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Petition for Posthumous Pardon for Elizabeth Woolcock
26 October 2010
Elizabeth Woolcock, a twenty-five year old Moonta Woman, became the only female to be executed in South Australia. She was hanged at the Adelaide Gaol after a trial where she was unable to obtain an experienced attorney to defend her, and where the evidence against her consisted of incorrect and exaggerated medical reports.
It all happened back in 1873 when, after enduring most of her short life by trauma and tragedy, Elizabeth Woolcock was tried and convicted of having murdered her husband, Thomas Woolcock, with the introduction of poisonous substances into his diet. A conviction was gained on the most flimsy circumstantial evidence and Elizabeth was sentenced to be hanged and suffered a barbaric death on the gallows.
As research now shows this woman did not receive the access to justice as demonstrated by law, the community and public at large is now being asked to support a petition calling on the Govenor of South Australia to grant a posthumous pardon for her.
Her plight has been detailed in the Moonta Mines Museum and in the books 'Dead Woman Walking' and 'No Monument of Stone' written by Allan L Peters. Her case has also been publicised on stage with a mock trail and a close examination of the legal process.
Photo A heritage mural highlighting Elizabeth's Woolcock's story can be seen on the Moonta School of Mines eastern wall on Robert Street.