Printed sources

Palmer's Index to The Times 1790 - 1905
Erith Observer and District Times - Friday 9 April 1920 - report of death of Charles Alfred Ellett.
Erith Observer and District Times - Friday 16 April 1920 - report into the inquest of Charles Alfred Ellett.
Report on the inquest of William Knowles Ellett from the Kentish Mercury June 21, 1889
The Yarmouth Mercury (Sept 25 1915 page 8)
The Yarmouth Mercury (Nov 27 1915)
White's Devonshire Directory of 1850

Palmer's Index to The Times 1790 - 1905

05 June 1820 bankruptcies Ellett, J. p.2 col.c
23 Jan 1847 bankruptcies Ellett, Eliz. p.7 col.a
29 Jan 1848 police Ellett, Maria, for stealing p.7 col.e
29 Mar 1865 civil actions Rose v.Ellett and another p.12 col.c
05 July 1865 bankruptcies Ellett, James p.7 col.b
30 Nov 1867 bankruptcies Ellett, William p.7 col.e
26 Mar 1868 civil actions Ellett v. L. and B. Railway p.11 col.b
31 Jan 1873 Ellett Robert, on income tax assessments p.10 col.f
12 Feb 1881 Ellett (Robt.) Thames river floods p.10 col.c
30 Jan 1886 police Ellett, Chas. for misdemeanour p.4 col.f
17 Oct 1887 death of Judge Ellett, at Memphis, USA p.5 col.c
16 Jan 1895 bankruptcies Ellett, G.J. p.7 col.f
31 May 1899 Mullings, Ellett & Co. on the Thames as a pleasure resort p.7 col.f
13 Dec 1899 bankruptcies Ellett and Sons p.14 col.c
13 Nov 1900 Ellett (Robt) on insurance and Lord Russell's bill p.13 col.e
04 June 1901 Ellett (R.) on the statutory committee of the incorporated law society p.16 col.e
20 June 1901 Ellett (R.) on the statutory committee of the incorporated law society p.10 col.a

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Erith Observer and District Times - Friday 9 April 1920 - "RAILWAY TRAGEDY AT ERITH. Man's terrible Death.
At 2.45 on Tuesday morning William Holmes, a guard on the South Eastern and Chatham railway, discovered a man lying on the down line near the Britannia Bridge, Erith. He gave information to the police, and Dr Rowe, Divisional Surgeon was also called but could only declare life was extinct. The remains were conveyed to the Erith mortuary on the police ambulance. From the position in which the body was found it is conjectured that the man's head must have been resting on the rail when an engine passed over it, one half being terribly mutilated.
There was nothing to lead to the identification of the deceased, so far as the clothing or the contents of the pockets were concerned but as the result of enquiries made by Police Constable Catt, Deputy Coroner's Officer, it transpired that the man's name was Charles Alfred Ellett and that he had lived at 54 Alexander Road, Erith. His age is given as 68 years. He was formerly employed as a labourer at a local factory. An inquest will be held in due course."

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Erith Observer and District Times - Friday 16 April 1920 - "SUICIDE AT ERITH. Old Man's Terrible Death.
Mr H B Sewell, District Coroner, held an enquiry at the West Street Church Schools, Erith, on Friday afternoon into the circumstances attending the death of Charles Alfred Ellett, a labourer aged 67, lately living at 54 Alexandra Road, Erith.
Ernest Edward Ellett, of Whitehall Cottages, Slades Green, son, identified the remains and said his father had enjoyed good health. He last saw him alive about a month previously, when they went to a picture hall together. Deceased had been working at Fraser and Chalmers during the war, but had been unemployed since the moulder's strike. He was a widower. Witness could not say deceased had been despondent lately or that he had talked of suicide. The Coroner: Don't you think it is a definite case of suicide? Witness replied that neither he nor anyone else could say that. The Coroner pointed out that the man had put his head on the line and there were no other injuries except to the head.
Elizabeth Anne Springett, Spinster, of 54 Alexandra Road, Erith, said deceased had lodged with her for about ten months, and appeared to have fairly good health, but he had been out of work for some time. She did not know how he lived but she beliebed he got something from the Labour Exchange. He had paid his rent up to the previous week, when he said he was unable to do so. He seemed to be very much upset at not being able to get work, but she tried to persuade him not to worry. He said they did not want old men. She last saw him alive on the previous Monday evening about nine o'clock. He had been lying on the sofa when he suddenly got up, put on his cap and went out of the house. Witness added that he did not say anything to her, and seemed about the same as usual. She thought he was going to bed but heard the front door closed. She sat up until one o'clock the next morning to see if he came back, but it was not until the next day hat she heard of someone having been found on the line. She was advised to go to the police station when from the description of the man's clothing she thought the remains were those of her late lodger. He had never talked about suicide but he said he was in the way as he was getting too old. She had known him for many years when he was a porter on the railway.
William Homes, of Homesdale, Station Road, Belvedere, goods guard on the S.E.C.R said he found the body in the four foot way on Tuesday morning about 2.30 under the Brittania Bridge. The top part of the head was completely severed and was lying about a yard from the body which was close to the near rail on the down line. Witness called Guard Bradley and they afterwards informed Mr Ledger stationmaster at Erith of the occurrence. Access to the railway could be obtained down the bank.
Arthur Bradley, goods guard of 22 Alfred Road, corroborated the last witness's statement.
Police Constable Davies who was called to the scene of the tragedy, took the remains to the mortuary and on searching the clothing found 2s 2 1/2d, a pocket knife, a piece of comb and a white pocket handkerchief.
Dr C Watney Roe said he arrived shortly before four o'clock and found that death had ensued about two hours. The top part of the head was completely severed. There were no other injuries on the body and he concluded that the man's head must have been resting on the rail at the time. Mr Fraser, who represented the railway company, said inquiries had been made but no marks could be found on any engine that had passed the spot during the night.
The Coroner, in summing up, said it was a very sad case and from the evidence given it was evident that the man had committed suicide whilst labouring under temporary mental derangement. He issued a certificate to that effect."

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Report on the inquest of William Knowles Ellett from the Kentish Mercury June 21, 1889:

DEATH FROM EXCESSIVE DRINKING - On Friday at the Globe, Evelyn Street, Deptford, on the body of William Knowles Ellett, aged 36, of 34 Dacca Street, Deptford - Emily Elizabeth Ellett, 14, identified the body as that of her father, saying that her mother was dead. Her father was a meat carrier at Smithfield. He had not had a constant job for 12 months, and during the past month had complained of pains, and on Wednesday week went to the hospital and was an out patient. He did not tell her what was the matter with him, Found him dead in the bed about half past nine on Wednesday night. In the morning, he went to the back and fell in the yard. He last spoke to her about five o'clock in the afternoon. Saw him several times afterwards but thought he was asleep. On Wednesday she asked him if she should go for a doctor; at first he said no and then yes. She went to Dr Hinxman who would not come, telling her to go the next day to the relieving officer for an order. She told him her father was bad - The Coroner said perhaps Dr Hinxman did not think it was an urgent but an ordinary case - Witness said her father liked a drop of drink at times and had given way of late to it very badly. - Vernon Hobdell, house decorator of 6 Dacca Street, said he had known the deceased over four years. Last time he saw him alive on Wednesday at dinner time, the daughter having told him he was very bad. Deceased was lying on the bed and sat up and said he had a pain in his stomach. Witness told him he would call in again as he came from work, and if he was not better he would get a doctor. On his way from the work he met the daughter who said her father was better and asleep. Deceased had given way to drink since his wife's death four years ago, his chief ambition being a glass of ale. - Dr Lesay of 13 Abinger Road, Deptford, said he had made a post mortem of the body, which was a mass of disease from alcohol. The immediate cause of death was peritonitis and pericarditis. The first might have been caused by violence or a chill. The fall might have started it. Every organ in the body was diseased from chronic alcoholism, which was the indirect cause of death. - George Havingden of 11 Little Essex Road, Kingsland Road, said he was a butcher and member of a club to which deceased belonged. On Wednesday, he visited the deceased and found him very ill indeed. - The daughter said when the deceased fell in the yard, she helped him up, when he said he was giddy. He afterwards fell in the bedroom. He did not complain of pains in his stomach until after he fell. The Coroner said the man had been his own enemy for several years. - The jury returned a verdict of "Death from peritonitis and pericarditis following alcoholism." "

Wm. ELLETT Cooper of Cowick Street

Wm ELLETT of Turks Head Public House, Cowick Street.