The Felonious and Wilful Murder of Edith Jeal: The Brighton Outrage By Charles James Hayward
If the historic and intriguing cells of the Old Police Museum could talk, the walls could tell of many heinous and brutal crimes. From the murder of Harriet Horton, who was shot dead at the Jolly Fisherman Public House by her brother-in-law in 1866, to the murder and dismemberment of Violet Kaye in 1933, the dark, dank and isolated cells below Brighton Town Hall have housed more than their fair share of ruthless killers. Many of these stories are well-known by Brighton residents, and many authors, true crime enthusiasts and bloggers have recounted their details in various forms.
However, despite being equally wicked and sensational, some have been forgotten with time, despite being similarly high-profile and horrific. One such example is the shocking murder of five-year-old Edith Jeal in 1891, which became nationally known as the ‘Brighton Outrage’. The crime shocked the local community and generated massive public outcry and disgust.
The Image above is taken from the Illustrated Police News, December 1891, courtesy of the British Library.
On the evening of the 12th of December 1891, Edith and her eight-year-old brother Bertram were sent by their father, Edward, from their home at Bedford Buildings to the local grocery shops at Upper Bedford Street. The pair first visited Mr Clarke’s Fishmongers and purchased a bundle of firewood. They then went to Mr. Gravatt’s to buy an egg. As a regular customer, Bertram felt embarrassed to take in the firewood and instructed his sister to wait outside with the previous purchase. Edith had mysteriously disappeared after only a few minutes when he returned to the street. Shortly after, the Brighton Police were alerted and began searching the surrounding streets and grassland. The search continued throughout the stormy and wintery night. Sadly, the police could find no trace of little Edith.
The image above shows St Mary’s Hall Playing Field, where little Edith’s body was discovered, courtesy of the Regency Society, Brighton.
The following day, Edward Villiers, a gardener working for the Brighton Corporation, discovered Edith’s brutalised and violated body in a storage barn at St Mary’s Hall Playing Field Eastern Road. A post-mortem was carried out at the Freshfield Road Police Station, which showed that Edith had been beaten, sexually assaulted and strangled. Later the same day, George Henry Wood, a railway cabman with a propensity for alcohol and an unhealthy interest in young girls, came to the police’s attention. When questioned, he could not provide a credible alibi and consequently was arrested and charged with the felonious and wilful murder of Edith Jeal.
The image above shows an Artist’s impression of George Henry Wood during his first appearance at the Brighton Police Court, courtesy of the British Library.
On the 13th of December, 1891, George Henry Wood first appeared at the Brighton Police Court, housed in the northern quarter of the ground floor of Brighton’s Town Hall. Keen to gain access to the proceedings, members of the public queued from dawn, eager to glimpse the face of the monster responsible for Edith’s untimely death. By 10 a.m., when the court opened, hundreds had gathered outside the court’s doors.
During the proceedings, George Henry Wood’s solicitor stated that his client had not denied the charges but had stated that he had no recollection of his actions. Many sordid and heart-wrenching details were aired during the trial and reproduced in the national media. These details shocked the Brighton community, and as the trial progressed in the subsequent days, many people publically called for retribution.
The above image is an artist’s impression of the scene outside Brighton’s Town Hall as George Henry Wood was led to the Black Maria. The image originally appeared in the Illustrated Police News, December 1891, courtesy of the British Library.
On the 29th of December, 1891, the Magistrate remanded George Henry Wood into custody for the Christmas period. Such was the length of the remand; the Magistrate ordered a remand at Lewes House of Correction until the New Year. By this time, the public’s anger reached a fever pitch, and the police feared a public lynching. The police delayed his removal for many hours, with hopes that the vast crowd would dissipate, to no avail.
When George Henry Wood emerged onto the street, the enormous crowd surged. Escorted by several police constables, George Henry Wood was led towards Lewes Prison’s Black Maria, patiently waiting in East Street. As he walked, he was threatened, booed and hissed. Believing he was about to be killed, George Henry Wood broke free of his escorts and sprinted towards the van. As he clambered inside, he crouched on the floor and covered his head. The crowd surrounded the cab and began rocking its sides in an attempt to turn it over, which caused the horse to buck in fright. Eventually, the police gained control, and the vehicle set off towards Lewes. After several further appearances, the Magistrate committed George Henry Wood to appear at the Sussex Spring Assizes at County Hall (Lewes Crown Court).
The trial began on the 8th of April at County Hall (Lewes Crown Court), overseen by Sir James Charles Matthew, Justice of the Peace. George Henry Wood’s solicitors put forward a defence of epileptic insanity. Two leading medical experts examined George at Lewes and gave conflicting views on his sanity. Several young girls damningly deposed that George Henry Wood had offered them money to accompany him onto the Sussex Downs. Local newspaper reports suggested other young girls had been ‘badly treated’ in the previous weeks, although the court never heard this.
The above image shows a pamphlet that was published to commemorate George Henry Wood’s execution in 1892. (Author’s own collection.)
The prosecution informed the court that he had also spent several years in Manitoba, Canada. The prosecution stated that George Henry Wood was incarcerated for theft on three occasions while there. Whether due to poor investigative skills or the limited communication methods at the time, they failed to discover the real reason for his imprisonment. The relevant case files have survived and show that on one occasion, George Henry Wood had groomed and sexually abused one young girl. On another occasion, he had attempted to rape another. Nonetheless, he was found guilty of Edith’s murder and sentenced to death.
After the conviction, the public expressed little sympathy for George Henry Wood and his position. However, some did believe he was insane and, via letters published in the Sussex Daily News, lobbied for a reprieve. Strangely, an anonymous friend of the Wood family who referred to himself as ‘A Lover of Truth’ wrote to the Home Office to reinforce George Henry Wood’s guilt.
The image above shows the Lewes Prison Burial Ground at the South eastern corner of the prison, where George Henry Wood was executed and buried. Also visible are the graves of the 11 other executed prisoners. (Author’s own collection.)
The case file shows that Charles Matthews, Home Secretary in 1892, deliberated over the case for several days but was ultimately unconvinced. On the 24th of April, 1892, he issued a statement stating that the law should take its course. On the 26th of April 1892, George Henry Wood was executed in the southeast exercise yard at Lewes House of Correction and buried close to the gallows. At the subsequent inquest, his executioner, James Billington, was praised for his professionalism and the swift manner in which he performed his duties.
As a true crime enthusiast and lifelong Brighton resident, I was shocked about the lack of information about this case that is publicly available. Consequently, I have spent over three years researching local, national and international archives and have now recreated an entire account of the case. Taken from witness depositions, transcripts and official memorandums and documents, for the first time in over one hundred years, Edith Jeal’s full story can now be told. The book, The Felonious and Wilful Murder of Edith Jeal: The Brighton Outrage, by Charles James Hayward is available on Amazon Books. I would also recommend anyone who has not visited the Old Police Cells at Brighton Town Hall to go. The museum is informative and chilling; allowing you to gain insight into Brighton’s darkest past.
