Robert William Thomas Cavers Wood
Robert William Thomas Cavers Wood was one of a large family that had moved south from Edinburgh when his recently widowed father George Wood found employment and a house at 12 Frederick Street, off Grays Inn Road, near Kings Cross.
His artistic talent was discovered at the Australian Medical Students Club when he had worked on medical drawings for students. The club closed in 1893 and he found employment with the Sand and Blast Manufacturing Company, a glassware manufacturer in Grays Inn Road.
He had no formal training but he continued to draw figures and patterns and by 1902 at the age of 24 he had raised his status and salary to that of designer.
With the possible support of his employers who appeared to hold him in high regard, he was represented by a solicitor well versed in criminal causes. Arthur John Newton was involved in the Cleveland Street Scandal and later went on to represent Dr Hawley Harvey Crippen in another famous murder trial.
For Wood he secured the services of Edward Marshall Hall QC. Hall was a master of the criminal courts, no less revered than a pop star of modern times. His style of oratory was quite often bizarre but the popular crowd loved him and followed his every word.
The public gallery of the Old Bailey was filled with the great luminaries of the day; actors, writers and artists jostled for the reserved seats. The general public filled the streets outside and before them paraded some of the most defiled sections of society to give evidence in the trial of Robert Wood.
The case for Wood's defence was varied. He had gone to extraordinary lengths to ensure that he had an alibi for the evening or September 11. Marshall Hall's view was that if he was guilty and knew when Emily had died then why try to set up an alibi for a time some eight or nine hours before he needed one.
Wood also stated that after leaving the Eagle he had gone back to his father's home. A neighbour, a keen fisherman who was out in the garden collecting worms, confirmed that he had seen Wood arrive home at about midnight. Wood's father was ill and could not fully support this story.
McCowan's identification rested upon visibility. By the time he reached St Pauls Road the electric street lights had been turned off. The previous day had been one of the hottest of the year, as the 12th was going to be and there was a slight mist. Another resident of St Pauls Road William Westcott said he saw a man fitting McCowan's description entering Brewery Road at about 4.55am. Westcott was a ticket collector at St Pancras station and was on the early shift. He was also a keen boxer and had a certain swing to his walk. It was possible that it was Westcott McCowan had seen and not Wood.
The last doubt was of an impediment. Wood had damaged a finger on his left hand whilst young. He was conscious of this and often walked with his left hand in his pocket. Marshall Hall stated that he as was able to call as many witnesses who said Wood did not have a certain recognisable walk as the prosecution could bring to prove otherwise. The point was accepted.
Many of the public in court were there because of Edward Marshall Hall. They were not disappointed. Marshall Hall's cross examining was brilliant, his summing up superb but even he believed that Wood's life still hung in the balance. The judge appeared to be instructing the jury to convict Wood when suddenly he stated that he did not feel the prosecution had proven their case and it was their duty to acquit the defendant. After deliberating for only fifteen minutes the jury returned a verdict of 'Not Guilty'.
The Camden Town Murder remains a landmark in English Legal History in that it was the first time since the passing of the Criminal Justice Bill of 1905 that an accused man in a murder trial was able to give evidence on his own behalf.
The question remains -
The revised paperback edition of The Camden Town Murder: The Life and Death of Emily Dimmock
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