The
With Rachel & Hannah
Jane Maria Clouson
Jane Maria Clouson, a 17-year-old domestic servant, was found brutally attacked on April 25, 1871. Despite significant evidence pointing to her employer's son, Edmund Walter Pook, he was acquitted of her murder, and the case remains one of the most infamous unsolved murders of Victorian London.
Victim: Jane Maria Clouson
Perpetrator: Suspected Edmund Pook (acquited...but shouldn't have been)
Date of Incident: April 1871
Location: Eltham, South London
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Key Details
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Background: ane Maria Clouson worked as a maid for the Pook family in Greenwich, South East London. She had a secret relationship with Edmund Walter Pook, the son of her employer, and was reportedly pregnant at the time of her death.
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Murder: On the evening of April 25, 1871, Jane was found lying in Kidbrooke Lane with severe head injuries. She was discovered by a coachman who alerted the authorities. Jane succumbed to her injuries a few days later, without regaining full consciousness.
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Investigation: Suspicion quickly fell on Edmund Walter Pook, who was rumoured to have been in a relationship with Jane and feared the repercussions of her pregnancy. Blood-stained clothing and a bloodied hammer were found near Pook's residence, adding to the suspicion.
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Trial: Pook was arrested and charged with Jane’s murder. During the trial, the prosecution presented circumstantial evidence, including testimonies about the blood-stained clothes and hammer. However, the defence successfully cast doubt on the reliability of the evidence and witnesses.
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Acquittal: On July 11, 1871, after a trial that captivated the public, Edmund Walter Pook was acquitted due to insufficient evidence. The verdict was met with public outrage, and many believed that justice had not been served.
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Aftermath: Pook and his family faced public condemnation and threats following the trial. Jane Clouson was buried in Brockley Cemetery, where public subscription erected a memorial in her honour. The case remains a subject of intrigue and speculation, often cited as an example of Victorian judicial failure.