William Alfred Hancocks

William Alfred Hancocks was convicted of the murder of his daughter Mary Elizabeth Hancocks 15 and sentenced to death.

He stabbed her in the forehead at 7 Old Priory, Birkenhead on 23 March 1905 after threatening to murder his wife and afterwards ran out of the house and threw himself into the River Mersey. He had been drinking at the time.

Mary Hancocks had visited her parents and while she was left alone with William Hancocks one evening cries were heard by the neighbours who went into their house and found Mary Hancocks lying across the bed and William Hancocks lying with his head on her arm. Mary Hancocks said that William Hancocks had been trying to choke her. William Hancocks then threatened his wife with a knife and ordered Mary Hancocks to go to her room and mind the children.

William Hancocks then followed her into her room and shortly after Mary Hancocks came staggering out bleeding from a wound to her head.