npedrazzini/19thc_murder_suicide_news huggingface dataset:
The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle. — 1884-06-28 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

WHEAT HAEEST 11,N FRANCE. - The •exa4 figures of the wheat production in France for the 1883 harvest are now to hand. In October last the Minister of Agriculture bad ,estimated the harvest a 102 millions of hectolitres, whereas the anticipated yield was only 94 millions. The official figures now show that. the exact production of wheat last year am3unted to/A.103,700,000 hectolitres. Adding to this. quantity the 20 millions of hectolitres remaining over from the 1882 harvest, and 12 millions imported during 1883, a total supply of 135,700,000 hectolitres is reached. Of this, 116,000,000 went for general consumption and as seed, which leaves a balance of 19,700,000 hectolitres .Lvailable for the present year. Premising that the liar-volt this year will turn out a good one, as everything seerns to show up to th.gt present, the production is likely to reach from 114 to 125 millions of hectolitres, thus making from 135 to 145 millions ef lectolitro to he carried kr? 7qrcl,i 188.  MILITARY EXECUTION IN ITALY,  Before dawn on Saturday morning the soldier Misdea v,,fis taken to the exercite ground at Bagnoli precede,d and accompanied by a large milita7 force. A considerable crowd witnessed the execution. On reaching Bagnoli at 3.45 a.m. the military formed three sides of a svare. Nfisdea left thz prison van. Its eyes were bandaged and he was -seated on and bound to a chair with his face to the kil side, and his back to the eight soldiers appointed to fire. The reading of the sentence by the colonel lasted half an hour. Misdea wf-.8 calm, but covered Ivith a profuse perspiration which the priest who attended him continually wiped off his forehead, holding a cross to his lip, which he repeatedly kissed. At 4.20 the priest was removed ahnost by force. The signal to fire tcas silently made, an an instant after seven bulhts had shattered Miselea's brain, the eighth penetrating his shoulder. The priest fainted away; the spectators wept ; the soldiers looked pale. The body was taken back to Naples. Immediately after the body had been removed the people present swarmed over'the place, and tearing the cord which had bound the criminal into pieces, and breaking the stool on which he had sat into fragments, each took away a portion, in homage to the superstition that any part of the cord or the chair of a prisoner who has suffered death will bring good fortune to the possessor. A Natiles journal states that until Saturday no man had suffered the extreme penalty of the law in that city since 1861. No sentence of death had yet been signed by King Humbert since his accession, but the Minister for War, General Ferrero, insisted on the sentence being executed on the ground that it was indispensableto keep up discipline in the army. The ex-carabineer Scaranari, who was sentenced to death for murdering a non-commissioned officer of 1 his regiment by runnint him through with a swore' was executed at Palermo on Saturday morning.
The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle. — 1884-10-04 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

THE VALUE OF GAME.  The "physiology of taste" may be pleasantly illustrated by comparing the relative price of ga-me as bought by the bons vivants of London and New York. Of the larger animals killed by sportsmen in the United States, antelope seems to be the most highly appreciated. It costs usually 25 cents, or a shilling a pound, whereas venison, if bought in any large quantity, is to be had for 15 cents, and is only rated at a shilling when sold in detached joints. According to the same statistics, which are quoted by Land and Water, bear meat is to be had for the comparatively low price of 20 cents, or less than legs of mutton in many London shops. American hares, however, cost a dollar, or about the same as our own, and rabbits are worth about a shilling apiece. Partridges are at a higher premium in New York, and fetch no less than 7s. a brace, or as the New Yorkers seem to prefer calling it, a "pair." Grouse, on the other hand—of the Yankee description, of course—are to be had for 3s. each, and if they are of the spruce variety, which feeds upon larches, and has a taste of that resinous food, they will not fetch above half that sum. The woodcock is in equal estimation with the partridge, but snipe are a great deal cheaper. Indeed, the small variety of the American Scolopax is to be bought at the rate of about a penny each, though the "robin snipe," the " brant snipe," and the " willet snipe" fetch 6s. a dozen. Common plovers cost a shilling, and grass plovers 40 cents. Of the larger birds, wild geese may be considered cheap at a dollar apiece, and swans still cheaper at a dollar and a half. This latter price is also paid for canvas back ducks. On the whole, considering the relative price of butchers' meat in the two countries, it cannot be said that the game course in New York is provided at so cheap a cost as in England; and the rise in its value may be taken as indicating a serious falling off in the supply of game on that side of the Atlantic.  The body of Thomas Mills, head gamekeeper on the Finlayson Estate, Renfrewshire, was found by a search party at midnight on Saturday in circumstances pointing to the supposition that he had been murdered by poachers. He left his home early in the morning and should have returned to breakfast. He had no firearm with him, but about an hour afterwards the report of two gunshots was heard, and when found he was lying on his breast with a dead rabbit under him. There was a fearful wound on the lower jaw and on the upper part of the face smaller wounds, which might have been caused by pellets. He was grasping the trunk of a tree against the foot of which his face was lying. He was a witness at the trial for murder of two poachers and it was stated that he had been threatened. He was 40 years of age, and married.
The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle. — 1885-05-16 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

THE PEACE.—Yoseph Jones was charged with cornwitting a breach of the peace by 4cfhtnig on the 9th inst, in Cradley Road, Cradley ' Three police officers were called and said ~...., Eleatu. - +ant figh ing.—Three witnesies were • .ind said the defendint did they saw dete,, ' -ind over in his own called for the defenco ..... -,ce for !.ix not fight. Defendant was ;J., ec.)guisances of £lO to keep the p..... non hs. _ ... _.  A. COWARDLY ASSAULT,—John Tromans, alias Barnet,47, gun lock maker, Springfield, was brought up in custody on a charge of unlawfully wounding his wife. Elizabeth- Tromans, on the sth inst.— Complainant said she had been out washing on the Monday, and her mistress had given her a blade bone of veal, She had a pardon of it for her supper, and went to bed early. On getting up on Tuesday morning she found prisoner had eaten all tle meat, and on asking him whv he had not left her, some, as there was nothing else in the house, he said, "Don't keep rattling to me, or I'll cut your b— head off. He then caught hold of her by the neck as if to strangle her, but did not hurt her then. Leaving the house, he was away all day, and on returning at half-past nine at night, he asked if she had anything for his supper, She said, "Yes; you know what I. have in the house," and he said, "I have not forgotten the way you chastised me this morning; if you chastise me aboat meat [will cut your b— head off." Ile then got in a rage, and, taking up a knife from the table, he drew it across her face, inflicting a wound extending across the whele length of her cheek, causing it to bieed profusely. Prisoner continued ' to threaten to cut her head off if she did not put his supper, and she then went and stopped at a nei4hbour's house all night Prisoner had been at play for nineteen weeks —Prisoner : No; eighteen next Friday; tell the truth.—Complainant, continuing, said she and her little girl had been depending almost wbody upon her own efforts, ant wit t people gave them. Prisoner was druna six nigh .s out of seven; and if he eartie i a Baffling he speat sixpence.—Prisoner said the wound wai inflicted accidentally. He hail had seine b..er, but did not intend to hurt his wife —Mr. Ba,ssano said it w.is from no lack of intention on the part of the prisoner that he was not now charged with murder. It was a case the Bench were bound to deal 5..-verely with, and prisoner was sentenced to six months imprisonment with hard labour.—Complain int asked the magistrates to make a separation order. She ha i three childien, one married, one at service, aid one three years of age.—The Bench granted a judicial separation, and ordered prisoner to contritnr,e. 2s 6.1, per week for the suppoit of the child, and a like s am tar his wife.
The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle. — 1885-07-25 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

WIFE MURDER AT FULHAM.  Dr. Diplock held an inquiry at the Salisbury Hotel, Fulham, on Saturday, respecting the death of Ellen, Norman, aged 38 years. Charlotte Townsend, a married woman, said that on Wednesday she was at work for a relative of Norman's when Henry Norman i came n and spoke of his wife's conduct, saying to a Mrs. Luck, "What am I to do ? " Mrs. Luck answered, "Forgive her." Norman then said, "One, two, three! How many times." Mrs. Luck "tried to smile," and replied, "Seven times." Norman i pulled off his bat, threw t up, and exclaimed, "No, I can't. I love my wife, but she has been unfaithful to me, and I can't rest. .You will never see me any more, mother, after to-night. I mean to kill that man before I sleep," referring to a man who knew the deceased. John Patten stated that he kept a shop at Rylston-terrace, where the deceased and her husband lodged. On Friday morning witness heard Norman run out of the house. Norman's little boy then screamed and said, "Mr. Batten, father has stabbed my mother; come and see.' Witness went and found Mrs. Norman dying or dead, and he then went for the Pollee. In answer to a juryman, the witness emPhatically denied that he had been on familiar terms with the deceased. Inspector Rawlings stated that Henry Norman gave himself up, stating, "I have killed my vriAe:” The jury returned a verdict at "Wilful murder " against Henry Norman.  " A man in Ohio borrowed a gun, saying he wanted to shoot birds. lle went Into the woods, put the muzzle of the gun to his head and blew out his brains." He didn't tell a falsehood. Ho shot a goose. A chapter of calamities is reported to have happened to a coloured man in Abbeville county, S.C., one day last week, and the local paper states them in the following order: "Two of his dogs, his wife, and his horse all fell dead."  Tiie—mgdiclnTai.qualities of brandy, whiskey, and wines have become warmly appreciated in the Prohibition States of America. Last month alone the druggists of Lawrence City, in Kansas, sold 100 gallons of these liquors, which are declared out there to be at once an infailing specific for coins, and matchless for the hands and complexion. laireL4.  _  #l, lip- _ .742 " •  for the bill, having informed himself- more fully as to the wonting of this disqualification. Mr. Collins spoke at length in favour of the bill, as did Mr. Labouchere, who indulged in some strictures on the pliability of Conservative Governments in a minority, upon which The Chancellor of the Exchequer remarked that if these two gentlemen were in favour of the bill, as they professed to be, they ought to be glad to assist in passing it instead of trying to talk it out. At this period of the session, if the bill was to become law, the House ought to go into Committee at once. After this Mr. Courtney's amendment was negatived by 226 to 22. The House then went into Committee, and subseriently adjourned.
The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle. — 1867-01-26 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

DREADFUL CASE.  An inquest, disclosing details of • case of apparently deliberate child starvation, has just been held in Shirenewton. Monmouthshire, and has reidilted in the committal of the mother upon a charge ,if wilful murder. The deceased was a girl named Eliza Clan. field, and was stated to have been over fourteen years of age. Her father was a farm labourer, in receipt of 10s. a week, in addition to a cottage rent free. The mother hail an opportunity of earning another shilling per day when she chose to work. Evidence was given showing that the family nevertheless lived in a shocking state of filth and destitution. The children (of whom there were rev-rat heel ; lee the deceased) were usually kept in bed till about midday, when they were permitted to get up and each received a piece of bread, which, except on rare occasions was all they got from the mother till noon next day, though they sometimes picked up a few scraps from the neighbours. They could not remember when the scanty clothing they wore was last washed; but their father's shirt was usually washed once in six weeks. The daily fare of the mother was described by several witnesses as being of a totally different character. She seldom sat down to her breakfast without having a rasher of bacon, and invariably had meat and potatoes at dinner. Her husband was a quiet, steady, hard-working man, but she had driven him to live out of the house, at the , same time compelling him to allot her Gs. per week out of his wages, leaving him with only 4s. for his I own maintenance. A witness deposed that a short time before Christmas-day, Mrs. Clanfield met her and complained bitterly of the burden her children were to her. "No one," she said, "was tormented with such was." The young devils would neither live nor die, ; and she swore she would kill them. On being expostulated with, he said it was better to kill them right out than to starve them, and added that as sure as she had a jug in her hand, she (witness) would hear of something bad bet ore long. Oa the 111th instant Mrs. Clantield went to the house of a neighbour and told her that " Lizzie was dead." On going back with her this witness found the deceased lying on some sacks in the room where the family lived. She was covered with a each, her single garment consisting of an old calico frock which she had long outgrown. A postmortem examination of the body was made which I placed beyond all doubt the fact that the child had Idied from sheer starvation. She was naturally a healthy child and had no organic disease. Tke jury , returned a verdict of Wilful Murder against Clanfield, mother of deceased; and on Friday after. noon the prisoner was removed to the county gaol to I await her trial at the assizes.
The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle. — 1867-01-26 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

SHOCKING CASE OF CRUELTY AND STARVATION.  At Gainsborough on Friday, Alfred and Sarah Blow, man and wife, were charged with the wilful murder of the illegitimate child of the female prisoner. P.S. Wynne deposed that the female priaoner came to him by the relieving officer's directions, to tell him of the death of her child. She said it had been ailing, and on Sunday had a fall downetairs. but she did not think it had broken its neck. It lived till Monday morning. No doctor had aeon it An inquest was subsequently held, and an open verdict returned. No medical evidence was taken at the inquest. Witness subsequently gave instructions for a post-morteat examination, which was performed by Dr. Daigan, and, on the result being made known, he caused both prisoners to be apprehended on the charge of canning the death of the child by starvation, neglect, and treatment. Duigac said the post-mortem examis nation showed that the child was full grown, but exceedingly wasted and attenuated. There were bruises on the head and face, and two gaping wounds on each side the hip, one gaping to the extent of one and shelf inches ; and both three inches long, and going through the skin and muscular fibre down to the bone. They might be caused by cords tied round the body. There were dry excorations over the knee, and dry sores all over the body. The stomach he found completely empty. The intestines were also quite empty, and very much contractlci from inanition. There was no trace of any kind of food. The child did not weigh more tnan one of six or eight months. His conclusion from the examination was that the child's death was caused by the want of food and inattention, accelerated, probably, by the injuries to the head.— Eliazbeth Booth, who had nursed the female prisoner through a fever five months ago, said that the child, during the three weeks she was there, was systematically ill-treated. She had even the male prisoner knock the child down with his bits, and would not allow her to pick it up. When he came borne from work he used to thrash it with a stick, , for no apparent cause, and would never allow it to ' come to the same table as himself. Witness had also seen him lift the child up by the hair of the head, and shoot its knuckles with his fingers till it could hardly stand. The mother encouraged him to etrike it. She used to call downstairs, Hit it, hit it t"—Elizabeth Green said she had seen the husband put the child up the chimney, a fire being in the grate at the time, and otherwise ill use it. She had seen the mother also strike dun. mercifully with a stick.—Another witne.s declared that the child had been tied in a chair with cords, in a room without a fire, from six till bed-time, frequently during the recent severe weather, on the plea that it was dirty.- Both prisoners were committed to Lincoln *seises on the charge of wilful murder.
The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle. — 1867-09-28 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

FENIANISM IN ENGLAND.  The details of the Fenian outrage in Manchester, as they have arrived day by day, have excited deep interest, as well as alarm and agitation throughout England. At the time we write, Deasy and Kelly are still hidden by their friends or fellow-conspirators, but we trust that they may be captured before these lines are read. But in any case it is evident that the strong hand of the law must be brought to bear upon those who have outraged some of the principles on which society is based. The first and fundamental law of s )ciety is the preservation of peace and order among any community, and to obtain this it is necessary that Law and justice should be upheld by the civil power. It was merely in the execution of the ordinary course of justice, legally administered, that certain prisoners were being conveyed from one place to another; and it cannot be endured that in broad daylight, in one of the great cities of the empire, a police-van should be stopped, a policeman murdered in the executton of his duty, other murderous outrages committed, and men legally In the bands of justice set free by a lawless mob. A number of these fellows have been captured, and in ordinary course would be tried at the next assizes. But justice in this country is very slow in her movements, and the right method of dealing with these men would seem to be to have them trien by special commission. so that punishment should speedily follow in the wake of an outrage of the law. The rights and wrongs of Ireland, of which we are always hearing so much, need not enter into the question at all. Nor need there be any discussion on the merits or demerits of Fenianism. Neither the one nor the other has anything to do with the matter. The question is whether mob law shall be ermitted to override the legal administration of justice—whether a number of lawless scoundrels are to set at defiance the constituted authorities and the Executive. Public opinion has already answered this question in the negative, and the law in ordinary course will avenge itself. But we submit that the ordinary course will be somewhat too tedious in this instance to meet the exigencies of the case. Justice is proverbially blind, but she is sometimes halt also. We have no fear that right will be done in this matter; but the best way to discourage any such lawless attempts for the future will be for justice for once to prove that she can be exceptionally quick in overtaking the We believe that the Government have had under consideration the desirability of a special commission, and it is not improbable that such a Commission will speedily be appointed. Such a step would be generally approved. The sooner we decide on the guilt or innocence of the accused, and mete out due punishment to those who have done violence to the common rights of society, the better.
The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle. — 1867-01-19 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

EXTRAORDINARY DISAPPEARANCE OF A GENTLEMAN. •  - An affair which promises to he as mysterious as celebrated Road Murder is just now agitating the public mind in Bristol, and has been mentioned before in the papers. About a month ago a man named Charles Jones disappeared under very peculiar circumstances, and has never been seen or heard of since. The strangeness of the mysterious manner in which he has vanished leaves very little doubt but what he has been foully murdered, but up to the present time not the slightest clue has been obtained upon which the local police can go to work. Mr. Charles Jones was about eighty years of age, very short in stature, and of very slight frame. His appearance was out of the common, and such that no one could meet hint in the street without taking notice of the oddity of his look and manner. He resided at Stanley House, Upper Euston, near Bristol, occupying only a part ot the house, the other part being occupied by a working man. Mr. Jones was a tailor by trade, and many years ago he went to Australia, where he acquired a competence. Returning to England, he took up his residence in Bristol. He is described as a man of peculiar habits, of an uncommunicative nature, and of a parsimonious disposition. He has a wife living, but they have been separated for some time. On Wednesday, Dec. 12th, Mr. Jones had a carpenter at wi rk upon his premises, and as the job was not completed in the evening, the latter stated that he shoat neigh it on the next day, to which Mr. Jones replied that he should not be at home, as he was going to White Ladies'sroad to buy some property. That same evening he called at the Reform Tavern in Broad-street, and saw Mr. Walters, the landlord, with whom lie has been on terms of great intimacy, many business transactions having taken place between them. It is distinctly alleged by several parties that he had nothing to drink there. The next night he did not return to his house, nor the night after, and the suspicions ot his friends began to be aroused. Inquiries were made in various directions, and it was found that on Thum day .fteruoun be had been to the North Somerset ItailWHY Inn, in St. Philip's Marsh, kept by a man named Ramsdert. This place is situated close to what ii termed this Feeder, and at no distance from the New-cut, in which there is a tidal stream. Near to the premises are two or three lime-kilns. Rantsden, in answer to inquiries, Bald that Jones came there about two o'clock, and remained till about a quarter pant live, when he left very drunk. The servant states that he had a gold watch and chain, and it is well known that the missing gentleman wore one of the most magnificeut chains ever seen. There had, it seems, been business tranttactions between Ranuden aud him, and he had lent ltanastien n.oney. Now, the landlord states that he paid Mr. .Tones 3401,-101, wore than he owed him—in a mistake, on this same afternoon, in notes and gold, for which he obtained a