npedrazzini/19thc_murder_suicide_news huggingface dataset:
The Atherstone Times. — 1879-07-05 (Atherstone, Warwickshire, England)

EXTRAORDINARY CHARGE OF THREATENING A VISCOUNT.  Saturda:  At Marlborough-street Police-court on __ last, Mrs. Clementine Bradley, 33, Bolsover-street, was summoned before Mr. Newton for using threats towards Viscount Newry. Viscount Newry said—l am at present staying at No. 6a, Waterloo-place. Some years back the defendant rendered me certain services, and I paid her. Since that time I have been subjected to threats and annoyances of every possible description. On the 6th or 7th February I left London for Rostrevor in Ireland, where I have an estate. There is an hotel there—the Gordon Hotel— and on the 28th February I was ill, and have been so ever since. On the 4th March I received certain information from the manager of the hotel, and was shown the copy of a letter found in a room. I removed in consequence at once, and stayed elsewhere until I found the defendant had left the neighbourhood. I returned to London about the 28th April, very ill, and am so at this time. I went on a visit to my grandfather, Lord Kilmorey, at Isleworth, and I have been in the doctor's care ever since. While at my grandfather's I received a letter from the defendant (the letter was in French; itt was read by the prosecutor and contained a demand for money). Mr. Abrahams: What were the services the defendant rendered you Mr. Wontner : Do not answer the question. Cross-examination continued: On the Ist March I left the hotel at Rostrevor. I was then told the defendant had gone to Warren Point, and then to Newry, staying at the Victoria Hotel. On the Ist, 2nd, and 3rd March I told the police there were two loose women staying there, and they ought to be watched. The defendant has struck me in the street. It was shortly after the murder in Park-lane that the defendant took up a knife to me. She was then living in the house. She had followed me from the Turf Club. I have visited her since then. I have not taken these proceedings to prevent any claim from being asserted. Mr. John Johnson, accountant, 29, High-street, Belfast, said he went to the Gordon Hotel, and left with Lord Newry. He heard the defendant say she had come there with a motive, and that Lord Newry should not succeed to his estates— that she would treat him as Lord Leitrim had been treated. The defendant was ultimately put out of the hotel. Patrick Hamilton, " boots " at the Gordon Hotel, stated that, as the defendant was leaving the hotel, he saw her dancing about with a pistol in her hand, saying she would spill Lord Newry's noble I blood, and that her motive for coming to the hotel I was to do so. Mr. Abrahams urged that if Lord Newry in March last had heard such expressions as alleged, nothing would have been easier for him than to have gone to one of his brother magistrates and had her bound over to keep the peace. Mr. Newton said Lord Newry had stated that he was ill at the time. He should call on the defendant to enter into her own surety in £lOO, and to find two sureties in £5O each, to keep the peace.
The Atherstone Times. — 1879-06-28 (Atherstone, Warwickshire, England)

HORRIBLE MURDER AND MUTILATION.  Annie Sooke, a widow, who is charged with the murder and mutilation of a six months' old child, which had been placed tinder her care, at Exeter, has been brought before the magistrates, when Captain Bent, the chief constable, detailed a confesrion the prisoner had made to him. When first spoken to she denied that the photographs taken of the murdered child represented the infant she had had under her care, but subsequently she admitted that this was untrue. She still affirmed, however, that the child had been taken from her custody by a stranger. Since the prisoner has been in custody she had sent for Captain Bent, and although he cautioned her she said she wished to make a statement to him. She remarked, " I suppose some one will be hanged for this murder." And then added, "I want to tell you I murdered the child, and no one else had anything to with it." She further stated that she did not blame the mother of the child, but if it had not been for the mother's sister, Mrs. Tonking, she should not have done it; the remarks of Mrs. Tenking that they did not -wish- tce -hear artything more about the child and would never again inquire for it having led hdr lo think of gettiiig *JO of it. The prisoner then described the murder. The child was asleep in the cradle, and she put a pillow on its face and it died without crying once. She then put it in a box, and afterwards cut it up, first cutting its throat with a knife and then using a chopper. In the night she took the body in a parcel to the river, but fancying some one was coming she walked to the mill lent and then threw the body in there. As she threw it in the parcel became undone, and this was how it was that several limbs were found in different parts of the stream. When shown some knives the prisoner selected one as that with which she cut the child's throat. At the request of the prisoner, the chief constable reduced the principal parts of the statement to writing, and the prisoner signed it. During this evidence the prisoner frequently said it was untrue. Two days after the confession the prisoner told theti witness that all she had previously stated was untrue, and that she handed tho child over to an unknown woman whom she met in the Cathedral yard, and who promised to put the child into the workhouse. The city analyst was called, and proved finding on two of the prisoner's petticoats as well as on a box, a board in the coal-house, a razor, and a billhook, granules of starch similar to those found in the feeding-bottle from which the child was last fed. Starch was also discovered on a floor-cloth on which the head was found resting in the stream. The prisoner reserved hr defence, and was committed for trial at the assizes.
The Atherstone Times. — 1879-02-08 (Atherstone, Warwickshire, England)

ALLEGED ASSAULT. Thomas Redford was charged with having unlawfully assaulted and beaten Joseph Wood on the Ist inst.—Defendant pleaded not guilty.—Mr. Shawe, of Tamworth, appeared to proseente.—Complainant said he lived at Polesworth, and was an engine-wright a.t the Birch Coppice Colliery. It was his duty to see that the machinery was all right. Defendant was a fireman at one of the sets of boilers, and one of his duties was to regulate the water in the boilers. Complainant went to inspect the boilers on the Ist inst., and found that there was too much water in one, and the engines had begun to "prime." He called defendant's attention to the matter, and he immediately struck him under the neck, stating that he had "owed him one for some time." C,lnplainant resisted him and he then picked up the lever produced. and striking at him threatened to murder him. Complainant shouted "murder " and ran away under the main range of pipes, and the defendant ran after him. He had in no way provoked the defendaot.—By defendant: I did knock you down, but I d'd not see my son heat you with a whip stock.—Defendant said the complainant threatened him with a large spanner, aid he could have brought a witness to prove it. 'but be did not ' wish to press the charge" He picked up the lever to defend himself —Thomas Goode, said he worked as fireman at the Birch Coppice Colliery. On the day named he was in a boiler, and in consequence of what he heard he came out and saw Iltrlford with the lever in his band. He was going after Wood. Be did not see Wood wilt the spenner.—The ease was adjourned for a fatnight for tbe production of evideace by the defendant.—Complainant came into Court and reported to the Bench that defendant bad just said that he would have it hot yet." The Bench ordered defendant to be cautioned. DRUNK —George Morgan was charged with having been drunk at Hartshill, on the let inst.— Defendant pleaded guilty. Police-constable Blower said the defendant was very drunk.—A fine of 5s with 12s- 6d. costs, was imposed, or in default, 14 days' imprisonment. ANOTHER CASE —William Skarratt, miner, was charged with baying been drunk at Polesworth, on the 25th January —Defendant pleAded guilty. —The constable said that the defendant was making a great noise —Fined lOs , and costs, 12, 6d ; in default, 21 days Imprisonment with hard labour. Dismx4sEn —Mary Stretton was charged by Emily Haddon with having, on the 3rd inst., at Atherstone, unlawfully assaulted and beaten her. —Defendant pleaded not gully—The Bench heard the evidence, and dismissed the case. ALLEGED TaggrasB.—Joseph Erp Smith, farmer, of Austrey, was charged with having, on the 25th Oc•ober, at Austrey, trespassed on land in the occupation of Mr. G. Smith.—This case had been adjourned from time to time for the attendance of the owner of the land, the Rev. Mr. Dyott, from whom, defendant contended, he had received pe mission to shoot over the land—Mr. Atkins, of Tam worth, appeared to prosecute.—On the present oceasi n, a letter from Mr. Dyott was read, stating tl.at he was too ill to attend, and the case was dismissed.
The Atherstone, Nuneaton, and Warwickshire Times. — 1883-04-28 (Atherstone, Warwickshire, England)

TIIK CHARGE.  The Lordship, in charging the Grand Jury, said a few wteks agolie hadem!apprehensiou that they might be troubled with a very serious case, which would probably have occupied some of their time, and a good deal of the time of the common jury. lie alluded to the case of a man upon whose premises in Birmingham were discovered large quantities of very violent explosives, and for some time, proceedings went on before the Magistrates at Birmingham, which might have ended in his being committed for trial at the Assizes for an offence not punishable by any very grave amount of punishment, but au offence which, in the present day, was of a serious character. In the course of the investigation, however, it turned out that justice would not be done by a mere committal to the Assizes on a charge of being in unlawful possession of dangerous explosives, and the person was transferred to London, where an investigation was going on upon a far graver charge, namely, a charge of treason-felony. That had relieved the jury from the necessity of trying a very serious case, which would have occupied a a good deal of time, and the resnit was that they had to deal with eOmething like an average amount of charges in the calendar, and considering the immense population of the county, which included a greater part of the town of Birmingham, he did not think he could do otherwise than congratulate them upon the absence from the calendar of any very serious crime. Certainly, the total absence of anything like a charge of murder was a matter for congratulation, and the calendar upon the whole, was pet one of a very serious character. There were a few cases on which it might be well that he should make a few observations, and one to which he ought to direct their attention more than any other, and one only just committed for trial—a charge of perjury against a man named Smith. Having dealt with the salient points of the case, and made a brief reference to other cases in the calendar, his lordship said there did appear to be rather a large number of offences of violence in the shape of cutting and wounding. The calendar contained no less than seven charges of cutting and wounding, whereas, at the corresponding assizes in 1882, there was no snch cases for trial. Still against that should be set the observation that then four persons were charged with attempts to murder, whereas,there were no such charges on that occasion. Then, too, there were other persons charged with very violent offences of which they had no representative on that occasion, so that upon the whole he did not think they were justified in saying the present calendar was worse than the last though perhaps it was not a matter- of much congratulation that there was no substantial diminution in the general character of the offences charged. The Geind Jury were then discharged to their duties.
The Atherstone, Nuneaton, and Warwickshire Times. — 1883-05-05 (Atherstone, Warwickshire, England)

COM. plicated nature, and were mainly supplied by , persons who saw the prisoner in the park. He ' would advise the jury, in accordance with judicial practice, not to depend upon the evidence of an approver unless it was corroborated in some material point. They were not however, bound to act upon it. It was for them to determine whether they should act upon it or not. There was independent and conclusive testimony in support of the Crown cage, apart altogether from the evidence of the approvers, and this they would have to take into consideration in determining the guilt of the prisoner. The evidence against the prisoner consisted of that given partly by approvers or accomplices and partly by those who were the prisoner's own acquaintances. The case in the latter respect differed from the others which had been tried. James Carey toll them that the prisoner, who was sworn in an Invincible by him, attended at several meetings held for the purposes of assassination in the streets. Rolx‘rt Farrell gave similar testimony; and Peter Carey also proved that he saw the prisoner at many of those meetings in company with a man naine,d James Mullett. As to the note-book found on the prisoner, it appeared that the entries it contained had been made not later than July, 1881, when unquestionably the Invincible Society did not exist ; bnt the possession of that book and the nature of the entries showed that the prisoner was a trusted member of the Fenian Brotherhood, to which it was admitted he belonged, and that he had the gin litications for au Invincible, the allegation of the Crown being that the Inyineildes were selected out of the picked men of the Fenian Brotherhood. Smith ako stated that he saw the prisoner among the squad of men he observed in the park at the scene of the murder on the 6th of May. Kavanagh, the carman, who was two hours in the park on the occasion, told them that he did not see the prisoner there; but these two hours elapsed at a time when Fagan was not there. The jury retired at a quarter to twelve o'clock. At twenty minutes past twelve they returned with a verdict of guilty. The verdict was received with applause in the gallery, in which a number of women were seated.  The prisoner said he was not guilty of the murder ; but that ho was a Fenian, and would die one.  Mr Justice O'Brien said the prisoner's guilt had been proved to demonstration, and no re.oionable man who had listened to the evidence could entertain any doubt on the subject. The prisoner's fate afforded an awful warning to the young men of that country as to the dangers besotting those who took part in secret societies. His lordship then sentenced the prisoner to be hanged on the 28th of May. The prisoner, who remained firm throughout, thanked his counsel, and was then removed, and the Court adjourned till Monday.
The Atherstone, Nuneaton, and Warwickshire Times. — 1883-05-26 (Atherstone, Warwickshire, England)

STARE-WAY—The theatre corridor after a matinee.  BUSINESS conductel on sound prineiples--Th telephone. IVHEN is an arm as long as three feet F.—When it's a yard-arm. WHEN does a clock conceal itself f—When it gets behind time.  WHY does a kiss raise the spirits ? Because it's the cream of ta-ta.  " Tills is a regular son-wester," as the pig said when blown overboard.  "Tins is a deal take ill," as the minnow said when swallowed by a pike. IT is said that good musicians execute their music, while bad ones murder it.  A YOUNO lady is not like a tree. You cannot estimate her age by counting her rings. WHY is it that a man naturally puts his pen in the gurn pot, and the gum brush in the ink? IF it were not for the church belles, a good many young meu would not be drawn to Sunday meetings. . . .  LEriieople say what they will, there is nothing in it when a man deolares that his haul is always open to his friends.  SILENCE may be golden, remarked a young man who is nearly always " hard up," but it will never borrow a sovereign. A RATHER cynical lady, somewhat of a flirt, says most in ii, Ike colds, are easily caught, but difficult to get rid of. PRECOCIOTRI boy (munching the fruit of the date. tree)—" Mamma, if I eat dates enough will I grow up to be an ahnanack IT "pay not Ue understood generally that any-body breaking windows renders hituseli liable to the "Panes and Penalties Act."  "WHY, what is the matter with Frank E.. He is generous to a fault." " Yes," said Fogg, "if tho fault happens to be his own." TEACHERS who are sorely tried by dull scholars frequently dismiss them with the fervent wish that they might see them know more. "WitAx a fellow of the astronomical society says— The only direct proof we have of the cow's jump over the moon is the Milky Way. A YOUNG hay had a very singular escape during a recent alarm of fire at a crowded meeting, SILO was carried away by emotion. Finsr woman—" But, of course, there is no way of getting at her age." Second Woman—"Oh, yes, there is. Multiply it by two." AT a mechanics' institute, an adult in a grammar class being asked what is syntax, replied, "Money paid to the Pope for absolution of sins." Cos.—Why is it :that, whenever you are 1 oking for anything, you invariably find it in the last place in which you look Because you always stop looking when you find it. tros seeing a fire-enzine work, an exquisite remarked, "'Who would evah have dweatned that such a vewy diminutive-looking appawatus would hold so much wattah !"  THE English order of St. John at Jerusalem has arranged to erect a blind asylum there, the Sultan having contributed that most valuable ad junct to such an institution, a site. A
The Atherstone, Nuneaton, and Warwickshire Times. — 1880-01-17 (Atherstone, Warwickshire, England)

STEALING BONES.—James Harvey (23) and Wm. Watts (22), were indicted for having, at Coventry, on the 24th November, stolen a bag and 1201bs. of bones, the property of Joseph Taylor.—Mr. Wilmot (instructed by Mr. W. W. Neale) prosecuted ; the prisoners, who pleaded not guilty, were undefended.—The jury found the prisoners not guilty, and they were discharged. RIOTING AT BEnwoiern.—Thomas Wale Wm. Neale, Arthur Martin, and Jonathan Smith, were indicted for having, at the parish of Bedworth, on the 1 Oth December last; together with others to the number of 300 or more, committed a riot and disturbance, and did then and there assault and beat Richard Wood, Herbert Brocklehurst, and others. —Mr. Cohnore (instruated by Messrs. Dewes, Son, and Wilks) prosecuted ; Mr. Hugo Young (instructed by Mr. Homer) for the defence.—Wale, Neale, and Smith, pleaded guilty; Martin pleaded not guilty.—The facts of the ease have recently been published in the Tinifs, and it is therefore unnecessary to repeat them. Who: the case had partly proe.::eded Martin withdrew his plea, on the advice of Mr. Homer, and pleaded guilty, Mr. Young stating that his objection to acting cii that advice bt forc was that he was hot so hr.: :7,-; had been represented—he WaS in the crowd, aunt did something, but not Fo much as been alleged against him. —The Chairman said the Court had very earnestly and anxiously considered this case, and prisoners were fortunate in having very able and judicious counsel to defend them There was very great difference in the case. Martin and IN ale had behaved exceeding ill indeed. It was almost impossible to exikrgerate the wickedness of their conduct. It was by the mercy of God that murder was not cominitt,A, and if the police had not acted vt ry wisely there would no doubt have been very grave charges indeed arising out of the disturbance. The prisoners had acknowledged their guilt, however, and expressed their sorrow for what had occurred. In consequence the Court were prepared t pass a much more lenient sentence ; but it was a grievous sin they had committed, and they must have heavy punishment. (Wale : I have been locked up a month). The sentence that would be passed on Martin and Wale would he six months imprisonment with hard labour—which was a very lenient sentence indeed, and it must be understood that if anything of the kind occurred again parties that might be brought up would be more severely dealt with. Neale and Smith had acted much less reprehensibly than Waleand Martin, and the Court were •' quite willing to adopt the suggestion of Mr. Colmore that imprisonment should not be inflicted in their ease. The sentence upon them was that they find two sureties in £lO each to come up for sentence when called upon. If at any time their conduct was such as to justify the police in bringing them up, they would be brought up and have sentence passed upon them. The prisoners had to thank the prosecution for being so merciful in their conduct of the case.
The Atherstone, Nuneaton, and Warwickshire Times. — 1880-01-10 (Atherstone, Warwickshire, England)

ENECUTION AT NEWCATE.—CkarIe.q Shurety, 29, .was executed on Monday morning at eight o'clock, within the goal of Newgate, for the murder of a , child, two years old, named Utilise Piper. The , prisoner was tried before Mr. Justice Lindley at .the last seeeion of the Central Criminal Court and from the facts disclosed in the evidence it appeared that the prisoner cohabited with a widow named Mary Ann Piper, who had three children, the infant in question, a girl about 12 years old, and a boy 13. The two latter went out during the day, the boy to a Board jSchool, and the girl to some place where she had employment ; and the mother, who seemed to have been the principal support of the family, went out to work, leaving the man alone with the infant. They 00copied a bitek room at 2 Payne's-row, Kentishtown, and almcst immediately after they took possession of the place the other lodgers in the house were !terrified at the brutal conduct of the prisoner towards the child, and the revolting language he niede use of towards her, his constant threat being that he would kill her. This throat appears to have been made use of only three days before the child was found lying dead in the room, with its arras and legs drawn up, and showing, by other appearances, that it had died a violent and cruel death. Some attempts were made to procure a remission of the capital sentence, on the ground that the act WWI not premeditated on the part of the male prisoner ; but the Secretary of -State, after reading the evidence and consulting with the learned fudge who tried the case, and who, in passing sentence, described it as one of the most revolting that had ever come within his experience, 'declined to give any effect to the efforts to procure a remission of the capital sentence. and in reply -to the application mete, to said that he could not see any ground for ieterfering. Since his convictioa the prisoner pail attention to the exhortation of the Rev. F. Jones, the Ordinary of Newgate and he appeared at last -t ) be fully impressed with the fearful character of "hi + crime. He wrote a letter to the mother of the child, asking her forgiveness and expressing his sorrow. The tinder-Sheriffe, Mr. Crawfureand Mr. Wragg, arrived at the prison shortly before -eight o'clock, and they at once proceeded to the prisoner's call, where the ceremony of pinioning eves performed by Marwood, the executioneer. The prisoner expreeeed his thanks for the kindness he had received from all the officials, and particulaily to Mr. Sheriff Wollaton, for an addrees he delivered to him a few days ago. Be at the same time said he hilly acknowledged the justice of his sentence, and that he deserved to die for the dreadful offence he had committed. He walked to the scaffold without any assistance. He fell a distance of at least ov-sr seven feet from the length of the rope. Ife did not utter a word after he came upon the orettrold. The body after hanging an hour was Cut down, and an inquest was held upon it in the course of the day, after which it was buried within the gaol.