On January 10, 1874, Thomas Corrigan was executed at Kirkdale Gaol for the brutal murder of his mother, Mary Corrigan, on November 1, 1873. The execution was botched; Corrigan did not die instantly from a broken neck but was slowly strangled to death, as reported by contemporary journalists.
Background of the Murder
Thomas Corrigan, described by contemporary reports as "a notoriously bad character and terror to all who came in contact with him," had a history of drunk and threatening behavior and assault. Despite this, his mother Mary staunchly defended him, insisting to neighbors he was "a good son." The family lived at Chisenhale Street, Vauxhall, where they ran a lodging house. On the day of the murder, Corrigan returned home drunk at 6pm and went to bed with Martha Jane Knight, a lodger with whom he was romantically involved.
The Fatal Evening
Downstairs, Mary Corrigan, also intoxicated, began crying and attempted to confront Martha Jane but was restrained by lodgers Richard and Johanna Harris. Thomas, awakened by the noise, demanded his supper. When he found no food in the oven, he became enraged. According to The Liverpool Weekly Courier, he struck his mother across the face, grabbed her by the hair, and threw her to the floor, shouting, "Give me money you *****. Give me sixpence you *****."
Thomas then assaulted lodgers and his father, Patrick Corrigan, who fled. He bolted the doors and continued to attack his mother, lifting her, dashing her to the floor, and jumping on her chest and stomach. Johanna Harris pleaded, "Thomas, spare her, she is your mother, don't kill her," but he continued until she appeared lifeless. He dragged her by the hair, poured water on her, and later pushed her head-first downstairs. Using his leather belt, he beat her with the buckle end, leaving her face described as "like nothing but a piece of bullock's liver." He then held a knife to her throat, saying, "I may as well hang for this ***** as anyone else." Mary died shortly after from a head wound.
Trial and Execution
At trial, witnesses admitted they were too afraid to intervene. A magistrate remarked, "It made one's blood boil to imagine such things could happen in a house among a number of people." Corrigan was found guilty of murder and sentenced to death. On the morning of his execution, he ate a full breakfast and showed "remarkable" fortitude. However, the hanging was mishandled; the noose did not break his neck, leading to a slow death by strangulation. A journalist observed, "It may have been fifteen before the corpse ceased to quiver."
Legacy
Kirkdale Gaol was demolished in 1897. The site is now Kirkdale Recreation Ground.
