John Alexander Graham

John Alexander Graham was murdered at his shop at 9 Cowgate Street, Kirkintilloch, on 2 September 1924.

A 31-year-old carriage builder at the St Rollox works was tried for his murder but acquitted at Stirling High Court.

John Graham had been a watchmaker and jeweller.

He was found dead in his back shop. He had several deep wounds on the crown of his head, the worst of which would itself have proved fatal. It was thought that he had been beaten with a hammer and an axe.

John Graham had been a cripple and unable to defend himself.

General Dealer

His body was found by a woman who had lived at Cross House, Kirkintilloch, and who carried on a business as a general dealer in a shop next door to John Graham. She said that John Graham's shop was a single one, with a kitchen at the rear, to which access was had both from the shop as well as a close that was common to both parties.

She noted that John Graham had been a widower and that since the death of his wife he had resided in the kitchen, which was a small apartment lighted by a single window.

The woman noted that on the night of 2 September 1924 that she had passed through the close at about 10.30pm and noticed John Graham's door standing slightly open and that she closed it as she went out. However, she said that she found it still locked in the morning, which was unusual as John Graham had been in the habit of opening it before she came down.

She said that she then noticed that John Graham's kitchen door was still ajar and that thinking something was amiss, she called his name, but got no response. She said that she called it again, and still got no response and then pushed open the door and saw John Graham sitting in his wicker chair with some blankets over his head and one arm hanging limp by his side.

She said that she then called a neighbour and the police were summoned.

Neighbour

The neighbour that had lived in the house above the shops belonging to John Graham said that he had been a very quiet man and that not many people came about him.

She said that on the morning of 3 September 1924 that she was called down by the general dealer and then saw John Graham sitting in his chair dead. She noted that the gas ring was burning, with a boiling pan on top of it. 

Police Constable

The police constable that came along said that John Graham had been sitting in the chair in the corner of the room on the right of the fireplace. He said that his right leg was crossed over his left and that over his head were several blankets that had evidently been taken from a camp bed in the room. He noted that there had been a pool of blood on the floor that stretched across to near the door.

He said that he first thought it to be a case of suicide, but that on seeing John Graham's battered head, he changed his mind.

He said that there had been a safe almost behind the wicker chair which was open and that a set of keys were found in the shop front, one of which fitted the safe. He said that the drawer from the safe was on the floor in the front shop as well as a tray containing some articles of jewellery.

Police Sergeant

A police sergeant said that he found an axe in a pail beside the fireplace and that in the safe there had been a sealed envelope containing £1 4s 2d. The superintendent noted that the envelope had been lying on the floor at the safe door and that he didn't think that it would have escaped the notice of anyone going through the drawer in search of money.

He also identified a piece of bone that was found on John Graham's shoulder.

He noted that there was no blood on John Graham's body or hand, but that there had been stains on the wall behind and on a calendar.

When it was pointed out to him that he had said there had been no blood on the front of John Graham's clothes, but that the medical report stated that his neck and shoulders of his clothes were saturated with blood, the police sergeant admitted that there had been blood on those places.

82 Cowgate Street

A woman that had resided at 82 Cowgate Street with another woman said that John Graham had been in the habit of getting his meals with the woman there, but that for the previous two days she had attended to John Graham's wants whilst the woman was away on holiday. She said that his last meal had been on the evening of 2 September 1924 at about 7.30pm at which time he had been in his usual health and had taken a good tea.

Last Sightings

John Graham was seen by a woman that had lived at 107 Cowgate Street talking to the carriage builder. She said that she had seen them in conversation in the street from her window at about 7.15pm and that they had stood talking together for about 15 to 20 minutes. When she was questioned she said that she thought that their conversation had been a little serious from their appearance, stating that she saw John Graham speaking and pointing with his finger. She said that the carriage builder had been facing her but that she didn't think that he had been angry.

Other witnesses said that they also saw John Graham on the evening or 2 September 1924, ranging from about 7.30pm to 9.30pm.

Other people also gave evidence as to having seen the carriage builder on the evening of the murder, and some of those that had spoken to him said that he had appeared his usual self.

John Graham's Sister

John Graham's sister, who had lived at 48 Seymour Street in Glasgow, said that she last saw John Graham alive about Christmas time 1923. When asked whether she recalled ever seeing a hammer in the kitchen, she replied that she had never seen one. 

She said that John Graham had been a reserved, quiet man that had taken a great interest in Church matters and thought that he had been careful about money.

Reverend

A Reverand that had been the minister of the Wesleyan Methodist Church in Kilsyth for some time said that both John Graham and the carriage builder had been members of the church there, but that the carriage builder had latterly ceased to take a great interest in Church matters and that his name had been removed from the membership roll in June 1924.

Carriage Builder's Landlady

The carriage builders landlady at 40 Kerr Street in Kirkintilloch, said that the carriage builder had lodged with her and had travelled daily to his work in Glasgow. She said that he had not paid regularly for his board and that at the time of his arrest he had owed her £16 13s 6d although his step-mother had paid her £8. However, she added that he had always been a gentleman in her house and that she had never seen him under the influence of drink.

She said that he went out at about 7pm on 2 September 1924 and returned around midnight, which was the usual time he returned, although she didn't see him then.

Court

The judge said that he thought that it was unlikely that the murder had been committed by a stranger, but noted that that consideration might fit a number of people in Kirkintilloch, in addition to the carriage builder. 

The pathologist that carried out the post mortem said that in his opinion death was due to shock and haemorrhage due to extensive wounds and a fracture of the skull, and that the injuries were caused by repeated blows of an instrument forcibly applied to the head. He added that from the appearance of the wounds, they were probably caused by an instrument combining a sharp edge and blunt hammer head, such as an axe and that he thought there had been eight blows struck.

It was noted that several cuts were discovered in the blood-stained blankets that were found over John Graham's head and shoulders when his body was found. He added that there had evidently been practically no struggle.

The doctor said that he had only seen two cases before of that ferocity.

He said that there might have been one or two blows before John Graham's head was covered with the blanket. The doctor suggested that John Graham might have first been stunned, but upon regaining consciousness, his assailant threw the blankets over his head and struck him again, though perhaps with a different weapon.

The carriage builder said that he had been at work on 2 September 1924, but that he had had a conversation with John Graham at about 7.15pm. He said:

He said that he had never been on anything but friendly terms with John Graham and that after 7.30pm he never saw John Graham alive. When he was then asked if he had seen him dead, he replied, 'No'.

He added that it was quite true that he had got various moneys from money-lenders, but said that an arrangement was come to whereby he was to pay off so much per week. He added that he had never had any reason to ask John Graham for money.

When he was asked whether he had anything to do with John Graham's death, he said:

It was noted that the doctor had found some blood stains in his jacket pocket, which the carriage builder said happened on the Saturday before 2 September 1924 when he separated two men that had been fighting and got a little blood on his hands. He said he wiped the blood off with a newspaper that he had in the inside breast pocket of his jacket, noting that he had not been conscious at the time of getting any blood on his clothing. 

The doctor that examined the bloodstain admitted that a cut finger put into a pocket could have accounted for the stains on his jacket. He noted that he also examined a hammer that he had been shown, on which he found no blood stains. He said that he found no blood stains on the hammer or the carriage builder's jacket, but that he discovered a stain in the inside pocket of his jacket, with very great difficulty. He added that if the hammer was the murder weapon, that he could not account for there being no blood on it.

When the carriage builder was again asked whether he was entirely innocent of the murder, he replied:

When the carriage builder was acquitted the large audience in the court cheered.