British Executions

William McKeown

Age: unknown

Sex: male

Crime: murder

Date Of Execution: 18 Jan 1893

Crime Location:

Execution Place: unknown

Method: hanging

Executioner: unknown

Source: http://greggmanning.scstamps.co.uk/Murder1/docm.htm

1893
January 18th: William McKEOWN
Glasgow
In October 1892, McKeown, a gardener, had been left in charge of his employer's house on Maxwell Drive, Pollokshields, Glasgow. He was joined by a sailor, Thomas McNeilly, and during the afternoon they were visited by Elizabeth Connor. When Connor was later reported missing, enquiries were made and it was discovered that she had been seen in the vicinity of the house. The police searched the garden where they found the stabbed and mutilated body buried. McKeown had fled the scene and when he was later arrested at Cardonald, he had made an attempt to cut his own throat. McNeilly was also found but he had an alibi for the time of the crime and was discharged. McKeown was tried at Glasgow Circuit Court on 28 December before Lord Adam. He pleaded guilty to culpable homicide in an attempt to escape the gallows but the jury convicted him of murder. He was hanged by James Billington.