An extraordinary case once occurred in Everton when a coroner's inquest concluded that a man had been murdered, even though he died four months after his killer.
On the evening of 28th April 1932 Camaliel Briscoe, a 50 year old cotton porter, carried out a frenzied attack on his uncle William Oversby, a retired horse keeper with whom he lodged in Lyell Street (off Thirlmere Road). This took place with a breadknife and involved Briscoe lashing out at William's face and neck, then turning on his daughter Elizabeth when she tried to intervene. The whole incident was witnessed by Elizabeth's terrified daughter who was aged just 9.
Both the wounded were taken to the Mill Road Infirmary, where William was detained. 40 year old Elizabeth was allowed to return home and amazingly, when police accompanied her there, they found Briscoe dead in bed, his throat having been cut. Earlier he had been seen roaming the local area with a knife but despite police and civilians searching for him, he somehow got back into the house undetected.
An inquest returned a verdict of suicide whilst of unsound mind on Briscoe. William never fully recovered and in August he was admitted to Fazakerley Hospital suffering from typhoid fever. He died on 10th August and at the inquest Dr Hodgson, the medical superintendent, saying he had died as a result of the fever and shock brought on by the injuries. The jury brought a verdict of wilful murder against Briscoe, but did add for the record that he was of unsound mind at the time.
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