Born in 1851 in Ipswich, Suffolk, Ada Clifford was a woman of short stature, standing at a mere 5'3". By the year 1871, she had formed a cohabiting arrangement with a 29-year-old man named George Alexander. Together, they presented themselves to the world as a married couple, despite not formalizing their union.
During that same period, Ada's path crossed with that of Margaret Jane Southey. Margaret took up residence alongside Ada and George in various locations. Notably, they resided in a dwelling on Sermon Lane, which had gained a reputation as a "house of ill-repute." Within its walls, Margaret engaged in the trade of prostitution. Due to the necessity of their circumstances, the three of them found themselves sharing a bed.
Margaret's life had been marked by a series of hardships. At the age of twenty, she found herself alone as her mother had passed away and her father had abandoned her in America. She came to England upon her uncles' invitation, seeking their care and support. However, upon her arrival, it was discovered that she was pregnant. To avoid disgrace, her uncles approached a surgeon to obtain something that would induce a stillbirth. The surgeon, after consulting with the police, provided them with harmless medicine, leading to their subsequent arrest after several meetings. The details of the evidence were unsuitable for publication, but based on these facts, the counsel for the defendants argued that there was no case for the Jury to consider. Later, Margaret gave birth to her daughter, Lily, in Cornwall. Unfortunately, her situation worsened as her mother's family disowned her due to the stigma associated with having an illegitimate child.
In the year 1871, Margaret adopted the alias "Miss Edwards" and journeyed to London, leaving her firstborn daughter, Lily, under the care of a couple named Robert and Frances Master, who received compensation for looking after the child.
On February 12, 1873, Ada and George accompanied a pregnant Margaret to St. Saviour's Hospital in Upper Holloway. There, Margaret gave birth to her second daughter and named her Ada Mary Smart. The couple advised Margaret to use the false name "Jessie Smart" during her stay. After a span of nine days, Ada visited Margaret in the hospital, bearing care packages for the new-born.
It was on February 28th, 1873, that Margaret left the hospital, accompanied by George and Ada, and stopped at the Nag's Head for refreshments. During this outing, Ada took the baby from Margaret. The subsequent events involved multiple stops, with George asserting that Ada had taken the child to the Victoria public-house at King's Cross. Yet, despite their claims, the baby's whereabouts remained unknown to Margaret. George informed Margaret that the child had been placed out for nursing.
To secure the child's care, Margaret began providing George and Ada with a weekly payment of seven shillings. Despite their insistence that the child resided in the countryside, the exact address was kept concealed. Margaret's requests to visit her child were met with a demand for £3 to cover the fare, an opportunity that never materialized.
By May of 1874, a dispute arose between Margaret and George, prompting the intervention of law enforcement. This ultimately led to the arrest of George and Ada. The subsequent trial unveiled a crucial piece of information: on the very evening that Margaret had left the hospital, a window cleaner named Thomas had discovered the child lying on a pavement. He quickly sought the assistance of Policeman Robert French, who took charge of the child and brought her to the police station. The child, named Mary Albany after the location where she was found, was subsequently transferred to St. Pancras workhouse for proper care.
Under the attentive care of Nurse Annie Taapfe, the sickly child was bathed and treated with poultices for her chest and back. However, the child's condition rapidly deteriorated, with Medical Officer Joseph Hill diagnosing congestion and inflammation of the lungs. Despite diligent efforts to alleviate her suffering, the child passed away on the evening of March 12th. Her demise was attributed to congestion and inflammation of the lungs, exacerbated by exposure to the cold.
Following a protracted legal process, both George and Ada were found guilty of manslaughter. The court sentenced them both to 20 years of penal servitude. Ada Clifford's release on licence occurred on November 28th, 1883, and her subsequent whereabouts have remained a mystery. Similarly, George Alexander's location after the 1881 Census, which revealed his confinement in Her Majesty's Convict Prison in Portland, Dorset, England, has remained elusive to this day.
Photographs of Ada Clifford
© The National Archives TNA PCOM 4/53/25
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