Meikle Earnock

Whispers of a chilling tale once gripped the quiet hamlet of Meikle Earnock. In July 1862, blood-stained clothes discovered in a field near Meikle Earnock sparked fear and alarm. The discovery ignited panic, as locals believed a murderer lurked among them. The detailed accounts focused on a field near where Low Waters Road splits into Meikle Earnock and Strathaven Roads. Pinpointing the exact location proves difficult due to the later construction of Eddlewood Colliery. Numerous old roads and paths crisscrossed the area in 1862, known as “The Eddlewood Road” and “Strathaven Road.” These routes, now overgrown, were frequently used by residents and travelers. The scene in 1862 was described as a triangular area, bordered by hedges and a crossroad from the toll on Strathaven Road. This road joined the Eddlewood Road near where it curved and became shaded by trees. Two quarries lay just outside Meikle Earnock, described as a “small village of some antiquity.” The blood-stained clothes, including a petticoat later retrieved from a local woman’s house, were scattered across these fields, disturbed by cattle. A penknife wrapped in a handkerchief was found nearby, along with a child’s frock and stockings. Rumors circulated about a woman, possibly Mrs. McLachlan, seen with a bundle on Eddlewood Road, stopping at Mrs. Gibson’s Inn at Low Waters for a drink. Leaving the inn, she inquired about a nearby burn for water, and was directed towards the Tommy Linn Burn (now Cadzow Burn). Later, young Elizabeth Gibson discovered more blood-stained clothes while playing near the burn. She returned with friends, and the police were soon on the scene. The incident drew national attention, and the Hamilton police quickly apprehended Jessie McLachlan. However, she vehemently denied involvement. The investigation revealed the murder victim was Jessie McPherson, McLachlan’s friend, killed in Glasgow. McLachlan had traveled from Anderston to Hamilton by train on the day the clothes were found. Her reason for choosing Hamilton remains unclear. Meikle Earnock briefly held a grim place in this tragic tale, a reminder of a murder that took place miles away. The incident, though centered in Glasgow, left its mark on this quiet village. Meikle Earnock’s unwitting connection to the Sandyford murder adds another layer to its history.