THE NEW BRIGHTON MYSTERY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume C, Issue 11750, 30 November 1898, Page 6

THE NEW BRIGHTON MYSTERY.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—Those who have read the evidence adduced at the inouest on this body of the girl Tulley cannot help fancying that there is a mystery attacked to the whole affair, and that too little importance has been attached to the tragedy by the police. That the police neglected their duty goes without saying, and this fact was practically admitted’by Sergeant-Major Ramsay in reply to the Coroner’s strictures passed upon them. To my mind, the jury were far too easv in performing their duty, for, while it has been admitted that there-was very little evidence to go upon,, they left many questions unasked that would, if answered, probably have thrown more light upon the matter.' Many rumours have been, and still are, afloat, and while it would not be fair to believe all that is stated, any more than it would be safe to repeat many things we hear, there is no doubt rumour has always a certain amount of truth at the-bottom of it—has a foundation, to start-from. Children with happy homes are never too ready to destroy themselves, therefore some cause must work against a . child to . cause it to commit suicide. There-was, no evidence in this, case to.show that Elsie Tulley. was mentally deranged. As’ much was made of the fact that the child was, dull, it would be interesting to obtain the-school record, of the deceased, so that "the public might the more readily be able to judge whether the dullness arose-from too much/schooling or too much home-work. A child at the age of Elsie Tulley could be nothing short of a block of wood in dullness, if fair play were given it, not to be beyond the Fourth Standard, and, if rumour is correct, that is the highest standard- of- efficiency she had reached before leaving school. Then, the father’s indifference towards his child was little short of criminal. He says- himself he searched till about 12.30 a.m., and then went to bed—went to bed, forsooth—never even having made inquiries at the house where he says he thought she had gone to, though ha admits he never knew her to stop/ out before. But surely his own dommon sense should have dictated to him that a

girl of fifteen would never pay* a-wisfe-tote x friend in an almost nude .condition; unless some serious cause' drove her to it. And then, he goes off to bn? work next morning, leaving otherstodo tbat-wfaich nothing short of death should have prevented him doing! himself. If the child was not happy at! home, then it was bis duty to find-out thei cause, and, hawing dikeoveaned it, ■to make; such provisions as would have- proved more congenial to the deceased.—l am, etc., *PARENT. ;