I remember going to the store at 5 years old for my grandmother. A lot of my friends did too. Little ones going to the store remained common until around the late 90s.
I'm in the UK & used to do this too. I also used to roam the nearby streets just to be out roaming! I must admit though, I can still remember how very nervous & anxious I was when my mother first asked me to go & buy a jar of coffee from the town centre. I can vividly remember the walk down & my anxiety, but absolutely nothing about being in the High Street itself or the journey back home. Perhaps I was too overwhelmed & focused on doing it & getting home! In stark contrast, I didn't even let my son walk to school on his own until he was 10 yrs old, & that was because it was necessary for an educational course I had to start!
Don't ever change a thing about these videos! They are so perfectly intriguing and the diction so incredibly perfect, I love it! From the beginning where you say "So, sit back as we go to" all the way through to the ending "I hope to see you all in the next brief...case." EVERYTHING is PERFECT!!! The music, your voice, and the way you describe things...Don't change a thing!!! Each case is so absorbing that I actually find myself drifting back to the era of each case, and becoming so wrapped up in each case. Excellent work on these videos. Don't change a thing!!! I love them!!!
So there were no other suspects, he had already been convicted multiple times (not for murder but still...) and went free? I understand that all the evidence was circumstantial but who else could it have been then? My heart breaks for little Vera but also for her parents, who never had closure.😢
Remember guilt must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. His wife gave him an alibi, the witness who saw a man with a wheelborrow couldn't identify him. The chemist (pharmacist) couldn't identify him buying the bandage. Alot of room for doubt. Is it possible someone he worked with did it? IDK sad all around.
Such a tragic case. To lose a child is horrendous, but to lose your only child, devastating. Then to see the only suspect get off beyond unbearable. He seems to be the only one who could have taken away this precious little girl's life. I was born and brought up not too far away and even in the 50s we would go to the park for hours, go to and from school on our own. A different time. Poor little mite. Thank you for this one.
@ceceliaclarke I have to say that that was mot my parents attitude at all. I also had older sisters at home. My mother took away all bicycles when one of my oldest sister's friends died on hers. I had a very safe and loving childhood, my mother had been sent to live with an aunt as they were poor and my father lost a brother in the great war when he was young. We were very precious to my parents and had relatives all round. Down our street were many of the children we went to school with. Our place was safe.
@ceceliaclarke Quit acting like you know what everybody thinks or thought, and whether or not someone's home was safe when you were never even there. Jeez
@RIVALContentJammerz You weren't brought up with manners, were you? I am entitled to talk about what I know, as you weren't even thought of. Plus some of us are educated.
Evil people existed then as now. The fact that we now hear of similar heinous crimes on a fairly regular basis prevents me from even questioning “who” anymore, it’s a given that people need to be constantly vigilant.
With DNA testing these days the case would've been solved quickly. How heartbreaking it would have been for Vera's parents to go to their graves without closure.
You know people keep saying that, But there are people who've been sitting in jail for many many years despite having DNA evidence to prove their innocent.
Vera Page was the cousin of my children's grandmother. Her loss was felt by all her relatives until they passed. The family never got over it. So so sad.
The problem is he never got into trouble again, which isn't usually the case with this type of disorganized murderer. Maybe he was scared straight, but that's a rarity.
correct but there was a Serial killer living a few Streets away at that date i wonder if this iS john chrSiteS earliest work he waS between period's in prison having got out of wandSworth in 1929 not much i known before he waS caught again in 1933
@@steve08717John Christie is a plausible suspect. He was also ale to get others take the blame, one of which was actually hanged for a murder Christie almost certainly committed.
He may have got scared straight, but in the absence of being good he may have just become more careful. He could have gone further afield for his flashing escapades and refrained from the murder part of the crime. A wise man once said “Never shit on your own doorstep,” (or that of your parents).
It was unusual that the police put a lot of effort into finding him for this case. Without DNA it was difficult to link someone to a murder and there were plenty of young or teenage girls in poor areas of London who likely disappeared without much effort to look for them - especially in this era of the depression when poverty, suicide and prostitution were rampant
If Sir Bernard Spilsbury couldn't find enough forensic evidence against Rush, no-one could. Spilsbury's reputation came under considerable doubt as time went on, it's a fascinating story.
The murder of Vera Page is officially unsolved but unofficially there is no doubt Rush was guilty. Indecent exposure often leads to other sexual offences. The evidence was circumstantial and I can understand why the jury were reluctant to convict but deliberating for a few minutes is unforgettable. I wonder if his wife and parents ever entertained the possibility that Rush was guilty, but I doubt it. Poor little Vera, she must have been terrified. I have heard of this case before, I was deeply then and I still am.
The red tablecloth with the knitted fringe……it seems to me that this is one of the most damning pieces of evidence, never mind that Percy Rush already had a conviction for indecent exposure! That was one lazy-ass jury to only convene for five minutes when a beautiful little girl’s life was violated and taken. Disgusting outcome! Rip Vera. 💔
Even in the 70's when I was a child, it wasn't unusual for children to run around town alone. My twin sister and I ran errands for our mom when we were 5 years old, we always went together. Mom would never send us after dark, only when it was still daylight.
I grew up in the 70s too, and like you, was allowed to go to the shop with my siblings. In the school holidays, we used to roam around the countryside for hours but knew we had to be home before it got dark. As a mother now, it makes me shudder to think what could have happened to us. Poor little Vera, just going about her business. 😢
Yup i was born in the 80s and I ran errands and played outside till the street lights turned on. I did have one scare when I was walking to school and someone tried to kidnap me. I ran to the crossing guard and she found me a mom with her kids to walk me the rest of the way to school. The crossing guard got ahold of the police and I had to talk to them. I wasn't the only one the guy tried to get that day. They never did find him so the school asked one of the moms who lived close to me to walk with me and her kids to and from school every day. But I still played out in the neighborhood just had to check in every half hr.
@jsrcamp Oh my goodness. That is so frightening. Thank goodness you found the road crossing patrol and the kind Mum to look after you. How awful and unsettling, especially as they didn't ever catch the man. So glad you were safe.
My grandmother, great uncle, and great aunt were born in the 50's. When they were kids they would go all over their neighborhood or to stores or markets while their parents were at work. They went and played in the woods, they would hang out with their friends. However their parents WOULD NOT send them out after dark.
I was born in 65, I wasn’t allowed to go to town until I was about 12. It was a mile away and I had to take the backroads on my bike. I had to wait til 14 to take the bus to the mall. I used to get so mad about it, but when I became a parent, I understood. My mother was just trying to keep me safe. Little kids should not be allowed out alone.
@@BriefCaseOfficialSuch a beautiful little girl. This is truly a heartbreaking case. My husband and I were only able to have one child, our daughter in 1982. We were living in Southern California and she was nearly abducted by a deranged woman in the parking lot of a department store. Like a flash, this woman grabbed our daughter and was taking her, but we stopped her and she ran away. I’m grateful to God that we didn’t lose her. I was only 17 at the time and my husband was 20.
Thank you so much. What a sweet little face that dear little girl had . Poor, poor little girl and the agony her parents must have gone through is unimaginable. As the evidence stands, it certainly sounds as if he did it but, without the certainty of modern forensics and dna, I wouldn’t like to say. It would have been so hard to be on a jury for the trial. He’s certainly lucky he wasn’t prosecuted on circumstantial evidence alone. 🙏🙏🙏👵🇦🇺
BC and Crimey were my first true crime presenters, too, and still among my favorites. Love the old cases, the vintage photos, and the soothing voices with charming accents. ❤
I find it always so sad when a case goes unresolved and the family never have definite answers as to who and especially why. It must be something that gnaws at you your entire life. Very sad. Thank you Brief Case, another beautifully descriptive narration of a long ago mystery.
I wonder if Percy's parents continued to live in the same house or if they had to move. Even if found not guilty, he would still be around Vera's parents, very unsettling.
This is a very horrible case. Poor little Vera. It must be and excruciating ordeal to go through when this happens to them. Especially when the child is/has been murdered by someone that is so inhuman and terrible to rape a young lady. I can't believe he was aquitted. It shouldn't remain unsolved, they should put it in the record book that he did it, absolutely!!!!
he may have done but without evidence it is not easy to convict. With todays DNA he may well have been found out but you cannot convict because you are 'sure' he did it. BTW I think he did too but you cannot convict because you think people 'might be guilty' you have to be sure. Too many innocent people ended up on the end of a rope to chance it
Good morning, This was a hard one for me because my daughter was taken away years ago. i’m so sorry her family didn’t receive any justice. I usually will leave you a long comment, but the only other thing I can say is just because the person has a checkered past doesn’t always mean they’re guilty and innocent people have been sentenced to life or death. I really wish they would’ve found the person that did this. I hope you have a wonderful week Bless
I am so sorry that your daughter was taken from you! I read your post and wanted to send you my deepest sympathies. Hope you're able to get support and carry on as best as you can.
Hello BC! It’s difficult to say if he was guilty or not, despite your ever great forensic analysis that you research on all your cases. All of them very old. It must be difficult to obtain the information you provide to all your avid fans. Without you, all these terrible tragedies would be forgotten, so thank you for bringing the memories of those victims back to our time. If he did kill her, he lived a long time with the guilt until the 60s. But criminals, especially for these heinous crimes, find it difficult to stop. So I think he would have done it again and be singled out immediately by the police if another child had been molested near his residence. So at the end… RIP little Vera ❤
Dreadful how many people literally got away with murder in the past. Such a sad story, My dad would have been nearly the same age as Vera, and not living too far from where she was murdered. She never had the opportunity to be a wife,mum or grandmother. So sad. RIP Vera. Fabulous story telling as always!
The Page couple poured all of their love and dreams into little Vera, only to have her snatched away from them by a vile, perverse cretin. Absolutely heartbreaking!
The fact that children are not safe on rhe streets is a sure sign of the level of degradation society falls to. This type of violence, abduction, assault and murder, restricts one's movements. May people learn from these crimes. Another well researched case B. C.
I think he was guilty as sin. But they did not have the evidence to conclusively prove that. Admitting his earlier offenses may have swayed the jury's opinion. In earlier days he might have been convicted, though. I wonder why the police didn't check his place of employment to see if they had bandages of the type that matched the one found on the poor girl's body. ETA: Only five minutes of deliberation? They couldn't even have had time to review any of the case materials.
Hello Brief Case. 👋 I had a lovely phone call with my mum and now I have a fantastic video to enjoy. A wonderful beginning to my Monday morning. Thank you so much. 😊
Yessss! I've been LOVING your videos ever since I discovered your channel a few months ago and was SO excited to see a new video just now! I love these old cases and the pictures and information you provide is amazing!
i first read of this case in a book called murder in the 30s , cornish new it was rush who murdered vera and it never left his mind and stopped rush from meeting his fate with robert baxter.
Whether he did it or not, the jury made the only possible call, given the slim evidence. That he had previous convictions for exposure is telling, but we don't know if that was to children or adults, and even if it was to kids, it's a leap from that to SA and murder, especially (in retrospect) as he had no further trouble with the law.
I'm thinking Percy was guilty. Inconsistencies in his story. He said he never went out without his wife but he had told the police he went for a walk on the evening Vera went missing while his wife was away and got home shortly before her.. He admitted to the police knowing Vera and described her as a nice little girl but told the coroner he would not know her if he saw her in the street.
My Monday is complete since I’ve just listened to another intriguing crime story from you! I feel he was guilty as sin. You have a way of engaging us like no other Mr. Brief Case! Poor little Vera. ❤
O.M.G I have lived in this area all my life and Still do I know all these streets very very well as I worked in Notting Hill Gate Yet again another great story❤❤❤❤
How terrible, and right before Christmas, this would have made the normally festive holiday, intolerable for her family. May they all rest in peace. I hope the police kept a close eye on Rush, until he died, since this type of crime is never a one-off.
How terrible! And the withholding pertinent information from jury seems inexcusable. The images and narration appear seamless and effortless- but I’m not fooled! Thank you for all the work that goes into making these!
They got away with murder, did a analysis of this case and as I recall his conclusion was he was guilty. Very sad case covered so well by yourself and Mark. Thank you Brief Case.
Maybe Mr Rush was guilty, and I think he likely was, but the evidence was really only circumstantial: the jury could do nothing but reach that verdict.
Mr. Rush had spent two months in jail for indecent exposure. It's not hard to imagine him killing a child. I literally rewinded this to see if I missed something. With all the evidence provided by the prosecutor, that man walked. Yes, he got away with murder. Sad story. Everyone stay safe. ✌️ BC, good one. 👍
It's Monday night, it's Brief Case night Did he do it. Oh for the benefit of modern day forensics. Wonder if his indecent exposure charges were from children or adults. Did his marriage survive the trial? Lastly, jury out for 5 minutes, my goodness - barely enough time to write "not guilty" on some paper.
I believe he paid for that verdict. Evidence, circumstantial mostly. Given his prior convictions and the fact that his story changed. Ever so slightly, but it changed. Indeed, 5 minutes isn't even long enough to sit down let alone discuss the fate of another human.
@jenniferryersejones: What you wrote is basically the conclusion that Mark John Maguire arrived at, whose excellent channel "They got away with murder" I recommend, and who treated this case about a year ago.
The evidence for this crime would still be in the police archives and might be worth resurrecting for modern forensic analysis. This is very similar to Melbourne's Gun Alley Murder case of 1921-22 (also covered by Brief Case). Colin Campbell Ross was convicted and hanged for the rape-murder of 12-year old Alma Tirtschke. More than seven decades later, in 1998, a true-crime journalist obtained access to the evidence and, long story short, had it it forensically analysed and proved Campbell Ross's innocence. There just might be enough evidence available to conduct this same scientific process in reverse - that is to prove Percy Rush guilty.
Poor little thing, and i feel so terrible for her parents, I doubt this case will ever be solved either after all this time. So very sad, they are at least all together again now. TY briefcase for yet another beautifully researched and narrated case. ❤😢
All the circumstantial evidence was very incriminating and, although the finger pointed at Percy Rush, there were no eye-witnesses to corroborate his whereabouts or witnesses who could actually identify him at being at the scene of the crime so the jury's decision to release him was warranted. It was said the paraffin which was found was one in common use so would have been available to any number of people, but that is just one isolated point to consider in narrowing down the identification of the killer. If you were to combine all the evidenciary items together, it would look like Percy is their man. The fibers from the bandage material used that was left behind that did not match could have been explained. Some other material the family had on hand could have been used for that particular occasion. I doubt he used the same dressing day after day. He had to change his bandages at some point although I am not really too sure about this one. I change bandages throughout the day for even a minor cut, but back then, things were made to last, and he could have rinsed it out and re-used it. If DNA technology had been available at that time, it would have been easy to solve this one. I'll tell you one thing, having gone through that harrowing experience of nearly being found guilty of murder and executed made a model citizen out of him. He was scared straight.
Odds are this guy got away with murder, but that is the way the justice system sometimes works. Unfortunately the ability to DNA test was not available at the time, or I fully believe this case would have been solved.
I just came back after being away a long time. I’m SO thrilled there’s so much less disruptive interstitial sound! Your narration is so good, it’s now perfect for me to listen to while resting. Thank you so much Brief Case!
Poor sweet lass! What sort of evil does one possess to do such a thing? Rest in peace, Vera and Mr. & Mrs. Page. God knows who did this vile, ghastly act on your daughter and judgement will take course by Him.
This legal system is absolutely rotten. Evidence withheld, and I sometimes think I will just skip a story like this if I think it's going to be an outrageous verdict. Oh, his wife said he didn't do it, so he must not be guilty!
A lot of the evidence points to Mr Rush having done it. I wonder if there would have been a different outcome had it been mentioned during the trial that he had semen on his jacket, and if the jury had taken more than five minutes to deliberate. Poor poor little Vera and her poor parents. What they all must have suffered is beyond my imagination. Thank you Briefcase for remembering this little girl. May she rest in peace. ❤
I’m. not keen when there’s nobody found guilty. I can’t begin to imagine how her parents felt. Shame on the jury only deliberating for 5 mins , was that all her life was worth to them. He was never caught again perhaps . What a pity there was no DNA back then. I’m plumping for guilty
Good morning BriefCase. I'm pretty sure that he killed Vera, he was familiar with this little girl and happened to run into her that day and decided to do what he did to her. He already had indecent exposure charges against him in the past, and maybe he took it to the next level with poor Vera. None the less, if he was guilty, he still got away with murder. Too bad they didn't have DNA testing back then, this case and many others would've been solved straight away. Thank you BriefCase for this story.
I thought it was going to be either the Robert Ritchies character, or someone who lived in one of the upper flats. This case is very similar to an old Aberdeen ( Scotland ) murder of a little girl living in a tenement murdered by her female downstairs neighbour after running an errand. It was a huge case at the time, also 1930's / 40's.
Hard to tell if the man is guilty or not... As it stands, the evidence is just not enough. To mark him as a potential murderer just because he came into conflict with the law due to minor missteps is hardly enough to condamn him... Potentially a murderer got away, potentially an innocent man was just given the chance to better his life. I cannot say whether he's guilty or not.
Me (when I heard that the jury wasn’t told about Percy’s previous incidents) : 👀🙄 . Also me (when the jury only took 5 minutes to deliberate) 😮😒. Vera and her parents deserved justice 💐🕊️🤍🕯️.
My mom was on a jury where a teen had killed someone with a knife. They voted Guilty, and the prosecutor thanked them , saying the young man had knifed many people! But his previous crimes weren't told at the trial
Previous crimes are not discussed (where i live anyway) only the crime the suspect is being accused of. Each accused crime will have a different hearing. Being guilty of a previous crime doesn’t mean you are guilty of a current one, and that’s the decision they are trying to make.
All this precious little girl was doing was wanting to pick up her swimming papers and get her parents a gift. Mr. Rush I firmly believe was responsible for her death! There was plenty of evidence that he was the one who murdered Vera! This jury didn't do a very good job!! Her poor parents had to go through life without closure for their daughters death. What an incredible episode! Thank you Brief Case!
You always do a wonderful job presenting these cases and I enjoy listening regularly! I always hate it when there is no closure on a case. Especially one like this, where it seems to me that, although it was all circumstantial evidence, there was quite a bit of evidence to say that he was guilty of this crime. And how his wife could say she knows him SO well and he would never do anything like that, when he had previously been arrested for indecent exposure twice! I think that in fact, it's not too far of a stretch to believe that he WOULD in fact do this! Ugh So sad for her family, that this was never solved, on top of their terrible loss.
The pain of losing a child is undescribable. To not have answers or justice must be soul breaking. 30 years ago a classmate of my niece was found murdered in a park after school(SA was evident). His name was Jacob McNight and he was 10. I've thought of him many times over the years, what he would have become in his life. Since watching true crime I think about Jacob a LOT and it sickens me that a killer remains free😢
They were😟. Kids were scared. Back then things like that didn't happen in the suburbs of Denver. Reflecting now I think it has influenced my niece when she became a parent. TY BC for REMEMBERING people. For telling everyone's story.🙏
Unfortunately, given the fact that this came before police became aware of the fact that DNA was even a thing that could be used in forensic investigations, even if the evidence was still there and wasn't destroyed in the decades after the trial, it is very unlikely that a viable DNA sample could even be extracted. Forensic scientists have to make decisions on their cases. If there's no DNA, they will not proceed with further testing. If the DNA is too low and too degraded, they will not proceed with further testing. I think that Vera's case is going to remain unofficially unsolved. I think that the suspect named here was responsible but unfortunately, I don't believe that there's anything we can do to change anything.
Thank you BC. Great research and presentation.:) What a horrible case. All circumstantial evidence points to Mr. Percy, but without DNA evidence, it is easy to reach that conclusion. Perhaps the fact that after his acquittal he was never in trouble with the law is significant, but it can be interpreted in two ways: either he was lying low after barely escaping death penalty or he was really innocent. We will never know. Poor Vera. What a horrible and vile crime. RIP Vera Page.
Excellent presentation! Thank you!
Thanks for watching :)
As always!!❤
@@MultiMoo20 💯
I remember going to the store at 5 years old for my grandmother. A lot of my friends did too. Little ones going to the store remained common until around the late 90s.
Yup! It’s still super common in many countries. India. I think Japan.
I'm in the UK & used to do this too.
I also used to roam the nearby streets just to be out roaming!
I must admit though, I can still remember how very nervous & anxious I was when my mother first asked me to go & buy a jar of coffee from the town centre.
I can vividly remember the walk down & my anxiety, but absolutely nothing about being in the High Street itself or the journey back home.
Perhaps I was too overwhelmed & focused on doing it & getting home!
In stark contrast, I didn't even let my son walk to school on his own until he was 10 yrs old, & that was because it was necessary for an educational course I had to start!
I remember.ber as a child going to the store to buy my dads cigarettes
Same, my grandmother would give me a note. Same with the lottery, too.
I went to the store for my mom all the time back in the 50's.
Don't ever change a thing about these videos!
They are so perfectly intriguing and the diction so incredibly perfect, I love it!
From the beginning where you say
"So, sit back as we go to" all the way through to the ending "I hope to see you all in the next brief...case."
EVERYTHING is PERFECT!!!
The music, your voice, and the way you describe things...Don't change a thing!!!
Each case is so absorbing that I actually find myself drifting back
to the era of each case, and becoming so wrapped up in each case.
Excellent work on these videos.
Don't change a thing!!!
I love them!!!
That's so nice of you to say, thanks, Lindy :)
I agree completely! @lindyc.2552
So there were no other suspects, he had already been convicted multiple times (not for murder but still...) and went free? I understand that all the evidence was circumstantial but who else could it have been then? My heart breaks for little Vera but also for her parents, who never had closure.😢
I know it was a small town it sounded like
Twice I think
Remember guilt must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. His wife gave him an alibi, the witness who saw a man with a wheelborrow couldn't identify him. The chemist (pharmacist) couldn't identify him buying the bandage. Alot of room for doubt. Is it possible someone he worked with did it? IDK sad all around.
@@davidlancaster8152 we were asked what we thought, I said I was plumping for guilty
That Band-Aid what have been the answer if DNA evidence was available at the time
Poor wee girl. Her poor family. Too sad for words.
Such a tragic case. To lose a child is horrendous, but to lose your only child, devastating. Then to see the only suspect get off beyond unbearable. He seems to be the only one who could have taken away this precious little girl's life. I was born and brought up not too far away and even in the 50s we would go to the park for hours, go to and from school on our own. A different time. Poor little mite. Thank you for this one.
@ceceliaclarke I have to say that that was mot my parents attitude at all. I also had older sisters at home. My mother took away all bicycles when one of my oldest sister's friends died on hers. I had a very safe and loving childhood, my mother had been sent to live with an aunt as they were poor and my father lost a brother in the great war when he was young. We were very precious to my parents and had relatives all round. Down our street were many of the children we went to school with. Our place was safe.
@ceceliaclarke Quit acting like you know what everybody thinks or thought, and whether or not someone's home was safe when you were never even there. Jeez
@RIVALContentJammerz You weren't brought up with manners, were you? I am entitled to talk about what I know, as you weren't even thought of. Plus some of us are educated.
@@angeladormer6659 I know, I agreed with you. Did you miss to whom I replied?
@@ceceliaclarke I never thought that. I didn't give you enough information to correct me on the subject, but you tried anyway.
Who could do something so evil and vile to such a young girl RIP Vera
Things have not changed, happens still today.
I just find it hard to believe that, that Monster didn't commit another crime.
Evil people existed then as now. The fact that we now hear of similar heinous crimes on a fairly regular basis prevents me from even questioning “who” anymore, it’s a given that people need to be constantly vigilant.
Back then the guilty got hanged, today there's many offenders walking the streets ready to repeat their crimes. Hardly punished.
Sadly, it happens many times every day all over the world Now and always has done 😢.
With DNA testing these days the case would've been solved quickly. How heartbreaking it would have been for Vera's parents to go to their graves without closure.
You know people keep saying that, But there are people who've been sitting in jail for many many years despite having DNA evidence to prove their innocent.
I agree - the are terrible flaws in the system.
They did not find whoever similarly murdered Jonbenet Ramsey and there was dna..
@@modenasolone Who are these people u r talking about? You probably getting it backwards whereas dna proved that they where not guilty.
Keep waiting on Jon Benet Ramsey’s case to be solved and DNA testing was available when she was murdered.
It takes a special kind of evil to do this to a child. SA just adds to the agony. Her parents must have been in pain for the rest of their lives.
Vera Page was the cousin of my children's grandmother. Her loss was felt by all her relatives until they passed. The family never got over it. So so sad.
Very sad
Poor poor little girl. So sad. How can we not be afraid to let our children have even a little bit of freedom without always being afraid?
It has become a very dangerous, wicked world. Glad I'm elderly.
@@HelenBurns-y8c World has been dangerous from the beginning. We are less aware of it as children but the danger is not new, just different.
The problem is he never got into trouble again, which isn't usually the case with this type of disorganized murderer. Maybe he was scared straight, but that's a rarity.
correct but there was a Serial killer living a few Streets away at that date i wonder if this iS john chrSiteS earliest work he waS between period's in prison having got out of wandSworth in 1929 not much i known before he waS caught again in 1933
@@steve08717John Christie is a plausible suspect. He was also ale to get others take the blame, one of which was actually hanged for a murder Christie almost certainly committed.
@@steve08717 He would make more sense. Depending on his looks, Vera wouldn't be the first child to mistake an identity until it was too late.
He may have got scared straight, but in the absence of being good he may have just become more careful. He could have gone further afield for his flashing escapades and refrained from the murder part of the crime. A wise man once said “Never shit on your own doorstep,” (or that of your parents).
It was unusual that the police put a lot of effort into finding him for this case. Without DNA it was difficult to link someone to a murder and there were plenty of young or teenage girls in poor areas of London who likely disappeared without much effort to look for them - especially in this era of the depression when poverty, suicide and prostitution were rampant
If Sir Bernard Spilsbury couldn't find enough forensic evidence against Rush, no-one could. Spilsbury's reputation came under considerable doubt as time went on, it's a fascinating story.
The murder of Vera Page is officially unsolved but unofficially there is no doubt Rush was guilty. Indecent exposure often leads to other sexual offences. The evidence was circumstantial and I can understand why the jury were reluctant to convict but deliberating for a few minutes is unforgettable. I wonder if his wife and parents ever entertained the possibility that Rush was guilty, but I doubt it. Poor little Vera, she must have been terrified. I have heard of this case before, I was deeply then and I still am.
Isn’t it wild how indecent exposure goes hand in hand with those psychopaths even today ? So strange to me
Unforgivable deliberating for 5 mins. Why do these wives always come out and spout the same rubbish
@@rhonaharker5814toxic masculinity goes hand in hand with toxic femininity. Psychopaths marry other psychopaths.
And why didn't they mention the semen on his coat in court?
Should have done a dna test.
The red tablecloth with the knitted fringe……it seems to me that this is one of the most damning pieces of evidence, never mind that Percy Rush already had a conviction for indecent exposure!
That was one lazy-ass jury to only convene for five minutes when a beautiful little girl’s life was violated and taken. Disgusting outcome!
Rip Vera. 💔
Even that evidence is to circumstantial. If they had dna back then they more than likely would of found some on the bandage and the girl.
@@ktloz2246 but who has a red table cloth with a knitted fringe? i've never heard of such a thing. the coal, the wax the smell on the cap.
Oh, that poor girl! 🥺
Only ten. Be at peace little angel. 🕊️
Even in the 70's when I was a child, it wasn't unusual for children to run around town alone. My twin sister and I ran errands for our mom when we were 5 years old, we always went together. Mom would never send us after dark, only when it was still daylight.
I grew up in the 70s too, and like you, was allowed to go to the shop with my siblings. In the school holidays, we used to roam around the countryside for hours but knew we had to be home before it got dark. As a mother now, it makes me shudder to think what could have happened to us. Poor little Vera, just going about her business. 😢
Yup i was born in the 80s and I ran errands and played outside till the street lights turned on. I did have one scare when I was walking to school and someone tried to kidnap me. I ran to the crossing guard and she found me a mom with her kids to walk me the rest of the way to school. The crossing guard got ahold of the police and I had to talk to them. I wasn't the only one the guy tried to get that day. They never did find him so the school asked one of the moms who lived close to me to walk with me and her kids to and from school every day. But I still played out in the neighborhood just had to check in every half hr.
@jsrcamp Oh my goodness. That is so frightening. Thank goodness you found the road crossing patrol and the kind Mum to look after you. How awful and unsettling, especially as they didn't ever catch the man. So glad you were safe.
My grandmother, great uncle, and great aunt were born in the 50's. When they were kids they would go all over their neighborhood or to stores or markets while their parents were at work. They went and played in the woods, they would hang out with their friends. However their parents WOULD NOT send them out after dark.
I was born in 65, I wasn’t allowed to go to town until I was about 12. It was a mile away and I had to take the backroads on my bike. I had to wait til 14 to take the bus to the mall. I used to get so mad about it, but when I became a parent, I understood. My mother was just trying to keep me safe. Little kids should not be allowed out alone.
What a sad outcome. Unsolved crimes of a senseless death, especially when it concerns a child are truly hard to accept.
The way you narrate the store puts us right there. Thank you ❤
So nice of you
Totally agree 😊❤
I will never understand the evil in men who do this.
RIP Vera
Listening to BC before bedtime, is my favourite time. Another stellar narration BC.
Thanks Rick :)
@@BriefCaseOfficialSuch a beautiful little girl. This is truly a heartbreaking case. My husband and I were only able to have one child, our daughter in 1982. We were living in Southern California and she was nearly abducted by a deranged woman in the parking lot of a department store. Like a flash, this woman grabbed our daughter and was taking her, but we stopped her and she ran away. I’m grateful to God that we didn’t lose her.
I was only 17 at the time and my husband was 20.
Wow, that is scary, good that you and your husband were so vigilant
Same!!!
You missing out on Mr. Ballen.
Love listening to your stories. Please keep them coming. Ty
Thank you! Will do!
Thank you so much. What a sweet little face that dear little girl had . Poor, poor little girl and the agony her parents must have gone through is unimaginable. As the evidence stands, it certainly sounds as if he did it but, without the certainty of modern forensics and dna, I wouldn’t like to say. It would have been so hard to be on a jury for the trial. He’s certainly lucky he wasn’t prosecuted on circumstantial evidence alone. 🙏🙏🙏👵🇦🇺
Good morning BriefCase. RIP little Vera 💝.
(You and CrimeReel, despite my changed schedule, will always be my first True Crime Loves).
Thanks so much
BC and Crimey were my first true crime presenters, too, and still among my favorites. Love the old cases, the vintage photos, and the soothing voices with charming accents. ❤
I totally agree. I found Brief Case first, and through him I found The Crime Reel. Brief Case is my favorite, and Crime Reel is a close 2nd.
@@susanmckisson5764 Exactly.
@@kathyjones1576 Can't exactly remember who came first, but it must have been in the same week? Something like that.
Poor baby girl.
And her poor parents 😞.
Good Monday morning Brief Case and all the BC fans.
Good morning ❤😊
💅🏽 Hi BC friends 💜
Good morning
@@LoveMyDaisyGirl911Hi.
Vera looks older than ten in this photo. She was a beautiful looking girl. RIP .....Love All the old photos. Thank you
Ew... This comment is so icky. She's a ten year old child. Period.
Indeed, she was a child, but perhaps her smile showing only adult teeth gives the impression of being a little older than ten years old.
This era's hair and fashion style made people look older.
Another great story BC - but so sad it involved a child. As a mother, I can only imagine the pain this girl's mother went through.
Thank you for the upload Briefy!
My pleasure Aurora, I hope all is good in Finland
@@BriefCaseOfficial All is good, thank you :) I wish you well and hopefully you're having a good week!
I find it always so sad when a case goes unresolved and the family never have definite answers as to who and especially why. It must be something that gnaws at you your entire life. Very sad. Thank you Brief Case, another beautifully descriptive narration of a long ago mystery.
Thanks for watching
Good Morning, Brief Case!
Good evening, almost midnight AEDT. Thanks Brief... Case. I'll enjoy listening to this, because of your presentation and respect for the victims
Thanks
Poor Child. Terrifying. Hope she's with "God". ♥️🌹
I wonder if Percy's parents continued to live in the same house or if they had to move. Even if found not guilty, he would still be around Vera's parents, very unsettling.
Then again to move away would be interpreted as guilt. Damned if you do damned if you don't.
They stayed out. Percy Rush stayed until the late 1940s, then remarried and headed to Acton, died in 1961.
This is a very horrible case. Poor little Vera. It must be and excruciating ordeal to go through when this happens to them. Especially when the child is/has been murdered by someone that is so inhuman and terrible to rape a young lady. I can't believe he was aquitted. It shouldn't remain unsolved, they should put it in the record book that he did it, absolutely!!!!
Ok
Thank you for the summary nobody asked for.
@@scottblack7182 Rude!! Thanks for the comment nobody asked YOU for
he may have done but without evidence it is not easy to convict. With todays DNA he may well have been found out but you cannot convict because you are 'sure' he did it. BTW I think he did too but you cannot convict because you think people 'might be guilty' you have to be sure. Too many innocent people ended up on the end of a rope to chance it
@@beulah3484 Nobody asked you for your opinion either!
Good morning,
This was a hard one for me because my daughter was taken away years ago. i’m so sorry her family didn’t receive any justice. I usually will leave you a long comment, but the only other thing I can say is just because the person has a checkered past doesn’t always mean they’re guilty and innocent people have been sentenced to life or death. I really wish they would’ve found the person that did this.
I hope you have a wonderful week
Bless
I am so sorry that your daughter was taken from you! I read your post and wanted to send you my deepest sympathies. Hope you're able to get support and carry on as best as you can.
@@sugarfalls1 Thank you so so much it took a while but I’m doing much much better now. I appreciate your comment.
So sorry for your loss
Hello BC! It’s difficult to say if he was guilty or not, despite your ever great forensic analysis that you research on all your cases. All of them very old. It must be difficult to obtain the information you provide to all your avid fans. Without you, all these terrible tragedies would be forgotten, so thank you for bringing the memories of those victims back to our time. If he did kill her, he lived a long time with the guilt until the 60s. But criminals, especially for these heinous crimes, find it difficult to stop. So I think he would have done it again and be singled out immediately by the police if another child had been molested near his residence. So at the end… RIP little Vera ❤
I don’t find it difficult to say he’s guilty, folk like that have no conscience, shame on the wife
Dreadful how many people literally got away with murder in the past. Such a sad story, My dad would have been nearly the same age as Vera, and not living too far from where she was murdered. She never had the opportunity to be a wife,mum or grandmother. So sad. RIP Vera.
Fabulous story telling as always!
The Page couple poured all of their love and dreams into little Vera, only to have her snatched away from them by a vile, perverse cretin. Absolutely heartbreaking!
My favorite channel, hi from Texas USA
Thanks :)
BC and cup of tea is the best way to start the day❤
Thanks, I am more of a coffee person, its 6.15 am here and I have my coffee :)
Is it cold up there?
Thanks for the upload, Brief Case! Hope you have a great week!
Thanks, You too!
@@BriefCaseOfficial You're welcome!
The fact that children are not safe on rhe streets is a sure sign of the level of degradation society falls to. This type of violence, abduction, assault and murder, restricts one's movements. May people learn from these crimes. Another well researched case B. C.
I think he was guilty as sin. But they did not have the evidence to conclusively prove that. Admitting his earlier offenses may have swayed the jury's opinion. In earlier days he might have been convicted, though. I wonder why the police didn't check his place of employment to see if they had bandages of the type that matched the one found on the poor girl's body.
ETA: Only five minutes of deliberation? They couldn't even have had time to review any of the case materials.
Hello Brief Case. 👋 I had a lovely phone call with my mum and now I have a fantastic video to enjoy. A wonderful beginning to my Monday morning. Thank you so much. 😊
Strange comment on such a sad post
Good morning Briefy, I hope you have a wonderful day. 😊
Thanks Brittney, You too :)
Yessss! I've been LOVING your videos ever since I discovered your channel a few months ago and was SO excited to see a new video just now! I love these old cases and the pictures and information you provide is amazing!
Yay! Thank you!
i first read of this case in a book called murder in the 30s , cornish new it was rush who murdered vera and it never left his mind and stopped rush from meeting his fate with robert baxter.
My Monday evening made. Thank you Briefcase!
Whether he did it or not, the jury made the only possible call, given the slim evidence. That he had previous convictions for exposure is telling, but we don't know if that was to children or adults, and even if it was to kids, it's a leap from that to SA and murder, especially (in retrospect) as he had no further trouble with the law.
Good morning ☀️ Thanks for the great video! I hope you have a wonderful week. 😊
Good morning!
I'm thinking Percy was guilty. Inconsistencies in his story. He said he never went out without his wife but he had told the police he went for a walk on the evening Vera went missing while his wife was away and got home shortly before her..
He admitted to the police knowing Vera and described her as a nice little girl but told the coroner he would not know her if he saw her in the street.
My Monday is complete since I’ve just listened to another intriguing crime story from you! I feel he was guilty as sin. You have a way of engaging us like no other Mr. Brief Case! Poor little Vera. ❤
Thankyou :)
O.M.G I have lived in this area all my life and Still do I know all these streets very very well as I worked in Notting Hill Gate
Yet again another great story❤❤❤❤
How terrible, and right before Christmas, this would have made the normally festive holiday, intolerable for her family. May they all rest in peace.
I hope the police kept a close eye on Rush, until he died, since this type of crime is never a one-off.
How terrible! And the withholding pertinent information from jury seems inexcusable.
The images and narration appear seamless and effortless- but I’m not fooled! Thank you for all the work that goes into making these!
They got away with murder, did a analysis of this case and as I recall his conclusion was he was guilty. Very sad case covered so well by yourself and Mark. Thank you Brief Case.
Maybe Mr Rush was guilty, and I think he likely was, but the evidence was really only circumstantial: the jury could do nothing but reach that verdict.
Mr. Rush had spent two months in jail for indecent exposure. It's not hard to imagine him killing a child. I literally rewinded this to see if I missed something. With all the evidence provided by the prosecutor, that man walked. Yes, he got away with murder. Sad story. Everyone stay safe. ✌️ BC, good one. 👍
It's Monday night, it's Brief Case night
Did he do it. Oh for the benefit of modern day forensics. Wonder if his indecent exposure charges were from children or adults. Did his marriage survive the trial?
Lastly, jury out for 5 minutes, my goodness - barely enough time to write "not guilty" on some paper.
I believe he paid for that verdict. Evidence, circumstantial mostly. Given his prior convictions and the fact that his story changed. Ever so slightly, but it changed. Indeed, 5 minutes isn't even long enough to sit down let alone discuss the fate of another human.
Morning brief case , you know it’s Monday when your stories are here ❤
Hope you enjoyed it Cyndy
I have a feeling that Mr. Rush got away with Vera's murder. Thanks, BC.
@jenniferryersejones: What you wrote is basically the conclusion that Mark John Maguire arrived at, whose excellent channel "They got away with murder" I recommend, and who treated this case about a year ago.
@@s.clignancourt1897 Oh, thanks, S. C., I'll check out his channel!
The evidence for this crime would still be in the police archives and might be worth resurrecting for modern forensic analysis.
This is very similar to Melbourne's Gun Alley Murder case of 1921-22 (also covered by Brief Case). Colin Campbell Ross was convicted and hanged for the rape-murder of 12-year old Alma Tirtschke. More than seven decades later, in 1998, a true-crime journalist obtained access to the evidence and, long story short, had it it forensically analysed and proved Campbell Ross's innocence.
There just might be enough evidence available to conduct this same scientific process in reverse - that is to prove Percy Rush guilty.
I covered that case a few years ago, very tragic
@@BriefCaseOfficialDo you have a link for that case? I haven't seen that one yet. Thanks so much!
Poor little thing, and i feel so terrible for her parents, I doubt this case will ever be solved either after all this time. So very sad, they are at least all together again now. TY briefcase for yet another beautifully researched and narrated case. ❤😢
Thanks for watching
All the circumstantial evidence was very incriminating and, although the finger pointed at Percy Rush, there were no eye-witnesses to corroborate his whereabouts or witnesses who could actually identify him at being at the scene of the crime so the jury's decision to release him was warranted. It was said the paraffin which was found was one in common use so would have been available to any number of people, but that is just one isolated point to consider in narrowing down the identification of the killer. If you were to combine all the evidenciary items together, it would look like Percy is their man. The fibers from the bandage material used that was left behind that did not match could have been explained. Some other material the family had on hand could have been used for that particular occasion. I doubt he used the same dressing day after day. He had to change his bandages at some point although I am not really too sure about this one. I change bandages throughout the day for even a minor cut, but back then, things were made to last, and he could have rinsed it out and re-used it. If DNA technology had been available at that time, it would have been easy to solve this one. I'll tell you one thing, having gone through that harrowing experience of nearly being found guilty of murder and executed made a model citizen out of him. He was scared straight.
All we know is that he wasn't caught doing it again. Doesn't mean he didn't.
Odds are this guy got away with murder, but that is the way the justice system sometimes works. Unfortunately the ability to DNA test was not available at the time, or I fully believe this case would have been solved.
Good morning and thank you BC I'd be lost without you on Mondays ❤️❤️
Morning Jordan
I can't get enough of this channel. Thank you for telling your stories in the way you do here.
Thanks for listening
I just came back after being away a long time. I’m SO thrilled there’s so much less disruptive interstitial sound! Your narration is so good, it’s now perfect for me to listen to while resting. Thank you so much Brief Case!
Thanks Meg :)
Happy Monday 😂 thanks for the video to start my work week
Thanks, Happy Monday to You too!!
Poor sweet lass! What sort of evil does one possess to do such a thing? Rest in peace, Vera and Mr. & Mrs. Page. God knows who did this vile, ghastly act on your daughter and judgement will take course by Him.
Binging these. I love the way you present these cases in such a knowledgeable and respectful way. Loving this channel. ❤
Thank you so much!
This legal system is absolutely rotten. Evidence withheld, and I sometimes think I will just skip a story like this if I think it's going to be an outrageous verdict. Oh, his wife said he didn't do it, so he must not be guilty!
Poor girl.
Very good crime work I must say.
Hugs from Sweden
A lot of the evidence points to Mr Rush having done it. I wonder if there would have been a different outcome had it been mentioned during the trial that he had semen on his jacket, and if the jury had taken more than five minutes to deliberate. Poor poor little Vera and her poor parents. What they all must have suffered is beyond my imagination. Thank you Briefcase for remembering this little girl. May she rest in peace. ❤
I’m. not keen when there’s nobody found guilty. I can’t begin to imagine how her parents felt. Shame on the jury only deliberating for 5 mins , was that all her life was worth to them. He was never caught again perhaps . What a pity there was no DNA back then. I’m plumping for guilty
Good morning BriefCase. I'm pretty sure that he killed Vera, he was familiar with this little girl and happened to run into her that day and decided to do what he did to her. He already had indecent exposure charges against him in the past, and maybe he took it to the next level with poor Vera. None the less, if he was guilty, he still got away with murder. Too bad they didn't have DNA testing back then, this case and many others would've been solved straight away.
Thank you BriefCase for this story.
Again, thank you for another great video. ❤️😊
Always great! Thank you
Thanks
I thought it was going to be either the Robert Ritchies character, or someone who lived in one of the upper flats. This case is very similar to an old Aberdeen ( Scotland ) murder of a little girl living in a tenement murdered by her female downstairs neighbour after running an errand. It was a huge case at the time, also 1930's / 40's.
Even though it happened long ago it makes me so angry.
She was born exactly between my mom and dad. She looks like my mom, in fact.
What chances are there is another murderer leaving a bandage at the crime scene , fingerprints on wheelbarrow ? RIP Vera
Poor little girl, she didn’t deserve to die.
Hard to tell if the man is guilty or not... As it stands, the evidence is just not enough. To mark him as a potential murderer just because he came into conflict with the law due to minor missteps is hardly enough to condamn him... Potentially a murderer got away, potentially an innocent man was just given the chance to better his life. I cannot say whether he's guilty or not.
Me (when I heard that the jury wasn’t told about Percy’s previous incidents) : 👀🙄 .
Also me (when the jury only took 5 minutes to deliberate) 😮😒.
Vera and her parents deserved justice 💐🕊️🤍🕯️.
My mom was on a jury where a teen had killed someone with a knife. They voted Guilty, and the prosecutor thanked them , saying the young man had knifed many people! But his previous crimes weren't told at the trial
I believe that was the law at the time, don't know about now--that someone's past convictions were not admissable.
Previous crimes are not discussed (where i live anyway) only the crime the suspect is being accused of. Each accused crime will have a different hearing. Being guilty of a previous crime doesn’t mean you are guilty of a current one, and that’s the decision they are trying to make.
@@Matilda-y Eh...that seems fair, but really isn't!
@@lazyhomebody1356 😹 🤷♀️
My heart breaks for the father during that search for his daughter. 🙏💗🙏
Terrible case. Poor girl. It HAD to be Rush.
Thank you, BC. Have a great week.
I think today forensics would’ve proved categorically that it was rushed that was responsible for this horrible crime
Another excellent video! Poor little girl! The man was definitely creepy and guilty. I can't imagine losing one's only child 😢
Thank you so much!
All this precious little girl was doing was wanting to pick up her swimming papers and get her parents a gift. Mr. Rush I firmly believe was responsible for her death! There was plenty of evidence that he was the one who murdered Vera!
This jury didn't do a very good job!! Her poor parents had to go through life without closure for their daughters death.
What an incredible episode! Thank you Brief Case!
You always do a wonderful job presenting these cases and I enjoy listening regularly! I always hate it when there is no closure on a case. Especially one like this, where it seems to me that, although it was all circumstantial evidence, there was quite a bit of evidence to say that he was guilty of this crime. And how his wife could say she knows him SO well and he would never do anything like that, when he had previously been arrested for indecent exposure twice! I think that in fact, it's not too far of a stretch to believe that he WOULD in fact do this! Ugh So sad for her family, that this was never solved, on top of their terrible loss.
The pain of losing a child is undescribable. To not have answers or justice must be soul breaking. 30 years ago a classmate of my niece was found murdered in a park after school(SA was evident). His name was Jacob McNight and he was 10. I've thought of him many times over the years, what he would have become in his life. Since watching true crime I think about Jacob a LOT and it sickens me that a killer remains free😢
They must have affected the whole class, very sad, I understand why you often think about it
They were😟. Kids were scared. Back then things like that didn't happen in the suburbs of Denver. Reflecting now I think it has influenced my niece when she became a parent.
TY BC for REMEMBERING people. For telling everyone's story.🙏
Awww always look forward to your videos. Thank you.❤
So nice of you
Guilty. Such a sad story. I'd like to believe that she's with her parents in heaven. All together again.
I would like to see the DNA right now about that case
Unfortunately, given the fact that this came before police became aware of the fact that DNA was even a thing that could be used in forensic investigations, even if the evidence was still there and wasn't destroyed in the decades after the trial, it is very unlikely that a viable DNA sample could even be extracted.
Forensic scientists have to make decisions on their cases. If there's no DNA, they will not proceed with further testing. If the DNA is too low and too degraded, they will not proceed with further testing. I think that Vera's case is going to remain unofficially unsolved. I think that the suspect named here was responsible but unfortunately, I don't believe that there's anything we can do to change anything.
Thank you BC. Great research and presentation.:) What a horrible case. All circumstantial evidence points to Mr. Percy, but without DNA evidence, it is easy to reach that conclusion. Perhaps the fact that after his acquittal he was never in trouble with the law is significant, but it can be interpreted in two ways: either he was lying low after barely escaping death penalty or he was really innocent. We will never know. Poor Vera. What a horrible and vile crime. RIP Vera Page.
Poor Vera. What a horrible case.
So sad that her parents didn't get the justice they deserved.
I think today that man would have been" a person of interest " .