George Brett was born George Henry Brecht in England in 1880. His descendants have obtained a newspaper article about his murder:

Sydney Morning Herald 15 July 1951

Jealousy Clue in Murder of Man of 82

Police think jealousy was the motive for the murder of 82-year- old George Brett, in his attic room at a residential at Agar Steps, Millers Point on Thursday night.

The police are following definite lines of enquiry in this case...

No 1 - Women

Police said last night that Brett was 82, but in records he recently filled in he gave his age as 72.

He was described as a wharf-labourer, but he did little work on the wharves.

Detectives were told that despite his age he had many women friends, though he frequently borrowed money to pay for his meals.

Some of his women friends were interviewed but they said they could throw no light on his murder.

Detectives believe a man who resented his attentions to a mutual woman friend may have attacked him after he went to bed on Thursday night. Brett had 14 wounds on his head and his skull was badly fractured.

NO WEAPON

Police have not found the weapon used by his attacker.

Detectives last night were searching for a man from 20 to 30, who was seen hurrying from the residential late on Thursday night. He was described as being of solid build and was wearing a grey overcoat and a grey hat.

On the case are: Detective-Inspector Rogers, Detective Sergeants Evans, Hughes, Tupper and Windsor, and Detectives Souter and Brotherson.

Colin Bower
31 December 2007

Links to:

Brecht One Name Study - Index