Accused and Persewed: Murder, Riot and Theft in Old Argyll

In the county of Argyll in the Western Highlands, the layout of communities has changed over the broad sweep of centuries. Centres of population have moved, centres of crime are now peaceful glens, but the vagaries of human nature behind so many modern crimes are also behind historic crime. Accused and Persewed tells the stories of twelve of these historic crimes; stories from the second half of the 17th century and largely untold until now. Set in the local context, and reaching out beyond the pages of the old Justice Records, the stories tell of a brutally murdered sea captain, the tragedy of a young girl's baby, the dempster hanged on his own gallows, an acquitted murderer exposed as guilty after 350 years, or the truth behind a gang of witch-fairies. Some fifteen criminals are named, lost locations pinpointed and the deeply hidden reasons behind the actions of some people involved in the crimes, and the court staff who prosecuted them are investigated. Covering locations from Drumsynie to Dalavich, Appin to Kintyre, and countless places in between, Accused and Persewed delves into the murky world of true crime and true criminals in this historic county. Be careful of your enemies in old Argyll - the gallows are waiting.