npedrazzini/19thc_murder_suicide_news huggingface dataset:
The Sun. — 1841-07-06 (London, England)

THE SHIP WILLIAM BROWN.—The feeling throughout the country on the conduct of the mate and seamen on board the boat from which some seventeen Irish passengers were thrown into the sea, is uniform, and without exception, in accordance with the vie--.„ taken by ourselves of that atrocious transac%ion. A very sensible writer in the Boston Mercantile. Journal thus forcibly discourses on the sub;.,ect :—The rights of passengers on this and some other points might be well defined, and well known. For instance, have the officers and crew whom we 'Art-ploy to carry us across the ocean a right not only to desert us when they if it h 41,13e1.-"'., to be convenient, in get us into danger, but Pier, or their bread last ordet to make their boat sail ea, longer, have they a right to kr.ock us in the head like sheep ? Are we to be theirvb_ctims, not only to their _carelessness or ignorance, but 9„ Aso to their knives ? The American Consul at Havre se es nothing wrong in murdering a few poor Irishmen an?... women, but even his eyes might be opened if the no-At arrival brought in a few of the President's crew , who had only thrown overboard the two-thirds of 'ale President's passengers who happened to be nears" them, and least able to resist them. Had v, the Consv.i at Havre put some of the William Brown's crew Ir. irons for trial, these remarks would have been uncolted for ; but as that amiable functionary could see lOri harm in their doings, public attention ought to be turned to the subject, and public opinion would enforce an investigation of the William Brown tragedy, and at least give us landsmen some means of judging what to expect in case we should ever be thrown upon the mercy of a ship-wrecked crew. Perhaps, in the meantime, an old sailor like yourself can tell us what you consider the rights of the parties, and also what are the respective rights of cabin and steerage passengers in case of shipwreck. What think you of the following little incident related to me by a passenger from Liverpool, a year or two since ? The fine ship . . . . was bounding swiftly across the Banks, when a thick fog came up, and the thermometer indicated our approach to ice. My friend was keeping the night watch in company with the Oo . ful master of the ship, and noticed that all the grrAings, but one, over the two hundred steerage passengers, were carefully secured, and that bars were close at hand to fasten down the remaining one. It, enquired the cause of this arrangement. Sir, Erays the captain, in case we get into trouble MOD; the ice, my mate has orders, first of all, to fasten.d:wn that grating, and then the steerage passengers w;4l t be kept below until the cabin passengers and crew a .....e off the gratings and, in the boats, then we shall take will hold. , save as many of them as the boats  A
The Sun. — 1841-11-16 (London, England)

PUBLIC JOURNALS. FROM TILE DAILY PAPERS OF YESTERDAY. GLOBE.—While the wretched man who suffered this morning was yet living, we forbore from stating the opinion we hold in favour of the execution of the extreme sentence of the law. We have even admitted arguments on the opposite side into our columns. But there is no reason for further reserve of our own opisiert, or of the grounds of it. Let it be shown Ito us that there is no terror in canital punishment for brutal natures, and none will be more anxious than ourselves for its abolition. If there is any such terror excited—any such sense of the force of law, and the certainty of its execution, as to make those pause whom no moral abhorrence would withhold from the deed of murder or violation—capital executions are justified. They are justified in the eyes of all except of that respected society in whose eyes war is not justified, even in national self-defence. Why the possibility, or even the certainty, of a murderer, a ravisher, a traitor or two, suffering on the scaffold, at considerable intervals, should excite such a vast deal of sympathy as to drown all sympathy for their victims, and absorb all care or concern for the millions of innocent citizens whom the rare severities of the law secure, in some measure, from crimes of violence during those intervals—we are unable to explain, except from similar perversions of feeling to those which make sympathisers with Jack Sheppard, or hero-worshippers of Guy Fawkes. We say, without hesitation, that except in the case of " Friends," who arc consistent in this doctrine—and of a few speculative and phrenological phi lanthropists (whom we way notice some other time). we believe that what really is at the root of most of the outcry against all death punishment, is a lurking hostility to the social system as it exists. We do not mean to impute this as criminal, or to stigmatise any of the opponents of capital punishments, but we do mean to say that such feelings operate and are highly dangerous. Flow else does it happen that such extreme tenderness of human life in the case of criminals, is so often accompanied with such utter indifference to it, when destroyed in the way of " wild justice," as it has sometimes been termed, or of wholesale massacres, when those have been made on popular pretexts ? We distrust some of this popular philanthropy ; we believe it to be one-sided. It belongs to the age of " bowie-knives," and dastard daggers " for xll:defence." We distrust it ; we do indeed —we have seen its " uprising," and are "acquainted with its ways." We should expect to meet it at a minor theatre, gloating on scenes of mixed outrage and licentiousness, and enjoying the mimic murders which it 'can't bear to see punished in earnest. We should expect to meet it in scenes more serious' were the terrors of law, and the bonds of order, relaxed in the degree which philanthropists of this sanguine complexion call for.
The Sun. — 1841-11-19 (London, England)

DOWN. 'tatted on the prelim ail that we have been enabled night which wo write RiteDd,Eby that a murder had been committed cox!. morning our city was agreement arose on Combo Down. From , it appears that four men, two of them enabled to learn at the time at named Bancroft fight subsequentlylah)e• u ep.a r tli)eatt rai iv] ether nt the Carrie,* Down, kept by ,isi,re land Horses publie-house, on the Stilthard, had been drinking togfight, the and inclined to landlord dismissed them from his house. A gpotalli.eine;ening a disthe ensuedparout of doors amongst. ties, after which Bancroft went up and offered to shako hands with Stinnar when the latter immediately uplifted his hand and struck Bancroft on the breast. lie immediately fell, and never rose alive again, for, upon being lifted up, a large clasp knife was to discohave bee vered stickoring in his breast, and which appeared n f cibly plunged in up to the haft. From the instantaneous death which followed the blow it is conjectured that the murderous weapon must have pierced the heart. Mr. Massey, surgeon, was immediately sent for. He drew out the knife, but all efforts to save the deceased were vain. The men who were engaged in the affray, together with the man who stabbed the deceased, we ere nt off to their respective homes to bed, where they w severally apprehended and brought into the city. They underwent a short formal examination at Chandos House yesterday (Wednesday), when they were remanded, in order to await the result of the Coroner's inquest, which will be held this morning (Thursday) The assassin is a sullen-looking youth, and betrayed a dogged incline ' rence about the proceedings, which did not appear to 1 -lave the slightest effect upon him. g —o great was the exeit„ ment occasioned by the horrid occurrence, and —CC numbers of people who followed the prisoners on their-e way from the gaol to Chandos House that it was d advisable to escort them by a number of the police.emed These unhappy effects Of passion appear to be the increase. Scarcely a week passes but someawfull on suit is recorded, in some part ef the kingdom fatallfrom the un-English use of " the knif „ of this day. e. --Bath C/ ' monk*  MISS AGNES TAYLOR --Me' have the best authority for stating that there is no truth in the paragraph which appeared in our columns of Wednesday, announcing the decease of Miss Agnes Taylor, of the Theatre Royal, Covent Garden. The lady, we are happy to say, is in the enjoyment of excellent health.. The tbhye Croydon Railway an occasional Correspondent have par,ii agrlaepth laielesteontst toofus been unremitting in their exertions for the removal of the obstruction occasioned by the late slip on their line, near New Cross. Already one line of rails has been cleared ; and a luggage-train passed through yestnday. It is expected that both rails will be free by Monday next ; and in the mean time the passengers on both the Croydon and Brighton lines are protected from the weather, in passing from train to train, by the erection of an awning along the side of the slip.—Brighton Gazelle.
The Sun. — 1841-08-04 (London, England)

MURDER OF A GAMEREEPER.—The following case excited considerable interest, in consequence of its being looked on as a double murder, and the atrocious cruelty with which the crime had been perpetrated. The widow of the murdered man has, within the last few weeks, died of a broken heart, leaving seven young children totally unprovided for. The prisoner's name is Thomas Brooks, and he was indicted for the wilful murder of Thomas Henshall, at Moxley, in this county, on the night of Sept. 10 last. The Attorney-General, Mr. Trafford, and Mr. Townsend, were Counsel for the prosecution ; and Mr. Jervis and Mr. Welsby defended the prisoner. The facts of the case were briefly these :—The deceased, Thomas Henshall, was in the employ of Mr. Garstang, of Chester, as watcher of game in the township of Huxley. On the 10th September, 1840, he attended that gentleman and a friend of his in Stapleford on a shooting excursion. In the evening the deceased was paid by his master 2/. Bs., at Tarvin, after which he took his departure towards home. He was seen by a person with whom he was acquainted on the road leading towards his own residence, and within about a mile and a half from it, perfectly sober. Next morning his body was found in a field near his house, quite dead and cold, and the money taken from his pocket. He had been shot at by some one, and the charge had perforated his heart, and lodged in the pericardium. About nine o'clock the same evening the report of a gun was heard in the neighbourhood of the place, which was supposed to be the fatal shot. The evidence affecting the prisoner was purely circumstantial. It appeared the prisoner left his home on the evening of the murder with a gun in his possession, and shortly before nine o'clock a person was seen by a female who was milking, crossing a field near the place. This person was in appearance like the prisoner, but she would not swear that it was him. The next evening prisoner was taken into custody, when he said that he had not heard of the deceased's death. It was:: proved that he had been told of Henshall being shot. In the prisoner's house two guns were found, ono of which he said belonged to a neighbour. These guns were loaded with mixed shot of six different numbers, and the shot extracted from the body were also of the same numbers ; but in a gun said to belong to prisoner's neighbour, the quantities more nearly corresponded. It was also proved that the prisoner had said, previous to the murder, that Henshall was a spiteful man ; he should not be surprised if he was shot. There were a variety of other circumstances, but they did not bear directly against the prisoner. Mr. JERVIS delivered a most able address to ,the Jury in his behalf, which occupied about two hours in the de- I livery.  Tile Learned JUDGE summed up, and the Jury, after retiring for a quarter of an hour, found a verdict of not guilty. The trial lasted eleven hours.
The Sun. — 1841-12-25 (London, England)

SUPPOSED MURDER NEAR SEVERN STOKE.  Early on Sunday morning last, a man named Richard Kinton, was found lying dead on the turnpike road about five or six miles from Worcester, on the way; Tewkesbury. On his shoulder were marks as though a waggon had passed over him; but, from other appearances on his body, suspicions were raised that something else had a share in his death, upon which a labouring man, named Tippin, who resides, with his wife and three children, in a garret at Severn Stoke, was apprehended. On Tuesday an inquest was held by Mr. Hughes, at the Boar's Head Inn, Severn Stoke; and the following facts elicited:—  John Chivers, van driver from Cheltenham to Worcester, deposed that he met with the deceased at the Bear, Tewkesbury, on Saturday last, and, as he said he was going to Worcester, witness agreed to take him there, although he said that he had no money. They walked along the road by the side of the van until they reached the seventh- milestone from 'Worcester, when Chivers got into the waggon, and left deceased in care of the horses. Chivers shortly afterwards fell asleep, and awoke about the fifth milestone from Worcester, when he. missed the deceased, and hallooed after him ; they went on till he had reached the gate about a mile out on that road, and acquainted the gatekeeper and, subsequently, two-policemen with the circumstances. Superintendent Manton, who apprehended the prisoner, found on him a knife which was clearly identified by the landlord of the Blue Bell as that which he had seen in the possession of the deceased, and he also found a whip, which was identified and owned by the vandriver.  Superintendent Craig also searched the prisoner's lodgings, and found a smock-frock with marks of blood on it; and in reply to his inquiries, the prisoner said he found the knife on the turnpike-road ; and yesterday morning he discovered a small quantity of tobacco in the prisoner's room, wrapped in a piece of the Worcester JournA a very singular coincidence, if it be accidental, for Mr. Wagstaff, the landlord of the Blue Bell, gave the deceased a small quantity of tobacco, on Saturday evening, screwed up in a piece of the Worcester Journal. The prisoner, in his defence, accounted for the possession of the tobacco by saying that he had purchased it at the Barley Mow, the landlord of which is in the habit of wrapping his tobacco in old newspapers ; as to the knife he had picked it up on Sunday morning, between Hill Croome and Severn Stoke, as he was taking a dog to the former place. He confessed that he was at the Albion, in Worcester, on Saturday night, with three other men, two of whom are named rowell and Stanton ; and he said that on his way home he met a man at Smallbrook, with some one sitting on the shafts. The whip, which was produced, he stated he bad never seen before. The smock-frock he said was marked with blood from a sheep's head which he had bought from Mr. Green, of Kinnersley, on the Bth instant. The inquest was then adjourned till to-morrow (Thursday).— Worcester Journal.
The Sun. — 1841-06-16 (London, England)

THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES TO THE  GOVERNOR.  WASHINGTON, MAY 7TH, 1841. SIR,—I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Excellency's letter of the 4th inst., in which you are pleased to say, that "you have just learned from the public prints that the District Attorney of the United States for the Northern District of New Vaubois is in attendance on the Supreme Court of this State (New York), in behalf of Alexander M'Leod, who is indicted for murder committed in the destruction of the boat Caroline, and which indictment is pending in the Supreme Court of this'State." and that " as the Attorney-General of this State, and the District Attorney of Niagara county, have charge of the prosecution in behalf of the people of the State of New York, the unseemly aspect is presented of a conflict between the Federal Government and that of this State, which I respectfully submit to you is not calculated to inspire confidence among the common constituents of both in the harmonious relations and views of the two Governments, nor to challenge that respect from Great Britain to which our institutions are entitled, and which it is so essential to preserve, particularly in the present state of the controversy with her." In reply, I have the honour to say, that the District Attorney of the United States for the Northern District of New York, has received no orders from this Government to appear as counsel in defence of M'Leod—nor can I believe that in the absence of such orders, hejias undertaken to assume that task in his official character. So far as I am informed, Mr. Spencer acts entirely in his private capacity as a practising attorney of the State of New York, in consequence of a retainer which dates back from a period antecedent to his having had official station conferred upon him. lam sure that in this you will see nothing unseemly, or calculated either to encourage a belief of the want of harmony in the relations or views of the two Governments, or in any way to diminish the respect of any foreign Government for our institutions. This Government has done no more in reference to the trial to be had before the Supreme Court of New York, than to furnish the counsel for the accused, upon their requisition, with such documentary evidence as was to be found in the State Department, and which was believed by them to be necessary to be used in the defence. In giving your Excellency the foregoing explanation, I am not to be understood as denying to this Government, in order to the fulfilment of its international duties and obligations, the right to resort to all constitutional and legitimate means within its power. The confidence which I feel in the learning and justice of the Supreme Court of New York, and in the tribunals instituted by her for dispensinn, full and perfect justice, would cause me to avoid the commission of any act which would bear a doubtful construction.  I pray your Excellency to accept assurances of my high consideration and respect.
The Sun. — 1841-06-16 (London, England)

DAY.)  OLD COVIV.P.  Isaac Falethorpe was indicted for the manslaughter cf Watson, a sailor on board the ship St. James, American .packet. ship, on the 2d June last. 31r. Chambers defended the prisoner. Frederick Mayor was master on board the St. James. The prisoner was cook on board the vessel, and the deceased was steward. On the 21 June 1:?st, was on deck, and saw the prisoner and deceased there. They were quarrelling, and they put themselves in a position to fight. The deceased was challenging the prisoner. Witness went up and parted them. Din not see any blow struck by either party. If there had been a blow, must have seen it. James Russell deposed that he was a seaman on board the St. James. Saw the prisoner and the deceased quarrelling on the 2d June. Saw the prisoner strike the steward a blow, but could not say whether it was a severe one, or on what part of the body the blow took effect. ' ' Several witnesses were called, who deposed to having seen the prisoner and deceased quarrelling, but none of them saw any blow struck. One of them deposed that the deceased had received a fracture of the ribs about two months previous to the day in question. - Mark Browne Garrett deposed that he was a surgeon, residing in the New-road. On the :3d of June he was called in to see the deceased. The deceased was of a lull habit of body, and On examinati.m the w itness could not tell whether his ribs had been fractured or not, but the remedies he applied were for a fractur. d rib, and they seemed to relieve the deceased. W;triest a tended him for some dap, when he died. After death the Lodv was opened by the witness. On theleft side of the lungs there was a considerable adlie.sion, add the right side was considerably - congested. One of the lower ribs was fractured. From that examination he should say that the cause of death was from inflamation, occasioned by the fractured rib. The fracture seemed to have been a recent fracture. It could not have been so long ago as two mouths.  Crisfe'-xam.ned—Found the ribs considerably ossified. The effect of that ossification was to make the ribs more brittle. If the party in such a case sustained a fall, or was put to any sudden exertion, it would be probable that the ribs would snap. Cases were on record of persons whose ribs were in this state who, on suddenly turning round, the ribs have snapped. Part of the lungs were also ossified. Would not take on him• self to say that the fracture he saw might have been caused two months before, but thought it improbable. Mr. CHAMBERS, having addressed the Jury, and the Learned Judge having summed up, the Jury, without any hesitation, returned a seidiet of—Not Guilty. John field, aged 19, was indicted for the wilful murder of Elias Enough tilcn the high seas, within the jurisdiction of the Admiralty of England. There WILS a second count in the indictment, charging the prisoner with cutting and wounding with intent to do some grievous bodily harm. • The facts of the case have recently been before the public. hc Jury returned a verdict of Guilty on the second count; and the prisoner was sentenced to fifteen years' transportation,
The Sun. — 1841-06-16 (London, England)

THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES TO THE GOVERNOR.  WASHINGTON, INLAY 7TH, 1841. have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Excellency's letter of the 4th inst., in which you are pleased to say, that "you have just learned from the public prints that the District Attorney of the United States for the Northern District of New Vaubois is in attendance on the Supreme Court of this State (New York), in half of Alexander 11V11,eod, who is indicted for murder committed in the destruction of the boat Caroline, and which indictment is pending in the Supreme Court of this State." and that " as the Attorney-General of this State, and the District Attorney of Niagara county, have charge of the prosecution in behalf of the people of the State of New York, the unseemly aspect is presented of a conflict between the Federal Government and that of this State, which I respectfully submit to you is not calculated to inspire confidence among the common constituents of both in the harmonious relations and views of the two Governments, nor to challenge that respect from Great Britain to which our institutions are entitled, and which it is so essential to preserve, particularly in the present state of the controversy with her." In reply, I have the honour tosay, that the District Attorney of the United States for the Northern District of New York, has received no orders from this Government to appear as counsel in defence of M'Leod—nor can I be that in the Absence of such orders, he has undertaken to assume that task in his official character. So fiir as I am informed, Mr. Spencer acts entirely in his private capacity as a practising attorney of the State of New York, in consequence of a retainer which dates back from a period antecedent to his having had official station conferred upon him. lam sure that in this you will see nothing unseemly, or calculated either to encourage a belief of the want of harmony in the relations or views of the two Governments, or in any way to diminish the respect of any foreign Government for our institutions. This Government has done no more in reference to the trial to be had before the Supreme Court of New York, than to furnish the counsel for the accused, upon their requisition, with such documentary evidence as was to be found in the State Department, and which was believed by them to be necessary to be used in the defence. In giving your Excellency the foregoing explanation, I am not to be understood as denying to this Government, in order to the fulfilment of its international duties and obligations, the right to resort to all constitutional and legitimate means within its power. The confidence which I feel in the learning and justice of the Supreme Court of New York, and in the tribunals instituted by her for dispensing full and perfect justice, would cause me to avoid the commission of any act which would bear a doubtful construction.  I pray your Excellency to accept assurances of my high consideration and respect.