The Pontypridd District Herald and Rhondda Valley, Llantrisant, Caerphilly, and Mountain Ash News. — 1880-11-06 (Pontypridd, Mid Glamorgan, Wales)

BRUTAL 1)OUBLE MURDER.  A most brutal double powder was ootoniitted' ow Chislehurst early on the nioriai? of the ult. Ti appears that Joseph Waller, 24, a labourer, after being turned out of the Fiveßel public:4loll,64n Saturday night, where he had created a disturbance, was found in a Orals on enclosed premisea,belonging to a farmer at St. Mpry Cray, and the owner gave information of the tact to the pollee, Who in consequence proseeded to 'the cottage of Waller for the purpose of apprehending him on the charge of being on the premises for a supposed unlawful purpose. On Waller's arrival there he was met by Police-Constable Palmer, who said that he was going to Cray, whereupon Waller replied, "I am going there, too," and the pair together went to the police-stahon. Inspector Higgins and Police-constable Mackay were on duty there when, at live a.m., Waller was brought io. It seems that at about four Pelice-eoustable Mackay had heard shote in the direction of a. game-keeper's lodge, and, going thither to ascertain the reason, saw Waller standing outside the house of Edward Ellie, head gamekeeper to Mr. R. B. Berens, J.P. He said, in. answer to a question, that he was waiting for "Old Ned Ellis." At the police-station, the charge of being on enclosed premises Iniviag been stated to him, Waller said to Police-constable Mackay, " You have a good charge;" and then to Inspector Higgins, 'lf Toll have eight men and two stretchers, you go to old Ned Ellis's, and there you will find two dead bodies." The inspector asked, " Who are they?" Waller replied, "Ned Ellis and hie wife. You go in at the big gate, down Ned's ride; there you will find Mrs. Ellis, with her husband's truncheon under her." Inspector Higgins at once proceeded to Ellis's lodge, and on searching the adjoining woods discovered the dead body Of Mrs. Ellie a quarter of a mile from the house, and that of her husband half a mile away. The beads of both were frightfully battered, and it is supposed that Waller had first fired a shot from a gun and enticed Ellis away from the house under pretence that there were poachers in the wood, and then murdered him by a shot from a revolver found on him at the station, completing the deed with the gamekeeper's own truncheon. It is surmised that Afro. Ellis, anxious at her husband's long absence, went out in search of him, met the prisoner returning, and shared at his hands a similar fate. Ellis was 74 years of age, and bad been 50 years in Mr. Berens's employ; his wife was 60, and had been cook 20 years in the same service. The motive of the murders was, without doubt, plunder, as Ellis was reported to be wealthy and to have money hoarded in his lodge. Medical assistance was promptly obtained, but Drs. Matthews and Bull pronounced life extinct. Mrs. Ellis's fingers were broken and her husband's frightfully smashed, for Ellis, though old; was an active and determined man. Both heti horrible gashes upon their foreheads, and each had evidently struggled desperately with the murderer. Waller was discharged two years ago from the police force for drunkenness and violence, and bears a very bad character in the place. The scene of the murder was visited by a crowd of people. Waller had been employed throughout the whole of last winter by Edward Ellis. Inspector Wilson has charge of the case.