Procurator Fiscal's records?

[Jeremy Knowles]

I am currently researching my family history and my grandfather had a wife who died in 1934, having been knocked down by a bus in Glasgow. Her death register (via ScotlandsPeople) shows an RCE which is signed by the Procurator Fiscal (looks like Hugh L Fendall).

I've found an article in "The Scotsman" describing the incident just after it happened, but nothing else.

Is it possible to obtain a copy of any reports relevant to this incident at all, and if so what must I do?

Thanks
Jeremy

[Rockford]

Hi Jeremy,

As far as I am aware, the procurator fiscal (PF) was involved (and still is) wherever a death was sudden, accidental or suspicious. I have a few deaths where the cause of death was unknown, which were subject to an RCE entry. The PF was involved to confirm the details and sometimes to consider whether there was anything that required further investigation. You still see in Scottish newspaper stories the line "a report was sent to the procurator fiscal".

Unless the bus driver was charged and went to Court, the RCE plus the Scotsman story may well be all the information that currently survives. However, the National Archives of Scotland hold some court records, so it might be worth searching for your grandfather's wife's name to see if anything comes up in their catalogue. I've obtained some material from NAS, so I know they will do copies of some types of information.

See http://www.nas.gov.uk/guides/default.asp for details of the records they hold.

I'm sure someone with more knowledge than me will point you in the right direction if there are any other sources for you to consider.

Best wishes

Brian

PS Welcome to Talking Scot

[Jeremy Knowles]

As far as I am aware, the procurator fiscal (PF) was involved (and still is) wherever a death was sudden, accidental or suspicious. I have a few deaths where the cause of death was unknown, which were subject to an RCE entry. The PF was involved to confirm the details and sometimes to consider whether there was anything that required further investigation. You still see in Scottish newspaper stories the line "a report was sent to the procurator fiscal".

Thanks. The newspaper article doesn't mention that, it really just says what happened, along with other accidents (5 deaths due to road accidents over the weekend!) but it doesn't actually say what the circumstances were to her getting knocked down, but it is odd because whilst she and her dog were killed, her friend sustained minor injuries and shock so for all 3 to be hit by a bus (on Duntocher Boulevard in Glasgow which I think is now Great Western Road so could be anywhere - she lived in Clydebank, her friend in Dennistoun) something must have happened that would require at least some investigation. Maybe they were crossing the road on a bend or something.

Unless the bus driver was charged and went to Court, the RCE plus the Scotsman story may well be all the information that currently survives. However, the National Archives of Scotland hold some court records, so it might be worth searching for your grandfather's wife's name to see if anything comes up in their catalogue. I've obtained some material from NAS, so I know they will do copies of some types of information.

See http://www.nas.gov.uk/guides/default.asp for details of the records they hold.

Thanks, I'll see what I can find. I think I'm going to have to plan a trip up to Glasgow and Edinburgh!

PS Welcome to Talking Scot

Thanks!

[Rockford]

Hi Jeremy,

If you're planning a trip to Glasgow, you might want to spend some time at the Mitchell Library - they hold copies of the (Glasgow) Herald and (I think) the Daily Record and Evening Times. As all three are Glasgow based papers, there might be more information in them than there would be in the Scotsman, which although it is a national newspaper can sometimes be Edinburgh focused. If you're looking at newspapers, remember to check for a few days after the incident - it might not have been in the following day's paper.

I don't know if they would do lookups for you, but I suppose you could always ask!

My great great grandfather was killed by a train and although there was a brief report in the Scotsman, there were a few more bits of helpful information in the local paper.

Of course, there might not be any more information - as you've highlighted, accidents like this were all too frequent.

Best wishes

Brian

[Jeremy Knowles]

Brian

Thanks for that, I've sent an e-mail to the library to ask, so I'll see what they say.

Regards
Jeremy

[joette]

I would think if she lived in Clydebank I know exactly where Duntocher Boulevard is.It is still an accident hotspot & a dear friend was killed there.It seperates Duntocher/Faifley from the rest of Clydebank.

My wee Granny was killed in a road accident in Dalmuir.There were reports in the paper.We had to identify her body at the morgue behind the High Court in Glasgow & when the trial of the women who knocked her down came up my Uncle & I who identified her body were called as witnesses although in the end we weren't called.I suspect the papers/records are all sent to the Procurator's Office & all names are cited.

I would be searching at the Mitchell & if it happened in Clydebank the Clydebank Post probably carried some kind ofreport.There are archives in Clydebank Library & they are a very helpful bunch & have helped me & others via phone/e-mail.
Happy to have a look when I'm there at Easter if you cann wait that long.

[Jeremy Knowles]

Joette

Thanks, maybe the library might come back to me, if not perhaps I may take you up on your kind offer!

Presumably you are talking about somewhere around here ?

Jeremy