npedrazzini/19thc_murder_suicide_news huggingface dataset:
Blandford, Wimborne and Poole Telegram. — 1877-08-24 (Blandford, Dorset, England)

QUAKERS IN PRISON FOR REFUSING TO FIGHT.  In the east of Europe there are communities of persons called Nazarenes, who may be regarded as Quakers, holding many of their views, especially their conscientious objections to engage in war. Dr. Ziemann lately met with some of these people in Servia, and he writes as follows concerning them : There are here about nine families marked by the public as " peculiar," and very pious. From all I have been able to learn they belong to a sect in doctrine and practice very similar to the worthy Friends in England. To-day I visited them in the fortress. I found the governor most favourably disposed towards them. He told me that two had just completed five years' servitude for refusing to carry arms. A few (lays' after their discharge the late war broke out, theywere called out again, and of course they offered to do anything in their power by Is ay of serving the Government, except to carry arms, The Governor accompanied me into the prison yard. They were out, and the Governor explained to me that they were sentenced to "labour," but he used them mostly for field or garden work. They were sent for. They came—bang, bang, heavy chains on their feet, clothed in ominous grey prison garb, led by an armed guard. Only two came; one is a patient in the Lazaretto. These two looked not ill, neither downcast, just the reverse; their faces had a calm peacetul look. They did not complain, neither did they burst out with a show of their martyrdom. Reserved, and exceedingly meek, they answered simply my questions, confirming to me what I had heard already, that they would rather (lie than carry arms, "because God had forbidden to murder." The chains and the prison they could endure, but to disobey God they would not, and dare not. Did they feel unhappy? I asked. There were tears in their eyes; but, said the one," The Lord Jesus Christ had told his disciples beforehand that they would have to suffer, and then eternal life!" I asked if I could do anything for them; they looked long and steadily at each other, and then timidly begged, "Could I obtain for them the permission to read the Bible in their cells?" I cannot tell you what I felt as I stood before these martyrs of God. I think if the Friends in England would move in the matter and send a petition, or perhaps a deputation, to tile Government here, it would have weight and restore them to liberty. Pray consider what is best to be done." Dr. Ziemann, writing last week on his way back to the vicinity of the seat of the war, adds the following: "Besides the permission for the prisoners to read their Bibles, I also succeeded in getting their chains taken off ; and the Society of Friends in London have sent, through Lord Derby, a petition to Prince Milan, of which I take a copy to the Princess, asking for their deliverance."
Blandford, Wimborne and Poole Telegram. — 1877-08-24 (Blandford, Dorset, England)

SCENE IN COURT.  At the Westminster Police Court on Saturday, Ada Milty Trarcner,l6, deSCribed as an actress, was charged with stealing some blankets, sheets, china, &c., from the coffee house, No. 48e, King's-road, Chelsea.—The prosecutor stated that at one o'clock on Friday morn. in a cabman brought the prisoner and she took a lodging at his house ; at ten o'clock she ordered a cup of tea, a round f toast, and a newspaper, for which she paid, and then went away in a cab.—The prisoner: There wasn't enough butter on the toast —Mr. D'Eyncourt asked the prioner, who became violent, to be quiet, and conduct herself properly, at which she burst out laughing, and balanced herself on the edge of the dock, and then tying a handkerchief tightly round her neck, said she would choke herself.— Prosecutor said the things were worth 25a.—Prisoner: About 2id., you mean.-- Mr. D'Eyncourt wished to know if the prisoner was sober, or in her right senses. —Davis (assistant ga( der) stated she was sober. It WM wickedness.—Prosecutor said she was a stranger to him—Edward Sarson, a pawnbroker's assistant, produced some tea-cups pledged by the prisoner for 3s.— Prisoner: Don't blush. Who are you calling a prisoner? I'll hit you in the eye. How many things have you stolen in your time? Prosecutor identified the cups.— Prisoner: Don't cry about it —Wm. F. Roberts, a cab-driver, said he was called to take the prisoner up at the coffee-house.—Prisoner: Yes, and a nice old robber you are.—The cabman said he took the prisoner up; she was very bulky—so much so that she could hardly climb into the cab. After driving her about to various places, he went to Battersea Bridge, and she would not pay the toll ; he afterwards drove to a pawnbroker's, and there she pledged the cups and saucers. He looked through the trap of his cab, and saw the prisoner taking blankets and sheets from round her body, and wrapping them in a newspaper, and he took her to the police-station.—Prisoner: Yes, I'll ive you something when I get hold of you.—The Cabman said he had not been paid his fare.—Prisoner : You won't have any money out of me; I'll murder you when I get hold of you pull your nose out of your face.—Mr D'Eyncourt told the prisoner to be quiet and not make grimaces.—Prisoner began gesticulating violently, and said she was a lunatic—didn't she look like one ? She felt the madness coming on her.—Police-constable John Manley said her clothes svere at a house where the cabman called: they were detained for 30s. rent she owed.—Prisoner said she would give them 30 "bobs" in the eye; she wanted a snooze and a wash.—Mr. D'Eyncourt asked her how old she was.-----Prisoner: 17 come Sunday.— Mr. D'Eyncourt remanded her for a week, and she jumped out of the dock shouting, "Whoa Emma !" On being removed to the cell she tried to strangle herself, and smashed the' things on which her food was given her. A
Blandford, Wimborne and Poole Telegram. — 1878-06-07 (Blandford, Dorset, England)

PAINFUL CASE. —Georgina Barbara Pearce was charged with assaulting Caroline Allen, of LangHaut, on Tuesday evening. —The complainant, who is a servant al the next house to that in which the defendant lives, said she went to the back door on Tuesday evening to see whether it was raining. She saw defendant looking out of a bed. room window, and she told her ti go in, and threw a large pair of garden shears at her, the wooden handles of , which struck her on the head, but did not cause any wound. The defendant had not previously insulted or assaulted her. She had never spoken to defendant in her life. Defendant denied throwing the shears from the window, but admitted throwing them over the wall from the pump trough in the garden. Sae said she was in a pet" with her mother for cutting the box edge too close, and she threw the shears over the wall, not knowing that there was anyone there. Supt Hunt handed ins member of letters he had received from the defendant, in whish she accused various persons of murder and other crimes, nd made mostextraordinary statements. Similar letters had been sent to Captain Aniyatt Brown, the London  and other police, and to private indivi.iinds.—Dr. Miller was sent for, and the Bench questioned defendant in his presen "e, awl she made sulli strange statetn-iits that the doctor had no hesitation in certifying her to he and the Bench thereupon ordered her reiuoval to a luuai,ic asylum.  UNHAPPY COUPLE:. —Alfred Ilenry Steyre, a potter, WAS summoned for amaching his wile, II trriett, on Monday. —Complainant, who had a very bad black we, said she wished to withdraw from the Case. Defendant, who also had a black eye, said he wished to ask the magistrates for advice. He could not live with his wife. On Sunday night, when he was in bed, die took a pair of scissors aud cut off his beard and his hair. She also tore up a pair of black trousers and took all his money out of his pockets and left him destitute. On Monday morning site went away and left him in charge of the child.—Supt. limit said complainant was brought to the police-station on Sunday evening for makiim a disturbance in Skinnerstreet, but she was afterwards released.—The Mayor, in discharging the defendant, told him he had a remedy against his wife if she acted in /he way he had described but he must not assault her.  EVADING roLL—Thoma:, Gams. a dealer, of Wareham, was summoned by Thomas Pride, toll collector at the Lengtleet turnpike gate, for evading payment of a three. penny toll on the 23rd of May.—Complainant said defendant drove through tho gate vory fast without pa i jug the toll or showing a ticket. Re ran after defendant and called to him to stop, but he did not pull up. Defendant's only excuse was that he had no money except a cheque about him at the time, and the Bench imposed a penalty of 4:1 and costs, 9s. 6d.
Blandford, Wimborne and Poole Telegram. — 1878-08-23 (Blandford, Dorset, England)

EXECUTION OF A WOMAN.  On Thursday there was enacted at Bodmin a scene that is a disgrace to Christian England. Selina Wedge was hanged for the murder of her illegitimate child, notwithstanding the fact that the jury recommended her to mercy and the strong public appeal made on her behalf. The prison officials appear to have been thoroughly ashamed of the tragedy Mr. Cross compelled them to enact, for they rigidly excluded every one from the gaol, even the representatives of the press were not allowed to be present. Mr. Cross seems ambitious of emulating the example of Sir James Graham, who earned an unenvious notoriety through mercilessly consigning poor, helpless wretches to the scaffold. We know not who to feel most ashamed of, the hard-hearted Home Secretary, who refused to listen to the strongly urged plea for mercy, or the nation, which makes no protest against such a revolting crime. Mr. Cross has only had the right of killing his fellow creatures for a little over four years, but he has evidently become so aecustomed to the work that the word mercy appears to be unknown to him. The rapidity with which executions now follow each other is becotuiug quite alarming—no less than three tintes within the past nine months has the scaffold been erected in Nottingham; in Chelmsford and Durham men were hanged a few days since, and now a woman is strangled ; doubtless there will soon be other victims. What does the civilised world say of this relentless butchery ? Does Mr. Cross ever think of the disgrace he is bringing upon us ! Capital punishment is revolting enough even when a merciful Home Secretary like Mr. Bruce keeps the hangman somewhat in check; but Mr. Cross seen's determined to find full employment for Marwood : mercy with him appears to be regarded as an inexcusable weakness. Atthe beginning of the year 15,000 persons pleaded for the 'life of a young man at Oxford; but he turned a deaf ear to all their entreaties. Not king since he kept a woman in prison for several months with the intention of hanging her as soon as her child was born, but the protests of humanity became at length so loud and strong that he was compelled to let his victim go. Then there were the three youths he sent to the gallows at Liecester. The case, too, of pour D , but there we can proceed no further : it would rill us with horror even to count np the number of his victims. We are conscious, too, that we are wasting our time. Nothing that we can say ii likely to have the slightest influence upon him who now holds what used to be regarded as the prerogative of mercy. Our only consolation is that Mr. Cross is not likely to be Home Secretary much longer. When the right of strangling his fellow-creatures in the name of the law is taken front him he will have time for reflection, and then may come calmer moments. We do not envy him the retrospect of his years of office. Oh those horrid streaks f blood that he will never be able to wipe out!
The Blandford and Wimbourne Telegram. — 1879-07-18 (Blandford, Dorset, England)

ALLEGED MURDER OF A WIFE.  At the Clerkenwell Police-court, on Monday, John Stinton, 37, house decorator, of 41, Barclay-street, St. Pancras-road, was charged before Mr. Hannay with feloniously causing the death of his wife Elizabeth, by violently assaulting her and striking her on the face and body with his fist on Saturday night last.—Alfred John Stinton, aged twelve, son of the prisoner, on Saturday night, was awoke by hearing words between his mother and father, who were quarrelling in the next room. He got up and saw his father strike his mother on the chest with his hand. He saw nothing more, as he ran upstairs to get out of the way. He had not seen his mother since. —Samuel Stinton, aged 10, saw his mother on the ground, and his father tread on her whilst she was down. He heard him say "Can you speak now." But his mother made no answer.—Mrs. Martha Bryant, residing in the same house,said one of prisoner's sous asked her to goin,as his father was knocking his mother about. She opened the door and went in. The prisoner was sitting on a chair, his wife lying on the floor. She said "Stinton, what have you been doing 1" And he replied "What the—is it to do with you r The deceased was insensible. Her face was greatly swollen, and streaming with blood ; her mouth was wide open, and her jaw had dropper. She fetched Dr. Smith and a policeman, when the prisoner was taken into custody and his wife was remcved on a stretcher to University College Hospital. The deceased died on Monday at 11 o'clock.—Mr. Hannay said, as the prisoner had got no legal assistance, he would remand the case for eight days. On Monday afternoon Dr. Hardwick° held an inquest on the body at the University College Hospital.—Police Sergeant Thomas Keeler, 5 Y Reserve, said on Saturday evening be went to 41, Barclaystreet, Somers-town, and in the front room found the deceased lying down on the floor before the fireplace, inseasible. She had one of her eyes much swollen, and blood was coming from her mouth and ears. There was a pool of blood on the floor near where the deceased was lying. He went and fetched Dr. Edwards, and on his return took the husband in custody, who then made no reply. The clothes were all smeared with blood. The room was in great confusion, and he found on the table a pair of tongs smeared with blood, as also the handle of a shovel.—Dr. Charles Mayne Maxwell said that the deceased was admitted to the hospital on Saturday evening at 12 o'clock, and was in an insensible condit on, having symptoms of compression on the brain. There was a large bruise on the right eye, which extended hick to the ear, whilst there were two bruises on the back of the head, the lower jaw was broken in two places, there was blood coming from the mouth, nose, and ears, and there were numerous bruises on the body and legs. She died the next day from her injuries—The jury adjourned the case till Wednesday next for post-mortem examination.  I
The Blandford and Wimbourne Telegram. — 1879-07-18 (Blandford, Dorset, England)

MANAGE. "Pashto anti Pirfurs."  ROTHELSTONE HOUSE, Menton, is finished and built so well that there have been many applications to purchase. Nay, sirs, this style of work is never 80/d. On Saturday evening the owner invited the builder and his workpeople to dine with him, which they did, and did as well as they had built. After the cloth was removed the usual toasts were given by the host, Mr. King. In proposing the health of Mr. Reuben Hardy, the builder, the chairman said that he was so pleased with the manner in which the work had been accomplished that he could hardly find words to express his thoughts and feelings. Mr. Hardy in responding thanked Mr. King for the high compliment he had paid him, and said that he always tried to give satisfaction, and hoped he should succeed as well elsewhere as here. Some capital old English songs were sung during the evening, Miss King accompanying on the pianoforte. Mr. R. Hardy is adding a spacious billiard room to Purbeck House.  . . IMPROVEMENTS near Ivy House are by no means uncommon. Mr. Frank Burt has given up a small portion of his land, arid the Local Board have been thus enabled to widen the road and footway considerably ;no small boon to the public. If the Board were always met in this spirit by some of the more extensive landowners, the inhabitants would see reason to feel grateful, and be almost led to dub them "benefactors."  " MOURNING GONE MAD' we are compelled to observe when we hear of all the doings over the corpse of the young Prince. And now forsooth a monument in Westminster Abbey. That surely is beyond all the houndl of courtesy, and so, if we mistake them not, will think the French Government. Why,  what has he done ? Lived a rather unhappy, but good life, served England as a cadet, and perished romantically, but rashly, aa a warspectator. If we are to raise nuomments in our National home of the noble dead to every favourite of royalty, :up' if every victim of military bungling istobe remembered, these will soon cease to be considered any honour at all. We yield to none in our esteem of the son of Napoleon, the friend of England, but, measured as history will measure him, we say he by no means reaches the standard of the mighty heroes whose names or whose (lust we embalm lovingly in our trilml cairn. To " the National memorial of a beneficent character c.mnecte.l with the name of the late Prince," we have not the least objection. We ought to repent heartily for our share in this Zulu crime, and a neverperishing memorial of our sorrow coal take m. better form than a mission of Peace and Salvati. at to Wm slstained devastated Zululand. Such a memorial would do more to bring sunshine on our crops and life to our murdered trade than all the prayers we are offering in our churches. "To obey is 'better than sacrifice and to hearken than the fat of rams," at least it was so in olden times.
The Blandford and Wimbourne Telegram. — 1879-07-25 (Blandford, Dorset, England)

SOUTHAMPTON RACES-THUMDAY.  Trial :Pak •of lel sovs. One wile.—Creature, 1; Prigcillian, 2; Hyndland, 3. Bound to Win also ran. Won by a length and a half. South Hininihire Stakes. One mile and • quarter.—. Dominica, 1 : Nugget, 2. Won by a length. Licensed Victuallers Plate. Half a mile.—Queen of the T.Y.C., I; Invincible, 2; Conflict, 3. Anemone, Hallili colt, Scone, Dinum. Wild Flower, Phillida, Thornley, and Mantl t also ran. Won by a neck. S irrey Ilandicop Plate of 100 sovm. F.ve furlongs.— Rosalind, 1 ; Wsld Lyon, 2 ; Saltier, 3. Saphira, Rapine filly, and Lids+ Rollo filly also ran. Won by a head.  Cranbury Park Stakes. T.Y.C. 15 sub& —Robert Macaire, 1; Al.aria, 2; Antigua, 1 They ran 11,14 placed throughout, R3hert Macaire winning easily by two lenghts.  TRE CONDEMNED CONVICT WEBSTER,  On Thursday Cetherine Webster, sentenced to death for the Richmond murder, was still in thee ame depressed and apparently weak condition aa on the previous days and got up at six Wednesday morning, partaking of a rather good breakfast. It is said she appeared in a fearful condition of mind when informed that the day for her execution would be Tuesday week. The governor of the gaol, accompanied by the Hi.rh Sheriff of the county of Surrey, communicated this tr her in her cell. The convict cried bitterly, saying, "Oh, I arm not guilty." She has written to her relatives in Ireland, asking them to come and see her. She has continued her statement respecting the charge she has made against a &wand person, but it will not be made known at present. The furniture, rte., in Mrs. Thomas's house at Richmond is announced to be sold by auction on the :30th inst. A sale being prohihited on the premises, it will Lek° place at the Assembly Rooms, Richmond. —At the fd sn liester City Police-caurt Wednesday, a middleaged man, who gave the name of William Lemon, and whose face was very much bruised and disfigured, was charged on his own confession with the murder of Mrs. Thomas, at Richmond, for which murder Catherine Webster now lies under sentence of death. On being told that it was a serious charge, and that he had better be careful what he said, he replied, "I don't care, I did it, and was paid for it ; and you will find her head at the bottom of Richmond Beach." He appeared ta be Arffering from drank, and gave rambling answers to questions put to bun by the magiatrate, amongst which he stated that he drunk two quarts of rune that morning, and could do with a little drop more then, lie said he was a tisk salesmen, and had been to Blackpool, and his face was marked through falling out of a cart. He was remanded for a week.  TUE inost heartrending poverty is said to prevail at Darlington, and it is even feared that starvation fever may break out. The local Board of Guardians, have again refused, by twenty to eighteen, to open the stoneyards as a labour test for able-bodied men only.
The Blandford and Wimbourne Telegram. — 1883-02-02 (Blandford, Dorset, England)

INVALID'S NOTES.  Didn't feel up to the mark I Didn't know exactly what WAS the matter with me, but had a strong disinclination to get up in the inerning, and an overpowering desire to go to sleep in the afternoon. Was generally depressed, and suffered from forebodinge of immediate evil which were never fulfilled. Had au idea that the world was against me in general, and that no one would mourn over mY approaching death, but would dismiss the subject summarily, not to say with a light heart. Consulted my Doctor. lie Bouuded me, and said there was a harshness of breathing, and there was something not quite right at the bottom of my left lung. I thought so. I had felt it coining on for a long time. I have always known that my life would be 'shortened by lung-disease, and I proceeded to relate several anecdotes of bronchial affections in our family, to which truth compels me to state my Doctor did not even pay that attention which common politeness demands. Ile said there was no ground for uneasiness. Of course, not for him ; but if he was suffering from my complaint he wouldn't take such a "cheery view of the case. lie advised me to lay up for a bit, to keep warm, and avoid night-air. It is very easy to be.a Doctor. Laid up for a week, kept warm, and avoided night-air. Didn't feel any better. Grew more depressed. Found myself spending hours before the looking-glass, gazing at my tongue. Couldn't sleep except at wrong times, such as betweentreakfast and lunch, and was seized with a wild passion to go to bed at five in the afternoon. This insomnia leads to madness, and I told my doctor of several eases of raving insanity which adorn our family history, He has probably never had any lunatics, except himself, in his family, as he poohpootied the notion, and said that want of sleep arose solely from biliousness. A coarse, common train of thought. The drop from incipient insanity, about which there is something heroic, something connected with old relbrick mansions and waipseotted parlours and clanking of chains, to bilionenecs, which its teething more or less than over-eating and drinking, is as from murder to petty larceey. Probably if cone/feted of both I should prefer to be sentenced for the latter; but I had hugged my insanity—my picture of an over-wrought brain—to my breast, and I was sorry to part with him. The doctor kept, on declaring that there was really nothing the matter with me, but that I was low, and required much nursing; and it's a wonder he didn't add petting. He gave me tonics, which, for Complete removal of appetite, were, I should think, Unequalled. Making no progress one way or the other. Got tired of laying up and keepine warm and aveiding night-air. Went out for the first time terTheatre. Smoked cigarettes, which I am strictly forbidden to do, in draughty passages, which I am expressly ordered to avoid, and drank brandies and sodas, which I am commanded to shun like poison, between the Acts. Pouring wee night, and no cabs to be gut. Walked from Theatrato in thin clothes and shoes. Got soake4. Drank