Alec Wilkinson

Alec Wilkinson murdered his mother-in-law Clara Farrell 50 who he stabbed to death at Bradbury Balk Lane, Wombwell on 1 May 1955.

He had married in 1954 but his mother-in-law, Clara Farrell, always found ways to belittle him. When he had first married he and his wife lived with his parents but Clara Farrell later talked her into returning home to live with her.

He tried everything he could to get his wife to come back to him with no success. On 30 April 1954 he went round to see his wife and when he knocked on the door Clara Farrell answered the door and she instantly started to insult him and tried to push him away but he punched her to the floor and then started to smash her head against the floor and then he went to the kitchen and got a knife and stabbed her death. After he pile up furniture over her and set her on fire.

He ran off when a neighbour came to investigate and put out the fire.

In court his defence claimed the charge should be reduced to manslaughter due to provocation but he was convicted of murder and sentenced to death.

When asked if he was sorry for what he had done he said 'no sir I am not'.