npedrazzini/19thc_murder_suicide_news huggingface dataset:
The Sun. — 1847-06-23 (London, England)

MURDER TWENTY YEARS AGO. The Belfast papers of Saturday contain the report of an adjourned inquest on the body of the late Hugh Dunlop, Balloo, in the barony of Ards, that was found buried in Gransha bog, on the 2d inst., which was held on Thursday, before the coroner, Mr. Ward, of Downpatrick, in the public-house of Mr. John Martin, who resides beyond the Six Road-ends, on the road leading from N ewtonards to Donaghadee. The circumstances concerning the death of Dunlop are of a most mysterious character. He was missed from the neighbourhood about twenty-one years ago : and not the least trace of him was found until Wednesday, the 2d instant, when the body was discovered by two persons named Hayes, father and son, in the above named bog, at the depth of four feet. Three sticks were laid over the body, one across the breast, another over the thighs, and the third across the legs. Immediately after the body was found, several persons who had been intimate with the deceased identified it as that of Hugh Dunlop. An inquest was held on Saturday, the sth inst., and four witnesses were examined as to the identity of the man ; but it was deemed advisable, in consequence of some rumours having been circulated to the effect that Dunlop's family, who are still alive, to his supposed murder, to adjourn until were Thursday last. Deceased's body had been lying at Mr. Martin's house since that period; and great numbers of people from different parts of the country have come to see it. Its appearance resembled somewhat that of a preserved mummy. It was of a dark brown colour, and the flesh on the trunk was in a singular state of preservation. The legs and thighs were greatly shrivelled up, and there was scarcely any flesh on them. The marks made by the pressure of the sticks were very visible. When first discovered the features of the face were more discernible than what they were on Thursday, because it had been for a few days exposed to the influence of the weather, besides having been tossed and otherwise injured by the country people who came to examine it. The principal marks of identity were upon and a protuberance theraisef odoofut u,w ahu hda weread strikingly been peculiarb ro k ehollownessenv in the nose,ident to an observer. both , There were no external marks of violence on the body. A strong feeling of prejudice has been created for miles round the country against the family of the deceased. After a number of witnesses had been examined, whose testimony, however, threw but little light on this mysterious transaction, the jury, after a short deliberation, returned the following verdict :—" We find that the body of the man found in Gransha bog is the body of the late Hugh Dunlop, of Primacy, in the parish of Balloo, county of Down, who has not been seen since June of 1827 ; and we are of opinion that the said Hugh Dunlop's death was caused by violent means, though we have not evidence to show by whom." A reward of 50/. has been offered to any person who will prosecute to conviction the supposed murderers of the deceased.
The Sun. — 1847-09-28 (London, England)

ATTEMPTED MURDER.  BEECIIWOOD-GREEN, HERTS, SATURDAY.—During the past few days a feeling of horror has prevailed throughout this neighbourhood, which has been caused by the following inhuman outrage upon a poor old man, which, in all probability will terminate fatally. The following are the short facts of the case :—On Thursday se'nnight, Henry Bodsworth, a labourer, who resided at Lilley, left his home for the purpose of proceeding to the above place, to purchase some wearing apparel. Upon arriving there he met his nephew, with whom he spent the evening at a beershop. At the hour for closing the landlord cleared the house, and Dodsworth, either from drinking too much, or from fatigue, went into a cart shed at the back of the house, and lay down on some straw. Shortly after being there two men entered, who had been drinking in the same house, and had seen Budsworth change a sovereign. They immediately assailed him in the most brutal manner with a heavy bludgeon, with which they beat him over the head till the blood issued most copiously, and he was almost senseless. Ile, however, managed to crawl into a brickfield, ab Art 100 yards off, when he was attacked a second time by his brutal assailants. In this field were marks of men's shoes, and about a quart of coagulated blood between a number of bricks and the hedge, where the old man was thrown, the villains, no doubt, supposing that he was quite dead. _ _ _  Inspector Good, upon being informed of the outrage, commenced an inquiry with the view of finding out the guilty parties. From certain information the inspector received he apprehended two men, named Thomas Hide and James Claridge, who were kept apart, one at Whitwell, and the other at Stevenage. Upon examining the clothing of Claridge, fresh marks of blood were found. He accounted for this by saying his nose had been bleeding. Similar marks were found upon the clothing of Hide.  Mr. Curling, one of the county magistrates, and Mr. Hawkins, the chief clerk, have since taken the depositions of the evidently dying man. lie, upon being shown Hide, at once identified him as being the man who inflicted the wounds, and he stated that Claridge knelt on his body during the time the blows were being inflicted. Mr. Pnillips, surgeon, of Whitwell, said that there were serious wounds on the skull, one four inches in extent, laying bare the skull, the scalp falling over the ears. There were six others on the left side of the head, one so extensive that two fingers could be placed in it. The face was so disfigured that it was with difficulty it could be distinguished from the back of hi 3 head. He entertained little hopes of his recovery. After so cruelly treating the poor fellow, they took from him all the money he had about his person. The prisoners will not be examined till Wednesday next, to afford" time to see whether any favourable change will take place.
The Sun. — 1847-04-12 (London, England)

ATROCIOUS AND VINDICTIVE MURDERS.  Monday morning, about eight o'clock, immediately after three policemen had left the house of Philip Hourigan, at Ballycullen, near Glen-Bevan, in this county, for their station at Croom, three armed men entered his habitation in search of Hourigan, who, fortunately for himself was out, having gone a little before to the house of a brother, about three or four fields off. The in-• truders turned upon his wife, as she sat by the fire to prepare breakfast, and deliberately fired at her, inflicting a mortal wound in her breast. Not content with this barbarous deed, they struck tho dying woman on the head with their guns, until she lay apparently dead upon the floor. They next turned into a room where the son of the unhappy couple lay on a sick bsd, and dragged the lad, about eighteen years of age, about the house, and then commanding him to stand against the bed-post, another shot was levelled at him, which entered his head, and he fell at once an easy victim before his murderers. Having glutted their vengeance by the immolation of mother and son, these ferocious miscreants departed, regretting they had not got the husband and father, to complete the tragic spectacle. Hourigan's little daughter would assuredly have been the third victim, as they were determined to spare no human being in the house to tell the catastrophe, only that she, providentially, was in the out-offices milking the cow for her pcor mother. This little girl came in as the murderers departed, and saw thorn going off, but unperceived by them, and suspecting 1:o harm, the first objscte she beheld inside the door were her mother in the agonies of death, and her brother a naked corpse ! The affrighted child gave the alarm, but before any friend or neighbour came in lieurigan's wife breathed her last. The distracted father soon found his peaceful home the abode of desolation and mourning—his wife and son in one half hour mangled and bloody cprpses, and no one to point out the accursed murderers, or trace their route, though seen to pass the river Maieue, after the satanic outrage, and without any disguise on their persons. The afflicted and persecuted man, Philip Hourigan, at last assizes, brought to conviction four persons for having in November, 1846, attacked his dwelling by night, and assaulted him barbarously in the presence of his wife and children. They broke his skull. These fellows were :sentenced to seven years' transportation, the judge having first designed to double that penalty, so gross did the outrage appear to him. Hourigan's life was threatened since this prosecution, and the magistrates found it requisite to have police in the house at night for his protection. But the unfortunate roan was doomed by those who regard not law or mercy, and watching the departure of the police on the above morning, the murderers accomplished their infernal purpose, and as they could not sacrifice Hourigan, they butchered in cold blood those most dear to him, the unoffending mother and son.—Limerick Chronicle.
The Sun. — 1847-04-12 (London, England)

ATROCIOUS AND VINDICTIVE MURDERS. Monday morning, about eight o'clock, immediately titer three policemen had left the house of Philip liouri4an, at Ball)cullen, near Glen-Bevan, in this county, for their station at Ctoom, three armed men entered his habitation in search of Hourigan, who, fortunately for nimself was out, having gone a little before to the house a brother, about three or four fields off. The intruders turned upon his wife, as she sat by the fire to prepare breakfast, and deliberately fired at her, inflicting mortal wound in her breast. Not content with this barbarous deed, they struck the dying woman on the head with their guns, until she lay apparently dead upon the floor. They next turned into a room where the son of the unhappy couple lay on a sick bed, and dragged the lad, about eighteen years of age, about the house, and then commanding him to stand against the bed-post, another shot was levelled at him, which entered his head,  ind he fell at once an easy victim before his murderers. Having glutted their vengeance by the immolation of mother and son, these ferocious miscreants departed, regretting they had not got the husband and father, to complete the tragic spectacle. Hourigan's little daughter would assuredly have been the third victim, as they were determined to spare no human being in the house to tell the catastrophe, only that she, providentially, was in the out-offices milking the cow for her pcor mother. This little girl came in as the murderers departed, and saw them going off, but unperceived by them, and suspecting no harm, the first objects she beheld inside he ther door were her mother in the agonies of death, and brother a naked corpse ! The affrighted child gave the alarm, but before any friend or neighbour came in Hourigan's wife breathed her last. The distracted father soon found his peaceful home the abode of desolation and mourning—his wife and son in one half hour mangled and bloody corpses, and no one to point out the accursed murderers, or trace their route, though seen to pass the river Maigue, after the satanic outrage, and without any disguise on their persons. The afflicted and persecuted man, Philip Hourigan, at last assizes, brought to conviction four persons for having in November, 1846, attacked his dwelling by night, and assaulted him barbarously in the presence of his wife and children. They broke his skull. These fellows were ;sentenced to seven years' transportation, the judge having first designed to double that penalty, so gross did the outrage appear to him. Hourigan's life was threatened since this prosecution, and the magistrates found it requisite to have police in the house at night for his protection. But the unfortunate man was doomed by those who regard not law or mercy, and watching the departure of the police on the above morning, the murderers accomplished their infernal purpose, and as they could not sacrifice Hourigan, they butchered in cold blood those most dear to him, the unoffending mother and son.—Limerick Chronicle.
The Sun. — 1847-06-01 (London, England)

THE TRIPLE MURDER AT 111 R FIELD.  The prisoners Michael M•Cabe and Patrick Reid, underwent a long examination before the magistrates ht Dewsbury on Saturday. About nine o'clock the prisoners arrived in Dewsbury from Wakefield, in the police van, and at ten o'clock were placed at the bar of the magistrates' room, in the Court-house. Some time before the hour named for the examination a large concourse of persons had assembled in the vicinity of the Court-house. Joshua Ingham, Esq , H. W. Wickham, Esq., J. B. Greenwood, Esq., and J. Hague, Esq., were the magistrates upon the bench. Mr. Helsall, solicitor, of Middleton, near Manchester, appeared for the prisoner Patrick Reid; and Mr. Watts, solicitor, of Dewsbury, appeared on behalf of M'Cabe. Both the prisoners throughout the examination appeared quite cool and collected, and paid great attention to the evidence. Evidence of similar purport to that given before the coroner having been adduced, Mr. Ilicuses asked it there were any more witnesses to produce to-day?—Superintendent Green replied that there was no further evidence at that time, but he believed that in a week, or at furthest a fortnight, he should be in a position to adduce further evidence. Mr. INGHAM thought a fortnight too long. Mr. Hensall (Mr. Watts having declined to say anything on behalf of Weal.), then addressed the bench for Reid. He said the liberty of his client was of course in the hands of the bench, but in so saying he was fully satisfied that the magistrates would take a fair and most proper view of the whole circumstances. Whatever suspicion attached to the other prisoner, he contended that none attached to his client. Between the two prisoners there was a wonderful distinction in this respect. With regard to what had been stated about the prisoner being near the premises of the murdered persons on the day of tv P diabolical outrage, he would submit to the bench that there was nothing in that. Both men were hawkers, and both followed their avocations in that neighbourhood, and called at every house in the place. It had never been shown that the two prisoners were acquaintances. That was an important fact, because he candidly confessed that if it could have been shown that the prisoners were acquaintances and companions, he should have had his doubts. He complained of the prejudice that had been raised against the prisoners, from the fact that they were Irishmen. It had long been said that poverty was a crime; but he was afraid, from what had occurred in this case, thet in the estimation of some persons a man's being au Irishman was another. 'Yet it had not been shown that th-'re was a previous acquaintance between the parties, much less an acting in concert, and if there had been anything of the sort it would have most certainly been broaeht to light by their excellent officer, Mr. Green. Therefore, in the absence of all proof, he confidently contended that there was nothing to justify the committal of Reid.  The prisoners were then remanded to Saturday nex and the inquiry terminated at four o'clock.
The Sun. — 1847-02-04 (London, England)

HORRID MURDER INST. PETER'S  STREET, DERBY. (From the Derby Mercury of yesterday.) A short time previous to our going to press last (Tuesday) evening, a horrid and brutal murder was committed by a person named. James Cross, a gardener, living up a court in St. Peter's-street, in this town, upon his wife. As far as we could gather the particulars of this occurrence—which, of course, as yet are but imperfectly known—. it appears that Cross and his wife were in the house alone, and on one of his daughters coming home, and not seeing her mother about, she attempted to go up stairs to seek her, which, however, her father prevented. Some altercation ensued, and the daughter was induced to go in to Mrs. Osborne's, her next doer neighbour, and request her to go in and prevail, if possible, upon her father to permit her to see her mother. Mrs. Osborne had no sooner entered the house than she was savagely attacked by Cross, who stabbed her in the neek and face, and who would at once have succeeded in murdering her, had he not been seized by the daughter, who pinioned his arms. The most alarming bleeding immediately took place in the wounds of the neck. Mrs. Osborne was conveyed into her own house, and medical assistance was immediately obtained. Mr. Fearn, Mr. Harwood, Mr. Wood, and Dr. Ferguson were soon in attendance; and, at a later period of the evening, Mr. Johnson (St. Alkmund's), Mr. Borough, Mr. Dix, and Mr. Hoskins. The wounds were found to be of the most serious nature, the most formidable being one in which the internal carotid artery was pierced close to the base of the skull. This blood-vessel, one of the largest and most important in the body, it was found impossible to secure in the situation in which it was wounded; and it was accordingly determined upon consultation, that Mr. Fearn should tie the artery lower down in the neck, operation was successfully and skilfully' performed, and had the effect of immediately arresting the haemorrhage. We very much regret, however, to state, that up to eleven o'clock last night (at the time of our going to press with onr second edition) Mrs. Osborne continued in the most alarming and dangerous condition, with but the faintest hope of recovery. Mr. Fearn was to remain attendance upon his patient during the night. We now return to the first part of this melancholy narrative. On searching Cross's house his wife was found lying on the bed dead, with her throat cut in a most frightful manner, a great gash having been inflicted on the left side, jest in the situation of the large blood-vessels. Her death must have taken place instantaneously. The room, as may be supposed, was deluged with blood. The murderer appears, after the bloody deed, to have gone into the kitchen, and to have washed his hands, one of which is seriously wounded. He was in the act of escaping from the house, when he was met by a policeman, and taken into custody, and, we believe, did not offer the least resistance. Mrs. Osborne's deposition was taken by W. Eaton Mousley, Esq., mayor, at a late hour last night.
The Sun. — 1847-02-04 (London, England)

HORRID MURDER IN ST. PETER'S STREET, DERBY. (From the Derby Mercury of yesterday.) A short time previous to our going to press last (Tuesday) evening, a horrid and brutal murder was committed by a person named James Cross, a gardener, living up a court In St. Peter's-street, in this town, upon his wife. As far as we could gather the particulars of this occurrence—which, of course, as yet are but imperfectly known— it appears that Cross and his wife were in the house alone, and on one of his daughters coming home, and not seeing her mother about, she attempted to go up stairs to seek her, which, however, her father prevented. Some altercation ensued, and the daughter was induced to go in to Mrs. Osborne's, her next doer neighbour, and request her to go in and prevail, if possible, upon her fatter to permit her to see her mother. Mrs. Osborne had no sooner entered the house than she was savagely attacked by Cross, who stabbed her in the neck and face, and who would at once have succeeded in murdering her, had he not been seized by the daughter, who pinioned his arms. The most alarming bleeding immediately took place in the wounds of the neck. Mrs. Osborne was conveyed into her own house, and medical assistance was immediately obtained. Mr. Fearn, Mr. Harwood, Mr. Wood. and Dr. Ferguson were soon in attendance; and, at a later period of the evening, Mr. Johnson (St. Alkmund's), Mr. Borough, Mr. Dix, and Mr. Hoskins. The wounds were found to be of the most serious nature, the most formidable being one in which the internal carotid artery was pierced close to the base of the skull. This blood-vessel, one of the largest and most important in the body, it was found impossible to secure in the situation in which it was wounded ; and it was accordingly determined upon consultation, that Mr. Fearn should tie the artery lower down in the neck, which operation was successfully and skilfully performed, and had the effect of immediately arresting the hasmorrhage. We very much regret, however, to state that up to eleven o'clock last night (at the time of our going to press with oar second edition) Mrs. Osborne continued in the most alarming and dangerous condition, with hut the faintest hope of recovery. Mr. Fearn was to remain in attendance upon his patient during the night. We now return to the first part of this melancholy narrative. On searching Cross's house his wife was found lying on the bed dead, with her throat cut in a most frightful manner, a great gash having been inflicted on the left side, just in the situation of the large blood-vessels. Her death must have taken place instantaneously. The room, as may be supposed, was deluged with blood. The murderer appears, after the bloody deed, to have gone into the kitchen, and to have washed his hands, one of which is seriously wounded. He was in the act of escaping from the house, when he was met by a policeman, and taken into custody, and, we believe, did not offer the least resistance. Mrs. Osborne's deposition was taken by W. Eaton Mousley, Esq., mayor, at a late hour last night.