npedrazzini/19thc_murder_suicide_news huggingface dataset:
The Sun. — 1849-01-26 (London, England)

GUILDHALL.  A tall powerful young man, named William Barrett, who said that he was a regular cab driver, but who, in reality, is what is generally termed a " buck," that is a person attending the cab ranks to take care of the vehicles, and occasionally to execute a job if the right cabman was taking his dinner, or play ing a game at drafts, &c., was placed at the bar on a warrant for committing a violent assault, in conjunction with another not yet in custody, on a police-officer. John Butler, City police constable 115, said—About half-past six o'clock, on Tuesday last, I was on duty in Finsbury-pavement, and found Alfred Coe (the man not in custody) standing on the footway smoking a pipe. I required him to leave the pavement, and go to his rank and smoke, and he replied, with an oath, that ho would not. The prisoner, William Barrett, then came up, also smoking a pipe, and said they would stand there, and no one should move them. I said to them that they knew the regulations, that in consequence of the numerous complaints my instructions were not to allow them to be there, and that if on my return from the end of the beat they still remained, I should convey them to the station house, upon which Barrett flung his pipe into the road, and said " You —, you shan't have a chance of that ; I have been waiting for an opportunity to serve you out, and now I mean to do it." He then struck me in the left eye, knocked my hat off, and seizing my hair with one hand, struck me in the face several times with the other, until I fell with the prisoner on the top of me. He then jumped up and commenced kicking me about the head. Coe laid hold of me and prevented me getting up, while Barrett struck me twice more in the face with his clenched fist. I then managed to get up and drew my staff, and made several blows at the prisoner; but did not strike him, as Coe caught hold of my arm, and Barrett, after giving me several blows, wrenched the staff from my hand and felled me to the ground with a blow at the back of the head, and while down, I was still ill-treated by the prisoner, Coe crying out, " Give it him, Bill, don't spare the —." I called out murder, when both Coe and Barrett ran away, leaving my staff and hat. I am now under the surgeon's care, and unable to do duty. Alderman SALOMONS asked the prisoner if he wished tosay anything? The prisoner replied that he was struck first, and certainly returned the compliment; but deni. d using the truncheon, which, he said, was used by a labouring man who was passing by. Alderman SALomoxs—Why did you not prevent that assault? Prisoner—Because he (the officer) is a complete vagabond and scoundrel. If he had been a man, I would have assisted him; but he will not let us get a living.  Alderman
The Sun. — 1849-01-26 (London, England)

GUILDHALL.  A tall powerful young man, named William Barrett, who said that he was a regular cab driver, but who, in reality, is what is generally termed a " buck," that is a person attending the cab ranks to take care of the vehicles, and occasionally to execute a job if the right cabman was taking his dinner, or pla)ing a game at drafts, &c., was placed at the bar on a warrant for committing a violent assault, in conjunction with another not yet in custody, on a police-officer. John Butler, City police constable 115, said—About half-past six o'clock, on Tuesdiiy last, I was on duty in Finsburv-pavement, and found Alfred Coe (the man not in custody) standing on the footway smoking a pipe. I required him to leave the pavement, and go to his rank and smoke, and he replied, with an oath, that he would not. The prisoner, William Barrett, then came up, also smoking a pipe, and said they would stand there, and no one should move them. I said to them that they knew the regulations, that in consequence of the numerous complaints my instructions were not to allow them to be there, and that if on my return from the end of the beat they still remained, I should convey them to the station house, upon which Barrett flung his pipe into the road, and said "You —, you shan't t.ave a chance of that ; I have been waiting for an opportunity to serve you out, and now I mean to do it." He then struck me in the left eye, knocked my hat off, and seizing my hair with one hand, struck me in the face several times with the other, until I fill with the prisoner on the top of me. He then jumped up and, commenced kicking me about the head. Coe laid bold of me and prevented me getting up, while Barrett struck me twice more in the face with his clinched fist. I then managed to get up and drew my staff, and made several blows at the prisoner; but did not strike him, as Coe caught hold of my arm, and Barrett, after giving me several blows, wrenched the staff from my hand and felled me to the ground with a blow at the back of the head, and while down, I was still ill-treated by the prisoner, Coe crying out, " Give it him, Bill, don't spare the —." I called out murder, when both Coe and Barrett ran away, leaving my staff and hat. I am now under the surgeon's care, and unable to do duty. Alderman SALOMONS asked the prisoner if he wished tosay anything? The prisoner replied that he was struck first,and certainly returned the compliment; but denii d using the truncheon, which, he said, was used by a labouring man who was passing by. Alderman SaLomons—Why did you not prevent that assault? Prisoner—Bt cause he (the officer) is a complete vagabond and scoundrel. If he had been a man, I would have assisted him; but he will not let us get a living. Alderman
The Sun. — 1849-11-02 (London, England)

COWPEN COLLIERY. An inquest was held by adjournment on Wednesday last at Blyth, before Mr. Reed, the coroner for the county of Northumberland, on view of the body of George Hunter. The deceased was a pitman at Cowpen Colliery, where he had been employed for some time. Mr. John Lynch, surgeon, of Blyth, was the first witness examined. He stated that on Saturday, the 23 I ult., he bad been called in to attend the deceased, and found several contused wounds on his head, but did not at the time consider him in great danger, The deceased was then sensible, and said he had been ill- used by two men, whom he did not know, and would not wish to know. Witness dressed the wounds, and called upon the deceased the next morning, when he found him speechless and insensible, and he died shortly afterwards. Witness had made a post mortem examination, and found the skull of the deceased extensively fractured, and a clot of blood, weighing four ounces, pressing heavily on the brain. Jane Lambert, the wife of Matthew Lambert, said she had occasion to go to the door of her cottage on that evening, and heard a voice shout " Oh 1 dear," but thought it only a " a lark," and paid no attention to the circumstance. Thomas Turnbull, a pitman, who lives about 200 yards from Mrs. Lambert, had his attention called to the shouts, which were first heard by his wife, and on hastening to the spot whence they proceeded, he found the deceased on his knees and hands. The deceased asked for assistance, saying some one had " smashed his head all to pieces.' Witness assisted deceased home. William Hunter, the brother of the deceased, said that he and his brother went to a public-house at Cowpen village, about seven o'clock on the Saturday evening, and remained there till 17 minutes to 10, when they left; and on going down Cowpen-lane they were passed by two young men who had been in the public-house with them. Witness then bid his brother good night, and told him to follow the young men down. Both witness and his brother were apprehensive of danger from their having left " the union," and having heard of threats made against them and others who had done so. Isabella Sadler attended the deceased, and spoke of statements being made similar to those deposed to by Mr. Lynch. The two young men who had passed the deceased and his brother in Cowpen-Pane were not examined before the Coroner, but it is understood that no suspicion rests on them, as they were not pitmen, and, besides, were so far in advance of the deceased at the time he was attacked that they did not hear his shouts. The affair being thus involved in great doubt and uncertainty, the Coroner directed the jury to return an open verdict, leaving the magistrates to take up the case. The jury accordingly returned a verdict of " Wilful murder against some person or persons unknown.". Three men (two of them brothers, of the name of Cleghorn) were apprehended on suspicion, but there,  being no evidence to criminate them, they were ordered to be discharged by the magistrates. Inquiries are still being instituted, with a view of bringing the murderers to justice.
The Sun. — 1849-10-23 (London, England)

TILE SUPPOSED MURDER AT OTELSEA.--(FrOM a Correspondent.)—Yesterday the body of Mr. M•Guire, or M‘Guaran. who so mysteriously disappeared froui No. 5, White Lion-street, Chelsea, on the 26:h ult., whom the man M‘Donald and his wife are charged with murdering and rubbing, was picked up in the Thames off Erith, and conveyed to the dead house of that place, to av, ait the coroner's inquiry. DREADFUL FIRE AT HOXTON AND SUPPOSED Less OF LlFE.—This morning (Tuesday), shortly after one o'clock, a terrific fire broke out in the premises belonging to Mr. Nelson, a hat manufacturer, No. 140, Ifsexton Old-town, immediately opposite the Queen's Head Tavern. The premises were of considerable extent, and at the time of the disaster being discovered the whole of the inhabitants were in their beds asleep. An instant alarm having been given, the numerous partics were aroused from their slumbers, but so fearful had been the progress of the flames in the interim that none of the residents were able to effect an escape by the regular means, and as a last expedient they were compelled to get out of the back windows and drop into the yard. Mr. Nelson and his family, it is understood, succeeded in saving their lives in this manner, but two boys who were sleeping in one of the upper rooms could not be awakened, when Mr. Nelson rushed to their room, and at the risk of losing his own life, managed to pull the two youths from their beds and drop them from the window in safety. Although that was accomplished, at half-past two o'clock thisi to morningte young woman who slept on the premises, a niece of the proprietor, was missing, and froms inquiries made it was feared that she bad perished. Owing to the combustible character of the stock in trade, but few minutes elapsed ere the whole of the premises, from the base to the roof, presented ono immense Kirkham, of flame, and very speedily the property. of Mr. Kirkham, china and glass merchant, shared a similar fate. The rt tion of the flames being seen from a great distance caused the intelligence to be promptly forwarded to the fire stations, and forthwith the escapes of the Royal Society, with the engines of the parish, London Brigade, and the West of England office, reached the scene of conflagration, at which time plenty of water was flowing from the fire mains in the district, but the flames were extending completely over the wide carriage road, and were attacking the Queen's Head Tavern. Fortunately the firemen succeeded in cutting off the further progress of the flames very quickly, but at a quarter to three o'clock they were tar from being entirely extinguished, although all danger of any further extension was over. At that time the premises of Mr. Nelson and those of Mr. Kirkham were destroyed, and the young woman missing had not been seen or heard of. The Court of Directors of the Hon. East India Company have appcinted Mr. Nicholas Cummins, of the firm of N. and J. Cummins, of Cork, their agent at that place, in the room of the late Mr. Callaghan, M.P., who had held that appointment for more than twenty years.
The Sun. — 1849-04-12 (London, England)

MURDER.—John and Eliza Copeland, man and wife were charged with the wilful murder of John William Copeland their own child. The prisoners pleaded Not Guilty. Mr. BODKIN appeared for the prosecution, which he said had been instituted upon public grounds. Mary White, of Somer-street, Hatton-garden, deposed that in January last, the two prisoners lodged in the same house with her, indeed in the next room. On the Saturday previous to the inquest witness went to the door of their room about half-past nine and asked how the child was. The ft male prisoner replied that he was better—ho had only had a fit. During the following hour the prisoner went up and down stairs three or tour times, and on the last occasion she took her little girl across the street to Mrs. Parker. In about three minutes she returned, leaving the little girl behind. After she had returned to her room witness heard her walk suddenly backwards and forwards, and then scream, and immediately afterwards she came down to witness's door, and said, " Our boy has burnt himself." Both the prisoner end the witness returned to the room, when the prisoner took up the child, who was sitting near the fire-place, and pulled its clothes off. The room was full of smoke, and the clothes were very much burnt. There was no fender before the fire. Witness recommended the prisoner to take the child to the hospital, but she refused to do so, preferring rather to send for a doctor. When the doctor came he directed the child to be conveyed at once to the hospital. Before, however, the arrival of the doctor the prisoner said to the child, "You naughty boy, why did you do it. Did I not tell you not to touch the fire.'  OR cross-examination by Mr. PRENDERGAST, the witness stated that at the time of the alleged murder the female prisoner was far gone in the family way, and had since been confined in prison. The prisoner was very poor, and their dwelling was the picture of poverty and misery.  . Mr. Wright, a surgeon, saw the child the day before it was burned, it was in a very exhausted and emaciated state, and had the appearance of being much in want of food and nourishment. He saw the child after it was burned, and directed it to be taken to the hospital. The clothes bad been taken off and were in a mouldering condition, and the mother was applying oil to the burns. The tire was in such a state that it was cer taicly possible for the child to have burned itself by accident.  The case was stopped at this stage, the Learned Junco thinking thQro was no evidence of murder agairut the F risoners, and the jury at once returned a verdict of Not Guilty.  Mr. BoIKIN said there was another indictment against the prisoners for ill-using the child, but he was not prepared to go into it then..  - The prisoners were therefore put down till a future day. _
The Sun. — 1849-04-12 (London, England)

MURDER.—John and Eliza Copeland, man and wire were charged with the wilful murder of John William Copeland their own child. The prisoners pleaded Not Guilty. Mr. BODKIN appeared for the prosecution, which he said had been instituted upon public grounds. Mary White, of Somer-street, Hatton-garden, deposed that in January last, the two prisoners lodged in the same house with her, indeed in the neat room. On the Saturday previous to the inquest witness went to the door of their room about half-past nine and asked how the child was. The h male prisoner replied that he was better—he had only had a fit. During the follow• ing hour the prisoner went up and down stairs three or tour times, and on the last occasion she took her little girl across the street to Mrs. Parker. Iu about three minutes she returned, leaving the little girl behind. After she had returned to her room witness heard her walk suddenly backwards and forwards, and then scream, and immediately afterwards she came down to witness's door, and said, " Our boy has burnt himself." Both the prisoner end the witness returned to the room, when the prisoner took up the child, who was sitting near the fire-place, and pulled its clothes off. The room was full of smoke, and the clothes were very much burnt. There was no fender before the fire. Witness recommended the prisoner to take the child to the hospital, but she refused to do so, preferring rather to send for a doctor. When the doctor came he directed the child to be conveyed at once to the hosp;tal. Before, however, the arrival of the doctor the prisoner said to the child, " You naughty boy, why did you do it. Did I not tell you not to touch the fire."  On cross-ersmination by Mr. PRENDERGAST, the witness stated that at the time of the alleged murder the female prisoner was far gone in the family way, ard had since been confined in prison. The prisoner was very poor, and their dwelling was the picture of poverty and misery.  Mr. Wright, a surgeon, saw the child the day before it was burned, it was in a very exhausted and emaciated state, and hid the appearance of being much in want of food and nourishment. He saw the child after it was burned, and directed it to be taken to the hospital. The clothes had been taken off and were in a mouldering condition, and the mother was applying oil to the burns. The fire was in such a state that it was cer taiLly possible for the child to have burned itself by accident.  The case was stopped at this stage, the Learned JUDGE thinking there was no evidence of murder against the f risoners, and the jury..at once rewind a verdict of Not Guilty.  Mr. BOiMIN said there was another indictment against the prisoners for ill-using the child, but he was not prepared to go into it there. The prisoners were therefore put down till a future day.
The Sun. — 1849-07-23 (London, England)

LAND.— An inquest was held on Tuesday last, on board of the Medway convict ship, by Charles C. Keane, Esq., coroner, on view of the bodies of Thomas Kerrigan and John Tobin, who had been shot. The following is the substance of what was elicited before the jury.,-"The four or five hundred convicts on board the Medway were assembled that morning on the Spar deck (the forwart part of the ship), to witness the punishment of one of their number, James Cronin, for mutinous conduct. The overseer, F. B. Black, Esq., and his officers, with the convict guards, fully armed, and their pistols being loaded with ball cartridge (the usual practice, we believe), were drawn up on the quarter-deck to the number of twenty. The medical officer was also present. The quarter-deck is divided from the spar-deck by a railing about five feet high. " Te man to be flogged had a brother on board the ship, older than himself, who had permission from the overseer to absent himself from witnessing the punishment ; but this kindly offer on the part of Mr. Black was refused, and he appeared with the other prisoners. " When the proper officers were in the act of securing the man to the gratings or ladder, his brother rushed forward, and leaping on the berries, and waving his hat, called to him by name. He (the elder Cronin) then addressed some words in Irish to the convicts, which was answered by a wild cheer, and a rush of some 250 to the barriers, upon which they clustered like bees preparatory to a descent upon the quarter deck. The men were desperately excited. The overseer waved his hand, and called to the men to " fall back ;" which order was quite disregarded. Mr. Black, plainy perceiving what must be the object of the prisoners viz, the rescue of Cronin, and the probable butchery of himself and his small party, gave order to the guards to fire, which was immediately followed by a volley from the front rank. This did not have any immediate effect—the desperate men entertaining the idea that only blank cartridges were fired. The rear rank of the guard, which had been kept in reserve, then moved to the front, and, under orders of Mr. Black, fired. Two of the mutinous convicts fell dead, and twelve wero wounded. This instantly quelled the mutiny, the men hurriedly retreating to biding places about the forward part of the ship. " The punishment was then administered to the younger Cronin. " After a lengthy investigation, the jury unanimously returned a verdict of Justifiable Homicide.' " One of the wounded men died on Tuesday afternoon. An inquest on his body was held yesterday. The verdict has not yet transpired. " The ringleader, Cronin, was wounded in two places. Two others are maimed for life—one having had his leg amputated at the knee, and the other having received a ball to the spine." The royal mail steamer Clyde arrived on Tuesday from Nassau.
The Sun. — 1849-07-23 (London, England)

DISTRESSING OCCURRENCE AT IRELAND IRLAND. An inquest was held on Tuesday last, on board of the Medway convict ship, by Charles C. Keane, Esq., coroner, on view of the bodies of Thomas Kerrigan and John Tobin, who had been shot. The following is the substance of what was elicited before the jury " The four or five hundred convicts on board the Medway were assembled that morning on the Spar deck (the forwart part of the ship), to witness the punishment of one of their number, James Cronin, for mutinous conduct. The overseer, F. B. Black, Esq., and his officers, with the convict guards, fully armed, and their pistols being loaded with bell cartridge (the usual practice, we believe), were drawn up on the quarter-deck to the number of twenty. The medical officer was also present. The quarter-deck is divided from the spar-deck by a railing about five feet high. " The man to be flogged had a brother on board the ship, older than himself, who had permission from the overseer to absent himself from witnessing the punishment ; but this kindly offer on the part of Mr. Black was refused, and he appeared with the other prisoners. " When the proper officers were in the act of securing the man to the gratings or ladder, his brother rushed forward, and leaping on the berries, and waving his hat, called to him by name. He (the elder Cronin) then addressed some words in Irish to the convicts, which was answered by a wild cheer, and a rush of some 250 to the barriers, upon which they clustered like bees preparatory to a descent upon the quarter deck. The men were desparately excited. The overseer waved his hand, and called to the men to "fall back ;" which order was quite disregarded. Mr. Black, plainly perceiving what must be the object of the prisoners viz , the rescue of Cronin, and the probable butchery of himself and his small party, gave order to the guards to fire, which was immediately tellowed by a volley from the front rank. This did not have any immediate effect—the desperate men entertaining the idea that only blink cartridges were fired. The rear rank of the guard, which had been kept in reserve, then moved to the front, and, under orders of Mr. Black, fired. Two of the mutinous convicts fell dead, and twelve were wounded. This instantly quelled the mutiny, the men hurriedly retreating to hiding places about the forward part of the ship. " The punishment was then administered to the younger Cronin. " After a lengthy investigation, the jury unanimously returned a verdict of Justifiable Homicide.' " One of the wounded men died on Tuesday afternoon. AA inquest on his body was held yesterday. The verdict has not yet transpired. " The ringleader, Cronin, was wounded in two places. Two others are maimed for life—one having had his leg amputated at the knee, and the other having received a ball in the spine." The royal mail steamer Clyde arrived on Tuesday ;tom Nassau.