Cudgegong Valley History Project

DEATH OF FIVE.

Tenterfield Tragedy.

INQUEST OPENED. TENTERFIELD, Friday. The inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the death of Constable Edward Charles Milton, Elsie Pearl Milton, their two daughters, Gladys and Mary, and their son John was opened at the local court-house this afternoon. The first witness was Lola Bloomfield (13½), who said that for the past month she had been staying with her aunt, Mrs. Milton, at Tenterfleld. The night before the tragedy her uncle left home at 6 o'clock. She went to bed about 9 o'clock, and later heard the gate open and then close. She thought it was her uncle, Constable Milton, coming home. The next thing she heard was the crackling of the windows. She got up and lit the candle and noticed smoke in her room. Shortly afterwards she saw a fire burning on the floor of the room in which her aunt was sleeping. When she could not wake the in-mates, she ran for the sergeant. By this time the flames were all over the beds occupied in the front room. She did not hear any sounds, other than that of the fire crackling. Her uncle and aunt always appeared to be happy together, and very fond of the children. Mrs. Rosina May Bloomfield, sister of the deceased, Edward Milton, stated that her brother was a returned soldier, and while at the war he had had malaria. She had never known him to be mentally unsound. The inquiry was adjourned until Monday next.

MILTON'S SECRET

YOUNG GIRL'S REVELATION A Remarkable Story.

Sensational Developments in Tenterfield Horror. Tenterfield Monday. A new and remarkable aspect was thrown on the recent tragedy at Tenterfleld, when Constable Edward Milton, his wife and three children lost their lives, when the inquest was resumed to-day. Mary Sewell, 17, said that on Wednesday last, in company with her father, she had visited Milton and told him he was the father of her child, which was born on November 5, and she said she was going to take proceedings against him. "He denied everything," said witness. "He was very nervous and pale, and I saw him trembling all over," she declared. She went into the employ of Mrs. Milton last November, and she left her employ in February. After she had been in her employ some time Mrs. Milton said, "Either one or the other of us (meaning, witness) will have to leave the house. He (Milton) thinks too much of you." Witness said that Milton said to her, "You will have to stay. I cannot let you go." After she left Mrs. Milton's employ, she never saw Constable Milton again until the interview last Wednesday. Dr. Watt, Government Medical officer, said he had examined the wounds in the heads of the wife and children, and was of the opinion that they were caused by a heavy blunt instrument. There were no signs of a struggle and from the appearance of the bodies he believed that death had been instantaneous. Sergeant Harrison detailed the finding of the bodies and said that there was a strong smell of kerosene while the cottage was burning. Afterwards he found a tin containing about a quart of kerosene, in the backyard. The inquest was adjourned.

TENTERFIELD TRAGEDY.

The inquest on the bodies of the Milton family was concluded on Tuesday. The Coroner returned a verdict of murder and suicide. On the resumption of the hearing, Dr. J. A. Watt, Government Medical Officer, said that at 2.15 a.m., on November 25, he examined the charred bodies in the ruins of Constable Milton's house. The first body examined was that of Constable Milton. It was lying across the remains of a single bed on its right side. The upper side of the skull was badly fractured; the brain was showing and was very much disorganised and was blood stained. A round hole was observed in portion, of the left side. The hole was one that would be made by a bullet. In the same room of the house there was the body of a girl about four years of age. The upper part of her skull was greatly fractured. In another room was Mrs. Milton's charred body and a baby of about nine months. In each case the upper part of the skull was much shattered. There was also the body of a female child about two years of age. The skull had been dealt with in the same manner as the other two. There was no evidence of a struggle having taken place. Apparently death had been instantaneous. The Coroner's verdict was:- "I find that Elsie Pearl Milton, Gladys Milton, Mary Milton and John Milton died of wounds feloniously and maliciously inflicted on November 24, 1926, by Edward Charles Milton, since deceased; also that Edward Charles Milton died from hemorrhage resulting from a bullet wound in his head wilfully inflicted by himself; also that the premises in Martin St previously occupied by the Milton family were destroyed by fire, but how the fire originated the evidence before me does not enable me to say."