Anthony Miller (murderer)

Anthony Joseph Miller (1941–1960) became the second-last criminal to be executed in Scotland on 22 December 1960 when he was hanged on the gallows at Glasgow's Barlinnie Prison by Harry Allen, assisted by Robert Leslie Stewart. Miller had been convicted of murdering John Cremin at Queen's Park Recreation Ground (near Hampden Park) in Glasgow on 6 April 1960. At 19 years of age, Miller was the last teenager to be executed in the United Kingdom.

The murder of John Cremin was a robbery that went wrong. Miller and his accomplice James Denovan were in the habit of working together as a team, robbing gay men (also known as queer rolling). They would use Denovan (a 16 year old boy) as bait to attract victims. After Denovan had lured the victims to a secluded area of the park out of public view, Miller would suddenly appear, threatening the victims with violence unless they handed over all their valuables. During this particular robbery Cremin was beaten to death and his body hidden under bushes, where it was later discovered by a man out walking his dog.

As a 19 year old Miller was legally an adult, and because the murder took place during the course of a robbery (Cremin had been robbed of his watch, bankbook and £67), this made him eligible for the death penalty under the terms of the Homicide Act of 1957. However, as a 16-year-old, Denovan was considered a child in the judicial system and therefore too young to face the death penalty. Consequently, he was sentenced to be detained at Her Majesty's Pleasure.

Miller's execution was the last to take place at HMP Barlinnie.

A theatre play about Miller's last days in the condemned cell – Please, Mister (the title comes from Miller's alleged last words on the scaffold before his death) – was written by Patrick Harkins and first performed in 2010. The initial production starred Iain de Caestecker (in the role of Miller) and David Hayman.

The last ever judicial execution in Scotland was that of Henry John Burnett, which took place in Aberdeen on 15 August 1963.

Famous quotes containing the words anthony and/or miller:

    There have been others also just as true and devoted to the cause—I wish I could name every one—but with such women consecrating their lives, failure is impossible!
    —Susan B. Anthony (1820–1906)

    Life has no other discipline to impose, if we would but realize it, than to accept life unquestioningly. Everything we shut our eyes to, everything we run away from, everything we deny, denigrate or despise, serves to defeat us in the end. What seems nasty, painful, evil, can become a source of beauty, joy and strength, if faced with an open mind. Every moment is a golden one for him who has the vision to recognize it as such.
    —Henry Miller (1891–1980)