Murder of Jane Clouson

Clouson was found, bleeding heavily and barely conscious, at about 4am on the morning of April 26, 1871 in Kidbrooke Lane, Eltham.

It was claimed that Clouson and the 20-year-old Pook, the son of her employer (Clouson was the family maid), had been having an affair lasting several months with the result that she had become pregnant; Edmund would not marry Jane because his brother had already angered his father by marrying beneath his station and Edmund had no intention of doing the same, so Jane was fired from the household.

However, this claim was refuted by his parents, who stated that Jane was dismissed following several warnings about her unkempt appearance, and slovenly work habits.

During the trial, the judge (Sir William Bovill, sitting as Chief Justice of the Common Pleas) ruled that all statements apparently made by Clouson before her death (including naming Pook as her assailant) were hearsay and therefore inadmissible as evidence.

During the final day of his trial, a large crowd had gathered in the street outside the court, the courtroom being packed with spectators.

It has been suggested that Edmund had escaped justice because of his social class, and family connections; it was noted that his father (Ebenezer Whitcher Pook) had previously worked for The Times as a tradesman printer.

For many years afterwards the ghost of Clouson was allegedly seen in Kidbrooke Lane, including several reported sightings by patrolling policemen.