CONAN DOYLE FOR THE DEFENCE

Just before Christmas 1908, Marion Gilchrist, a wealthy 82-year-old spinster, was found bludgeoned to death in her Glasgow home. The police quickly fastened on a suspect, and despite having an alibi, Oscar Slater was convicted and sentenced to death. On appeal, his punishment was grudgingly commuted to life imprisonment. Seventeen years later, a convict called William Gordon was released from Peterhead prison. Concealed in his mouth was a message from Slater addressed to the only man he thought could help him - Arthur Conan Doyle.