Thomas Wilson

Thomas Wilson was convicted of the murder of 43-year-old Olive Jackson and sentenced to death. He shot her four times in Newby Street, Walton, Liverpool on 9 April 1921. Her body was said to have been riddled with bullets. She had been shot in the head, chest and arms. The motive was said to have been jealousy. Olive Jackson had been a widow. She had lived in Newby Street with a man and had three children who thought the man was their step-father. Thomas Wilson lodged at her house for the previous seven years when on leave from his ship and had been in the habit of taking Olive Jackson to the picture house. The court heard that there had been an earlier incident at a party at Christmas when another man, who kissed a number of women under the mistletoe, also kissed Olive Jackson. Later on the night of 9 April 1921, Olive Jackson, Thomas Wilson and some other people went to a public house at 202 Walton Road where they met the man that had kissed several women under the mistletoe and it was later suggested that they should all go back to the house of another couple. However, Thomas Wilson, upon being informed that the other man would be there, declined and went home. xxx1xxx However, he later returned to the public house and asked Olive Jackson where she was going and they had a quarrel. Later, at about 11pm, a woman saw Olive Jackson and a man talking outside her house in Newby Street, opposite 89. She said that the man then said: xxxqxxx I will go. xxxqxxx But said that he then immediately pulled out a revolver and fired at the woman. She said that after that, the man, who she couldn't identify, then stood back and fired four or five more shots and then ran off towards Walton Lane. Olive Jackson was then taken to hospital where she was found to be shot through the heart. She had eight injuries altogether on her body, caused by four bullets. Thomas Wilson stayed that night at a house near Lime Street Station under the name of Smith, but the next morning he was arrested at the railway station by two police officers. Upon seeing the policemen Thomas Wilson had run off and put his hand in his pocket, but one of the officers drew a revolver that he had on him and shouted: xxxqxxx Hands up. xxxqxxx Thomas Wilson complied. When he was later searched at the police station he was found to have a revolver in his possession containing one bullet. On the way to the police station Thomas Wilson said that he had shot Olive Jackson after losing his temper, but didn't think she was dead. At his trial, his defence said that it would be idle for him to say that it had not been Thomas Wilson that had fired the gun, but contended that on the night of the shooting there had been no murder in his heart. He went on to say: xxxqxxx For years, I have been an apostle crying in the wilderness for the alteration of the law with regard to murder. There must be intent to commit murder, full and complete, before you can find a person guilty, and so long as you are satisfied that there is not that intent, then even at this time I am entitled to demand a verdict of manslaughter at your hands. xxxqxxx However, Thomas Wilson was convicted of murder and executed at Strangeways Gaol in Manchester on 24 May 1921.