The life and trial of prolific murderer, Peter Manuel, was the subject of Solicitor David Pirret’s talk at a recent meeting of Largs Probus Club, and, like all good murder mysteries, it had an interesting twist in that David was a witness at Manuel’s trial in 1958 at the age of 11 years.
David gave an outline of Manuel’s early life, referring to his birth in New York in 1927 to Scottish immigrant parents and the family’s move to Lanarkshire when he was a young boy. From an early age he showed disturbing tendencies including violent behaviour, burglary, and several sexual assaults for which he served time in a borstal. His crimes escalated in the 1950s, and he began targeting women and families. In 1956 he was suspected of attacking 17-year-old Anne Kneilands on a golf course but was not charged at the time. Also that year Marion Watt, her daughter Vivienne, and sister Margaret Brown were shot by Manuel in their home in Burnside, Glasgow – the Police initially suspecting Marion’s husband William even though there was no evidence of any hostility within the family and he had been on a fishing holiday in Ardrishaig. In 1957 Manuel strangled Isobel Cooke, buried her in a field in Mount Vernon and would eventually lead officers to the burial spot.
In January 1958 Peter and Doris Smart and their 10-year-old son Michael were shot dead in their home in Jordanhill. David and Michael were close friends playing with each other daily and having sleep overs. The day before the killings David was to stay overnight with Michael, but his mother said he couldn’t as he had the dentist the following day. Over the next few days David went to Michael’s house to invite him out to play but no one answered the door even though the curtains were drawn in the morning but open in the afternoon. When the Police were informed, they found that Manuel had stayed in the house for several days, eating meals and even feeding the cat while the three bodies lay inside. David was called as a witness that he had attended at the house on several occasions; and he didn’t find his time in the witness box at all daunting, looking at it as more of an adventure.
Manuel was eventually caught after boasting about details of Isobel Cooke’s murder that only the killer could know. His arrogance and overconfidence lead to police gathering enough evidence to convict him. He went to trial in May 1958 and insisted on defending himself in court before the judge, Lord Cameron. Convicted of seven murders, Manuel was sentenced to death and hanged at Barlinnie Prison in Glasgow on 11 July 1958, aged 31.
Bill Young thanked David for his presentation on a potentially difficult subject which had been made even more interesting due to his personal involvement and had led to members reflecting on their memories of the time when “The Beast of Birkenshaw” was feared throughout Scotland.
Why not join us at our next meeting?
New members are always welcomed at the Club. If you are 50 or over, retired, or nearing retirement, (men only, I’m afraid, sorry ladies) you can attend three meetings as a guest and find out what a relaxed and friendly time we have. That’s plenty of time to decide whether to become a Club member or not. Please check out our programme and email info@largsprobus.org.uk if you wish to attend as a guest, or to enquire about joining.
Largs Probus Club will next meet in the Willowbank Hotel on Wednesday 15th October at 10am when James Robertson will speak on Gutenberg Printing.