Lock Ah Tam

Case record

Background

Lock Ah Tam was 54 when he killed his wife and two daughters. He had been a successful and well respected man who ran the European branch of Jack Ah Tai organisation for Chinese dock workers and the Chinese Progress Club, and he was superintendent of Chinese sailors for three steamship companies in Liverpool. He was married with three children and had a reputation as a peacemaker, being able to sort out conflicts between dockers.

The offence

On the night of the 2nd of December 1925, after a party, Lock Ah Tam shot dead his wife and his two daughters at their home.

After the killings, he rang the police and told them to come and arrest him.

Investigation

Lock Ah Tam telephoned the police immediately afterwards and told them what he had done.

Trial

Lock Ah Tam came to trial at Chester Assizes in February 1926. He was defended by Britain’s foremost counsel, Sir Edward Marshall Hall.

His defence was based on insanity due to automatism caused by an epileptic seizure brought on by the blow to the head seven years earlier.

Sentencing

The jury returned a guilty verdict after 12 minutes of deliberation. Tears were seen running down the face of Mr. Justice McKinnon as he sentenced Tam to die.

Outcome

Lock Ah Tam was duly executed by William Willis on the morning of Tuesday 23rd of March 1926. He was hanged at Walton gaol on 23 March 1926.

Other details

Lock Ah Tam was born in Canton in 1872 and came to England as a ship’s steward. He settled in Birkenhead and became an organiser of Chinese dockyard labour, rising to a position of some importance and standing.

In February 1918, while having a drink in his club, he was attacked and hit over the head by a group of drunken Russian sailors. The blow to the head, although not at the time serious enough to warrant hospital treatment, altered Tam’s personality completely. He then began to drink heavily and had violent mood swings.

He began to drink heavily and his behaviour became increasingly erratic. In 1924, he was declared bankrupt.

On 1 December 1925, the family held a party to celebrate his son’s twenty-first birthday. After the guests had left, Lock shot his wife and two daughters.

Timeline

• February 1918 — Lock Ah Tam was attacked and hit over the head by a group of drunken Russian sailors.
• 1924 — Lock Ah Tam was declared bankrupt.
• 1 December 1925 — The family held a party to celebrate his son’s twenty-first birthday.
• 2 December 1925 — After a party, Lock Ah Tam shot dead his wife and two daughters; he telephoned the police and told them what he had done.
• February 1926 — Lock Ah Tam came to trial at Chester Assizes.
• 23 March 1926 — Lock Ah Tam was executed by hanging at Walton gaol; he was hanged on the morning of Tuesday 23 March 1926.