The Brothers

Govan, Glasgow in 1950s. The following actually happened. Two brothers were convicted of the murder of a neighbour and sentenced to hang. That was the sentence imposed despite the fact that only one had delivered the fatal blow.

Two brothers were convicted of the murder of a neighbour and sentenced to hang. That was the sentence imposed despite the fact that only one had delivered the fatal blow, because in law both were acting together and responsible for the actions of the other. Whilst two men were sentenced to die for one man, the powers that be demanded one life in return, so one of them was allowed to live. Thereafter only one brother was hanged with the other serving a life sentence in prison. That brother lived until he was 65, ending his days in a homeless unit in Glasgow. In those days domestic abuse was not recognised and went largely unpunished unless someone chose to step in on behalf of the battered wife. Against that background, the story explores what led to the fatal attack and only one of the brothers suffering capital punishment. The story describes the family and the effect it had on the daughter of the family involved. It happens that the man who stepped up was frightened of the husband of the battered woman, so called for help from the brothers and others.