasgow Circuit Court in December 1926 after his plea of insanity was disregarded.

A witness at the trial told the court that McKay had invited him to Mrs Arbuckle’s house on 12 October to help move a heavy tin trunk. Together they moved it to McKay’s lodgings. The next day, the trunk was back at the house, only now it was considerably lighter than when it had left.

Another witness told how she saw McKay on the day that his mother had disappeared, covered in mud.

After sentence was passed, McKay called out "Cheer up" to sobbing relatives in the court as he was ushered from the dock.

Appeals

McKay’s appeal, the first in a Scottish court, was heard in Edinburgh and dismissed after the appeal court agreed with the original finding.

Outcome

McKay was hanged by Robert Baxter.

Aftermath

On January 24, 1927, McKay was executed by hanging.

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