The Tamworth Examiner and Working Men's Journal. — 1875-04-03 (Tamworth, Staffordshire, 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 he wilful murder of his wile, Eliza, and Annie, his daughter, aged seven years, by cutting their throats with a ”azor, at No. 3, Melbourne terrace, Dulwich road, Penge, on the 21st March. He was further charged witn endeavouring to murder his two sons, Arthur and Percy, aged respectively nine and five sears, by administering laudanum to them. Lastly, he 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 at 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 10.  Dear Guest —For many days I have had a haunting sense of coming ruin upon me and mine, and all of my own causing, throu 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 twi of my policies, and have paid Rotherham £5O. If I had not done this I should have left plenty to pay all expenses. As it is, you must take what there is and sell off the furniture for the rest. I little thought it would overcome to this. I cannot ask you to forgive me, for it is too awful, but Jam sure if I live many more days I shall go mad, and then what will my poor wife and children do ? So I must sacrifi ,e my future welfare for them, as I have always sacrificed my past life for them, and they, poor innocents, shall be safe from the pauper's 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 he will not. I saw my poor father yesterday, but could not dare tell him all that runs in my mind. His address is 14. 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— I 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 haven° effect ; but it won't. I can hear the children talking now. I am. 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, but they woke up. My poor darling wife and Annie are safe, but why not all? I have always lived a life of self-sacrifice, and now am defeated and lost at last. Ask Mr. Flooks to take Fred, for the love of God and his mother—William Morley will do the rest. I went to him at ten o'clock the other night, but it was of no use; but he would not come home. I am a wretched victim of the fates. Pay Miss Maas Al She is the best girl one ever had in the house." On the same sheet of paper was also written the following :  " blarch 21, 1875.  "Mr. Guest,—Vr. G' nest 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 cannot finish, they will wake. Mrs Hunt's mother's address, 10 or 12, Newnham-street, St. Mark's, Whitechapel, near Alie street." The prisoner was committed for trial on the charge of murdering his wife and child.