Brides In The Bath

[Miranda]

George Joseph Smith was a skillful seducer. Women gave him everything they had; their money, bodies and their lives. He would go on to drown one of his wives in a bath, suspected of murdering three in total. Two women managed to escape his grips; Caroline Thornhill and Edith Pegler. For 9 days during the summer of 1915 the attention of the British public was temporarily diverted from the bloody warfare in France to an amazing murder trial which took place in London’s Central Criminal Court, the Old Bailey.

The accused was brought to the dock on June 22, 1915. A 43 year old criminal adventurer charged under his real name George Joseph Smith. He had used several aliases during his crimes of sexual deviance and murder. As a youngster he’d been to reform schools and detention centers for thieving. He showed talent in the arts; painting and music were something he was rather adept in. His mother once prophesied “He’ll die with his boots on!” It seems that much of his life was spent as a jack of all trades. Gymnasium instructor in the Army, music hall musician and song writer, curio shop owner, baker and a dealer in fine antiques.

He had a penchant for meeting lonely and desperate women. One of them who he would marry bigamously. Her name was Bessie Mundy; he would marry her under the alias Henry Williams in 1910. She died while bathing at their home in Herne Bay. Smith was defended by Sir Edward Marshall Hall for a minimal fee; allowed defense counsel by the Poor Prisoners’ Defense Act. Smith formally pleaded not guilty. The opening speech for the prosecution; Sir Archibald Bodkin outlined his criminal past and told of his previous prison stints. The prosecutor drew particular attention to the fact that the accused using yet another alias, “George Oliver Love”- had again married Caroline Beatrice Thornhill at Leicester in 1898. Two years later she left him, and they were still indeed married and she remained his legal wife.

In 1908, Smith met a young woman named Edith Pegler in Bristol and married her under his real name. They lived together on and off, yet he always returned to her. He had done so after the death of Bessie Mundy. On August 26,1910 the prisoner went through yet another marriage ceremony; posing as Henry Williams, with 31 year old Beatrice “Bessie” Constance Annie Mundy in Weymouth Registry Office. She had a small fortune of almost 3,000 pounds, which was left to her by her late father who worked as a bank manager. She never touched the capital sum of her inheritance and lived off of the interest; which she allowed to accumulate.

In September 1910, Smith stole some of his wife’s bank balance by applying for it in her name. As soon as he received it, he left her without a penny. He wrote to her and explained that he had poor health and was terribly impaired as a result of an infectious disease given to him, by her. He also stated he would need long term care before even considering returning to her. Bessie would go on to share a flat in Weston-Super-Mare.

By an extraordinary coincidence, walking down the main street in March 1912, she spotted her husband. Instead of calling authorities, she took him back and they resumed their union in Herne Bay. There was no bath in their new flat , so Smith bought one and installed it himself in a spare room, this was July 6, 1912. The next day they had new wills drawn up. Bessie would make him sole executor and legatee. Four days later, the couple called on a Dr. French. Smith would tell the Dr. That his wife was demonstrating the clear signs of epilepsy. Bessie told the Dr. she was fine except for a few headaches on occasion.

On the morning of July 13, Dr. French received a note from Smith; “Do come at once. I am afraid my wife is dead”. By the time Dr. French reached Bessie , she was submerged in the tub, one hand outstretched .. grasping a bar of soap. At the coroners inquest, Dr. French stated that in his opinion the woman had drowned in a fit of epilepsy in her tub accidently. Her estate was worth over 3,000 pounds and Smith received it all.

He first invested money in houses and other property. He had 1,300 pounds left which he used to buy an annuity; which would also make him income. George Joseph Smith seemed to think he was going to be living a long life. “This is a case of a very grave character” said the prosecutor after he told the jury how Ms. Mundy had died. Smiths attorney feared that any evidence being submitted showing Smith being married to two different women, that had both drowned in baths, where their wills named him as sole beneficiary, would destroy any case he had.

In 1913, Smith bigamously married a young nurse named Alice Burnham whom he had seen praying at a Wesleyan Methodist chapel in South Sea. Smith wrote to Burnham’s father demanding the money that he was holding for his daughter. Smith only received the money after hiring a solicitor and fighting for it. He also made sure that Alice made a new will that would leave everything to him before her demise. Over 500 pounds would go to Smith.

Together they would live in Blackpool. One evening the land lady saw water leaking through the ceiling when Alice was taking a bath. She would be found drowned as well. She was buried in a paupers grave. A coroner inquest brought in a verdict of accidental death. After Smith received Alice Burnham’s life insurance, he returned some of it back to the company, to increase the annuity per year. He spent that Christmas with one of his wives, Edith Pegler, telling her that he had just returned from Spain on a lucrative antique venture.

Within 12 months he would marry again , under the name John Lloyd. He married a clergyman’s daughter in High Gate by the name of Margaret Lofty. She would be his youngest and short lived brides of all he had murdered. She made a will on the same exact day of their wedding date. Later that evening, splashing and slapping of hands on wet skin were heard coming from their bathroom.

Within 2 months Smith would be charged with the murders of Bessie Mundy, Alice Burnham and Margaret Lofty, though he was only prosecuted for Mundy’s death. When the case for the prosecution rested, no less than 112 witnesses were called and 264 pieces of incriminating evidence exhibits entered. Marshall Hall rose only to say; “ I do not call any evidence”. It took the jury 20 minutes to convict Smith and he was sentenced to be hanged. To the end he would declare his innocence.

Even as the hangman put on his noose he exclaimed; “ I beg of you to believe me when I say, I am innocent!” George Joseph Smith would die like all 3 of his brides, gasping for air and suffocation.

By Miranda

[Homicidalheathen]

good lord. Sounds like the kind of guy I would fall for.