Precognition

[Lizzie S]

Hi,

I haven't posted in a while but have recently gone back to look at some of my records looking especially at any notes of corrected entries that I hadn't noticed previously!

I came across one for Marion Nicol McGhie age 1 year 7 months who died on 1st March 1914 in Miller Street, Larkhall. Cause of death is given as Burns, Scald. Congestion of Interneal Organs ( Duodenal Ulcer). ( Poor wee mite.)

The corrected entry states "The following report of result of precognition has been received touching the death of Marion Nicol McGhie. Registered under No 42 in the Register book of deaths for the year 1914." The rest is exactly as shown on the death registration. It is signed by the Procurator Fiscal in Larkhall on 3rd April 1914.

So what does this mean? Had there been an inquest? How can I find out more? Any help would be much appreciated.

Lizzie

[Elwyn 1]

Lizzie,

Scotland doesn’t have Coroner’s courts or inquests. In serious cases an unexpected death is referred to the Sheriff and there can be a Fatal Accident enquiry, but in routine cases, the police (or some other competent authorities) submit a report to the Procurator Fiscal (a Crown Official). The Fiscal decides whether to refer the matter to the Sheriff or to authorise the death to be registered without further ado.

Precognition is a Scottish term describing what is basically a gathering of evidence on the matter under investigation. See:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Precognition_(Scots_law)

In this case, it looks as though a Police Officer or other authorised official conducted interviews and submitted reports on the death to the Fiscal. The Fiscal did not consider a criminal enquiry or a Fatal Accident enquiry was necessary and so authorised the death to be registered. Matter closed.

After Scotland & England were united as nations, Scotland preserved it’s own legal system (and legal language) which sometimes seems a bit antiquated and confusing to others but is a matter of pride for most Scots. (And it mostly works pretty well).

Elwyn

[Currie]

Hello Lizzie,

The accident may have been reported in the newspapers in the days after the event. Google has the Glasgow Herald online for that year. Unfortunately the copy is unreadable in many places and I couldn’t spot anything obvious. You could give it a try.
https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid= ... de=2&hl=en

Best of luck,
Alan

[Falkyrn]

In this case the "Precognition" would have referred to the formal interview of witnesses and a review of the evidence by the Procurator Fiscal. This is partially to see if proceedings need to be taken further or if there were anything suspicious about the matter.

[Lizzie S]

Thank you all for this information. I thought there might be something in The Hamilton Advertiser but searching in those newspaper archives is somewhat tedious. I have followed your advice and had a look in the Glasgow Herald archives but couldn't see anything either.

Strangely I found another incident in the corrected entries after I had posted this one. It was an accidental death by drowning in Loch Lomond of James McGhie on 8th May 1920. He was a brother of the father of the child who was scalded. I thought this would have been reported and did find a small snippet in The Glasgow Herald refering to a death but not naming the victim. Couldn't find anything else though again maybe ther is a report in The Hamilton paper.

Anyway, thanks again for all your help as always.

Lizzie

[AndrewP]

Hi Lizzie,

The Loch Lomond incident was reported in The Scotsman on 10 May 1920 - also without a name.

LARKHALL MAN DROWNED AT LOCH LOMOND - A drowning accident took place near Ardlui, at the head of Loch Lomond, on Saturday afternoon. A party of four men, hailing from Larkhall district, had been out fishing, when the boat capsized, and all of the occupants were thrown into the water. Three of the men hung on to the boat, and were saved, but the fourth was drowned.

All the best,

AndrewP

[Currie]

There’s a bit more detail in the Aberdeen Journal, Tuesday, May 11, 1920.

LOCH LOMOND BOATING ACCIDENT.
The body of James M’Ghie (41), colliery cashier, Cherryhill View, Larkhall, victim of the Ardlui, Loch Lomond, drowning fatality, was recovered by a trawling party on Sunday night. Deceased, along with other three men, had been out fishing only ten minutes when the boat was capsized by a sudden squall. The trio, who held onto the upturned boat, were rescued by Mr Russell, hotelkeeper and others.

Alan

[Lizzie S]

Thanks to you both for those pieces from newspapers. I wonder why it made the Aberdeen Journal.

I did have contact with someone on Anccestry many years ago about this tradgedy and she told me that she had an article from a newspaper which indicated that the group had checked into a hotel then almost immediatly set out on their fishing trip. Unfortunately she didn't send the article so I don't know what paper it was in and I have lost contact with her.
Lizzie