npedrazzini/19thc_murder_suicide_news huggingface dataset:
The Sun. — 1857-06-03 (London, England)

LAMBETH.—James Buckley, a painter, 6 feet 6 inches high, was brought before the Hon. G. C. Norton for final examination on a charge of committinc, a murderous assault on a young woman named Selina Witcher, servant to Mrs. Davis, 11, Laurie-terrace, St. George's, Southwark. It will be recollected from the evidence adduced on the former examinations that on the morning of that day fortnight the prisoner called at the house of Mrs. Davis and asked to see that person, and was told by her servant Selina Witcher, that she was out, though at the same time she was upstairs. The prisoner remained for a few minutes in the kitchen, and then went into the garden, and while the young woman Witcher was engaged washing he came behind her and struck her a violent blow with something hard on the back part of her head. She screamed out, upon which he exclaimed 'Don't holloa ; I'll not hurt you," and placed his left hand on her mouth. He then gave her a second and a third blow, upon which she threw up her arms to save herself, and caught something which she believed to be the handle of the hammer produced, and after a severe struggle she got away from him. She was taken to the house of a surgeon, bleeding profusely from a wound on the back part of the head, and for several days her life was in extreme danger. .  The young woman was closely examined by the magistrate, with the view of eliciting a motive or malice, but neither the one or the other could be discovers].  The prisoner, in reply to the charge, said he belonged to the Crimean Land Transport Corps, and his health became so impaired while before Sebastopol that he was confined to his bed all the way home, and on the arrival of the ship at Portsmouth was carried from on board to the hospital. There he remained a considerable time, and was at length enabled, though with a shattered frame and constitution, to come to town and renew his ti ade, that of painter and glazier. On the Monday (the day preceding the assault) he bad taken a contract for some work, and had unfortunately drunk some spirits, which actually drove him mad, and he had not the slightest recollection of what had occurred at the time of his apprehension. He was exceedingly sorry for what had occurred, begged forgiveness from the young woman, and hoped the Court would take a merciful view of his case.  The prisoner's sister, a respectable woman, corroborated much of what he had stated. Mr. Norton was disposed to believe much of what the prisoner had said, and that his conduct was more the result of drink than of premeditated injury, and therefore he did not see the necesssity of sending the case before a jury. Yet the prisoner had committed a most serious assault on the young woman; and it was almost a mercy he did not kill her, for, according to the evidence of the surgeon, it was only the making up of her hair into a round ball or tuft that saved her. For this assault the prisoner was accountable, and for it he should commit him to the House of Correction for four months hard labour.  TM
The Sun. — 1857-06-03 (London, England)

LAMBETH. =James Buckley, a painter, 6 feet 6 inches high, was brought before the Hon. G. C. Norton for final" examination on a charge of committing a murderous assault on a young woman named Selina Witcher, servant to Mrs. Davis, 11, Laurie-terrace, St. George's, Southwark. It will be recollected from the evidence adduced on the former examinations that on the morning of that day fortnight the prisoner called at the house of`Mrs. Davis and asked to see that person, and was told by her servant Selina Witcher, that she ' was out, though at the same time she was upstairs. The prisoner remained for a few minutes in the kitchen, and then -went into the garden, and while the young woman Witcher was engaged washing he came behind her and struck her a violent blow with something hard on the back part of her head. She screamed out, upon which he exclaimed 'Don't holloa ; I'll not hurt you," and placed his left hand on her mouth. He then gave her a second and a third blow, upon which she threw up her arms to save herself, and caught something which she believed to be the handle of the hammer produced, and after a severe struggle she got away from him. She was taken to the house of a surgeon, bleeding profusely from a wound on the back part of the head, and for several days her life was in extreme danger. _  The young woman was closely examined by the magistrate, with the view of eliciting a motive or malice, but neither the one or the other could be discover et  The prisoner, in reply to the charge, said he belonged to the Crimean Land Transport Corps, and his health became so impaired while before Sebastopol that he was confined to his bed all the way home, and on the arrival of the ship at Portsmouth was carried from on board to the hospital. There he remained a considerable time, and was at length enabled, though with a shattered frame and constitution, to come to town and renew his bade, that of painter and glaz;er. On the Monday (the day preceding the assault) he had taken a contract for some work, and had unfortunately drunk some spirits, which actually drove him mad, and he had not the slightest recollection of what had occurred at the time of his apprehension. He was exceedingly sorry fur what had occurred, begged forgiveness from the young woman, and hoped the Court would take a merciful view of his case.  The prisoner's sister, a respectable woman, corroborated much of what he had stated.  Mr. Norton was tlisposed to believe much of what the prisoner had said, and that hiA,conduct was more the result of drink than of premeditated injury, and therefore he did not see the necesssity of sending the case before a jury. Yet the prisoner had committed a most serious assault on the young woman, and it was almost a mercy he did not kill her, for, according to the evidence of the surgeon, it was only the making up of her hair into a round ball or tuft that saved her. For this assault the prisoner was accountable, and for it he should commit him to the House of Correction for four months hard labour.
The Sun. — 1857-06-03 (London, England)

VANE TEMPEST, M.P., proposed " The by another clause money borrowed for the purpose Health of the Chairman." of paying such a debt was placed on the same foot The Duke of Quirsimtuol in responding, glanced lug as money borrowed for gambling purposes,  That was certainly rsther sharp practice against the beer ttazle. (Hear.) Moreover, if a beerseller died, and left a wife, his wife was not to be allowed to sell any beer tilt she- had got a new license. Mr. MASON seconded the resolution. He stated that lie was a member of the deputation that waited on Mr. Hardy—a gentleman who was, he said, cne of those cool,and calm persons who never laughed, but only grinned ; who smiled, and murdered while they smiled. - He then proceeled to speak of the tyraiiny of the licensing system, and condemned the bill of Mr. as tending to reintroduce a monopoly iu the sale of beer. With regard to the 'argument that because men made beasts of themselves a check ought to be put upon them, he considered it as unreasonable to put down the sale of beer because men got drunk as it would be to shut up the .butchers' shops because men became gluttons. Mr. Hardy was the crusher of the wives and children of the beersellers, and the course which he was pursuing on this subject made him unworthy of the name of Englishman. Mr. JAMES LOWRY, who stated that he was a cabinet-maker, :ind• lived lieu. the Oxford Market, bore testimony to the improved accommodation which the working classes hal met with under the beur-how.i.o system, and denounced the bill as detes'able.  The resolution was then put and carried. Mr. DAWES moved, and Mr. WYBROW seconded, a motion for the presentation of a petition to the House of Commons against the bill. Mr. BLUNT in supporting the resolution, contended that die beet sellers should not he contented with opposing Mr. Hardy's bill, but should cornmettce a movement for the total ...lbolition of the Fcen-ing sys.ein. (Hear.) He. did not see why beer and spirits should not be sold as freely as butcher's meat or bread.  Mr. Bistro'', the secretary, said, having recently corresponded on this subject with the trade in several large towns, he was sorry to find that great indifference prevailed among them with regard to Mr. Hardy's bll, and that the general feeling was that it would not do the beerseller much injury. It was highly desirable that such a mistaken notion should be removed. The single fact that the bill would prevent a be,n.seller from removing ought to be sufficient to arouse universal opposition. No doubt opposition would be offered to the bill by their friends in the House of Commons ; but its success would depend on the beersellers themselves. If the trade were indifferent and inert, the bill might pass, and they would then find, to their cost, that they had by their inactivity forged fetters for themselves that they could not remove. The resolution was then carried, and the proceedings terminated with a vote of thanks to the chairman.
The Sun. — 1857-06-13 (London, England)

WEIGHTS FOR THE GOODWOOD CUP. (Calculated to the sth of June.) Age Age at lb at lb Early Bird 6 9 12 Anton .. .... 3 7 7 ........ . . 3 7 7 Polestar 5 9 5 Blue Jacket Mary FazzOletto 4 9 1 Sir Colin 3 7 3 .. Fisherman Rogeitherpe., .... —.4 812 Arsenal 3 7 '-. 2 Pretty Boy Artillery Pryor(American)... 5 8 9 Sprig of Shillelagh '3 7 2 Munarque (French) 5 8 9 Mongrel (h b) Kestrel Melissa 4 8 6 Dalcamara 3 6 13 Erniicohraenset(e: (American) 4 8 3 Gunboat. 6 13 Zig Zak Viscount Cby Flying Dutch- a 3 6 13 8 3 Lord of the Hills... 3 6 13 4 8 1 Gaberlunzie 4 7 11 Flying Englishman 3 6 13 Sneeze 3 7 9 F by Sweetmeat— Sis. to Lanercost 3 G 9 man—Barba 3 7 7 Arta .. . .... ... ...... 3 6 9 St. Giles ' 3 7 7 Flo.rin (French)* Gemma, di Vergy... 3 7 7 Potocki (French) 3 6 7  THE HANGING OF THREE :NEGROES IN LOUISVILLE BY THE Mon —The .Louisville Journal of May 15, gives a more detailed account of the ha aging by a mob of three . negroes charged with the murder of the Joyce family, in that place, several months ago ; after they had been tried and found not guilty on eviiienee which judge and lawyers say rendered a verdict of guilty impossible. On the night following the trial a rroob attacked the gaol where the negroes were. A deiverate onslaught was made, the prison fence was broken,. and the large crowd made to the door ; they were resisted. but rushing to the artillery building, they got a cam-ion, loaded it, and pointed it against the gaol door. trnder these circumstances the officials in charge found tOtemselves forced to the painful measure of delivering up the negroes. Tbree of the prisoners being deity ered up, a razor was given to the fourth in the `gaol (Jack, the property of Mr. Samuels, of Buliit county), and ie cut his throat, severing the Jul ;ular vein and windpipe, and producing instant. death. The wound Wai of the most horrible character, and a more ghastly spectacle was scarcely ever witnessed than the dead body when it was brought to the yz.v.d, and exposed to the view of the crowd. Ropes were oixtained and the Hoc other negroes marched off to the Court Ho se-square. At the west-end, George, the slave of Mr. iiamuels, was hanged upon a tree, amid the-hooting and .execrations of the multitude. The other two were then marcihed through the square, and near Fifth-street wereldienise executed. One of them, the slave of Mr. Brown, , osotested his innocence, and pleaded piteously to be relit ased. His agony of mind and sufferings were very in tynse. Mr. Pendleton's Bill, the one who was the State 's evidence in the case, was the last one executed. Fires were kindled under the suspended bodies, but the y were not consumed. Large numbers of persons lingers d about the scene of this.awful tragedy until a late hour. The rioters having wreaked their vengeance upen the, Wictiuw, appeared more-awe-stricken than exultant.
The Sun. — 1857-03-16 (London, England)

THE INCIISMENCY OF CLEKENWELL.— The election to the incumbency of Clerkenwelt has been fixel for the 30th instant. The Rev. Horace Roberts has retired from the contest, having been appointed curate of Bedford Episcopal Chapel Chapel, Bloomsbury ; and it is supposed that there will be no strong opposition to the election of the Rev. R. Maguire, the secretary of the Islington Protestant Institute. The Court of Assizes on Friday tried a man named Plu for the murder of his sister. On the morning of the 27th Dec., the man, who for five years had lived with his sister in the Place d'Armes at St. Denis, informed some of the occupiers of the house that he bad found his sister lying dead in bed. Those persons immediately went up to the room, and found the woman dead. The man said he would have the corpse buried at once, and that he himself would prepare it for interment.; but his neighbours informed the commissary of police, and that functionary bad an examination made of the body. It was then discovered that the deceased, after receiving a blow on the head from some blunt instrument which stunned her, bad been suffocated by having a large piece of wool thrust into her month, It was further discovered that a number of pieces of gold, chiefly foreign, and some securities, which the woman was known to possess, had disappeared. The man was suspected, as for some time be had been on bad terms with his sister, and had frequently illtreatedrher ; and the cause of their dissensions was that he was lazy and drunken, and made her maintain him. On the previous evening the people living in the adjacent rooms had heard the woman bitterly reproaching some one, and shortly after they heard smothered cries. As the woman had scarcely any friends, it was morally certain that the person whom she reproached could be no other than her brother. Moreover, there were no signs of any forcible entry having been made into the apartment, and the brother alone bad a key of it. He pretended that ho had passed the whole of the previous eveningand night in a new lodging which be bad hired in a different part of the town, but, on inquiry, it turned out that he had not been near the place. He was searched and a sum of 306 f., of which 230 f. were in gold, was found on him ; some articles of jewellery, a voucher for 1411 reate, and a bond of the City of Paris of 1,0001., were besides found in a trunk which be had secreted in a garret. He pretended that be had saved up the sums in question, but he could not state how he originally became possessed of them. A farther sum of 1,8601., chiefly in gold, was found in a drawer, and when it wasdiscovered be alleged that it was his, but he could not state what the precise amount was • so that it was reasonable to assume that he had secreted it without counting it, But what was the strongest proof of his guilt was that the gold found on him was of the reigns of Bonaparte Consul, 'Napoleon Louis
The Sun. — 1857-03-16 (London, England)

SINGAPORE• SINGAPORE, FEB. 8.  Here at Singapore matters have settled down to something like quiet, the Chinese being afraid of the great military preparations that were made to punish them if they carried out their threat of exterminating the European residenst. The danger, however, will continue so long as the war lasts in. China.  Her Majesty's ship Spartan, Captain Sir Wm. Hoste, is the only vessel of war at Singapore. The Peninsular and Oriental Company's steamships Manilla and Rajah, intended to run between Singapore and Manila, are here. It appears the negotiation with the Spanish Government has been broken off; so the Rajah proceeds to China and the Manilla to Bombay.  We are daily expecting the arrival of the gunboats and ships from England. Troops are anxiously looked for from England and India for service in China.  __— The Madras Atheiamm, of Feb. 14, says :-"-A message was received by electric telegraph, late on Wednesday evening, ordering troops to be sent to Singapore on account of the disturbances it 4 China, lii csmegAnco a WI request the  14th N.l.—which was about to embark on board the Oriental for Burmah—has been ordered to proceed-to Singapore ; the regiment embarked yesterday morning. The Singapore merchants have protested against the despatch of the troops to China, and have notified to the Governor that they will ho:d the East India Company responsible for any loss which may accrue to them therefrom." The Straits Times has the following warnings:  We think it well to caution masters of vessels taking passengers hence (Singapore) to China to be cautions of receiving on board. Chinese, without examining theirbaggage. The recent outrage onboard the steamer Thistle, in the Canton river, is evidence that too much vigilance and examination cannot be exercised ; for had the baggage of the passengers been examined the weapons clandestinely taken on board would have been discovered, and the lives of those on board, as also the steamer itself, would not have fallen a prey to the treacherous conduct of the Chinese passengers on board. The influence of the Mandarins and other authorities in China —the gross ignorance and barbarity of the lower classes—may tempt Chinese from the Straits to ports in China to cut off vessels in the hope of obtaining a reward. There is no outrage too gross, no cruelty too severe, or treachery too base for the lower orders of the Chinese ; whilst the official proclamations recently issued by the Chinese authorities at Canton, offering rewards for the heads of foreigners, clearly prove the encouragement which Chinese officials are prepared to give for murders and the worst of crimes. We are not alarmists, but only perform a duty in drawing the attention of ships' masters and others to this subject. While on this subject we may mention that the bark Fuzil Currim, which arrived at Swatow yesterday, was attacked by some of the Chinese passengers on board, but they were got under and some of their number killed.
The Sun. — 1857-05-25 (London, England)

RUE. sell-st reet. The prisoner occupied the back room second floor. In consequence of what the last witness said to me on Saturday night last, I went up to the prisoner's room and found the prisoner and his wife struggling on the floor by the fire-place. I attempted to separate them when I saw the prisoner had a knife in his hand. The prisoner's wife took hold of the skirt of my dress, and I dragged her towards the door, which I opened, and left the room. My arm and dress was covered with blood. I was too much excited at tile time to notice where the blood came from. When I next saw the unfortunate woman she was covered with blood, and there was a large hole in her neck, under her ear, from which the blood was flowing. She was quite conscious, and expressed a wish to see her mother. The prisoner was quite sober. I believe the prisoner and his wife lived happily together. James Baylis, 85, F—About 20 minutes past. eight on Saturday night I was returning from duty to my home, No. 7, Little Russell-street. I met the landlady at the door, and she said to me, " For God's sake run up stairs—there's murder being done." As I was going up the stairs I hoard the prisoner's wife scream out " Save me—save me !" As I was going up the second flight of stairs I saw the prisoner lying on his wife out. side the door. His left band was on her head, and his right arm was raised with a knife in it. I saw him strike a blow at his wife's neck. After he had driven the knife into her neck I4e seemed to turn it round in the wound. The knife was buried in the woman's neck. There Was only about half the handle visible. (Sensation.) I got up to the prisoner. I seized his hand and drew the knife from the neck of the woman. He struggled to get possession of the knife, during which the light went out. I took the prisoner down stairs, and then to the station-house. I asked the prisoner where the knife was, and he said " Go up and find it." He said nothing more. When I returned from the station•house I saw the injured woman. She was covered with blood, and was supporting herself by the banisters. She was quite conscious and said " Oh, my mother, my poor mother." I conveyed her to King's College Hospital. The prisoner was excited, but not  drank. Police-constable F 16 said, on the last witness bringing the prisoner to the station.house ho told me he thought the prisoner had murdered a woman at No. 7, Little Russell•street. I went to the house, and saw the prisoner's wife bleeding profusely from wounds in her neck. On the landing of the second floor there was quite a pool of blood, in the centre of which the knife was lying. There was also a quantity of blood about the room. Inspector Mackenzie said that was all the evidence to be offered to-day. Mr. Henry—How is the unfortunate woman progressing to-day, do you know ? Inspector Mackenzie—At half•past 12 this morning inquiry was male at the hospivd, and the constable was told she was going on favourably. The prisoner, on being asked what he had to say to so serious a charge, said " I was driven to it." Mr. Henry then remanded the prisoner until tomorrow week.
The Sun. — 1857-12-09 (London, England)

PRIOR 4L J. STAMPED 5D .]  ASSIZE INTELLIGENOE.  NORTHERN CIRCUIT—LIVERPOOL, Dee. 7: (Before'Mr. Justice Wightman.) Aaron Mellor was indicted for the wilful murder of Alice Mellor', -at Bolton, on the let of October last. rosecuted Mr. Sowler and Mr,- Higgin p, and Mr. J. Fearuley defended the prisoner. The learned counsel, in opening the case upon the part of the prosecution, stated that the prisoner and the deceased hadbeen married for five years, but had latterly lived very unhappily together, and had repeated quarrels. Owing to the temper of the prisoner-altercations continued, and finally they separated on the 28th of September lad, the deceased taking with her the youngest of their three children, an infant in arms, and going to lodge at the house of a Mrs, Cunningham in Bolton. It appeared that though the deceased lived at Cunningham's, she went daily to take her meals at her mother's house • and about 7 o'clock on the evening of the Ist dOctober, while at supper with her mother, the prisoner came in and asked his wife to go home with him, but she, positively refused, and he went away. In a few minutes he returned and met deceased and her mother, coming out, and again he inquired if his wife world go home with him, and asked where they were going. At last the deceased acceded to his entreatie', and consented to accompany him, the deceased at that time having her infant in her arms. Tha two had not proceeded far when fresh words took place between them, and the prisoner gave deceased a push, and immediately afterwards he was seen by a man name Thompson tout his left-hand on deceased's right shoulder and strike her with hiS'right The deceased exclaimed, " What are you about ?" and pushed away ti,e prisoner, who fell into the channel. They then parted, and the prisoner on recovering himself rushed after the deceased and struck her several times, and while she was in the act of falling he put his left 'hand round her neck, and with his right hand took from his side a large knife, vcith which he inflicted a frightful wound on her throat. A struggle ensued and both fell down; the prisoner then knelt upon his wife, and again proceeded to cut her throat. Upon this he was *eized by two men, who found the deceased bleeding and lifeless, and, while endeavouring to get' away from them, the prisoner succeeded in Cutting his own throat and fell on his back. The knife Was found by his side covered with blood. These facts being clearly established, Mr. Fearnley addressed the jury for the prisoner, urging in his defence the plea of insanity. The Darned judge then went through the whole case very carefully, and The jury, after a short consultation, foUnd the prisoner guilty. His lordship, in passing sentence, said that, in his opinion, there was no ground whatever for the defence of insanity, and told the prisoner that he could hold out no hope whatever for him. Sentence of death was then passed in the usual solemn form.