Ruth Ellis’s story read more like a novel than a true statement of fact. She would rather go to the gallows than name the person,Desmond Cussen, that she was protecting.
She was guilty of spinning a web of lies – she chose her fate.
Her lies, omissions and half-truths were not picked up, or were overlooked by her defence counsel and she went to the gallows without being questioned properly.
She said in her police statement that she’d acquired the gun from a man in a club 3 years before, whose name she didn’t remember. The Metropolitan Police did not believe this. We now know from her son Andre that Desmond Cussen had been cleaning and oiling 2 guns on the day of the shooting.
In a Metropolitan Police document entitled RUTH ELLIS - ANTECEDENTS, Ruth stated she was one of three children. She was actually one of five.
She stated the father of her child (Andre) was in the RAF and had died in the War. He was actually in the army and alive at the time of her trial.
She stated that prior to the outbreak of the 2nd World War she had attended a drama school in Richmond, Surrey. In reality the family was poverty stricken and living in Hampshire.
She kept to her story until 12 July 1955 then spoke out, still not telling all, but to leave a slightly more accurate account for her children, according to a prime witness.
She died for the greater good of the country. She had been working for the British secret service.
