The story of George Gillson was covered in an earlier blog, which can be found here. This blog looks at the perspective of Gillson the person.
In this blog, while we cannot say for certain how Edith James or George Gillson would want to have been referred to, we have chosen to use the name Gillson and the pronouns they/them.
Gillson was born female as Edith James around 1880. They lived in Pennsylvania, America until they turned 17 when they travelled to England with their older sister Lizzie and younger brother Thomas. They lived on the South Coast with their Aunt and Uncle. Their Uncle was apparently a well-known solicitor who was also practicing at the time.
Gillson’s life in the late 1890s was quite comfortable. They were described as an enthusiastic and adventurous horse rider, and they had been left plenty of money from their parents to ensure they had a good education and a good home. It was around 1900 when Gillson decided to leave home and seek their fortune in London – “I am going into business. Where a man can succeed I can”. With this decision, they fell out of contact with their family.
At first Gillson went to work for an insurance company as a ‘Lady Canvasser’, persuading people to insure their valuables. They then started a business insuring security keys and other premises, known as a ‘Key Registry’ business, which was in reality a scam for their own profit making £20 a week, that’s around £1,571.39 today.
Gillson would come across as very confident, challenging anyone who questioned their Key Registry and claiming falsely that they were backed up, usually by the Ocean Accident Guarantee Corporation – “If you doubt my word… won’t you telephone to the Ocean? A gentleman did so the other day and looked rather small afterwards”.
Gillson chose to defraud bankers, solicitors and other insurers and used many different names in an effort to not be found out, including: Shilson, Stevens, Bauer, Bower, Bates, Sprague, Frost and Henson.
With the money they were making they rented an apartment in London, known as Mansion House Chambers, and they also bought a Paris-built phaeton, a type of carriage, and a thorough-bred horse.
While living at Mansion House Chambers Gillson always appeared to have plenty of money and was well dressed and authoritative. It was noted by neighbours that they saw Gillson in their apartment dressed as a woman and leave the apartment dressed as a man.
In October 1903 and January 1904, they were investigated for fraud and brought before the court. On both occasions Gillson was discharged. “I’m only a girl, but I’m able to look after myself. The men are jealous of me; that is all”.
It was in May 1904 that the law caught up with them, and they were sentenced to 12 months in prison. After serving their sentence in May 1905 they continued on with their fraud.
A few months later a Stockton based solicitor was scammed by Gillson and went to the police. A warrant was issued and Gillson was arrested in Burnley.
On 24th November 1905 Gillson was handcuffed to a policeman, Constable Richardson, and being escorted to Stockton by train. As the train pulled into Stockton station and was slowing down, Gillson made their ill-fated escape attempt. They opened the carriage door and threw themself and Constable Richardson out from the train. Both were struck by a passing train, with Gillson’s legs amputated and Richardson hit on the head. Gillson later died in hospital and Richardson was seriously injured.
Gillson was examined post-mortem, and it was discovered that they had been born female. After a mass-call out through the newspapers, the deceased’s younger brother came forward to view the body and identified them as their sister, who they had not seen for about five years. They were buried quietly in Oxbridge Cemetery in Stockton.
