David Caplan, a former sailor convicted of the murder of his wife. Freda, and their two children.

In 1917, the Caplans moved to a home of their own in Leeds after living with Mrs Freda Caplan's mother. David Caplan often beat his wife, and during the next two years, Freda and the children made the journey back to her mother in Liverpool on ten occassions.

Each time, David Caplan came in hot pursuit, full of apologies and assurances that it would not happen again.

In the summer of 1919, they moved back to Liverpool, once again settling with Freda's mother, before moving into a flat above a shop on Derby Road, Kirkdale. Caplan found employment at a local engineering works, while his wife ran a millinery business in the shop below the flat.

On 13th October that year, Freda took out a summons for assault against her husband which resulted in a ten shillings fine. Caplan told his wife after the court case that he would have his revenge upon her, and the next day a neighbour heard screams coming from the shop.

The police were called and they found the bodies of Freda and the two children in a bedroom, beaten to death with a blood stained flat-iron which lay at the foot of the bed. Caplan was downstairs with a self-inflicted throat wound made by a razor.

He was tried before Mr Justice McCardie at Manchester Azzies on 2nd December, 1919. The prosecution alleged that it was a cold blooded, premeditated murder, while the defence offered an insanity plea, arguing that Caplan was not responsible for his actions and that he had no recollection of the killings.

Forty two year old Caplan was executed on the 6th January 1920 in Manchester.

Real-crime.co.uk