Background
Isabella “Bell” M’Menemy was born around 1803 in County Tyrone, Ireland. She moved to Paisley, Scotland, in 1821 before settling in Glasgow, where she became acquainted with Thomas Connor and his mother through a friend. Up to this point, Bell had stayed out of trouble and had been employed at a steam loom factory. However, everything changed after she began her relationship with Thomas and his mother.
Bell had at least one conviction—for stealing a watch—for which she served a short prison sentence. She was described as a good-looking woman, approximately 23 to 25 years old, with a fair complexion and red hair.
Thomas Connor, aged 21 or 22, was also born in Tyrone. He had a criminal record dating back to his childhood. He had been banished from the County of Renfrew for stealing an anvil and a cart wheel from a smith in Mearns, and also banished from Glasgow for theft. On May 12, 1826, he was tried at the Circuit Court for robbing a man but was acquitted with a verdict of Not Proven.
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The Crime
Bell and Thomas assaulted and robbed one Mr. Alexander M’Kinnon (also reported as McKennon), who had traveled to Glasgow from Tralee to sell eggs. The crime occurred in the early hours of Tuesday, May 20, 1828. Alexander had sold his eggs the previous day and was carrying £8 in notes, £2 in silver, and some coppers.
After deciding to have a drink, Alexander met Bell in a Glasgow drinking house. They had a drink together, and Bell suggested they go to another establishment. On the way, they encountered a night watchman who spoke to Bell. As they neared the Aqueduct Bridge, they met a man Bell introduced as her brother—actually Thomas Connor.
After a brief conversation, Connor grabbed Alexander and struck him on the head with a rock, rendering him unconscious. When Alexander regained consciousness, he found his money, shoes, and the silver he had been carrying in his stocking were gone. Two policemen arrived on the scene and found a blood-stained shirt and the rock used in the assault.
Bell, Thomas, and two others were arrested and charged with the capital crime of assault and robbery.
Trial
Bell and Connor were tried at 8:00 a.m. on Wednesday, September 17, 1828, at the Circuit Court of Justiciary in Glasgow before Lord Meadowbank. Two alleged accomplices, Hugh Richardson and Charles Hill, were acquitted. Bell pleaded guilty, while Thomas pleaded not guilty.
Both were found guilty. The jury accepted Bell’s confession and convicted Thomas based on the evidence. Due to his youth, the jury recommended mercy for Thomas. Lord Meadowbank noted that Thomas should have been deterred by his previous close escape from justice.
The judge sentenced both to death, with execution set for Wednesday, October 23, between the hours of 8 and 10 in the morning. They were then taken to the New Jail to await their fate.
In Prison
Being Catholics, both Bell and Thomas were regularly visited by Bishop Scott and two other priests, Father M’Grigor and Father M’Donald. They reportedly behaved with propriety and listened to the religious counsel with seeming penitence—especially Bell, who appeared to be intelligent based on the questions she asked.
A judge’s report was sent to London for review by the King and Privy Council. Petitions for reprieve were raised on account of their ages, but these were denied. Bell reportedly wept bitterly upon learning that no reprieve would be granted.
Execution
Preparations
Bell was given a new suit of clothes by the Female Benevolent Society for her execution. Thomas also acquired suitable clothing.
Before being led out, Bell reportedly gave a moral lecture to her fellow prisoners, advising them to avoid bad company, maintain regular habits, associate with sober and industrious people, and attend church regularly. Whether this truly occurred or was a moralistic embellishment printed in contemporary broadsides is uncertain.
The Gallows
The “New Drop” gallows was erected in the square outside the New Jail, located in the Saltmarket area of Glasgow. A huge crowd gathered behind railings to witness the execution. This was the first hanging of a woman in Glasgow since Agnes M’Callum (White) was executed on May 22, 1793, for the murder of her illegitimate child.
The executioner was Thomas Young, who served in Glasgow and other locations between 1815 and 1834. At least three different printers produced broadsides claiming to provide full accounts of the crime, confessions, trial, and execution. These were sold for a penny and likely in large numbers to the crowd.
Final Moments
Bell and Thomas emerged from the New Jail around 8:00 a.m. Thomas had to be supported, while Bell reportedly showed considerable courage, though she appeared shaken by the size of the crowd when she reached the gallows. They were accompanied by prison officers, city magistrates, and at least one Catholic priest.
Psalms were sung as they exited the jail and again on the gallows. Unusually for condemned couples, they acknowledged one another, spoke, and shook hands with the officials.
The executioner, Thomas Young, prepared them both and placed white hoods over their heads. After a short moment for private prayer, the signal was given and the trap was released. Both struggled briefly before losing consciousness. Their bodies were left hanging for the customary hour before being taken down and returned to family or friends for burial.
Aftermath and Public Reaction
The next time Scotland would witness such a large execution crowd was on Wednesday, January 28, 1829, for the hanging of multiple murderer and body snatcher William Burke in Edinburgh. That crowd was estimated at between 32,000 and 40,000 people. The last public execution outside the New Jail occurred on Friday, July 28, 1865, when Edward Pritchard was hanged for murder. After that, executions were carried out within Duke Street Prison.
Comment
Prior to 1834, there were still many capital crimes, and assault and robbery often led to execution. Between 1828 and 1834, three more men were tried for this offense and hanged: William Porter and John Hill on May 12, 1830, in Glasgow, and Mannus Swinney on April 4, 1834, in Greenlaw.
The public of 1828 clearly took morbid delight in executions, especially when a woman was involved. These events were drawn out; it likely took at least 30 minutes from the time Bell and Thomas left the jail until their hanging. The singing of psalms was a common part of the ritual.
It is unusual to find at least three different broadsides printed about one case. These were akin to tabloid newspapers of their time—prone to invention, exaggerated confessions, and melodramatic last words. In some cases, broadsides were printed before a decision of reprieve was made, leading to the publication of “confessions” for people who were never executed.
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