When was the last execution in Edinburgh? "Lots of people were injecting. There are books of adjournal for Edinburgh cases since 1576 (JC2-JC5), and for circuit cases since 1890 (JC15). Mark says he read this week's headlines about rising joblessness with a sense of foreboding. The inquiry in Edinburgh, which has so far cost almost 10.5 million, is investigating the circumstances of the trainee gas engineer's death in Kirkcaldy on May 3 2015, and whether race was a . But in some ways, Robert Henderson could count himself lucky he wasnt subjected to another form of execution that the lawmakers of Edinburgh had conjured up. Information on prisoners sentenced to be transported can be found in the registers for the local prisons (see below) serving the courts where they were sentenced. Get the latest crime news direct to your inbox with the Edinburgh Crime and Courts newsletter. Other prison registers are found in sheriff court records: Please note that we do not make speculative searches through prison records for an individual even for a given census year. [10], In 2009, Walker suffered a stroke which left him severely disabled; in December 2011, he was released from prison on compassionate grounds. "The crack cocaine scene you see in the south, the stimulant scene of Birmingham or Manchester, that's not taken off here," says Mark. "There are estates," says Welsh, "with three generations who have graduated from alcohol to smack. "I told them I'd had three kids and I really couldn't remember so my friend and family hairdresser helped identify the body. On his release in 2004, he returned to Scotland. Dan Barker. Details of proceedings against covenanters also appear in the records of the High Court of Justiciary (JC). That peaceful little bungalow in busy Glasgow Road is home to one of the Capital's most impenetrable murder . Heroin was first synthesised in 1884, and Edinburgh factories were soon manufacturing it. 'The Register of the Privy Council' for 1545-1691 is published in 35 volumes. 26 Whitehall Road Leeds LS12 1BE; 0330 403 0033; Sign In or Register That's just my own observation." James Hanratty: Abduction, Murder, Rape And Uproar Kim Newell, Raymond Cook and Eric Jones: The Red Mini Murder That Shocked The Sixties Victor Terry: The Worthing Bank Robbery Murder Kenneth Halliwell: A Day In The Death Of Joe Orton Mary Bell: The Newcastle Murders That Shocked The Nation The Krays: The Rise And Fall Of Ronnie And Reggie Kray They are listed on our catalogue and their location shown. Minor offences within royal burghs were tried by the burgh courts. News By Jane Hamilton 07:30, 17 MAY 2021 A small number of prison registers contain photographs of prisoners. Welsh is still irritated by the attacks "I look now at all the drugseducation; they're actually using outtakes from Trainspotting!" Penalty. In that flat in Rose Street South Lane, a horrible triple murder in 1917 wiped out an entire family. Alice . The Admiralty Court dealt with crimes committed on the high seas or in harbours, including smuggling, piracy and trading with the enemy. He was banned from driving for 12 months and fined 295, Lee Johnson Hibs positive injury update on Kevin Nisbet following Aiden McGeady blow. ", In Scotland, the heroin problem was dealt with as a law-enforcement issue: authorities deliberately made it difficult for users to obtain clean needles, forcing them to share and thus contributing, directly, to an explosion of Aids cases. "In reality [heroin addiction] is the furthest thing from that. I guess its partly because we live in such a sanitized world today that we could never get into the mischief that our ancestors did. It didnt take long before the Edinburgh courts found her guilty and she was quickly sentenced to death in 1724, but by this time the story of the mother who had killed her newborn son had become big news in the city. Others may be found among private collections, and in sheriff court (SC) and burgh (B) records. The witches in this punishment would do one of two things, float or drown. It's a comment on how we view drugs in this society. Account & Lists Returns & Orders. He had this expression on his face. They are aware of the worst it has done, so they will tend to use different drugs. Hibs casuals, unlike some other teams, were very often gang members into a great deal more than just football violence. The Cases - Homicides (1990 - 1999) BY ERA: Up through 1899 | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000 - present | Missing Persons The cases below include unsolved Iowa homicides from 1990 - 1999, and are listed in chronological order. Every day is a living hell." As was customary for the time huge crowds came out to witness her public execution and the Grassmarket was filled with angry people baying for justice. Periodic reviews have been carried out in respect of this crime however it remains an unresolved case.. He is contemptuous of the Scottish Conservative leader Annabel Goldie's term for the Trainspotting era a "wasted decade": "It's more than a wasted decade it's been a wasted 35 years." Edinburgh getting Bongo's Bingo this month - with karaoke and crazy prizes, The award-winning Bongos Bingo is coming to Edinburgh for a special afternoon show this month mixing traditional bingo with a chaotic does of fun that's sure to raise a smile, Scotland's teacher strikes suspended as union supports new pay offer. But this is not happening. "I don't want to stereotype," says Welsh, "but it's more cost-effective to inject [heroin] than to burn it in foil, when you're burning it into the air, effectively." I am quite satisfied that the crime was carefully planned, and I am also quite sure that the substance of the evidence given by Walker was a tissue of lies." Witchcraft trials are found in the records of the High Court of Justiciary (JC), the Privy Council (PC) and local kirk sessions (CH). After the required 30-minute wait her body was cut down and she was confirmed dead by the attending doctor, at which point she was unceremoniously thrown into a coffin and loaded onto a cart to be taken to the local graveyard. We never got that chance. Lowden claimed that Walker was physically violent towards him and threatened to kill Lowden's father and girlfriend, and that Walker had confessed to the murders in lurid detail on the eve of the trial. Lord Grieve noted "This was a calculated crime. Miss Dando, was . Many of these records are out-stored and we require 24 hours' notice before they can be produced. But they didn't know.". "It's whisky versus beer," says Welsh. Jessie Earl. Over 30 years later - and despite the fact her family think they know who her murderer is - no one has ever been brought to justice for the cruel murder of 20-year-old Ann Ballantine, who was found in the Union Canal in 1987. Note that the dates given are covering dates, there may be some gaps in the records, and recent records remain exempt from release under Freedom of Information legislation. Hello, sign in. But a lot of them will have hepatitis C that hasn't been diagnosed or treated and damages the liver. Drugs counsellor Rowdy Yates says police activity in Edinburgh in the early 1980s was "ruthless". Our catalogue lists the surviving burgh court records and shows whether they are held by us or by local archives. "It's got this bullshit aura or mystique, a dark underworld feel," says David, who started using heroin in the mid-90s and is now clean. Robbie Neilson wants Hearts to get back to winning ways as he fires 'keep calm' message. Drug-related fatalities increased by 26% from 2007 to 2008 there is now up to one every four days in the Lothians. A beloved Edinburgh pub is famous for its unique signage at its front doorwhich has divided tourists after a local shared a picture of it online. Selected entries have been published in the 'Book of the Old Edinburgh Club', edited by J Fairley (volumes 4- 6, 8, 9, 11 and 12). The gruesome discovery was made on 21 January 1987, and sparked fears that a serial killer was stalking the streets of the Scottish capital, especially after it emerged that her killer may have kept Ann's body for some time before it was found. The Covenanters were a Scottish religious movement that fiercely maintained their Presbyterian beliefs as the one true religion in Scotland and they defiantly objected to the new form of worship that was being imposed on them by the king. The Survey of Scottish Witchcraft is a database of Scottish witchcraft cases maintained by Edinburgh University. However, the High Court of Justiciary records include material on Jacobite treason trials, 1748-9 (JC7). Choose a career. Ann Ballantine was only 20 years old when her bound and naked body was found wrapped in a dirty carpet and dumped unceremoniously into the icy water of Edinburgh's Union Canal. Follow me on Facebook, Pinterest, and YouTube. When Edinburgh was flooded with heroin in the 1980s leaving the city like 'WWIII' Tom Wood was a young constable in the 1970s and within his beat on the housing estates of Drylaw and Muirhouse in the north side of the city, seismic changes were about to happen. Join him as he shares insider tips and personal experiences to help visitors find the best things to do in Scotland. Choose a starter home. '", And partly again there is naivety, exacerbated by a twisted social morality. A commanding officer, Lt Col Fairweather, had disciplined him and said: "Unless you get a grip of yourself, I can see you wearing a blue suit and eating porridge". It's a very negative thing." You can still see it today by visiting the National Gallery of Scotland. The last execution in Edinburgh was carried out on the 23rd of June 1954 when George Robertson was taken to the gallows after admitting to acts of murder and attempted murder of his own family. It was just people who didn't have a fucking clue." The wheel was a particularly cruel execution method that consisted of a simple wagon wheel with lots of wooden spokes inside it. In the 1980s and early 1990s, Austin regularly had a murder rate of nine to 10 murders per 100,000 residents. Few prison registers are indexed but basic details are found on our catalogue. In England there's always been a more mellow way the slow pint of beer in a pub. . After he was convicted, Walker was sentenced to 27 years imprisonment, but was released in 2011. William Burke was a giant of a man with powerful arms and unusually large hands which enabled him to commit his murders using a method now known as burking. 16,281 Dundee, Angus, Scotland 6,047 Paisley, Renfrewshire, Scotland 4,167 Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland More places Craig Neil is a travel writer from Edinburgh with a passion for exploring the hidden gems of Scotland. The duo successfully managed to sell the bodies of several victims during the following months but when their murderous spree came under the scrutiny of an ambitious police inspector, Burke and Hare resorted to digging up graves and stealing the decaying bodies instead. Well-known at the time for being a promiscuous troublemaker, she was rumoured to have engaged in a passionate affair with a much younger man in 1723. Rising star Rayan Mohammed has admitted he has faced abuse on the pitch as he climbed through the ranks to reach the SPFL. . At the time Edinburgh was becoming the foremost centre of medicine in Europe, with educated men coming from far and wide to pay large sums of money to receive the medical training that would one day turn them into fully qualified doctors. ", Meanwhile, that generation is dying 30, 40 years too early. She added: "It was like living in a nightmare from which we couldn't wake up. We hold some of these records and others are held locally. Our catalogue lists the records we hold for each sheriff court, although criminal trials are not indexed and it is necessary to search through records to find individual cases. Murder police quiz man DETECTIVES WHO arrested a man yesterday in connection with the murders of Lin Russell and her sixyear-old daughter Megan have been granted more time to question him. The gruesome tale revolves around Edinburghs body snatchers in the 19th century, and its a story that still fascinates visitors to this day. Mark remembers people overdosing on heroin, and friends injecting them with speed to bring them round. Wall killed Nancy and Thomas Shanks, his. The main records from the Lord Advocate's Department nbsp are the precognitions (AD14-AD15). Drowning was predominantly used on women who were accused of being witches, with the accused tied to a chair and lowered into the Nor Loch the loch that at one time existed under Edinburgh Castle before it was drained and turned into Princes Street Gardens. Welsh's scabrous novel is set in Leith, Edinburgh, in the mid-1980s, when heroin use there was just taking off. Both Courtney Renwick and Natalie Anderson vanished from the Tranent area on Wednesday night as officers have become increasingly concerned for their welfare. She was such a happy child - a real happy-go-lucky kid. What makes it even more painful, they say, is that they believe they know for certain who killed their daughter: it was a man that was known to the family. People from all walks of life were executed in Edinburgh over the years, from Covenanters (a persecuted religious group) to thieves and heretics. It takes its. XV and XVIII. The registers are arranged chronologically by the date of departure of each ship. "They might be drinking half a bottle of vodka a day, and literally drinking themselves to death. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'outaboutscotland_com-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_0',817,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-outaboutscotland_com-large-mobile-banner-1-0');Poor Robert could barely have understood what was happening as he was thrown into prison and then brought out again shortly after to be burnt at the stake as an example to the rest of the baying Edinburgh citizens. The Atlanta Child Murders Of The 1970s and 1980s. There's always been an idea of two types of Scots those who went to London and made it big, and the second-raters who stayed home. Meet the Edinburgh designer to the stars who built his brand out of nothing. All rights reserved Out About Scotland 2023. Administrative records for Scottish prisons (HH12) occasionally contain references to individual prisoners, and there are also a small number of prisoner files (HH15), details of which are found on the catalogue. ", When I called Willie, who lives in Leith, almost the first thing he told me was that there had just been another death that evening just down the street from his flat, and the coroner had arrived. The records are mainly in a separate series (our reference RH11) some of which have been digitised and are available on Virtual Volumes in our search rooms. Many of the records are un-indexed and wedonot make speculative searches through un-indexed records for enquirers. Young: The murders of William Bramlett and young coed Hillary Johnson were committed by Young who was stalking a former girlfriend. ", West Lothian's two-bed fixer-upper house goes under the hammer as 'cheapest' in area. And, it emerged this week, they are dying fast, Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning, Some say that the soundtrack to Danny Boyle's film, together with its humour and attractive lead (Ewan McGregor) gave addiction a gritty, sexy allure. Perhaps the most famous uprising that centred around the cathedral was the religious conflict that spread out from the capital city and across Scotland in 1637. The mysterious case of Steven Brown: remembering the unsolved East Lothian murder 20 years on, Monument to a murderer: why this Edinburgh park holds a memorial to a killer, while has his victim been forgotten, Sean Flynn appears in Edinburgh court charged with murder of his mother Louise Tiffney, Edinburgh Castle knife killer could be moved from maximum security and freed in 'a few short years', according to former detective Chris Clark, The tragic meaning behind this pile of stones in Holyrood Park you've passed a hundred times, Nearly 50 years ago, five Edinburgh school pupils froze to death in the Cairngorms. Inland Revenue Survey Maps and Field Books, Records of criminal appeals (JC31, JC34 and JC67), Minute books (JC5, JC9, JC11, JC12 and JC13), 'Pitcairn's criminal trials in Scotland, 1498-1624' (Bannatyne Club, 1829-31), 'Selected justiciary cases, 1624-1650' (Stair Society, 1953, 1972 and 1974). There are different types of sheriff court trials. During this horrifying punishment, prisoners were tied to an upright stake that was surrounded by a thick carpet of dried wood. The court also acts as a court of appeal from criminal proceedings in the sheriff (or inferior) courts. This story is arguably the most famous tale of murder in Edinburgh and its been retold countless times in newspaper articles and even had a Holywood movie made about it a few years ago. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Contact details for all of the sheriff courts can be found on the Scottish Courts website. As a method of execution it was cruel even for those times, with the victim being hung by their neck almost to the point of death before being cut open from the chest to the belly and having their insides torn out. [4], While on remand for the murders, Walker shared a cell with 18-year-old Andrew Lowden, also on remand. After violently beating the officials inside the cathedral the rioters then spilt out onto the streets of Edinburgh where it became impossible to police them and hundreds of people joined together to tear the citys Old Town apart. Andrew Walker (1953/1954 - 3 September 2021) [1] was a British Army corporal in the Royal Scots who killed three colleagues in a payroll robbery in the Pentland Hills, south of Edinburgh, in January 1985. News By Youll see the step there is worn away on the left side, while the right side is almost unmarked. However, because prisoners were shipped from England there is often further information in the Home Office records at The National Archives. Murder. There are warding and liberation books from the Edinburgh Tolbooth for the period 1657-1816 (HH11). In 1979 a referendum on devolution failed, and Margaret Thatcher was elected. Hutchinson, also known as the Mad Doctor or the Mad Master of Edinburgh Castle, developed such a wicked reputation that it is difficult to separate legend from fact. They just choose other ways.". When an Edinburgh schoolgirl is abducted, DI Ray Lennox investigates her disappearance whilst confronting his own past trauma. The 37-year-old was . Plans for the introduction of a workplace parking levy, which were further scrutinised by Edinburgh Council this week, are aimed at reducing the number of cars in the city centre. Young carried a sawed off shotgun and knife on his person, and exhibited intensive overkill with each of his victims. Republishing any content, in whole or in part, is strictly prohibited. "You try and keep away from people," says David. The reason for this is that using the left hand was believed to be a sign of the devil, so the women rested their left foot on the step for balance while they pumped away with their right hand. The problem is if you take these drugs in combination and add alcohol that can increase risk factors. Dennis Nilsen became known as the Muswell Hill Murderer and is one of Britain's most infamous serial killers. At 110,000 it is the cheapest home on the market in the area, according to property experts. An abundance of archive footage contextualises the events within the broader currents of the 1980s, all accompanied by well chosen music from the same era. Your first thought is to seek out where they got the heroin from that's how sad it is. The most famous executions were of William Burke (of the Burke and Hare graverobbers) in 1829 and William Douglas, the 6th Earl of Douglas who was beheaded at Edinburgh Castle in 1440. We still have that picture stored away somewhere. You might not have heard of Saint Giles other than a reference to him when you visit St. Giles Cathedral on Edinburghs Royal Mile, but hes actually the patron saint of the city. Log in / Join. The most famous executions were of William Burke (of the Burke and Hare graverobbers) in 1829 and William Douglas, the 6th Earl of Douglas who was beheaded at Edinburgh Castle in 1440. "By 1983 you had 3.6 million unemployed," says Welsh. As well as those about different types of criminals and prisoners. Aged 22, disappeared around 15 May 1980. Ill Met by Gaslight: Five Edinburgh Murders ( 1980) The Death of Men ( 1981) One Night in Winter ( 1984) Let the Emperor Speak: A Novel of Caesar Augustus ( 1987) The Hanging Tree ( 1990) These Enchanted Woods ( 1993) The Ragged Lion ( 1994) King David ( 1995) Antony ( 1997) Nero's Heirs ( 1999) Caligula ( 2003) The Thistle and the Rose ( 2005) Graham and Isobel went round and knocked on the door. Those who escaped the massacre on the battlefield subsequently found themselves trapped in freezing-wet conditions and either drowned in the freezing marshland or were captured and subjected to torture and execution by the chasing government soldiers. They record the name of the convict and where, when and for how many years he or she was sentenced. The following finding aids are available in theHistorical Search Room. He killed her because if he could not have her, then no one else could. Choose fixed-interest mortgage repayments. The unpublished Privy Council records from 1692-1708 (PC) are not indexed, and can be consulted at General Register House. 4) Leonard J. With the help of Scottish property expert Jean Johansson, the married couple were looking for a detached villa in Tala, Western Cyprus with an impressive budget of 260,000. Most men and women who appeared before the Council were of some social standing, rather than ordinary criminals, but the Council also heard cases of people accused of witchcraft and seditious practices. He did not know this picture was being taken. The records of the court cover the period from 1557 to 1830, when the court was abolished. Death Festival: An Edinburgh Murder Mystery is my first novel. When Isobel was eventually told that her daughter's body was found in the canal in February 1987, she could not believe it. Ann wouldnt just vanish without a word. Before this date they are found at the court where the trial took place. The published volumes are fully indexed and available for consultation in the Historical Search Room, as well as in good reference libraries. Partly it's the result of long-term addiction. "We never got to see her one last time, which is a killer. It made more than $30m (18m) was so popular, in fact, that for some years afterwards Tim Bell, 63, lay chaplain for the Port of Leith, used to run Trainspotting walking tours in his spare time (The Classic, according to his website, involves visits to "Sick Boy's pub Leith police station Welsh's flat Dockers' Club Leith Central Station Central Bar Fitay the Walk Kirkgate Banana Flats Shore".) You may also find statements by the accused and other papers produced as evidence, but case papers do not include transcripts of trials. The letter was confiscated by the guards, and Lowden was later called as a prosecution witness at Walker's trial. Quite an escalation from one angry woman with a wooden stool. But "over the last 10 years [heroin use] has increased so much it's unbelievable," says Mikey. 11,323 1960-1969 11,841 1970-1979 33,439 1980-1989 85,211 1990-1999 . The previous iteration of drug users were not the. When the casuals emerged in the 1980s, Edinburgh and, in particular, Hibs, had a vicious reputation.They still do. Her skeletal remains were found 9 years later in April 1989 in bushes at Beachy Head. The body would then have its arms and legs cut off and would be beheaded before being publicly displayed as a warning to others. Crime Scene: If 1930's Edinburgh murder had been fiction you'd think it was too far-fetched. ", "I don't think it's the kind of drug you take to be happy," says Mikey, a 35-year-old who started using heroin 10 years ago and has tried to kill himself several times. A. senior investigating officer told police who arrested Sheku Bayoh not to discuss his death with each other but to relax and watch TV, he told an inquiry. Outlaw King Disclosure: Out About Scotland is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Edinburgh tourists baffled by 'unwelcoming' sign barring customers from pub. Primary Menu Hare meanwhile, fled to England, where he died in poverty and anonymity. The publication 'Registers of the Privy Council' contain names of covenanters and others banished to the North American colonies in the 17th century, in particular the third series, volumes VI-X, 1678-1685. I don't think that's got anything to do with anything. Welcome to National World | Newsprints! Home Office Crime and Policing Analysis 1st Floor, Peel Building 2 Marsham Street London SW1P 4DF Published 19 July 2012 Last updated 21 April 2016 + show all updates. Police later commented however that "cannot prove . In this website I share my experiences of visiting the top Scottish attractions along with travel tips and advice to help you plan your own sightseeing tour. The victims: In the 1970s and 1980s a string of young women disappeared and were abused, tortured and murdered. Maggie was led crying and pleading in front of the roaring crowd to the hangmans noose, but her desperate screams for mercy fell on deaf ears as she was dropped through the gallows floor. Walker left several clues in the deep snow and was arrested after a three-day manhunt. Receiving no reply, they slipped notes and some money through the letterbox, asking her to phone them "even if she was skint", but no phone call came. Taylor, 62, is serving life for the 2000 murder of 16-year-old Leanne Tiernan - as well as a series of sex attacks. "If you're a working-class kid in the schemes," he says, "what are the alternatives? Some had the virus and they weren't telling people they were sharing the needles. Their murderous spree didnt last for long though and they were eventually caught, convicted, and found guilty of murder, for which only Burke was executed. According to Audit Scotland, there are more than 50,000 heroin users in Scotland, and waiting lists of up to two years for treatment. The former Crimewatch presenter was shot dead aged 37 outside her flat in Fulham, West London in 1999. Victim's family horrified as double murderer is released from prison to attend funeral of mum who refused to believe his guilt ANDREW CAMERON was just 19 years old when he was sentenced to life in. The 2019 crime rate in Edinburgh, IN is 361 (City-Data.com crime index), which is 1.3 times higher than the U.S. average. Detective Chief Inspector David Pinkney said: The murder of Ann Ballantine was fully investigated by the then Lothian and Borders Police, with a report being sent to the Procurator Fiscal. At this time the English King Charles I had decreed that all his people should be united under one religion and one Bible, and without any consultation with the people of Scotland, Charles introduced his new Book of Prayer on 23rd July of that year. "What they're saying is 'I'm no longer taking unacceptable drugs. Recollections and memories of Edinburgh and districts including Granton, Dumbiedykes, Craigmillar and Bonnington. Time stood still for the Ballantines in 1986, and it is still standing still, as Ann's murderer has never been brought to justice. The peaceful Saint Giles and the Edinburgh rioters, The murder of the Covenanters at Rullion Green. "The body was so decomposed, we never got to say goodbye.". Telling Private Thomson to drive along a quiet track to a reservoir, he shot Major Cunningham through the head. I'm very bitter," she said. Among the many quotable passages in Irvine Welsh's first novel, Trainspotting, one stands out: "Choose life," says Mark 'Rent-boy' Renton. "A lot of the people I was working with were the same age as me, and 80% of them were HIV positive. As an additional warning to other rebels, some of the Covenanter men were subjected to the boot, a torture device that was strapped onto their legs with wooden boards that were tightened so hard that the bones snapped. This led to a great deal of unrest with the Covenanter faithful which culminated in a battle on the 28th November 1666 when a band of 900 Covenanter rebels formed on Rullion Green in the Pentland Hills to attack over 3,000 British government soldiers. The Easter Road veteran has struggled with injuries this campaign and after a short return to action, he picked up another knock and will be out for the remainder of the season. The street warfare produced many tragedies but also some characters Choose washing machines, cars, compact disc players, and electrical tin openers. We also have a new Edinburgh coronavirus news Facebook group. We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. The crime: On February 12, 1993 two-year-old James Bulger went missing from outside a butcher's shop in the Strand Shopping Centre in Bootle, Merseyside. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[580,400],'outaboutscotland_com-banner-1','ezslot_6',687,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-outaboutscotland_com-banner-1-0');There are enough unpleasant episodes in this citys history to fill an entire book, but Ive included just a few of my favourites in this post.