In this weeks Historic Crime story, we’re gonna take a look at a case of a crime that happened in the West Lothian Town of Winchburgh and the Hanging of a man from that town named Paddy Higgins. This a story not just about murder, but of Neglect, cruelty and a search for Justice that took almost a hundred years. But what happened? Why did he hang? Well, lets take a look shall we?

The Hanging of Paddy Higgins

On this day, some 113 years ago, Two young boys were found murdered and dumped in an old disused quarry just outside Winchburgh. Their father, an Ex Soldier, Paddy Higgins was subsequently found guilty of the double murder of his children and hanged by the neck in the Calton prison in Edinburgh. So, today, we are gonna take a look at this historic crime in a little more detail.

Infanticide in Winchburgh

On the morning of June the 6th, 1913, the sun was up and shining and it was another beautiful summers day ready to start when a couple of men took a walk over the fields.

Two children bound together face to face

Could have been in the pond for Two Years

Constable Ja,mes Adamson

Who was Paddy Higgins?

Troubled life. 2 sons John and 5 year old William

Staying between his isters, lodging or ruff

Strugling with kids

home too expensive

What happened to the boys?

2 ladies on train 25 shilling n went to pub ratho

The Trial of Paddy Higgins

Higgins

Hanged by the Neck

executed four months later

admission

my sentence is just, no epilepsy bt drink and neglect my religion

An uneasy funeral

Two forensic distracted police for body said in book

Home to rest

96 years after they were murdered proper funeral in 2009