George Edwards' Notes

written by George Edwards, former Pentridge prisoner

letters, poetry and a script for a short play

date of creation: 1870 - ca. 1930

Written in Pentridge Prison's B Division.

Now located at the State Library Victoria.

"George Edwards, a native of the United States, was sentenced in Melbourne to eight years at Pentridge Prison, Coburg, on 15t August 1870.

This unusual collection consists of numerous scraps of newspapers, used by the prisoner Edwards and some fellow inmates, over a number of years, to communicate with each other, record thoughts on their captivity, monitoring by prison warders, crimes, and court appearances, plus prison life generally. In addition, the notes include stories, poems, and a play.

Written in pencil on small scraps of newspaper these items were rolled for concealment and hidden in places such as cracks in the walls, and inside mattresses. Most were written early in Edward's sentence, and condemn what he considered his unjust conviction.

The notes contain multiple mentions of Melbourne detective John Christie, who was involved in his arrest. He also wrote some poetry, and a script for a short play.

When the collection was first found in 1982 the newspaper cuttings were tightly wrapped in cloth and bound in twine." (1)

George Edwards was convicted of breaking and entering and receiving stolen goods in 1870 and sentenced to eight years in Melbourne's Pentridge Prison.

He was sentenced to eight years, on the 1st of August 1870, for breaking, entering and receiving. He most likely incarcerated what is now B Division.

The Hamilton Spectator reported on an attempted suicide of a George Edwards at Pentridge on Wed 3 May 1871.

(1) Papers of George Edwards, 1870-ca. 1930 manuscript, printed. MS 13664

Manuscripts Collection, Record ID 9918427683607636, State Library of Victoria

(2) ATTEMPTED SUICIDES AT PENTRIDGE. (1871, May 3). Hamilton Spectator (Vic. : 1870 - 1918), p. 3.

More information on George Edward via State Library of Victoria

A short chronicle of the sorrows of George Edwards: poet, playwright, prisoner

published June 20, 2025 at 10:00 by Melissa Jones