Robert Hicks Murray

Much of Murray's early life, including his place and date of birth, are unknown. He had many fictitious names, posing as an American captain named Charles Stirling, claiming to have served in the Spanish–American War in the Philippines and to have received the Medal of Honor for his part. According to a sister of his future wife, Florence Paler, while stationed in India, Murray suffered from a sunstroke, and from then on had bouts of insomnia and depression. ==Meeting the Palers==

At the beginning of 1908, Murray became acquainted with James Paler, a wealthy railway official living on the Isle of Wight. He was invited to the Paler home, where he met Florence (20) and Edith Paler (17), the unmarried daughters of James. Six months after Stanley's birth, Robert married the younger sister Edith in a Clapham church, moving in with her on Fawe Park Road in Putney. Each week, Murray spent three days with one and three with the other wife, and on the seventh, pretended to be unmarried. His absences were explained with his service in the army. In the period between 1910 and 1911, both wives gave birth to a single child: Edith to Winifred, and Florence to Vera. ==The Eastbourne Tragedy==

At some point, Murray was infatuated with a young girl, the daughter of a wealthy tea merchant. After many tries, and after almost marrying her, Murray decided he must get rid of his families first. In order to do that, he announced to both families that they were going on a vacation in Eastbourne, much to the delight of his wives and little Stanley. In the meantime, Florence, who was actually still alive, managed to escape the home and cry out for help. By this time, Murray had unlocked the blue room and carried Edith and Winifred's bodies to Stanley and Vera's, piling them together, soaking them in petrol and setting them alight. He then left £160 and a note in a silver vase outside the house, confessing that he was ruined, wanted to take out everybody dependent on him and asking for forgiveness from God. He then pulled out his revolver and shot himself. ==Aftermath==

Firemen quickly arrived on the scene, managing to put out the flames before the bodies could be burned. Inspector Fox had had conversations with Money, as he had previously been investigated in his sister's death, although he was not considered a good suspect. The identification was considered a doubtful one, especially by one of Robert's brothers, Alfred. Since it could not be conclusively connected, it is unclear if Murray and Money were the same person. ==See also==