'You (are) unfit to mix with ordinary people'

Saintly or evil, everyone has a story to tell and this is a sad one.

When George Henry Biggs lost his wife, Ethel Martha (nee Mills) in January, 1925 he was left with their nine children to raise.

Unfortunately, George was not a good father and it was only a few months after they had buried his wife that he was brought before the court, charged with 'carnally knowing his daughter, Elsie May Biggs (13 years)'.

Judge Beeby, at the Parramatta Quarter Sessions, upon sentencing said:

"You have been found guilty of one of the most repulsive crimes a man can commit - crime that makes you unfit to mix with ordinary people."

Mugshot of George Henry Biggs

It was revealed in the courtroom that Biggs had become his daughter's predator only two or three weeks after Ethel had died. Elsie contested that her father had taken advantage of her from January every Monday night until some time in August. The change in Elsie had become noticeable to one of her aunts, a sister to Ethel, and she had questioned George. He claimed that someone had a grudge against him. In fact, in court, he blamed Elsie for being a liar.

"About two months ago," he said, "I gave her a thrashing and she said, 'You will be sorry for this'."

Biggs even stated that before she died, his wife had had to discipline Elsie for lying as well as stealing. He said she had also warned him to watch out for her as she was trouble.

After only a short retirement the jury returned a verdict of guilty. Biggs was sentenced to seven years in gaol.

His illegal activities didn't stop after his stint in gaol, as in 1935, Biggs was fined 5 pounds for illegal betting and only a year after that he was found in a common gaming house without lawful approval.

He died in 1945 and was buried in Rookwood cemetery.

References

• 'Apprehensions', New South Wales, Australia, Police Gazettes, 1854-1930, accessed 14th September, 2025, www.ancestry.com.au

• 'Child's awful plight', The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate, Friday 18 September 1925, Page 1

• 'George Henry Biggs', New South Wales, Australia, Gaol Description and Entrance Books, 1818-1930, accessed 14th September, www.ancestry.com.au

• 'George Henry Biggs', Findagrave, accessed 14th September, 2025, George Biggs (unknown-1945) - Find a Grave Memorial