Robert Hicks Murray

"Robert Hicks Murray" was the name of an unidentified English bigamist and mass murderer, responsible for the murder-suicide of his children and one of his wives, and the attempted murder of the other. Shortly following his death, Scotland Yard detectives announced that Murray was most likely a serial killer who murdered at least seven other previous wives, prior to the mass murder that became known as The Eastbourne Tragedy.

Early career 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.

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 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. 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.