George Brain

Overview

George Brain was executed by hanging at Wandsworth Prison on November 1, 1938.

Timeline

• 14 July 1938 — A motorist driving through Somerset Road, Wimbledon spotted a woman's body lying in the road and initially thought it was a hit-and-run.
• Two days later — George Brain was reported to the police by his employers on suspicion of embezzlement.
• July 1938 (27th July) — George Brain was recognised on Minster Cliffs, Sheerness and arrested.
• 1 November 1938 — George Brain was hanged at Wandsworth Prison.

The offence

On 14 July 1938, a motorist driving through Somerset Road, Wimbledon saw a woman's body lying in the road. The first impression was that she had been knocked down by a car and that the driver had failed to stop. The woman was found to be dead.

Police did not think it was a simple hit-and-run accident. On closer inspection, police concluded that the woman had been killed elsewhere and that her body had been put in the road to make the death appear accidental. Tyre-marks were found on the woman's legs and were thought to have belonged to either a Morris Minor or an Austin Seven car.

The woman was identified as 30-year-old prostitute Rose Muriel Atkins, also known as 'Irish Rose'.

George Brain was reported to the police by his employers two days later on suspicion of embezzlement.

Investigation

Police investigated the scene and determined that the death had been arranged to appear accidental. They found tyre-marks on the woman's legs that were thought to belong to either a Morris Minor or an Austin Seven car.

Police then focused on a green Morris van associated with George Brain. Brain drove a green Morris van for a firm of boot-repairers.

A nationwide hunt was launched for Brain. Police interests increased after they discovered bloodstains in the van and Rose Muriel Atkins's handbag in the vehicle, with Brain's fingerprints on it.

Police also identified that the woman had been killed with a knife. The knife was found hidden in the van's garage.

Arrest

George Brain had vanished after leaving the van in a work-mate's garage. He remained at large until 27 July, when he was recognised on Minster Cliffs, Sheerness and arrested.

Trial

George Brain was tried at the Old Bailey.

The jury took just fifteen minutes to find him guilty.

Mr Justice Wrottesley sentenced George Brain to death.

Outcome

George Brain was hanged on 1 November 1938 at Wandsworth Prison.

Other details

• George Brain was 27 years old at the time of the report and arrest.
• George Brain worked as a driver for a firm of boot-repairers in Pancras Street.
• George Brain's employers reported him to police on suspicion of embezzlement.
• George Brain told police that he had picked up Rose Atkins in Wimbledon late at night and that she demanded money, threatening to tell his employers that he was using the van after hours.
• George Brain told police that, without thinking, he had hit Rose Atkins with the van's starting handle.
• George Brain's account did not tie in with the fact that Rose Atkins had been stabbed to death with a knife.
• George Brain said he had stolen four shillings from the woman's handbag.
• Rose Atkins was described as being known as 'Irish Rose'.