The Forest of Dean Examiner : — 1875-04-02 (Blakeney, Gloucestershire, England)

THE PENGE MURDERS.  LETTER WRITTEN BY THE PRISONER.  Frederick Hunt was on Monday brought up on remand, at the Lambeth Police Court, before Mr. Chance, charged with the wilt ul mcrder of his wife, Eliza, and Annie, his daughter, aged seven years, by cutting their throats with a ^azor, at No. 3, Melbourne terrace, Dulwich road, Penge, on trio 21st March. He was further charged witn endeavour. ing to murder Ma two eons. Arthur and Percy. aged respectively nine and five years, by administering laudanum to them. Lastly, be was charged with attempting to commit suicide; first by taking laudanum, and secondly by placing himself on the rails of the London, Chatham, and Dover Railway st Penge.  Mr. William Moore, prosecuting officer of the Associate Institution for Improving and Enforcing the Laws for the Protection of Women, was present ; Mr Whitwell appeared for the prisoner. The following is a copy of the letter written by the prisoner, and which has been frequently referred to in evidence : March 16.  Dear Guest,—For many (lays I have had a haunting sense of coming ruin upon me and mine, and all of my own causing, Oxon h my mad folly in thinking that I could make up for Morley's by my own connection. It has proved a wretched failure. I have just raised a loan upon tw., of my policies, and have paid Rotherham ..k.50. If I had not dune this I should have left plenty to pay all ex. posses. As it is, you must take what there is and sell off the furniture for thereat. I little thought it would overcome to this. I cannot ask you to forgive use, for it is too awful, but Inns sure if I live many rooredays I shall go mad, and then what will my poor wife and children do So I must sacrifi omy future welfare for them, as I have always sacrificed my past life for them, and they, poor innocents, shall be safe from the pauper fate that is so near to them, though they little think it It is a terrible result from one fatal mistake, but I see no way of escape. I have been to Mr. Morley twice and begged him to take me back, but be will not. I saw my poor father yesterday, but mold not dare tell him all that rims in my mud. His 'Urea. is 11. Little Alie street, near the Commercial road. Tell Mr. Morley that he might have saved me. if he would. I am utterly undone, and when you receive this I shall be— , The foregoing portion of the letter is in ink, and the following in pencil] There was nothing for my wife and family but ruin; still I would have met it, if I had not known that the laudanum would have no effeot ; but it won't. I can hear the children talking now. I an. mad, and shall be mad for ever and ever, yet ask them at Gutter lane if I ever did anything I am ashamed of. Oh, oh, oh, there is an evil spirit in the world. Tell my father to sell up and pay all expenses, and tell William Morley, as he would not have mercy on me, to take my children into the Albert Orphan Asylum, I would never have done this, if I had not thought to put ' them all in heaven before I went to hell, hot they woke up. My poor darling wife and Annie are safe. but why not all I have always lived a life of self.saorifiee, and now am defeated and lost at last Ask Mr Flooks to take Fred, for the love of God and  _ hia mothor—Wifliom Morley will do the rest. I went to him at ten o'clock the other night, but it was of no use 1 but he would not come home lam a wretched victim of the fates. Pay Miss Maas ..t2. She is the best girl one ever bad in the house."  On the same sheet of paper was also written the following :  " March 21, 1875 "Me. Gueet,—Vr. Gueet keep the money. I am mad. My sister committed suicide. My brother was mad . and I wanted to send all the children to heaven before Igo to hell, but oannot finish, they will wake. Mrs Root's mother's address, 10 or 12, Newnham.etreet, St. Mark's, Whitechapel, near Alie street."  , The prisoner was commi ted for trial on the charge of murdering his wife and child.