Marie Bailes

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Marie Bailes (c. 1902-May 30, 1908) was a British schoolgirl and victim of an unsolved murder. She was last seen leaving St. John's Roman Catholic School with a friend on the afternoon of May 29, 1930. However, after walking a block or so, the two became separated with Bailes becoming missing.

The following day, a man entered a public lavatory located on St. George's Road in Islington, London where he was witnessed by an attendant who stated he appeared nervous and struggled while carrying a large parcel wrapped in brown paper. After the man left the lavatory, the attendant noticed the parcel had been left behind and waited several moments for the man to return before investigating the parcel. Finding the body of a 6-year-old girl, wrapped in a blanket and covered with sand, the police were called later identifying the girl as Bailes. Immediately carrying out a search of the neighborhood brought in two men for questioning, one of them found to be a fugitive from a Wandsworth workhouse, however both men were released after the lavatory attendant viewed them.

During the coroner's inquest, a member of the audience shouted that six clues proved that the murder was a woman. However, as he did not elaborate on these "clues", police dismissed his theory. The coroner's report concluded the victim showed signs of willful murder, however no suspects were ever charged and the case remained unsolved.