Oscar Slater

In May 1909  Oscar Slater was found guilty of the murder of Marion Gilchrist in her home, in Glasgow. His sentence of execution was commuted to penal servitude and he served the next 18 and a half years at Peterhead Prison. Over the next two decades a campaign to clear his name was undertaken and Slater was released from prison on 14 November 1927. These two black and white prison photographs record Slater's arrival at Peterhead prison, 7 September 1909, and his discharge on licence, 14 November 1927 and show how he aged in that time. For more information, please see our feature about the case.

Oscar Slater, 1909-1927

Credit: Crown copyright, NRS, HH15/20/1/6 (Link to the Online Catalogue entry)