Oscar Slater, a disreptuable German immigrant, living on the fringe of the Glaswegian underworld and off the proceeds of gambling and prostitution, was sentenced to death in 1909 for the brutal murder of Marion Gilchrist, a rich spinster who lived with a secret hoard of precious jewels hidden in her wardrobe in Edwardian Glasgow's fashionable West Princes Street. Slater, travelling with his mistress under a false name, was tracked down and arrested in New York. Extradited and tried in Edinburgh, he actually heard the gallows being erected for him, but was repreieved at the 11th hour and spent the next 18 years in the granite fortress of Peterhead prison, ceaselessly protesting his innocence. Arthur Conan Doyle, turned real-life Sherlock Holmes, eventually managed to get the unjust conviction quashed and since then, argument has raged as to who really was responsible for the murder of Marion Gilchrist. One name, that of a respectable Glasgow doctor, has been an "open secret". Accused too, was Miss Gilchrist's nephew. Neither was the true killer.

The author of this reinvestigation of the case argues that all previous theories have been based upon false information and the too-ready acceptance of recently honoured Detective Lieutenant Trench's investigations. All, he says, have got it wrong. Whittington-Egan looks again at the whole case and offers a new solution.

2001-04-11 A Book You Cant Put Down

Its a book that once started you cannot put down,I have not read a book for many years,but I have had a interest in the Oscar Slater case and read other books about the case. This book is not so much a case about who did it,but who did not,Richard Whittington-Egan has researched the case well,and shown where other writers on the subject have gone wrong,and backs it up with proof. You can see why Richard is one of our top true crime writers,he brings the past to life,and paints a picture with words,I really felt that I had been transported back to the 1900's.I dont get to much time to read,but I read this book in less than a week,I even got up at 5.20am on a friday morning to finish the book,after staying up till 12.30am on the thursday.I dont want to go over the top about this book,but I would give it ten stars,if you like a good read,you will not find a better book than this.