James Jackson’s downfall came in 1869, when he was caught stealing oil and turpentine from the London, Brighton & South Coast Railway. The Cab Road at Brighton Station, meant for carriages and cab drivers, became the scene of an illicit operation when Jackson was spotted using it to move stolen goods under the cover of darkness.
Investigators observed Jackson entering the station culvert – an area reserved for cabs accessing the passenger platform – with an empty cart. Minutes later, he reappeared with two large iron cans, which he then transported to the goods station before leaving with only one. The suspicious movements led to his arrest, and subsequent investigations revealed a long-standing scheme of misappropriated railway supplies.
The trial gripped Brighton, with a packed courtroom eager to witness the downfall of a once-respected engineer. Testimonies from station officials and detectives painted a damning picture of Jackson’s activities. Found guilty, he was sentenced to twelve months of hard labour, marking a dramatic fall from his once-prominent position in the city.
This case not only exposed crime within the railway industry but also underscored the Cab Road’s role as a key part of Brighton’s transport infrastructure – a space where cabmen, railway workers, and tradespeople intersected in both legal and illegal dealings.
Source material: Brighton Guardian, 1869
