The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1880-11-13 00:00:00

THE DOUBLE MURDER IN KENT.

On Monday morning, Joseph Waller, aged 24, was
brought up on remand, charged at the Bromley Petty
Sessions with the wilful murder of Mr. and Mrs. Ellis,
at St. Paul Cray, Chislehurst, on the 30th of last
month. Earl Sydney presided at the bench of magis-
trates. _ _ _

The excitement at Bromley and in the immediate
neighbourhood was most intense. The approaches to
the court were—although guarded by a strong body of
police almost impassible. The prisoner, who arrived
from Maidstone by train, was escorted from the train
in a cab; but on his arrival at the court he was loudly
hooted by.the crowd, who appeared in a most excited
state. On the court being opened, there was a rush
up the narrow steps, and it was soon filled.
Before the prisoner Waller was brought in his mother
forced her way through the dense crowd, screaming,
"I will see my darling; he's my child, I will stand
by•his side in the dock to the last. He is my darling,
and I will give my evidence for him. I will speak
for him myself, and you shall not keep me away. I
am determined to stand here and speak to the gentle-
men for him." She then took up her position by the
side of the dock, and awaited her son's arrival.
Mr. Pollard said that since the last hearing of the
case application had been made by the Director of
Public Prosecutions to the Treasury to prosecute in
the case, and he had accordingly been instructed to
prosecute on their behalf, He had nothing to say in
opening, but would ask that the depositions of the
Witnesses, as taken at the last hearing of the case, be
read over, and then, after hearing the evidence of the
other Witnesses, he would ask for a committal on the I
charge.
• The evidence of Police-constable M'Kay was then
read over.
The Clerk said to the Prisoner: Have you any
questions to ask on this evidence ?
Prisoner (in a loud voice) : No, sir.
The evidence of Inspector Higgins was next read.
In reply to Mr. Pollard, the witness said that the
prisoner said at the station' " If you take eight men
and two stretchers you will find two dead bodies." The
woman had on a light coloured bonnet.
Mr. Pollard: After the prisoner had been charged
was he locked up in the cell ?—Yes; he remained there
from Sunday morning until Monday morning, when
he was brought to the court. He was alone in the cell
that time. The police were outside. No one went in
during the day for any purpose.
When did you examine the. cell?—On Wednesday
last, the 3rd inst.
Did you see any anything 7—Yes. I noticed a
sketch of a cottage drawn on the wall, and the words,
"Charged with murder, "C. C." I also found
written, "Joseph Waller, charged with the wilful
murder of Elizabeth and Edward Ellis, Shot down
with a revolver by me, Joseph Woller." No one had
bgen placed in the cell from Monday until the Wed-
nesday, and in fact no one had been put in the cell
since the 18th of October.
Had you ever seen anything of the drawing of the
cottage in that cell before ?—No.
What else was there 7—There was a representation
of a gallows, and a person suspended. The figures and
writing were scratched with a pin.
The prisoner was then asked if he wished to ask'
any questions on the additional evidence, and he said

His mother, who stood close to the dock, inter-
rupted the proceedings by asking if she was not to
give evidence.
The evidence of Police-constable Titman was then
read over and signed
Police-constable Martin was called.—ln reply to Mr.
Pollard, he said—On the morning of October 31 I was
on duty at St. Mary Cray station. I had charge from
5 a.m. to 9 a.m. The prisoner made a statement to
me. He said—" I went to old Ellis's house and told

Kin; there were poachers in the wood. We went
together; I then killed him. He said, 'Joe, did I
ever do you any harm?' I searched him (mean-
ing Ellis) and took that lamp from his pocket. I
then went on to Bromley, and I again returned to the
cottage. I knocked at the door. The poor old woman
said, "Is that my husband ? " I said, "Open the
door." She opened the door, and I then walked in.
She said, "Where is my husband? I don't know
you." Seeing two guns' I was about to take one down,
but she said, "Don't touch them, they are my hus-
band's." I then asked her for a light to light the
lamp I had. We went in search, she carrying the
light. I said, "Give me the light." I then knocked
her over, she wearing something light I could see her
better, and this blood on my trousers is where I knelt
on her (pointing to his trousers), and you will find her
lying on old Neddy's shaft. I have knocked them to
pieces, and when Al'Kay came up I was trying to get
into the house."

Mr. Pollard: Did he make that statement all at
once.—Witness: No a few words at a time. - -

-
The`C airman : Did he speak about anything else?
—Witness: Yes; he talked about other things
Mr. Pollard: Did you say anything to him to cause
him to make the statement, or renew it from time to
time.—Witness: I asked him no question or any
explanations.
The Prisoner, in reply to the question as to whether
be had any questions, again replied in a carelsss
manner, 'No, sir."
Police-constable Palmer said: On the night of Satur-
day and the morning of Sunday I was on special duty
outside Waller's house. It is about three-quarters of
a mile from Ellis's cottage. At a- quarter to two on
the Sunday morning I heard the report of some fire-
arms from the direction of Petts Wood. After the
lapse of three minutes I heard three more reports of
fire-arms. They came from the same direction, and
were of a similar sound.
Mr. Pollard: How far were you from the wood at
that time.
Witness: In a direct line, I should say half a mile.
The other constable came along at about a quarter to
five a.m. with the prisoner Waller. When they got
up to me M`Kay said, "You arc wanted, Waller, for
being in a pio•-stye." As they went to the station the
prisoner said', "Did you hear any shots fired?" I said,
" Yes ; four." The prisoner then said, "When was
that ? " I said, "At about a quarter to two."
What sort of a night was it for hearing was
very calm and starlight. There were only a few
minutes between the firing of the shots.
The prisoner was then asked if lie had any questions
to ask. He replied, "No; but they are mixing it up
pretty well; let them go on."
His mother here shouted out, "So they are, my
boy."
Dr. Bull, the medical man who had made the post-
mortem examination, having given his evidence,
Mr. Pollard said he had simply to ask the Bench to
commit the prisoner for trial on a charge of wilful
murder.

The depositions of the witnesses were then read
over, and the prisoner was formally committed to take
his trial at the next Maidstone Assizes for the wilful
murder or Edward Ellis, and Elizabeth, his wife.
The mother rushed forward towards her son in a
state of wild excitement, and both she and her hus-
band shook hands with the prisoner in the most affec-
tionate manner. Addressing the prisoner, the mother
said, "My boy, my boy, we shall have witnesses for
you at your trial." Then, addressing the magistrates,
she said, "Gentlemen, he ought to have been in the
madhouse long ago. When they turned him out of
the police, they ought to have put him in St. Luke's
Asylum at once. They knew what he was, and he
never ought to have been at large." Turning towards
the prisoner, the mother then said, "But we will have
plenty of witnesses for you at your trial." The pri-
soner, who seemed almost to spurn his mother from
him, said, "Yes ; you'll have a fine lot of witnesses
for me at the trial; you'll get the same witnesses there
as you have got here, and no more; and I shall be
hung."
The prisoner listened attentively to the binding
over of the witnesses to give evidence against him on
his trial. The mother afterwards stated that he had
been worse since he was injured in the police service.
The excitement at Bromley continued long after the
hearing was over, and the police experienced great
difficulty in getting the prisoner away. He was even-
tually taken over a field in the rear of the court-house,
and so by that means landed in the police-station. He
there had an interview with his parents, and was sub-
sequently conveyed to Maidstone Gaol, where he will
remain until the trial at the next assizes.

The murdered couple, Mr. and Mrs. Ellis, were
buried on Friday in last week at Chislenurst Church.
Fifteen hundred persons were present, and among
them were Lord Sydney, Mr. Behrens, and Mr.
Willis, station-master, who was foreman of the jury.
Gneat sympathy was shown by the assembly, .as the
Ellises were much respected.

THE RISCA COLLIERY EXPLOSION.—A meeting of
General Committee of the Relief Fund was held at
Newport on Saturday, the Mayor presiding. it was
reported that the. total subscriptions had reached
i
-L13,000, which s 23,000 short of the amount necessary
to continue the present scale of relief, which is ss. per
week for each widow and is. 6d. for every child under
twelve years of age. It was determined to make a
further appeal for subscriptlons,