John Gregson

Gregson, John

On 13 October, 1869, John Gregson, a Wigan collier, took his wife and two children for a day out and when they returned home later that afternoon, he was drunk. After tea, he told his wife he wanted her to pawn some of her clothes so he could buy more drink. His wife replied saying she wouldn't pawn clothes for drink, especially when the children needed feeding, and in a drunken rage Gregson savagely kicked her about the head and chest with his heavy, iron soled clogs. A neighbour who tried to drag him off also received a kicking. Mrs Gregson, who was covered in blood, was later put to bed but never recovered from the beating, and died three days later in hospital. He pleaded manslaughter through provocation at the trial, at Liverpool Assizes on 20 December, but after a lengthy retirement the jury found him guilty. He was hanged by William Calcraft on 10 January 1870 in Liverpool.