Susan Newell

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Glasgow's shadowy past holds few stories as haunting as that of Susan Newell, the last woman ever executed in Scotland. When 13-year-old newspaper boy John Johnston was found murdered in June 1923, few could have predicted the shocking chain of events that would follow.

What drives a desperate mother to commit murder? Born into poverty and widowed during World War I, Susan Newell's life was defined by hardship. After remarrying and settling in Coatbridge with her young daughter Janet, she found herself reportedly abandoned by her second husband, penniless and facing eviction. On that fateful June day, something inside her snapped during an interaction with young Johnston.

The aftermath proved even more disturbing than the crime itself. With her daughter in tow, Newell attempted to dispose of Johnston's body by concealing it in a go-kart and wheeling it through the streets. This macabre journey, which even included accepting a ride from an unsuspecting lorry driver, earned the case its nickname: "The Go-Kart Tragedy." Her eventual capture in Glasgow's Duke Street led to one of Scotland's most sensational murder trials.

Despite a jury's unprecedented plea for mercy, citing Newell's desperate circumstances, the legal system showed no leniency. Her execution on October 10, 1923, at Duke Street Prison marked a significant moment in Scottish legal history—she refused the traditional white hood, facing her fate with a final act of defiance. While capital punishment for men continued for decades afterward, no woman would again walk to Scotland's gallows.

This episode explores not just the brutal facts of the case, but the harsh social conditions of 1920s Glasgow that formed its backdrop. We examine how poverty, gender expectations, and an uncompromising justice system collided to create this tragic footnote in Scottish criminal history. What does Newell's case tell us about how society viewed women who committed violent crimes? And how did her execution contribute to the eventual abolition of capital punishment?

Listen now to discover the full story of Susan Newell and the complex legacy she left behind. If you're fascinated by true crime with historical significance, subscribe to A Dark City for more untold stories from Glasgow's shadowy past.