Old photograph of the location of the Ardlamont murder in Argyll, Scotland. John Monson began working as a gentleman's tutor for the Hambrough family in 1891. On 10 August 1893, Alfred John Monson took Cecil Hambrough, his 23 year old pupil, for a day's hunting in an area of woodland on the Ardlamont Estate in Argyll. A third man joined them, Edward Scott, a friend of Monson who had arrived at the estate a few days earlier. Estate workers heard a shot, then saw Monson and Scott running to Ardlamont House carrying the guns. They were cleaning the weapons when the estate butler asked what had become of Mr Hambrough. Monson replied that he had shot himself in the head by accident while climbing a fence. When the incident was reported, a member of the Inverary procurator fiscal's office was sent to the estate. He returned, saying it had been a tragic accident. However, two weeks later, Monson appeared at the fiscal's office to report that Hambrough had taken out two life insurance policies worth £20,000 only six days before he died, and that they were made out in the name of Monson’s wife. After thorough searches of the estate and interviews with staff, Monson was charged with murder. Scott, now on the run, was named as his accomplice. Among the witnesses for the prosecution was Dr Joseph Bell, the Edinburgh surgeon and forensic detective, who was the inspiration for the popular fictional character Sherlock Holmes. He told the jury that, in his opinion, Monson had murdered Cecil Hambrough. However, sufficient doubt had been sowed in the minds of the jury by Monson's advocate John Comrie Thomson, and Monson was set free with the verdict of " not proven. " In 1894 Madame Tussauds in London, England, erected a waxwork of Monson at the entrance to their Chamber of Horrors, bearing a gun. Monson took exception, sued the company and was awarded one farthing in damages. The case established the principle of " libel by innuendo " and Monson v Tussauds, which has been used to draw up defamation laws in many countries since. To prove libel, there must be publication in permanent form, but this need not be in words.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
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