The brutal killing of a pregnant woman, her two children and maidservant in 1849 led to a Liverpool street having its name changed.
Ann Hinrichson and her sea captain husband John bought a large house in Leveson Street (now Grenville Street South) in 1848. It was later decided that they should let some spare rooms in their home to provide extra money for household expenses. On 27th March 1849 a young Irishman from Limerick, Maurice Gleeson, answered the advert placed by Mrs Hinrichson in her parlour window. After inspecting the rooms he paid a weeks rent in advance, explaining that he was a ships carpenter. Gleeson had been in Liverpool for about 15 months, having first taken lodgings in Sparling Street and marrying his landlady.
The next day a delivery boy called to the house with two jugs that Mrs Hinrichson had purchased earlier. When there was no answer, he peered through the parlour window and was faced with the bodies of five year old Henry and maidservant Mary Parr. They had been battered with an iron poker. The boy found a policeman who broke into the house and found the bodies of Ann and three year old John. Mary Parr regained consciousness for long enough to make a statement before slipping into a coma, eventually dying 10 days later.
Immediately after the murders, Gleeson washed his clothes in Toxteth Park, before moving on to London Road to try and sell a gold watch. From there he bought new boots and trousers and went to his other lodgings at 44 Porter Street where his landlady gave him a clean shirt. After this, he visited a barbers in Great Howard Street for a shave and enquired about a wig, insisting that his hair was falling out. He also asked about securing a passage to America for £3. The barber noticed that Gleeson had blood on his wrists.
Gleeson defied the police dragnet to board a Mersey ferry and spend the night at his estranged wifes fathers home in Tranmere. The next morning he returned to Liverpool and attempted to sell a gold watch to a Great Howard Street grocer. Even though it was examined by a policeman Gleeson evaded arrest, but the grocer remained suspicious and he was soon bundled into the city's Bridwell by the hiss son, who was supposedly taking Gleesonj to another premises to get money to pay for the watch.
During the trial Gleeson showed no hint of remorse and had a total indifference to the outcome. The evidence of the barber, grocer and his ex landlady meant that the jury found him guilty without leaving their box. His manner changed after being sentenced to death, often flying into rages while in prison. He was hanged at Kirkdale gaol in front of a large crowd.
Captain Hinrichson, who returned from the sea to find his family obliterated, later became dock master at Toxteth, Huskisson and Queens Docks. All four murder victims were buried in St James cemetery, while the notoriety of the case led to the street being re-named Grenville Street South. |
