Elizabeth Woolcock was executed for killing her husband — but a father and daughter believe she was innocent

Elizabeth Woolcock is believed to be the only female ever executed in South Australia.

On December 30, 1873, she was hanged at Adelaide Gaol — at the age of just 25 — after being convicted of poisoning her abusive husband with mercury at their Moonta cottage.

Her trial was a sensation and even at the time, strong doubts were expressed about the soundness of the verdict.

“The trial she had was, I consider, very biased. Even though there was not a lot of evidence presented against her, the jury seemed to think that she was guilty,”…