The Pontypridd District Herald and Rhondda Valley, Llantrisant, Caerphilly, and Mountain Ash News. — 1894-05-26 (Pontypridd, Mid Glamorgan, Wales)

TRAGEDY AT CHERTSEY.  A girl named Ella Amelia Haslett, living with her father, William Htuilett, bricklayer, at Harehill, Chertsey, murdered her sister, aged nine years, the other night, and then committed suicide. After obtaining a bottle of carbolic acid, such as is commonly used for disinfecting purposes, Ella took her sister Daisy upstairs and gave her some of it to drink, afterwards taking a quantity of the liquid 'herself. A few minutes later she was found in her bedroom in the agonies of death, and Daisy, who was in a collapsed condition, expired about two hour. later. The following letter was found on the elder girl's clothes, and explain. the motive for the crime :—" Hare Hill, near Chertsey. —Dear Father, I cannot stand this life any longer. lam treated like dirt. lam the eldest, and think I am the right one to look after the little ones. I have not known what it is to have a home since mother died. The children have all been neglected, and no one taken any notice of them, and Daisy is put upon worse than any of them. I will I not stand it any longer. I think you will all be happier without me and Daisy. Good-bye. Give my love to dear Harry, and ask him to forgive my oruel letter. I have written to him, but he has not answered my letter. Forgive me for doing this, but I cannot help it. I will give Daisy a dose, and we shall be out of the way. I don't blame anyone for this, but it will be best. I have got things to kill myself, but have put it off. I cannot stand it any longer. I hope God will forgive me.—From ELLA Amnia Hamm", aged 18 years. Good-bye to all my friends, and all those that love me." The wretched girl, whose mind had evidently become unhinged, appeared to have entertained an idea that another sister, aged 14, had more control in the household than she had herself, thereby arousing an insane feeling of jealousy. The Harry referred to is a young fellow living at Chertsey, who was apparently the girl's sweetheart. The police have taken possession of the letter and • bottle containing some carbolic acid which was found in the girl's bedroom. An inquest was held at Ottershaw, near Chertsey, on Saturday, on the bodies of Ella Amelia Mullett and Daisy Hamlett, who died from poisoning.—William Hamlett, father of the two girls said that Amelia had been in service in London, and came home on the previous Saturday. She had been in St. Mary's Hospital for an, affection of the eyes.—Lizzie Haslett, a younger sister, said that Amelia was rather upset on Wednesday because she (witness) would not wash up the dishes.. Amelia went out afterwards, and returned wit lfa bottle, which she placed on the corner of the dresser. The witness had never heard her sister threaten to destroy herself. The two girls could never agree.—Emma Dollery, living at Hare Hill, said that she spoke to Amelia on the Sunday, and the latter then referred to her sister Lizzie as a rude eirl who had been unkind to the children, especially Daisy. She (scitness) replied that she did not think that was correct. Shortly after 2 o'clock she heard high words and much running about in the house. Silo could distinguish Lizzie's voice, and it seemed as if there was quarrelling between the two sisters. When Amelia was at home she always appeared to be having " rows " with the children.—The chemist from whom Amelia bought the carbolic acid said she appeared cheerful, and, in reply to questions of his, said that she required the poison for disinfecting purposes.—The father denied that the children had been ill-treated, to his knowledge in any way. —Medical evidence having been called to show that death was due to carbolic acid poisoning, the jury returned a verdict of "Suicide while temporarily Insane," in the case of Amelia, and, with regard to Daisy, that Amelia administered carbolic acid to her while of unsound mind.—The funeral of the victims took plaoe in the afternoon in the presence of hundreds of spectators.