Woman Cleared of Boiling Water Death

A woman who threw some boiling water out which landed on a child and scalded him to death was cleared of all charges when she appeared before the Liverpool assizes.

On 3rd October 1949 Elizabeth Stapleton boiled some cabbage from her first floor flat in Bidder Street, Everton. Due to a leak meaning she couldn't pour the water down the sink as it would flood the flat below, she instead threw it ten feet into the communal entry.

Unbeknown to Elizabeth five year old Robert Westhead was playing in the entry and she was horrified to hear his screams as he ran back towards his own house, also in Bidder Street. She went straight out to explain to Robert's mother what had happened and told her to take him to the Royal Infirmary.

Robert died of his scalds the following day and Elizabeth was charged with manslaughter after she admitted not looking to see if anybody was in the entry. When she appeared at the Magistrates' Court on 5th October the 58 year old was very distressed and allowed bail after her solicitor said there had been no criminal intent.

On 10th November Elizabeth appeared at the assizes where the prosecution offered no evidence, having been guided by the Director of Public Prosecutions. This led to Justice Morris directing the jury to acquit and Elizabeth was discharged from the dock.

Self Defence Plea Accepted for Aigburth Wife

A 34 year old woman who was charged with murder after her husband was stabbed in a struggle was found not guilty after the jury heard she had only intended to frighten him when she picked up a knife.

In the early hours of 5th August 1952 Percy and Mary Standish returned to their home in a flat at 2 St Michael's Road, Aigburth. An argument broke out between them, leading to 26 year old Percy saying he would be going to stay with his father. This was witnessed by Mary's daughter from her first marriage, who was also called Mary and 15 years old.


As her daughter was gathering some clothes for Percy he went towards her, causing Mary to be alarmed. Grabbing a carving knife she said 'If you touch her that's the last thing you'll do.' Percy went up to his wife and they grappled, ending up with him having a stab wound in his chest. he was taken to hospital but pronounced dead on arrival.

When Mary was arrested she said 'I did not do it intentionally but he went for Mary, I only did it to frighten him.' When morning came she was taken to the Magistrates' Court still in a dazed state and had to be helped up the steps by two warders. She was remanded in custody pending committal to the assizes for trial on a murder charge.

On 5th November Mary appeared before Mr Justice Oliver, where evidence was given that she picked up the knife as she feared for her daughter's safety. She said Percy had knocked her down and at no time did she actually thrust or plunge with the knife.

The judge's summing up was held over to the next day but when the jury retired, they took only fifteen minutes to consider their verdict. After they found her not guilty of both murder and the lesser charge of manslaughter Mary cried out 'Oh' and after being told she was free to go, had to be helped out by two wardresses.

Million to One Chance of Death

A man whose partner died after he struck her was spared punishment after his defence counsel successfully argued that it only occurred due to a million to one chance.

On 4th October 1953 Francis Corbett, a 30 year old miner who was originally from Cork in Ireland, got into an argument with Alice McCormack, a 35 year old widow with whom he lived in Amberley Street, Toxteth (situated near the junction of Upper Parliament and Mulgrave Streets).

At some point Corbett hit Alice in the chest and stomach but when she became motionless he ran for help. She died of died of a cerebral haemorrhage and her body was found to be quite bruised. On being charged with manslaughter Corbett replied 'Nothing matters the one I love is gone.'

When Corbett appeared at the assizes on 2nd November he pleaded guilty to manslaughter. In mitigation Mr Pigot who was representing him said that the blow he gave 'would only once in a million cause death, but that million to one chance came off.'

Justice Byrne told Corbett that the blow did not cause the death but did accelerate it due to her already suffering from cerebral haemorrhage. Referring to it as an exceptional case, he conditionally discharged Corbett and said 'I can see no reason for sending you to prison, you will have it on your conscience for the rest of your life, that is a tremendous penalty.'

Killer of Wife and Child Reprieved

A man who killed his wife and son after a row was spared the death penalty after the intervention of the Home Secretary.

After getting wed in 1950 William Beard and his wife Gabriella lived at his mother's address in Haliburton Street, off Park Road where the Tesco store is now. Although Gabriella gave birth to a son the following year the marriage was not a happy one and there were frequent quarrels, leading to the 25 year old going to stay with her parents on Wednesday 20th October 1954.

She slept there just the one night and returned to her 31 year old husband the next evening, going to bed at about 10pm. The following morning, William went into his older brother Arthur's bedroom telling him to go and find a policeman. When a constable arrived, there was a note attached to William's door saying 'Do not enter, send for police.' Inside, William was lying on the bed in his pyjamas bleeding from his wrists but still alive.

It was thought that Paul was asleep in his cot but it was then discovered he was dead. Under the wash basin was an eiderdown and the officer found that it was covering Gabriella's body. Both had been dead for several hours, with William saying he had strangled his wife and poisoned his son. William was taken to Sefton General Hospital where he was given 22 stitches in his wrists and on being told he was suspected to have caused the deaths replied 'Yes that's right.'

On 6th December William was in the dock at Manchester Assizes for just two minutes, pleading guilty to the murder of Paul. On being asked by Justice Gorman if he realised the enormity of this plea he replied that he did and was sentenced to death. The charge in relation to Gabriella was left on file.

William was due to be hanged at Strangeways on 29th December but just two days before Christmas the Home Secretary granted a reprieve, instead ordering him to be detained at Broadmoor.

Widow Murderer Repreived

A man who murdered a widow he was in a relationship with because she finished him for another man was sentenced to death but then reprieved.

On the night of Saturday 31st July 1920 at around 11pm a gathering was taking place in Byrom Terrace off Scotland Road. Some of those present were singing 'I loved her well, she broke her vows' which led to 43 year old labourer John Fitzgerald putting his arms around the neck of Mary Meakin and saying 'That is what you did to me.'

Mary ran round the table and to kiss a friend's baby but this didn't deter John from his raging tendencies and he grabbed her and cut the 34 year old widow's throat. Mary was taken to hospital but the 34 year old was pronounced dead on arrival, while two men managed to detain Fitzgerald and hand him over to the police.

Fitzgerald, who lived in Bevington House, a working men's hotel in Bevington Hill, appeared in court on the Monday and was remanded pending the inquest which took place on 6th August. This heard how Fitzgerald and Mary had been in a relationship until recently, but she had finished with him and started seeing a dock labourer. Earlier in that fateful evening, Mary had been in nearby pub and refused Fitzgerald's offer of a drink, replying 'No, go away I am finished with you.'

A verdict of wilful murder was returned and Fitzgerald he was committed for trial at the assizes. Before Justice Greer on 29th October he admitted the act but said he had been drunk at the time. a prison doctor said he suffered from a valvular disease of the heart which could cause delirium and morbid tendencies. He was found guilty of murder but with a recommendation for mercy. After being sentenced to death Fitzgerald waved to some people in the public gallery as he was led from the dock. Two weeks later the Home secretary acted upon the verdict and commuted the sentence to life imprisonment.

Mother Killed by Speeding Driver

A speeding chauffeur who knocked down and killed a mother of three was found guilty of manslaughter and jailed, while his boss had to pay out compensation.

Amelia Dean, a dresser at the Shakespeare Theatre in Fraser Street, was on her way to work on 11th June 1925 when she alighted a tramcar on London Road. As she was crossing she was hit by a car driven by 22 year old chauffeur Francis Sheppard, who lived at Potters Bar in London. She clung desperately to the bonnet but on falling off she was then run over and died under the wheels.

On 3rd November Sheppard appeared at the Liverpool assizes before Mr Justice Fraser. He claimed that Amelia had slipped and he had slowed down and beeped his horn but he was found guilty of manslaughter. Learning that Sheppard had been driving at forty miles per hour,double the speed limit the judge told him that 'the public must be protected' as he imposed a sentence of eighteen months imprisonment.

Amelia, who was 49 years old and had three children, was the principal earner in their Kensington home, with her husband George only earning a modest wage as a gardener's labourer. George successfully sued Sheppard's employer Mr Lucy for damages and was awarded £500 in compensation.

Mother Severs Son's Head

A doting mother who beheaded her son during a fit of delusions was detained at His Majesty's pleasure after being found guilty but insane.

At around 3pm on Sunday 3rd December 1922 Ellen Royle went into the police station in Kingsley Road, Toxteth, in a state of great agitation. Her hands covered in blood, she said 'I have killed my baby I hit him with a hammer.'  A police sergeant then went to her home at 76 Beaconsfield Street where he entered through an unlocked back door. There on the kitchen floor was the body of twelve year old Gerard Royle, the head being bruised and completely severed.

Nearby, there was a bloodied hammer as well as a razor. Amazingly 44 year old Ellen's husband, also Gerard, remained fast asleep upstairs in bed and was not surprisingly very distressed when he was woken by the police officer and told what had happened. The oil company manager said 'I never thought she would do this.'

On being told at the police station that her son was dead Ellen replied 'Thank God he is happy now.' She was taken into custody but conveyed to the workhouse at Brownlow Hill for her condition to be assessed. On 5th December the inquest took place and Mr Royle went to where his wife was sitting handcuffed to a police officer with a wardress either side. He took her hand and kissed it, an act which reduced many of those waiting for the Coroner to enter the room to tears.

Evidence was given by Mr Royle's sister Florence Chambers, who stated that Ellen had been suffering delusions and talked of some hidden mystery which was threatening her family. Ellen had confided in her the previous July that she had considered turning on the gas taps to put them all out of their misery. Following this she was sent to stay with relatives in Harrogate to recuperate, with Mr Royle and Gerard visiting her every weekend. She got herself better and expressed regret that she had made such threats. Gerard was described as a bright curly headed boy who was popular with his playmates and his mother was known to be extremely fond of him. Florence said that she was 'the most perfect mother that ever lived.'

The Coroner advised that the jury must return their verdict based on the evidence and they were not to be concerned with Ellen's state of mind. As a verdict of wilful murder was returned, one of the jury fainted and Ellen appeared before the Stipendiary Magistrate for committal to the assizes after being formally charged with murder .

On 6th February 1923 Ellen appeared at the Liverpool assizes and pleaded not guilty to murder. The prison doctor told the court he had assessed her as soon as she went in on remand. He came to the conclusion that she was insane, having delusions that her son was visiting her every morning in the form of a bird and that she had killed him to make him safe from enemies. After the jury found her guilty but insane, Ellen was detained 'as a criminal lunatic until His Majesty's pleasure be known'.