SHOCKING MURDER NEAR LONDON.

Temuka Leader, Issue 341, 13 January 1881, Page 2

SHOCKING MURDER NEAR LONDON.

One of the most shocking murders committed near London, is that perpetrated at St. Paul's Cray, on October 31st. The crime indeed, may justly be termed a double murder, for there were two victims, Ellis, an old gamekeeper in the employ of Mr Behrens, of Remington, and Mrs Ellis, his wife. It seems that the old man was roused from his sleep by the report of firearms near his house. He went out. apparently, to see if poachers were lurking in the neighborhood, when ha is supposed to have been decoyed into the wood, shot, and his brains beaten out. After that the murderer is thought to have gone to the old man’s cottage, and killed Mrs Ellis in the same brutal fashion The police arrested a man named Waller, who was fouuc loitering near the scene of the tragedy, on another charge, that of being on the premises for unlawful purposes, who first of all said that he and Ellis had been out after poachers. Before the Inspector, however, he displayed his hands coveied with human blood, and told the authorities where they would find Ellis and his wife lying murdered. His directions seem to have been minutely accurate, for he not only indicated where Mrs Ellis was to be found, but stated that she was lying with Ellis’s staff or truncheon, (the instrument used on both occasions, apparently,) under her head. Waller was also observed to be carrying a revolver, with five chambers discharged, but two of the six cartridges found on him fitted the weapon. He produced a whistle and keys, and a chain, and said they were Old Ned’s. With jaunty recklessness he took out a coin, spun it in the air, and looking at it when it fell, muttered “ (Jallows,” What prompted him to commit the crime remains a mystery. There was no ill feeling existed between them, A.id it does not appear to be traceable to any poaching affray.