Twin boys, 9, drown in canal as heatwave dip ends in tragedy

Wood you believe it...fatal hit and run suspects caught napping under a tree

Twin brothers Francis and James Mcmillan, nine, of Whitelaw Street, Glasgow, “were drowned in the Forth and Clyde Canal, near their Maryhill home, last night,” The Sunday Post reported on this day 84 years ago.

“Tempted by the warmth of the day, the boys went to the canal to bathe.

“Shortly after eight o’clock they were playing on the bank, when one

The Sunday Post reported on a dramatic search for the perpetrators of a hit-and-run in Dumfries and Galloway.

“Following the death of a Moffat man who was knocked down by a car which did not stop, an extensive manhunt took place over the south of Scotland,” it recorded.

“The victim was William Hawthorn, a 30-year-old labourer. He leaves a widow and a boy of three.”

The article explains: of them fell into the water and got into difficulties. It is thought Francis had fallen in first, and Jimmie had stripped himself and jumped into the water in an attempt to save his brother’s life. Neither of them reappeared on the surface.

“Mr Mcmillan, the twins’ father, had at this time been taking an evening walk along the canal bank. He arrived at the scene, totally ignorant of the tragedy.

“When the news was broken to him that it was his little boys who had been drowned, he collapsed and had to be carried home by sympathetic friends.” “Police gave chase and found the car abandoned in a lane.

“The occupants were seen to make off over Cape Verde in the direction of St Anne’s. The police traced them as far as Mollin Farm, where they had tea.

“In the vicinity of St Anne’s there is a large wood.

“Surmising the men had gone there, the police got the help of some civilians, and the wood was scoured. Inspector Barnet and two of the constables had penetrated 20 yards into the wood, when they found three men asleep under a tree. They were at once arrested.

“The suspects are three young Englishmen.

“Information of a car having been stolen was received by Edinburgh CID.

“It was reported a lock-up garage in the Craigmillar district had been forced and a large saloon car driven away.”