The Sefton Tragedy

In 1896, a woman slashed her two young children to death but was spared the gallows due to her mental state.

This was commonly referred to as the Sefton Tragedy, even though it took place in Ford, where 24-year-old Ada Baxter lived with her three young children and husband William, who was eleven years older than her. 

William was a former hay and straw dealer whose business failed, causing him to take up employment as a miller for James and Walter Birch, the proprietors of Sefton Mill. He moved his family from Sefton Village to cheaper accommodation in a cottage in Gorsey Lane, Ford.

Ada seemed an outgoing and jolly person, and even though she had bouts of what would now be called postnatal depression after the birth of her third child in October 1895, nobody in the neighbourhood saw any great cause for concern. Ada's sister would often come to stay for a few days, but the terrible tragedy occurred the day after she returned to her home in Wallasey after one brief visit on Sunday 16th February. 

There was no indication of what was to come when William had breakfast with his family that Monday morning, then went out to work. However, when he returned that afternoon, his wife was in a frenzied state and two of the children, boys aged two and three, had had their throats cut with a razor.

When the police arrived, Ada returned to a pensive state and was arrested and taken to Seaforth police station. Two days later the inquest took place at the Taylor's Arms in Ford, which Ada attended and frequently cried out "I did not do it" and "Please God have mercy on me." Her husband told the coroner that she was genuinely fond of the children, who were buried in Kirkdale Cemetery.

At the assizes court the following month, medical witnesses gave evidence to the effect that Baxter was not aware of her actions at the time of the killings. She was found guilty but insane and detained at Her Majesty's pleasure in Broadmoor.

Ada was released in 1902 and reconciled with William, who had set up in business as a furniture restorer in Crosby. They had three more children together.