George Joseph Smith was an English con artist born in 1872, known for his involvement in a series of fraudulent marriages. He gained notoriety for marrying wealthy women and then mysteriously causing their deaths to claim their life insurance policies. His criminal activities took place in the early 20th century, leading to his eventual capture. Smith's most infamous case involved three women, all of whom died under suspicious circumstances shortly after their marriages. He was arrested in 1914 and later tried for murder. In 1915, he was convicted and executed, marking a significant moment in the history of true crime in England.