Ayrshire's murky past comes back to life in new book charting infamous murders and deadly deeds

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Some of Ayrshire’s most infamous crimes have been chronicled in a new book by a retired English teacher from Prestwick.For his fourth book, titled ‘Scottish Villains and Victims,’ John Kellie sheds some light into a dark corner of the region’s past.During the 19th Century, hundreds of Scottish men and women suffered in their lives due to the actions of others.This could include highwaymen and horse thieves; poisoners and pirates; housebreakers and fire-raisers; wife-beaters and drunks.And Scottish Villains and Victims contains 23 of their most gripping stories - with many tales from Ayrshire.The book covers crimes and sufferings stretching from Dumfries in the south all the way to the far north-west Highlands, as well as most parts of the country in between.The Ayrshire Live app is available to download now.Get all the local news in your area – plus features, football news and the latest on the coronavirus crisis – at your fingertips 24/7.The free download features the latest breaking news and exclusive stories while you can customise your page with the sections that matter to you.The Ayrshire Live app is available to download now on iOS and Android.There are a number of stories in the book from Ayrshire’s murky past.The break-in and murder of a shepherd in a remote cottage at New Cumnock is related in full gory detail, as is the story of Christina Gilmour, a farmer’s daughter from Dunlop, who poisoned her farmer husband.There’s the tale of Thomas Ross, a poacher on Bargany estate, near Girvan, who murdered the gamekeeper.And we read about Robert Watt, of Saltcoats, who was the captain of a ship and what transpired after he discovered stowaways on board.At Moscow, near Kilmarnock, we also discover more about the murder