Bio

Leslie George Stone was born in 1912, but not much is known about his early life. He grew up in England and lived in a time when the world was changing rapidly.

In the early 1930s, Leslie joined the Royal Artillery, which was a branch of the British Army. As a soldier, he was stationed in various places. In 1932, he was posted to Hong Kong. While on duty, he began a relationship with a young woman named Ruby Anne Keen. They communicated through letters but eventually lost touch when Ruby started seeing a local policeman.

Leslie returned to England in late 1936 after being medically discharged from the army. He found work as a builder's laborer in his hometown of Leighton Buzzard. Despite his new job, Leslie might have felt uncertain about his future and his relationship with Ruby.

In early April 1937, Leslie encountered Ruby at a local pub. They shared drinks and conversation, reminiscing about their past. However, during that time, Leslie was trying to rekindle their romance while Ruby was engaged to someone else. This situation would have caused tension between them.

Murder Story

On April 11, 1937, Leslie George Stone murdered Ruby Anne Keen, a 23-year-old factory worker in Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire, England. Stone and Keen had a history together, having known each other since 1931. On the night of the murder, they met at a local pub called the Golden Bell. They moved to another pub and consumed several drinks. Witnesses later reported that Stone was trying to persuade Ruby to break off her engagement to another man.

Around 10 PM, they left the pub and were seen entering a local area known as the Firs. The next morning, Ruby's body was discovered by a railway worker. She had been strangled with a black scarf she was wearing, and there were signs of a struggle.

Later that day, Stone approached a police officer’s wife, claiming he wanted to clear his name since he had been with Ruby the night before. When questioned by police, his account suggested he had left Ruby alone outside the pub, but this contradicted witness statements. As the investigation progressed, police interviewed Ruby's fiancé, who had been on duty at the time of the murder.

Forensic evidence became crucial in the case. Plaster casts of shoe prints were made at the crime scene, and Stone's trousers were examined. Microscopic analysis revealed soil particles from the crime scene on his trousers and a silk fiber in his jacket that matched Ruby's clothing. This evidence led to Stone being charged with murder on April 24, 1937.

Stone's trial began on June 28, 1937. During his testimony, he changed his story, stating that they had quarreled and he accidentally choked her during a struggle. However, the jury determined he was guilty, and he was sentenced to death. Leslie George Stone was executed by hanging at Pentonville Prison on August 13, 1937, at the age of 24.