npedrazzini/19thc_murder_suicide_news huggingface dataset:
The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — 1842-01-28 (Liverpool, Merseyside, England)

DELAHUNT'S CONFESSION OF GUILT.—This unfortunate culprit on Saturday morning made a confession of his guilt to Mr. Allison the governor of Kilmainham prison. Mr. Allison had a conversation with Delahunt on Saturday morning, and having been cautioned not to make a disclosure he wished to do so voluntarily, he said he was desirous to tell the truth, and he did not wish to deny anything. With regard to the crime of:which he bad been convicted, he ackowledged he had committed it. The only way in which he 'could account for it was, that he had been for a month or more previous to the commission of it, instigated to murder some person or other, but be bad no particular individual in view, nor was it to satisfy the least personal hostility that he was instigated to do so. , He,t,ktated that the temptation pane over his mind every niglit in bed for at least a month before be murdered the bay Maguire, but up to that time he endeavoured to overcome it. On the morning of Monday, the day upon which the fatal deed was perpetrated, he felt an invincible determination to yield to the evil spirit which had governed him : but although he did not then contemplate the destruction of any particular person, he said he thought a child would be his best victim, because it would give him the least resistence ; accordingly, be took the knife from his brother's house on the Monday morning, for the purpose of of effectuating his object. He wandered about the streets during the entire of that clay, until he met with the boy Maguire, playing with other little children, in the neighbourhood of Pluoket-street ; he had never seen nor known anything of him before, and his attention was attracted to him by observing him endeavouring to jump up on the end of a coal cart the boy was not able to get up on the cart, and he then called him away, under pretence that he wanted him to go of a message for him, promising to give him something for it ; the boy and they roamed from thence inmediately went with him, together from street to street, as had been stated on the trial. He then took deceased to the stable-lane, and having held him by the forehead with his left hand, the boy's back being next to his (Delahunt's) person, he held him tight, without letting him see the knife, or know what he was about to do, and vrhile in that position' he perpetrated the dreadful deed. As soon as he made the gash in the boys throat he flung,him at once away, so that the blood flowed entirely upon himself. In that way Delahunt contrived to escape being marked with blood; but he positively denies having used the stone found in the boy's cap. The deceased did sot see the knife,, and could not have known what was about to be done to him, the deed was done so quickly. He did not scream, or make the slightest resistance, and immediately after Delahunt went away.
The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — 1842-01-28 (Liverpool, Merseyside, England)

DELAHUNT'S CONFESSION OF GUILT.—This unfortunate culprit on Saturday morning made a confession of his guilt to Mr. Allison the governor of Kilmainham prison. Mr. Allison had a conversation with Delahunt on Saturday morning, and having been cautioned not to make a disclosure he wished to do so voluntarily, he said he was desirous to tell the truth, and he did not wish to deny anything. With regard to the crime of.which he had been convicted, he ackowledged he had committed it. The only way in which he could account for it was, that he bad been for a month or more previous to the commission of it, instigated to murder some person or other, but he had no particular individual in view, nor was it to satisfy the least personal hostility that he was instigated to do so. He stated that the temptation came over his mind every night in bed, for at least a month before he murdered the boy Maguire, but up to that time he endeavoured to overcome it. On the morning of Monday. the day upon which the fatal deed was perpetrated, he felt an invincible determination to yield to the evil spirit which had governed him ; but although he did not then contemplate the destruction of any particular person, he said he thought a child would be his best victim, because it would give him the least resistence ; accordingly he took the knife from his brother's house on the Monday morning, for the purpose of of effectuating his object. He wandered about the streets during the entire of that day, until he met with the boy Maguire, playing with other little children, in the neighbourhoo, of Plunket-street ; he had never seen nor known anything of him before, and his attention was attracted to him by obser ving him endeavouring to jump up on the end of a coal cart the boy was not able to get up on the cart, end he then called him away, under pretence that he wanted him to go of a message for him, promising to give him something for it ; the boy inmediately went with him, and they roamed from thence together from street to street, as had been stated on the trial. He then took deceased to the stable-lane, and having held him by the forehead with his left hand, the boy's back being next to his (Delahunt's) person, lie held him tight, without letting him see the knife, or know what he was about to do, and while in that position he perpetrated the di eadful deed. As soon as he made the gash in the boys throat I e flung lin at once away, so that the blood flo,A ed entirely m on him ;elf. In that way Delahunt contrived to seape being marked with blood; but he positively denies having used the stone foutic in the boy's cap. The deceased did lilt see the knife, am could not have known what was abo' t ro be done to hi 11, tht deed was done so quickly. He did tof eam, or ma e ightest resistance, and immediately after Delahunt went away.
The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — 1842-09-27 (Liverpool, Merseyside, England)

SHARP PRACTICE.—A few days ago, at the horse fair of Machecoul, a gendarme, named Montagne, having had his attention directed to a deserter, who had long evaded arrest, and who had committed a number of robberies in the country, and was also suspected of murder, went up to him and ordered him to surrender. The deserter resisted, and a struggle ensued, in which both parties came to the ground. The gendarme called on the crowd to assist him, but not a man stirred. After a desperate contest Montagne contrived to draw his sword, and placing it on the breast of the deserter, declared he would pierce him through the body if he stirred. The deserter continuing to struggle, and having struck the gendarme with great violence, the latter plunged the sword into his body, and killed him on the spot. On rising up, he again called on the bystanders to aid him in taking the body to the station of the gendarmerie, but this was refused. Ile then went to his office, and having made his report, gave himself into custody. He has since been removed to the prison of Nantes. THE CUSTOM Housn FItAUDS.—The inquiries into the frauds committed by the employis of certain departments of the customs have been most searching, but as they have not yet been brought to a conclusion, facts and circumstances cannot be given with aaything like truth. With many of the extraordinary disclosures, as given in evidence before the commissioners, we are acquainted, and at the fitting time we intend, without reserve, to give! the details to the public. Wnen we say that the frauds committed are not confined to thousands of pounds, or hundreds of thousands of pounds, future statements, derived from authentic sources, will prove this to be the largest of Government frauds, the Beaumont Smith exchequer bill forgery affair not excepted. In the examination of witnesses, and as respects prevarication, one thing is certain—that the authorities of the customs department are anything but impartial, as subsequent reports will, we believe, show to demonstration.—morning Herald.  The notorious Deutz, whose name has been so odiously mixed up with the arrest of the Duchess of Berry in November, 1832, been arrested in Paris, and was on the point of being tried under a charge of mendicity and vagrancy. The unfortunate wretch, after squandering 500,000 francs, paid him for betraying that Princess, had fallen into the most abject misery. It will be remembered, that he abjured Judaism, and was admitted into the Catholic church, under the auspices of the Duchess of Berry, who had even condescended to act, as his godmother on his baptism. In ;1833 Deutz returned to his original creed, and whilst his father lived he received from him ample rneansof existence. After the death of his parent he was obliged to have recourse to the charity of his co-religionists ; but this resource at last failing him, he was reduced to beggary, arrested in the street, and lodged in a charitable asylum.
The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — 1842-07-15 (Liverpool, Merseyside, England)

ATTEMPT TO MURDER AND HORRIBLE DEPRAVITY.— At the Stourbridge police-office, last week, Richard Taylor, of Oldswinford, was charged before William Robins, Esq., with having, on the Ist instant, fired a gun loaded with powder and slugs at Hannah his wife, with intent to do her some grievous bodily harm. The following are briefly the facts of the case :—The prisoner, who is a very violent and passionate man, has been twice married ; by his former wife he has two children, one a girl about nineteen, and a boy about sixteen years of age. By his second wife he has five children, two boys and three girls, making seven children altogether. It appears that for the accommodation of the above family, there are but two bedrooms in the house, and only two beds, in one of which slept the prisoner Taylor, his wife Hannah, the girl aged 19, and a child of her's 18 months' old, and the prisoner's youngest child, aged 3 years; the son by the first wife and the four other children sleeping in the other bed. For the last two years a most unnatural intercourse has taken place between the prisoner and his eldest daughter, and it is presumed that the infant which she now has is the result. Taylor is a man of beastly and drunken habits, and when in that condition he commits the most brutal excesses. On the night in question when he shot at his wife, the prisoner came home drunk, and called for his daughter, which appears to have been his custom when in this state ; hearing him call her, she secretly left the house, and the prisoner, not being able to find her, began to abuse his wife. A good deal of quarrelling ensued, when the prisoner was heard by several of the neighbours to make use of a demoniac oath, and threaten to blow out her brains, after which they heard a gun fired, and the prisoner exclaim, " There —, take that." All then appeared to be quite still, but in a few minutes they beard a noise, which was supposed to be the prisoner dragging something heavy about the house ; some person was groaning dreadfully, and crying " Murder !" and soon after the prisoner's wife was seen running from the house. After this the inhuman father compelled all his children'to come from their beds, and thrust them out of the house, with nothing upon them but their night-clothes. Being dreadfully alarmed, they all ran away into the road, when the brutal parent called to a savage dog which he keeps, to turn them all out of the premises. The neighbours having sent for the police, the prisoner was apprehended. In the examination before Mr. Robins, evidence was given of the most disgusting character; and the charge having been completely substantiated, the prisoner was fully committed for 1' trial at the assizes, on the capital charge of shooting at his wife, with intent to murder her.
The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — 1842-01-21 (Liverpool, Merseyside, England)

DARING ATTEMPT AT BURGLARY.—Yesterday morning, at 1 o'clock, the neighbourhood of Maida bill was thrown ioto the utmost consternation and alarm by the cries of  " Murder ! Police ! Fire !" and the springing of rattles. The inhabitants rushed to their windows ; and one gentleman in his fright ran into the streets in a state almost of nudity. It appears that some thieves on the previousevening ascended the roollof a newly-built house opposite the Paddington Canal Maids-hill, occupied by Mr. Anderson, the vocalist, and in an attempt to get down the chimney, the robbers dropped a dark lantern in that gentleman's bed-room. Being awoke by the noise , he gave the alarm, but the thieves got clear oil. The next day Mr. Anderson gave information at the station, house of the circumstance, when he was assured attentionshould be paid to his communication ; however no additional policeman was put on the beat, and in consequence, the thieves attacked the policetnrn, and nearly murdered bim. Half an hour elapsed before any other constable made his appearance, notwithstanding that the cries for help were heard in -Edgeware-road. At last two policeman appeared, but the thieves had got off. Several serious robberies have lately been committed in that vicinity, and at one house the whole of the plate, worth nearly £l9O, was stolen and carried off—Sun of Wednesday.  Another objection to your theory presents itself in the fact, that its adoption has been an awful barrier to the happiness of the human race. It was this that plunged Galileo into a dun.eon. He was in the minority,—nay, did he not stand alone, before all the wisdom, and science, and philosophy of his day ? " Still it moves," was his exclamation, and he was right!  Innumerable similar instances of the opposition of weak and ignorant men to truths of the greatest magnitude and importance, which have been drawn from nature's storehouse by men who were themselves despised and theories rejected —men whose memory after ages embalmed in the imperishable utility of the discoveries which the deep digging of their master m►nds produced. They were ever in the minority, and it was the reception and influence of the dogma you have propounded which immured some of them in dungeons, and laughed others to scorn. Suppose we admit your theory, what would be the result? It would he the funeral knell of Christianity : even its nominal professors form only a speck in proportion to the inhabitants of our planet. Could not an infidel wield your argument against you with overwhelming force? The Chinese adopted it when they barbarously murdered some of your missionaries ! Suppose Voltaire addressing his countrymen, and convincing eight-tenths of them that his dangerous opinions were right, would you admit that the minority were in error ? You have already placed it upon record that the probability is the more numerous are right ! Why do you adopt a.standard in one case which you reject in a
The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — 1842-04-26 (Liverpool, Merseyside, England)

EXECUTION OF FRANCIS HUGHES  ARMAGH, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20.—This day Francis masrf.oupnodwgeluli,ltyunadt etrhweelnatst tAhremeaugnhisahs9asizeenst for f thedea Hughest mh ui nr t ewhr conviction the unhappy man has had two prisoners along leloofrfwont of the county jail, in this city. Since his with him in his cell to read to him, as he was unable to read himself, and last night he was allowed to have a candle in his cell (which is the same that Woods was confined in.) The culprit had retired to rest at eleven o'clock, and slept for an hour, but was awoke at twelve by the opening of the cell door, the governor and first turnkey of the jail then coming in. He was frequently visited during the night by persons connected with the prison, and when his cell-door was opened at seven o'clock this morning, he was found on his knees. He took no food yesterday except a little tea, which was furnished him by the governor of the prison. The Rev. P. Rooney, Roman Catholic chaplain to the prison, visited him at eight o'clock, and, with the exception of a few minutes' absence, continued with him to the last moment. He was removed from his cell shortly after ten o'clock at the ante-chamber, which immediately adjoins the execution-room. Hughes, in the strongest manner possible, affirmed his innocence. He was then asked by the Roman Catholic clergyman present, if he was fully aware how awfully sinful it would be to die with a lie in his mouth, and if he knew that he would lose the eternal happiness of his soul by doing so ? He immediately expressed his opinion, that such conduct on his part would be decidedly wrong, and again affirmed his innocence. He was then engaged with the Rev. Mr. Rooney, in listening to some of the prayers of the Roman Catholic Church, after which he was dressed in his grave clothes, having assisted with• his own hands, the person who dressed him. Observing one of the clergymen somewhat overcome by his feelings on the occasion, he promptly said, " Do not fear." Being then strongly pinioned, he walked into the execution-room, where he waited for a few minutes till the hangman arrived, by whom the rope was adjusted, and the culprit, after expressing a wish to speak to the people, walked with a firm step to the fatal spot, and with a powerful voice thus addressed the assembled multitude :—" All ye good people, listen to my last and dying words. I am innocent ; I was not present at Mr. Powell's murder, or any other murder; I know neither act i nor part concerning t ; I know nothing of a conspiracy against him ; and I was not half a mile from my own house on the night of the murder. I now forgive all the world, and may the Lord have mercy on my soul." His lips then moved rapidly, as if in prayer; the awful moment arrived, and at five minutes past twelve o'clock the bolt was withdrawn from the fatal drop, and he was launched into eternity. In the moment of execution, his cap fell off, so that his face and head were uncovered. He died without a single struggle, and apparently his sufferings were speedily terminated.
The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — 1842-04-26 (Liverpool, Merseyside, England)

EXECUTION OF FRANCIS HUGHES  ARMAGH, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20.—This day Francis Hughes, who was found guilty at the last Armagh assizes for the murder of Mr. Powell, underwent the punishment of death in the front of the county jail, in this city. Since his conviction the unhappy man has had two prisoners along with him in his cell to read to him, as he was unable to read himself, and last night he was allowed to have a candle in his cell (which is the same that Woods was confined in.) The culprit had retired to rest at eleven o'clock, and slept for an honr, but was awoke at twelve by the opening of the cell door, the governor and first turnkey of the jail then coming in. He was frequently visited during the night by persons connected with the prison, and when his cell-door was opened at seven o'clock this morning, he was found on his knees. He took no food yesterday except a little tea, which was furnished him by the governor of the prison. The Rev. P. Rooney, Roman Catholic chaplain to the prison, visited hint at eight o'clock, and, with the exception of a few minutes' absence, continued with him to the last moment. He was removed from his cell shortly after ten o'clock at the ante-chamber, which immediately adjoins the execution-room. Hughes, in the strongest manner possible, affirmed his innocence. He was then asked by the Roma❑ Catholic clergyman present, if he was fully aware how awfully sinful it would be to die with a lie in his mouth, and if he knew that he would lose the eternal happiness of his soul by doing so ? He immediately expressed his opinion, that such conduct on his part would be decidedly wrong, and again affirmed his innocence. He was then engaged with the Rev. Mr. Rooney, in listening to some of the prayers of the Roman Catholic Church, after which he was dressed in his grave clothes, having assisted with his own hands, the person who dressed him. Observing one of the clergymen somewhat overcome by his feelings on the occasion, he promptly said, "Do not fear." Being then strongly pinioned, he walked into the execution-room, where he waited for a few minutes till the hangman arrived, by whom the rope was adjusted, and the culprit, after expressing a wish to speak to the people, walked with a firm step to the fatal spot, and with a powerful voice thus addressed the assembled multitude :—" All ye good people, listen to my last and dying words. I am innocent ; I was not present at Mr. Powell's murder, or any other murder; I know neither act nor part concerning it ; I know nothing of a conspiracy against him ; and I was not half a mile from my own house on the night of the murder. I now forgive all the world, and may the Lord have mercy on my soul." His lips then moved rapidly, as if in prayer; the awful moment arrived, and at five minutes past twelve o clock the bolt was withdrawn from the fatal drop, and he was launched into eternity. In the moment of execution, his cap tell off, so that his face and head were uncovered. He died withont a single struggle, and apparently his sufferings were speedily terminated.
The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — 1842-03-15 (Liverpool, Merseyside, England)

HARVEY TUCKETT.  29, Poultry, March 11  The following observation's on Captain Tuckett's letter appear in the Times of yesterday, and as so mneh interest is attached to every particular connected with the fall of our troops, we are anxious to give our readers all the information in our power :  TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIMES  Stn,—l have read with pain •the letter from Mr. Harvey Tuckett in your valued paper of this day, as is calculated to give rise to ill-founded hope to all who have relatives in the unfortunate Cabul division of our army. • I may inform you that at this club; ever since Mr. Tuckett made the statement he did at the public dipner a few days a' every one asks; " Why does he not give his authority ? Why did he not bring in his pocket the ltter or letters in which his information as to the safety of the army was conveyed ?" _ .  In his letter in to-day's Times he denies the correctness of your statement, and, singularly enough, asks for those very proofs which he himself ought to have given to the public, when he gave a statement at variance with all the bazaar reports, private letters, and information received by her Majesty's ministers, as given by Sic Robert Peel in the House of Commons last night. Let MY. Tuckett give up letters, postmark, and date of the postmark, or the public will not be satisfied. .  I am one of those ' persons conversant with Upper India,' and am grieved to state that I have no doubt the melancholy statements •you have given are correct, although' tbey may not be quite so in the details. There is probably an error in the date of the letter from Jellalabad, but, if the army left Cabul on the sth of Januiry, there was plenty of time for the disastrous intelligence to reach Bombay via Pcshawer by Ist of February. Mr. Tucketkappears to forget that the intelligence was forwarded by estafette, whilst he talks of the travelling rate by the usual dak of the Post-office. Mr. Tuckett is reported to have stated at the public ainner before alluded to that he knew of the murder of Sir William Macnaghten a month before the last o-erland mail arrived. Now, Sir W. Macnaghten was murdered an the 25th of December. and the previous mail left Bombay on the Ist of January. How does he account for his information reaching Bombay in six days, when he does not give ,credence to the reports which reached Bombay from Jellalabad (a shorter distance) in 14 days ? There is no doubt that a report did reach this country of the death of Sir. William Macneghten before the arrival of the mail of the Ist of February, but it only reached LondOn as a bazaar report by the India steamer which left Calcutta on thelOth of January, and arrived about a week before the Bombay overland mail on the Bth insint. I remain, Sir, Oriental Club, March 11.