George Cornell was an English criminal and member of The Richardsons, who were scrap metal dealers and criminals from South London.
14 Facts About George Cornell
1.
2.
George Cornell Myers was born in the old boundary of St-George Cornell-in-the-East on 13 November 1927, to unwed parents, one of seven or eight children.
3.
George and his siblings reportedly changed their surname by deed poll from Myers to Cornell, for their stepfather Joseph Cornell who married their mother, Mary Ann Garrett.
4.
George Cornell did his National Service with Billy Wiltshire, the Kray twins' cousin.
5.
In 1952, George Cornell received fines for assault and wilful damage.
6.
In 1953, George Cornell was imprisoned for shop breaking.
7.
George Cornell assaulted two police officers and used insulting words and behaviour, getting off with a 40 shilling fine.
8.
George Cornell went on to face several more spells in prison, one for malicious wounding when he is believed to have slashed a woman's face with a blade.
9.
George Cornell was originally a member of an East End gang called The Watney Streeters, and later became involved with the Kray twins.
10.
At around 8:30 pm, both men were approached by Ronnie Kray and a Kray associate, Ian Barrie; upon seeing him, George Cornell smiled and said sardonically, "Well, just look who's here".
11.
George Cornell slumped against a nearby pillar, the bullet, apparently, passing straight through him.
12.
George Cornell was taken to a nearby hospital, where he died around 3:30 am the following day, aged 38.
13.
George Cornell was most prominently known for reportedly being the first victim of Ronnie Kray.
14.
George Cornell had suffered a heart attack at Broadmoor Hospital two days earlier.