William Roughead

Trial of Oscar Slater By William Roughead

Within lie twelve vintage tales of true crime by master essayist William Roughead. Henry James himself once urged Roughead: “Keep on with them all please, and continue to beckon me along the gallery that I can’t tread alone and where, by your leave, I link my arm fraternally in yours: the gallery of sinister perspective just stretches in this manner straight away.” Here you will find such Roughead classics as My First Murder: Featuring Jessie King, the crime that fortuitously set Mr. Roughead’s steps toward matters criminous, Locusta in Scotland, a familiar survey of poisoning as practiced in the realm. The Fatal Countess, a Jacobean royal flush of didoes in high places; Physic and Forgery: A Study in Confidence, and many more capital crimes old and new, but all revealed with that dry wit and mellow artistry that is the mark of fine wine or writing. Above all you must not miss Mr. Roughead’s ensemble by the entire company entitled, An Academic Discussion wherein his best known murders sit in judgment on the qualities of their crimes and discuss the artistry of their chosen métier.

Nothing But Murder is a true crime book written by William Roughead. The book is a collection of 13 different cases of murder and the subsequent trials that took place in Scotland during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Each chapter focuses on a different case, providing a detailed account of the crime, the investigation, and the trial. Roughead's writing style is engaging and informative, providing readers with a glimpse into the Scottish legal system of the time and the attitudes towards crime and punishment. The cases covered in the book range from the brutal murder of a woman by her husband to the poisoning of a wealthy man by his wife. The author's attention to detail and his ability to bring the characters involved in each case to life make for a compelling read. Roughead's extensive research and use of primary sources, including court transcripts and newspaper articles, add to the authenticity of each case. Overall, Nothing But Murder is a fascinating and informative book for anyone interested in true crime, Scottish history, or the legal system of the early 20th century. This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.