Secrets Of Scotland Yard - George Smith

Summary

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Podcast Summary: Secrets Of Scotland Yard – George Smith

Podcast: Harold's Old Time Radio
Host: Harolds Old Time Radio
Episode: Secrets Of Scotland Yard - George Smith
Date: July 29, 2026

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Overview

This dramatic episode of "Secrets Of Scotland Yard" delves into the infamous case of George Joseph Smith, the man behind the notorious "Brides in the Bath" murders. Through engaging voice acting and narration, the show reconstructs Smith’s crimes, his hypnotic hold over multiple women, the subsequent investigations by Scotland Yard, and his sensational trial. The episode masterfully captures the chilling duplicity of Smith and the dogged persistence of law enforcement that finally brought him to justice.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Myth of the Perfect Murder (02:00–03:30)

• The narrator opens with a meditation on the so-called “perfect murder,” noting that repeat offenders eventually give themselves away by following the same patterns.
• Quote:
  Narrator (02:10):
  "Do you believe there's such a thing as a perfect murder? I do. In fact, I'm positive there are men walking about freely today who've committed murder and got away with it… But murder breeds murder. Chances are they'll try the same thing again… and one slip, just one slip, means a noose or the electric chair for them.”

George Joseph Smith’s Modus Operandi (03:40–07:00)

• Smith is introduced as a seemingly ordinary man with “amazing hypnotic eyes,” who would seduce, marry, and defraud women with money.
• He habitually used different aliases and repeated his scams and murders.
• Victim 1: Bessie (Betty) Mundy. Smith quickly woos and marries her, then seeks access to her inheritance.
• Quote:
  Bessie (05:15):
  “The trustee said the principal has to be held in trust for me… But I still get my income of £8 every month.”

The Bath Murders Begin (07:00–12:45)

• After failing to directly access her funds, Smith coerces Bessie into creating mutual wills.
• He manipulates a doctor into believing Bessie has fits (seizures), establishing a medical pretext for her later death.
• Bessie dies in the bathtub, ruled accidental due to “epileptic fit.”
• Smith quickly collects on her estate and moves on.
• Quote:
  Narrator (12:54):
  “But it was too late. There was nothing the doctor could do. She was dead. There were no bruises on the body and the verdict of the inquest was that Betty had died accidentally through an epileptic seizure…”

Smith's Repeated Scheme (12:45–18:50)

• Smith dupes and marries multiple women, including Alice Burnham and Margaret Lofty, each time taking precautions like insuring their lives and arranging mutual wills, then waits for a moment to cause them to drown during a bath.
• Each time, coroner verdicts pronounce accidental death.
• Smith returns repeatedly to Edith Pegler, his one “true” wife, whom he never harmed.
• Quote:
  Narrator (14:23):
  “Another bride, another bath, another murder. Alice Burnham died herself. The verdict… accidental death. George Joseph Smith chalked up two perfect murders to his discredit…”

Scotland Yard Investigates (20:22–21:48)

• Inspector Neal and Captain Gerard at Scotland Yard connect the pattern of deaths after a letter and newspaper clipping are sent in, noting the suspicious similarities in each case.
• The investigation begins in earnest.
• Quote:
  Inspector Neal (20:56):
  "Wait a minute. This looks interesting... Letter here from a man who runs a lodging house in Blackpool... an inquest on a woman’s death three years ago in which one of his lodgers was involved. Verdict of accidentally drowning in a bath.”

Smith Almost Strikes Again—But is Apprehended (22:16–23:20)

• Smith attempts to set up Edith Pegler as another victim, encouraging her to take a bath for her headache, when the police arrive and arrest him just in time.
• Quote:
  Narrator (23:36):
  “If ever a woman was saved by the bell, it seems to me it was Edith Pegler. What do you think?”

The Sensational Trial (24:00–27:07)

• Smith’s courtroom appearance fascinates observers, particularly women who are drawn to the drama.
• The prosecution faces the challenge of proving guilt on circumstantial evidence, as no witnesses saw Smith commit murder.
• The most pivotal moment comes during a live demonstration: Scotland Yard re-enacts the murders with a young woman in a tub to show the simplicity of the drowning mechanism, even without physical force or marks.
• Quote:
  Captain Gerard (27:07):
  “Gentlemen of the jury, you are about to witness a practical demonstration of the method by which the prisoner Smith could have caused the death of those women who loved and trusted him…”
• The demonstration almost turns fatal as the actress goes unconscious, impressing the jury with the plausibility of Smith’s method.

Guilty—And Aftermath (27:56–30:00)

• The jury returns a guilty verdict in just 22 minutes; Smith is hanged in August 1915.
• The narrator reflects on the case’s lasting fascination and Smith’s extraordinary coldness—contrasting his tender poetry and music with chilling acts of murder.
• A coda reveals that Smith’s first wife, Caroline Jeffers Thornhill, was the only one to see through and survive him, ultimately aiding in his conviction.
• Quote:
  Narrator (30:25):
  “Yes, when Smith was sentenced to death, his first bride was there in court. Treacle is sweet, he said. But revenge is sweeter. Nice girl.”

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Memorable Quotes

• On the nature of the criminal:
  “He had the most amazing hypnotic eyes... His technique was always the same. He would propose marriage to a woman he knew had a bit of money put by…” (03:50, Narrator)

• On repeating the crime:
  “These people… have a way of repeating their crimes in exactly the same detail… And that is where the crime ceases to be perfect.” (02:30, Narrator)

• On the final fate of Smith:
  “Having heard and seen all the evidence, it took the jury exactly 22 minutes to bring in a verdict of guilty… George Joseph Smith paid for his crimes on the shovel in August 1915.” (28:27, Narrator)

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Key Segments (Timestamps)

• 02:00–03:30 – Reflections on the perfect murder
• 03:40–07:00 – Introduction of Smith and first victim, Bessie Mundy
• 07:00–12:45 – Medical set-up and first bath murder
• 12:45–18:50 – More marriages, murders; Smith’s dual life with Edith
• 20:22–21:48 – Scotland Yard connects the cases
• 22:16–23:20 – Smith’s attempted murder of Edith interrupted by arrest
• 24:00–27:07 – Sensational trial and courtroom demonstration
• 27:56–30:00 – Verdict, execution, and coda on Smith's first wife

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Tone & Atmosphere

The episode maintains an atmospheric, suspenseful, and sometimes sardonic tone, typical of Golden Age radio dramas. The narrator’s presence is compelling, moving from wry commentary to grim fascination with the psychology of the criminal. The dramatization of real events both informs and chills, blending historic true crime with storytelling flair.

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This summary captures the arc, major points, and character of the episode, serving as a vivid guide to the world of Scotland Yard’s most baffling case for both old-time radio aficionados and those new to the story.

Transcript

[Podcast Host]

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[Bessie (Betty) Mundy]

It.

[Narrator]

Come on fellows, places. Let's get the drama rolling. How do you do? This is Ty Brooks secret. Do you believe there's such a thing as a perfect murder? I do. In fact, I'm positive there are men walking about freely today who've committed murder and got away with it. Oh yes, and women too. They get away with murder. And how? These people who commit the perfect murder think they're pretty clever. Well, of course they are in a way, let's face it. But murder breeds murder. Chances are they'll try the same thing again. This is where most of them are not so clever. Murders of this sort, what should we call them? Multiple murderers, habitual murderers, whatever you like, have a way of repeating their crime in exactly the same detail. We can't tell what goes on in their crazy minds, but probably they feel that to make any change would be risky. And one slip, just one slip, means a noose on the electric chair for them. Of course they're wrong. Generally fatally wrong. Sooner or later someone is going to spot the fact that a number of murders have been committed that have a sameness about them. And that is where the crime ceases to be perfect. The pattern has been discovered and of course the next step is the discovery of the murderer himself. The casebook history of George Joseph Smith is a perfect example. In July 1915, he was put on trial at the famous Old Bailey for drowning his wives in bathtub. Yes, you heard right. Wives. Not just one of them. George Joseph Smith was a man of many marriages. Perfectly Ordinary looking fellow, except for his eyes. He had the most amazing hypnotic eyes. You'll probably never know just how many women he pooled with his smooth manners and loving words. And those eyes of his. His technique was always the same. He would propose marriage to a woman he knew had a bit of money put by. They'd be married and Smith would manage to get hold of his wife's money and then disappear. Sometimes his wife had more money than he thought at the time of the marriage, sometimes less. And this happened with Betty Mundy. Smith had married her in 1910 using the name of Henry Williams and gave his ox as picture restoring. They were married only a few days after their meeting. You see, Smith knew that her dead father had left for about £2,500 in gilt edge security. A nice tidy little packet sort, Smith. But he found it wasn't so easy for him to lay hands on it. One morning, Bessie came home from a visit to the trustees who managed her estate.

[Inspector Neal]

Thank you, Miss Bessie.

[Bessie (Betty) Mundy]

Yes, sir.

[George Joseph Smith]

What luck do you have?

[Bessie (Betty) Mundy]

Well, it's not very good news, Henry dear. You're going to be disappointed, I'm afraid.

[George Joseph Smith]

You mean they won't let you have the money?

[Bessie (Betty) Mundy]

No, they won't.

[George Joseph Smith]

But your own money, your father left it to you. What's the good of having money if you can't spend it?

[Bessie (Betty) Mundy]

Well, the trustee said the principal has to be held in trust for me. There's no way I can have it all at once. But I still get my income of £8 every month.

[George Joseph Smith]

£8? That's not enough. How'd my buy that fixed with £8? The old man wants nearly 200 for it. If I had that picture, I know I could sell it again and get twice that for it. Make 100% profit and buy you some really pretty things.

[Bessie (Betty) Mundy]

Henry dear, would we sell you the picture for £135?

[Inspector Neal]

No.

[George Joseph Smith]

Good heavens. Where did you get that money? I thought you could.

[Bessie (Betty) Mundy]

I was saving the good news for the last. This is my small monthly income that's been piling up. I got it this morning from the trustees.

[George Joseph Smith]

£135, eh?

[Bessie (Betty) Mundy]

Yes. I was going to spend it on my wedding trousseau, but we were married in such a hurry.

[Inspector Neal]

You.

[Bessie (Betty) Mundy]

Oh, you just swept me off my feet.

[George Joseph Smith]

I couldn't take the chance of losing a little smasher like you. We're going to be very happy together, aren't we?

[Bessie (Betty) Mundy]

That's what I told the trustees, darling. They were afraid you might be a fortune hunter and just ask for my money. A likely tale Anybody could tell just by looking at you how wrong they are.

[George Joseph Smith]

Darling, I may if you don't mind my borrowing that money from you. I'll just never bargain with the old man for his picture.

[Narrator]

Perhaps I can get the lesson.

[Bessie (Betty) Mundy]

He's asking what a clever man you are. Hurry back dear. I'll be waiting.

[Narrator]

But George Joseph Smith had no intention of buying it and he didn't come back. Now Betty wasn't the first woman he fixed just as easily as that. Nor the last. There was the widow at Bright from whom he got £100. The young bride who took to visit the National Gallery left her waiting for him while he skipped off his security worth £270. There was another woman named Edith Pegler. Griffith had married her in Bristol and it was to her he went back each time after one of his escapades. Was she his one true love? He never defrauded her or ill treated her in any way?

[George Joseph Smith]

No.

[Narrator]

He read Shakespeare to her in the garden and played the piano. His ill gotten gains. He set up a secondhand furniture store and she ran it for him during his many absences. He never knew the true source of his income. Whenever he chose to come back he was content just to welcome him. He was a woman who never asked questions. Obviously of course the only one of a kind that ever existed. One day Smith off on one of his periodic business trips happened Western super mare when in a crowded narrow street and before he could do anything about it he met Bessie. His most embarrassing moment you say? Not a bit. He told Bessie he'd been looking for her everywhere. Where on earth had she got to? He told Bessie that and he made it sick. What exactly he said to her. How in the world he explained away the fact that he never tried to get in touch with her friends or relations we shall never know. But it just shows you the power that Smith had over women. So Betty and her over married husband were reunited. They took a house on a year's lease and moved in. Edith, his other wife no doubt continued to sell second hand furniture. No comparison. This was very hard up. At this time he found out that the only way he could get hold of his wife's money was to have mutual will made between husband and wife each leaving the other all they possessed. If either should die, their possession would go to the other. If Betty should die. Hi on July 8th wills the time. A few days later Smith, calling himself Williams, you remember, took Betty to see a doctor. Well, what seems to be the trouble Mr. Williams?

[George Joseph Smith]

Well, it's the wife Doctor, she seems quite all right. But yesterday she. Well, she had a sit.

[Narrator]

A sit?

[George Joseph Smith]

Yes. Went all sort of straight and her eyes were staring. And then she got the shake. It was awful, Doctor. Scared me.

[Narrator]

Still, how very distressing.

[Bessie (Betty) Mundy]

The strange part is that I remember nothing about it at boy.

[George Joseph Smith]

No, no, one.

[Narrator]

One usually doesn't.

[Bessie (Betty) Mundy]

I just had a slight headache yesterday. But I feel perfectly all right now. Really I do.

[Narrator]

I think we'd better give you a thorough going over, Mrs. Williams. Don't you think so? Just to be on the safe side, you know. But whichever side. Safe side. Inside or outside, the doctor could find nothing wrong with easy going, unsuspecting Becky. Are you sure you have no cause to be alarmed? Just take things quietly for a while. Mrs. Will try to relax. Don't worry about anything.

[Bessie (Betty) Mundy]

Oh, thank you, Doctor. I will.

[Narrator]

I'll give your husband a bottle of medicine for you. Just the sedative. Something to quieten the nerves.

[George Joseph Smith]

I'll look after her, Doctor. She'll be all right. Won't you, Betty?

[Bessie (Betty) Mundy]

Yes, Henry, dear. I know you'll take good care of me.

[Narrator]

Two days later, Smith and Betty returned home from a second visit to the doctor.

[Bessie (Betty) Mundy]

But I'm so worried, Henry. I never had Fitz before. Nobody in our family ever.

[George Joseph Smith]

Now, Betty, you mustn't worry. The doctor says there's nothing really wrong with you. These things just happen sometimes.

[Bessie (Betty) Mundy]

How confusing. I don't ever remember anything about having that sit afterwards.

[Inspector Neal]

I know.

[George Joseph Smith]

Well, you get to bed early tonight and have a good rest. And tomorrow, if you find your headache coming on again, I'll fix you a nice hot bath.

[Narrator]

That'll be just the vision.

[George Joseph Smith]

A nice hot bath. There. Almost full enough.

[Bessie (Betty) Mundy]

It's a lovely bath, Henry. I think you were so clever to get such a bargain.

[George Joseph Smith]

Yes, but it's a half a crown cheaper than the fellow was asking. After all, I have to be careful how I spend your money.

[Bessie (Betty) Mundy]

Oh, tisn't my money, Henry. It's all money.

[Narrator]

Yes, dear.

[George Joseph Smith]

And remember, very shortly I shall have money of my own again.

[Narrator]

It all goes well.

[Bessie (Betty) Mundy]

I'm sure it will. Someday we'll have a glass that doesn't have to be filled by hand. One of those modern ones, won't you?

[Narrator]

Yes, dear.

[Captain Gerard]

There.

[George Joseph Smith]

That's nice and warm, isn't it?

[Bessie (Betty) Mundy]

Perfect. Henry, dear, you're so good to me.

[George Joseph Smith]

Now you get in and just lie there and relax. Put all your worries out of your mind and just relax. There's nothing to worry about any more.

[Inspector Neal]

Doctor. Doctor.

[George Joseph Smith]

What took you so long? I can't Get Betsy out of the bath. She's laying there with her head under the water.

[Inspector Neal]

I came as fast as I could. Where is she? In here. Help me. Listen. Oh, she's. She's a dead weight. Must be unconscious.

[George Joseph Smith]

I only left her for a minute. She must have had another. Now put her down on the floor.

[Narrator]

Gently. I'll try artificial respiration. But it was too late. There was nothing the doctor could do. She was dead. There were no bruises on the body and the verdict of the inquest was that Betty had died accidentally through an epileptic seizure which had caused her to fall back under the water. The doctor's testimony that he'd been treating her for fit carried great weight, although Smith appeared greatly shocked at his loss. He spent only seven guineas on the funeral and the very next day started to get probate for the will. He eventually got all Betty's money. He went back to Bristol and to his wife Edith, the woman who never asked questions. He told her he'd been on a long business trip to Canada on the matter of a Chinese image which he had sold very successfully. He soon lost most of that money in a real estate deal and went off on another business trip. Her name was Alice Burnham, 25 year old nurse. And as usual they were married a few days after their meeting. Alice had very little money until before their marriage. The precaution of having her life insured for 500 pounds. Two days after her will was made in his favor, the honeymoon couple went to Blackpool where they took lodgings with a Mrs. Courtlet. Wrote Long letters of praise about the best husband in the world and how well he was taking care of her. He was. But she didn't mention the fact that she started to have.

[George Joseph Smith]

Oh yes.

[Narrator]

Mr. Robbins decided he's on a good thing. The ideal way of making money without too much trouble for himself. Of course it included murder, but with the poor dear so eager to do what he told them, it was all just. On the second evening of their stay in Blackpool, Smith came to the landlady with a request.

[George Joseph Smith]

Mrs. Crosby, my wife was wondering if you do her a favor.

[Bessie (Betty) Mundy]

Such a pretty young girl, Mr. Smith. I'd be glad.

[George Joseph Smith]

Well, we're going out for a short walk and she'd be very glad if you'd let her have a bath when you return.

[Bessie (Betty) Mundy]

Why certainly, Mr. Smith. I'll have my daughter attend to it at once.

[George Joseph Smith]

No hurry. We won't be back for an hour or so. If you couldn't just have the water nice and hot.

[Bessie (Betty) Mundy]

Oh, there's nothing like An Oct bath is there. So relaxing. It takes your mind off all your worries.

[George Joseph Smith]

Yes, indeed.

[Narrator]

I quite agree with you. Another bride, another bath, another murder. Alice Burnham died herself. The verdict of the communist court was accidental death. George Joseph Smith chalked up two perfect murders to his discredit and went back to his wife. He disengaged. He told her his business at this time had taken him to Spain again. She believed him implicitly, asked no questions. What a woman and what a man or what a devil was this so called husband of hers who went by the good honest everyday English name of Smith. Those eyes of his filled some people with cold fear. Others with a blind face in him and an eagerness to do whatever he wanted them to. It wasn't always necessary for Smith to go in for murder. He preferred, if possible. And it was that couple just to vanish out of the lives of his victims. With of course, whatever cash or valuables he could tie loose from them. Once, when he returned to Edith Pegler, he brought her the complete crusoe of the woman he had just deserted. Saying he'd made a good business deal in Secondhand Foe. Margaret Lofty was her next bride. On the very day of their marriage, Ms. Took her to a London doctor with her usual complaint of a fist. Next morning she went to a solicitor and made a will in her husband's favor. Need I add that her life had already been insured for the nice comfortable sum of £700. In the parlor of a London lodging house, Ms. Is playing on a small harmony waiting for the bride he married yesterday. And where is his team? Yes, you're right upstairs singing about. The landlady. Heard the music stop and then the front door slammed. A few minutes later she answered the ring of the front door Bell and found Mr. Smith, whom she knew as John Lloyd, standing on the street.

[Bessie (Betty) Mundy]

Oh, it's you, Mr. Lloyd.

[George Joseph Smith]

Yes, I just popped out to buy some tomatoes for my wife's supper. She's very partial to fried tomatoes.

[Bessie (Betty) Mundy]

Now isn't that thoughtful? Aren't you? I'll find some to go with your supper. It's nearly ready.

[George Joseph Smith]

My wife come down yet?

[Bessie (Betty) Mundy]

No, I haven't seen her.

[George Joseph Smith]

I'll just nip up and tell her she'd better hurry.

[Bessie (Betty) Mundy]

I did enjoy your playing, Mr. Lloyd.

[George Joseph Smith]

Enjoy Harvard. Harvey, are you ready yet?

[Inspector Neal]

Harvey, it is black. It is black. Come and help me. He painted in the bar.

[Narrator]

Another of his brides accidentally drowned in her bath. I can hear you asking. How long can this devil keep on getting away with it?

[Podcast Host]

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[Narrator]

Remember what I said about the danger of repeating a successful murder. You are bound to be found in out. A few days later, Inspector Neal came into his office as Captain Gerard.

[Captain Gerard]

Good morning, Solan. Anything interesting in the first today?

[Inspector Neal]

Good morning, Inspector Neal. Well, I haven't opened all the letters yet. So far there's four inquiries about missing persons.

[Captain Gerard]

Yeah.

[Inspector Neal]

Another plaintive note from Mrs. Dor, who wants to know why we haven't found our missing Peanese dogs. And a letter from a man warning us to be ready for the end of the world on Saturday.

[Captain Gerard]

I believe it's true, you bit rough, wouldn't it?

[Inspector Neal]

Saturday's payday.

[Captain Gerard]

Well, write him, tell him so.

[Inspector Neal]

Wait a minute. This looks interesting to us. Letter here from a man who runs a lodging house in Blackpool. He's enclosed a newspaper clipping about an inquest on a woman's death three years ago in which one of his lodgers was involved. Verdict of accidentally drowning in a bar.

[Captain Gerard]

Let's see that later, okay.

[Narrator]

As he read in the papers about

[Captain Gerard]

another accidental drowning of the same kind in London a few days ago, both women supposed to have had epileptic fits. Could it be only coincident? Well, why not? People have fits all over the place. Why not fit in their bath?

[Inspector Neal]

True enough.

[George Joseph Smith]

All right.

[Inspector Neal]

Well, that's that thing.

[Captain Gerard]

No, look into it. I don't know why. Mr. C.R. of Blackpool. And we'll check through the files to see how many more accidents are.

[Narrator]

It was as close as that. The murder almost escaped notice. Even after Scotland Yard was told about it. But of course, once they started on the trail, it was all up with our hypnotic planning. What was he doing meanwhile? Nug in his cozy home with Edith Pegler. The white who never asked questions, you remember. But this time I prayed. He must have asked one or two. Because he was planning what you would suppose.

[George Joseph Smith]

How's your headache now, Edith?

[Bessie (Betty) Mundy]

I'm pretty. It really isn't any better. Sorry to be such a nuisance.

[Narrator]

Not a bit of it, dear, to

[George Joseph Smith]

have you fixed up in no time. I'll tell you what to do. Run upstairs and draw a nice hot bath.

[Bessie (Betty) Mundy]

A bath?

[Narrator]

Yes, Edith, a bath.

[Bessie (Betty) Mundy]

That's a bit of a surprise coming from you.

[George Joseph Smith]

What do you mean?

[Bessie (Betty) Mundy]

You've always been so funny about you having baths. I remember ever so many times you warning me that too many baths aren't good for women.

[George Joseph Smith]

Well, I've changed my mind now.

[Bessie (Betty) Mundy]

After all, you know.

[George Joseph Smith]

Run along, dear, like a good girl, will you? Have your headache cured in no time.

[Bessie (Betty) Mundy]

Yes, dear. You always take such good care of me, Edith. Yes?

[George Joseph Smith]

Call me just when you're ready to get into the bar.

[Bessie (Betty) Mundy]

All right, dear.

[Narrator]

Who the perishing blazes can that be?

[George Joseph Smith]

All right, all right, I'm coming. Who are you? What do you want?

[Inspector Neal]

Are you George Joseph Smith?

[George Joseph Smith]

Yes.

[Inspector Neal]

We are police officers from Scotland Yard. I hold a warden for your arrest and it's my duty to warn you that anything you say may be taken down and used in evidence against you.

[Narrator]

You. You heard the expression saved by the bell. If ever a woman was saved by the bell, it seems to me it was Edith Pegler. What do you think? Scotland Yard rang the doorbell just in time. Otherwise Smith would have had one more murder to answer for. Trial caused a sensation throughout Great Britain. And the courtroom was always crowded with spectators. Mostly women, by the way, who wanted to see for themselves what this man was doing.

[Bessie (Betty) Mundy]

Night.

[Narrator]

Dressed in a green waistcoat and a loose fitting sports coat, he sat in the dock opposite the judge. Staring at him with those compelling eyes of his eyes set high above prominent cheekbones, narrow lips, pointed chin. Here.

[George Joseph Smith]

What?

[Narrator]

Sir Edward Marshall hall, one of the leading barristers today Whose defending Smith had

[Inspector Neal]

to say he had a horrible way

[Captain Gerard]

of looking at one. It gave me a most unpleasant feeling. And I certainly formed the opinion that he had a curious way of influencing people.

[Narrator]

Sir Edward Marshall hall was quite convinced that Smith was trying to hypnotize him. Now do you realize the extraordinary thing about this case was that there was nothing but circumstantial evidence to prove this man was a murderer? A lot of people think you can't hang a man on circumstantial evidence alone. I wonder where that idea came from. All the same, the judge had a very ticklish point to decide it was not is this man innocent or guilty? But is there sufficient evidence in law to convict this undoubtedly guilty man? The difference there is. Nobody could prove that Smith himself actually held those three women under the water until they were drowned. But the way each death had occurred in exactly the same manner, well it was asking too much of anyone to believe that it could have been just coincidence. Nevertheless, Ms. Council tried to argue it was possible.

[Inspector Neal]

It would be impossible to believe Milad, that the same number could come up

[Captain Gerard]

on a left table five times in success. But if this happened Milad, you would not be entitled to convict the courtier as a dishonest man.

[Inspector Neal]

On the contrary. If I saw it happen and the same people went at the table all the time I should consider I had a perfect right to grow highly suspicious.

[Narrator]

The Smith was quiet as he sat there listening to the evidence piling up against him. But when Inspector Neil went into the witness box he suddenly lost all control.

[Inspector Neal]

He's a scoundrel. He won't be in his doctor. He will be one day. He's been doing nothing with crimes the last five years. I don't get jobs. What you say, you can't say this will. I've done no murder. I'm innocent.

[Narrator]

How could he be innocent? How could he ever think himself innocent? Unless. And mind you, this is just an idea. Unless he put those women into a hypnotic trance and let them drown themselves. If that's how it happened, if he didn't actually hold them under the water himself his sick brain might twist that into a belief that he was innocent. Inspector Neal had a theory as to how these murders were done too. More the sort of theory you'd expect from Stockton Yard. More practical. As a matter of fact, almost too practical. It caused a sensation when he offered to put on a demonstration right there. The three bathtubs had been admitted as evidence with one of them filled with water. Then he produced a pretty girl in A bathing suit from then on to his grew livelier by the minute.

[Captain Gerard]

Gentlemen of the joint, you are about to witness a practical demonstration of the method by which the prisoner Smith could have caused the death of those women who loved and trusted him. And who died, he says, accidentally. This young lady has consented to play the part of the victim. I myself will take the part we contend was played by George Joseph Smith. Are you ready?

[Bessie (Betty) Mundy]

Yes, Inspector.

[Captain Gerard]

Very good. Now, if you'll be so kind as to set into the path.

[Bessie (Betty) Mundy]

My true.

[Captain Gerard]

Yes, Crouch over a bit as though you were going to sit down. And stay well back so that you won't bump your head as you fall. I asked the jury to remember that there were no marks of violence on any of the victims except for two small bruises on the arm of Margaret Lofty.

[Inspector Neal]

Have you arranged for the doctor to be present just in case?

[Captain Gerard]

Yes, sir. Lad, he is sitting over there.

[Inspector Neal]

Very good. You may proceed with your extremely interesting demonstration.

[Captain Gerard]

Now, miss, you quite understand what I'm going to do, don't you?

[Bessie (Betty) Mundy]

Yes, you grab him by the seat and then flip me over face downwards in the water.

[Captain Gerard]

That's it. And you pretend to stutter.

[George Joseph Smith]

Yes.

[Captain Gerard]

Right. Now, boy, help me out a little time. And if you're suspending, she's been.

[Inspector Neal]

Good Lord. The doctor. Get the doctor, please.

[Narrator]

Inspector Neil's little experiment proved almost too realistic. The girl at Song Swimmer was completely unconscious and they had real difficulty in bringing her around. Having heard and seen all the evidence, it took the jury exactly 22 minutes to bring in a verdict of guilty. And though Smith appealed, the higher court upheld the verdict. George Joseph Smith paid for his crimes on the shovel in August 1915. I wonder. Woods must have been able to cheat the hangman if he pleaded insanity. He might have. I don't know. But undoubtedly the man was quite mad. How else can you explain the behavior of a man who could read Shakespeare to one woman in a garden soon after, he brutally killed another? Who could sit quietly at an organ and play a dag for his bride near a. My God. To be a few minutes after he callously drowned her. To me, Smith is quite incredible. And I'll admit it's fascinating, too. As a footnote to the story of George Joseph Smith, let me tell you about Caroline Jeffers Thornhill, the first woman he married. Somehow he managed to get her into trouble with the police and deserted her. Two years later, Beatty was in London and saw her husband looking in a shop window. But unlike Betty. Betty, maybe you remember, Beatty did not believe in sweet reunions. She had her husband arrested by the nearest speaker and sent to jail for two years hard labor for receiving stolen goods. Tit for tat, you might call it. When he came out of prison, Smith swore to murder her. Beatty fled to Canada for safety, vowing she'd never come back to England. But he did. Yes, when Smith was sentenced to death, his first bride was there in court. Treacle is sweet, he said. But revenge is sweeter. Nice girl.

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