Year 6 Investigate:
The George Edalji Case

Year 6 pupils spent a fascinating afternoon at Cheslyn Hay Sports and Community College, with history specialists from Great Wyrley High school and Cheslyn Hay, learning about one of our most famous local crimes.

In the Edwardian era George Edalji, solicitor son of the vicar of St Marks, was accused of the crime of killing livestock in the area. The family had already suffered from racist attacks for many years and a series of anonymous letters seemed to point to George Edalji as the culprit. George Edalji was tried in a Cannock court and sentenced to prison in 1903 where he remained until1906 when Sir Arthur Conan Doyle took an interest in the case and gathered sufficient evidence to point to a miscarriage of justice and cast doubt on the verdict.

Year 6 examined the evidence, made decisions as to point of view and bias, then set up their own court room and appointed judge, prosecutor and defence. Witnesses were called and questioned and the jury delivered their verdict – ‘Not Guilty’ – by a very narrow margin.

The defence lawyer examines a witness while the judge listens intently.

The prosecution lawyer cross examines a witness.

J. White