npedrazzini/19thc_murder_suicide_news huggingface dataset:
The Sun. — 1826-06-07 (London, England)

DAY.)  About half-past nine o'clock this morning, the neighbourhood "of Queen-street, Seven Dials, was thrown into the greatest alarm by the following horrible circumstance :  A Mrs. Brown, of No. 20, the wife of a dealer in coals, &c. had (it is supposed in a fit of jealousy) nearly severed`the head of a fine .girl, three years old. Mrs. BrOwn is between fifty and sixty, her husband about 32. The child was not her own, but, from what we can learn, had been lately sworn to her husband by another woman. She some time ago agreed to receive it into her, care, which she did, and continued to treat it with very great kindness and affection. A few days ago, however, Mr. Brown had a quarrel with a neighbour, who reproached him severely with his inconstancy in his wife's hearing, a circumstance which, it is supposed, has been preying on her mind ever since, although no symptoms of violence appeared previously to nine o'clock this morning. At this time the neighbourhood-was alarmed by the report of murder, and Pond, the constable, with a man of the name of Ledyard, ran up to the first floor back room, where they found the murdered child lying on the floor, literally stifled in its own blood. ft was quite dead; so they instantly proceeded to a front room, where they found Mrs. Brown seated, in great agitation, on a sofa ; they secured her immediately, not :however without great resistance on her part. Her appearance was dreadful; her arms and part of her dress being covered with the blood of the child : she was, however, conveyed to the watchhouse; but She having evinced symptom* of insanity on the read there,' it was deemed expedient to take her to the workhouse,' where she was confined in a strait waistcoat. The instrument of the murder was a large carving-knife, which was afterwards found near the child. Our Reporter was present at the examination of the infant by two surgeons, who politely explained the nature of the wound, and expressed their opinion that considerable violence had been used.— The windpipe, and the carotid artery on the right side of the neck, were completely severed ; there were two other slight cuts on the left side of the neck, and another on the small of the arm. It appeared to have been a very fine child, and was a great favourite with the neighbours. We understand that Mrs. Brown will not be examined until she makes her appearance before the Coroner. Mr. Brown, as May he conceived, is in VeSfagony of mind ; but nothing has hitherto transpired .to ,9onneet him with this horrid circumstance.  T _ 'Three out of seven convicts,. under sentence of transportation, who left Chester last week, on their way to the hulks, contrived to make their escape off the coach, in passing through Hampshire. One ,of them was retaken about 20 miles from Portsmouth the other two have contrived to remain undiscovered.
The Sun. — 1826-05-12 (London, England)

DAY.)  OLD COURT.  CHARGE OF MURDER. Ann Elliott, aged 42 years, stood indicted foil the wilful murder of Wm. Bartlett, in the. parish of St. Mary, Whitechapel, on the 2d of April last. • George Lang, lives at No. 1, Brook-street. About half past. seven in the evening of the 20th of April, he was standing at the door, when WM.:Bartlett came up to.him, seemingly drunk, the prisoner was standing by him ; she. and the deceased lodged in the same room. The prisoner retired round the corner before the deceased came up. ShOrtly after the deCeased went up stairs, and the prisoner, being at the top, pushed him down, and said, " Now, what do you think of a West country woman." About ten minutes after he heard her say, "It is only one of your drunken fits." She did not appear sober at the time. Charles Mullet, a boy about ten years old, saw the prisoner push the deceased down stairs. • William Piggot lived in the neighbourhood; being sent for he got half way down the kitchen stairs, and saw the prisoner, having her arms under the deCeased's head, as if she was trying to lift him up. He then went down stairs ; there was a flag at the bottom, near which lay the head of the deceased, who was bleeding at the nose, breathing a little ; his skull was fractured, and the blood came from his ears. He requested the prisoner to have him sent to the Hospital, but she said, " Better let him alone till the morning, and he will recover." Witness gave an order to the parish officers. to have him removed to the Hospital, and saw him there dead on the Monday following. The prisoner acknowledged to him that she had pushed the deceased down stairs. The Beadle of London Hospital stated, that about five o'clock on the 21st of April, the deceased was brought to -him, and that the prisoner told him she was not his wife, but had lived with him 11 years. She acknowledged having pushed him down stairs. Richard Bertsidge,, :a surgeon, saw the deceased about six o'clock next morning, he was then dead. Witness attributed his death to a fracture in the skull. The prisoner, in her _defence, handed forward a written statement, disclaiming any intention of injuring the deceased on whom she mainly depended. Two witnesses were called, who gave her a good character. Baron HULLOCK, in charging the Jury, said, that there was no grounds of accusing her of murder, and recommended them to find her guilty of Manslaughter. —The Jury without hesitation returned a verdict of Manslaughter. John Langley and John Fippes were • indicted for burglary m the dwelling-house of Mr. William Aberdeen, and stealing therefrom 'three handkerchiefs. The prosecutor saw the prisoners at his shop window about half-past eight on the 25th of April. John Fippes had put his hand through the window, and removed the handkerchiefs. The glaSs had been broken before ;—it did not appear that Langley assisted—he got a good character. The Jury, contrary to the charge of the Judge, brought in a verdict of Guilty against both the prisoners.
The Sun. — 1826-09-14 (London, England)

INVERNESS CIRCUIT COURT.  (From the Edinburgh Observer.) On Saturday tlfe Circuit Court was opened here, by the Hon. Lord Meadowbank, with•the usual formalities. James Ross was put to the bar on the charge of murder, having, on the night of the 2d of August last, discharged a loaded gun at William Clark, blacksmith, then residing at the Bridge of Carr, by which the latter was killed. Ross pleaded not guilty. The circumstances of this case were shortly these : James Grant was raised out of bed on the night of the 2d of August last, by William Clark (deceased) coming to his house, and calling to him to open his door. He did so—witness did not then see any third person; but Clark told him that Ross who was the worse of liquor, was outside, and that he (Clark) had followed him to endeavour to get a foic-hunter's gun from him. Witness then went out, and saw Ross with the gun : he asked it from him, but lie said he had it to defend himself against the Bridge of Carr people, who were going to rob and murder him.— Ross at that time told witness, that there was a shot in the gun. Ross asked witness to go home with him. Witness advised Clark to keep away from Ross; but he said that he would not leave Ross and the gun long together—they all then went on the road conversing together--witness telling the pannel to be wise and keep up the gun. Ross appeared to he very angry, but not at Clark ; he was muttering curses. He was either mad front drink, or from passion, but could walk well enough. Clark kept back • a little, and Ross seemed to keep his eye upon Clark, but no angry words passed between them. Witness then went towards a barn, where some masons were asleep, to get some assistance. Clark being then 5 or 6 yards a head of the pannel, witness having almost reached the barn, looked round and saw Clark turn towards Ross. Witness then looked towards the barn, and instantly thereafter he heard a shot fired. When the gun went off the two men might be a few feet from each other; but the night being ikirk he could not speak exactly of the distance. After receiving the shot, Clark stood for a moment, turned round, and fell on his back. Ross then said,." you, did not I tell you to keep off or 1 would shoot you." Clark never spoke after he was wounded. The leading facts of this witness's testimony were corroborated by other witnesses, and Dr. Grant described the nature of the wound, which was in the left breast. The declarations of the pannel stated that he had been in a state of intoxication for several days, and therefore did not know. what he was doing. Mr. Wood addressed the jury on the part of the prosecution, and Mr. Smythe for the pannel. The ease was summed up with much perspicuity by .Lord Meadowbank ; after which the jury retired for upwards of an hour, when they returned a verdict of guilty of culpable, homicide. • The pannel was sentenced to transportation for life.
The Sun. — 1867-12-27 (London, England)

PREMEDITATION OF MURDER.  An attempt at murder, most extraordinary in every aspect, was made at an old ruin called Red Abbey, near Cork, on Monday night. The abbey and adjoining property is in the care of an old man named Butler, who lives at the ruin. A young woman named Hannah Hurley, a domestic " help," and William Butler, his grandson, 16 years of age, resided with the old man. The girl was in the habit for some time past of giving a few pence per week to the grandson to put in the bank. She had handed him 9s. in all, and recently she discovered thatestimpoqvaini he had kept 2s. of the ' amount. Her accusations and • threats of disclosure seem ,o have determined him to get rid of her by murder, and he went about his work in a singularly determined and premeditated manner. He had access to the key of the ruin, and up in a part where time has formed a sort of soil he dug a grave about six feet in length by one foot in depth and width. He then waited for an opportunity to entrap the girl, and on her continuing to accuse him he on Monday morning announced to her that he had the money buried in the abbey, and if she ascended with him she could get it. She assented to this, and about five o'clock they entered the building, Butler carrying a candle to shew the way. On arriving at the place he led her over to the spot where the grave was dug, and at his bidding she went into it to take up, 11S he said, the box that was there containing her money. Scarcely had her feet touched the bottom of the grave than he dealt her a blow with a small hatchet he had had concealed about him. It took effect on the right shoulder, and he followed it up by two or three cuts at her head, The candle went out on the instant, and the girl screamed for mercy, at the same time succeeding in setting a hold of the hatchet. He struggled violently to wrest it from her but she succeeded in retaining hold of it, still imploring him to spare her life, and he promised to do so if she would never tell what had occurred. She made the promise, and under these conditions they left the spot, groping their way to the staircase. As she descended blood came in streams from her wounds, and she was in momentary dread that he would throw her head foremost down. However, he attempted no further violence, and when they got down she ran into a house covered with gore, and was at once carried off to the South Infirmary, where her wounds were dressed. Butler made off, and up to a late hour on Tuesday night was not heard of. The girl is wounded on the back of the neck and shoulders, and had the hatchet not been an old blunt one she would now be a corpse and buried in the grave prepared fof her. She is rapidly improving.
The Sun. — 1867-12-27 (London, England)

PIZENEDITATION OF MURDER.  An attempt at murder, most extraordinary in every aspect, was made at an old rain called Red Abbey, near Cork, on Monday night. The abbey and adjoining property is in the care of an old man named Butler, who lives at the ruin. A young woman named :Hannah Hurley, a domestic " help," and William Butler, his grandson, 16 years of age, resided with the old man. The girl was in the habit for some time past of giving a few pence per week to the grandson to put in the bank. She had handed him 9s. in all, and recently she discovered that he had kept 2s. of the amount. Her accusations and threats of disclosure seem ,o have determined him to get rid of her by murder, and he' went about his work in a singularly determined and premeditated manner. He had access to the key of the ruin, and up in a part where time has formed a sort of soil he dug a grave about six feet in length by one foot in depth and width. He then waited for an opportunity to entrap the girl, and on her continuing to accuse him he on Monday morning announced to her that he had the money buried in the abbey, and if she ascended with him she could get it. She assented to this, and about five o'clock they entered the building, Butler carrying a candle to show the way. On arriving at the place he led her over to the spot whet e the grave was dug, and at his bidding she went into it to take up, as he said, the box that was there containing her money. Scarcely had her feet touched the bottom of the grave than he dealt her a blow with a small hatchet he had had concealed about him. It took effect on the right shoulder, and he followed it up by two or three cuts at her head. The candle went out on the instant, and the girl screamed for mercy, at the same time succeeding in getting a hold of the hatchet. He struggled violently to wrest it from her. but she succeeded in retaining hold of it, still imploring him to spare her life, and he promised to do so if she would never tell what had occurred. She made the promise, and under these conditions they left the spot, groping their way to the staircase. As she descended blood came in streams from her wounds, and she was in momentary dread that he would throw her head foremost down. However, he attempted no further violence, and when they got down she ran into a house covered with gore, and was at once carried off to the South Infirmary, where her wounds were dressed. Butler made off, and up to a late hour on Tuesday night was not heard of. The girl is wounded on the back of the neck and shoulders, and had the hatchet not been an old blunt one she would now he a corpse and buried in the grave prepared for her. She is rapidly improving.
The Sun. — 1867-05-18 (London, England)

MARLBOROUGH-STREET. A WRETCHED STORY.—Margaret Warren, a meanlyclad woman, was charged with assaulting her daughter, Margaret Warren, about 12 years of age. The complainant, a meek child, said—l reside with my father and mother at No. 28, Tower-street, and last night my mother struck me on the hetid with a saucepan handle and afterwards threw me down stairs.  Mr. Knox—This is the letter the father writes to me:— "Your Worship,—l am very sorry to hear from you of the bad conduct of my wife towards me and the children. She has stripped my room of almost everything she can lay her hands on. She has taken the bed- things away, and I have nothing to cover me and the children with. I am laid up with rheumatism in my legs, and cannot walk across the room. She is very cruel to me now I can't help myself. Drink is her only study. She has commenced taking the things off the children's backs to keep them from school. She will not let them go to school for some reason or the other. lam nearly broken-hearted about her. She has been going on like this for 10 years, and she has only just come out of prison." Prisoner—Did I strike you ? Complainant—Yes, you did.  Mrs. Margaret Russell, a widow, and landlady of No. 28, Tower-street, said—l was fetched thrao tina3s to the house from my other house owing to the prisoner's violence. The first time the prisoner was going out to sell a saucepan, and I took it away amid gave it to her daughter. Shortly after I saw her attempting to strike her daughter with a saucepan handle, and I took it away from her. She had dragged her husband out of bed by the hair of his head, and ho was lying on the stairs. I bad not left the house more than a quarter of an hour when I was fetched again, and sho had then just thrown her daughter down stairs. The prisoner had once been sent to prison for three months at the instance of the Marquis Townshend for ill treating her children. Mr. Knox—ls the girl a good girl ?  Mrs. Russell She is.  Joseph Vinson—Last night I was callad to tho house, and found the girl had just boon thrown down stairs. I took the prisoner into custody, when she mado use of most filthy language. She has been imprisoned for three months for a similar offence.  Mr. Knox —Was she drunk or sober ? Constable—Drunk and very violent. The prisoner, in the course of a rambling address to the magistrate, in which she talked of her "poor dear children" and her "poor sick husband," promised that if the magistrate would forgive her she would at once take the pledge.  Mr. Knox—l think you may consider it very fortunate you aro not standing here on a charge of murder. You first strike your daughter with an iron saucepan handle, and then throw her down stairs, and you pulled your sick husband out of bed. I commit you for six months under the Aggravated Assaults Act, and at the end of that time you will find bail in £2O for throe months.
The Sun. — 1867-12-05 (London, England)

THE HERMIT CRAB.—No sooner is an empty shell dropped into the water close to the crab than he darts at it, and seizes it with his claws, with every appearance of delight ; he then proceeds to turn the shell about and examine it thoroughly; diving his legs and claws into it as if desirous of ascertaining its depth and breadth. If this examination should prove unsatisfactory, the crab pushes the shell on one side with an air of disgust ; but if, on the contrary, he is satisfied with his investigation, he suddenly draws himself out of his house, and pops his tail into the new shell with marvellous rapidity ; reminding cno of the way in which we jump into bed on a cold winter's night.—Once a Week.  The gh-OVOT Mr. Lan, a'tnatehmaker and jeFelleF in Hart-street, Mark-lane, was entered a few days ago, and stock in-trade to the value of £4OO or £5OO stolen, consisting of 38 gold and 45 silver watches, 25 gold guardchains, a silver brooch, 2 wedding - rings, 17 diamond and other rings, 3 gold keeper rings, 1 mourning ring, and a number of keys, seals, charms, sleeve-links, and other articles of jewellery. Hart-street, the scene of the robbery, connects Crutched-friars with Mark-lane, and Mr. Leach's shop is on the ground floor, the upper part of the premises being let out in offices chiefly. There is a street door common to all the occupants, and within that is a side door, locked at night, leading to the shop of Mr. Leach. The watches and articles of jewellery above enumerated were on the evening of Friday last placed partly in a wooden box and partly on trays, according to custom, and deposited in an iron safe, with other valuable property forming part of his stock. The shop, like those of many other jewellers, since the burglary in Cornhill, has usually been lighted with gas throughout the night, and was so lighted on the night of Friday to ensure greater safety. The robbery, however, was not committed during the night, but on Saturday morning between 8 and 9 o'clock. At 8 o'clock the premises are supposed to have been all safe, for some one connected with a floor at the top of the house, on opening the street door at that hour from the outside and proceeding upstairs to his work, observed nothing amiss. About 20 minutes afterwards, on Mr. Leach's ssn, a boy of 14, arriving, he found the door of the shop had been opened by a false key, and the gas inside turned off. The iron safe was also open, and a skeleton key had been left in the door. The robbery must have been effected hastily, for much valuable property still remained in drawers and other parts of the safe untouched, and the thieves had taken that which first presented itself. Several watches and other articles also remained in the window undisturbed. They got clear off with their booty, and are still at large. A reward of £lOO has been offered for their apprehension and the recovery of the stolen property.  :ME _MURDER
The Sun. — 1867-10-28 (London, England)

SPECIAL 003.IMISS1ON AT MANCHESTER.  The Special Commission for the trial of the Fenian prisoners charged with the murder of Policesergeant Brett, at Manchester, on the 18th of September last, was opened on Saturday afternoon. Mr. Justice Mellor drove up to the Assize Courts in the carriage of the High Sheriff a few minutes before four o'clock. Mr. Justice Blackburn had not reached Manchester, but was expected by an early train. A crowd of people had assembled in the vicinity of the court, but the attendance inside was not large. Mr. Justice Mellor came upon the bench fully robed, and not in civilian attire as on ordinary occasions. There were some of the magistrates of the visiting committee present, including Mr. William Rayner Wood and Mr. Hibbert, with a rather stronger force of county police than usual, but in no other respect was there a departure from the course adopted at the opening of other assizes. . The reading of the Commission occupied only a few minutes, and the Court then adjourned till Monday (this day). Mr. W. P. Roberts received a final answer from the Home-office on Saturday evening. After his latest published letter to Mr. Secretary Hardy he telegraphed to the press on Saturday morning as follows :  This morning brings me letter from the Treasury Solicitor, with list of 25 additional witnesses, none of whom were ever heard of before, to give evidence against Allen and others. It is altogether impossible that proper defence can be made without time for inquiry and consultation with prisoners, no two of whom can be seen at the same time. The supposed evidence, corresponding with what these new witnesses would have add before the magistrates, should have been sent to me at least a fortnight ago—as, indeed, was promised when the case was before the magistrates. This course is always adopted in such cases. I have telegraphed the Home Secretary that the prisoners oily not Le tried till as long after Monday as can be given, and that the supposed evidence may be sent me directly." The answer from the Home Secretary, received by telegram on Saturday evening, was as follows : ,4 I cannot interfere in any way with the opening of the Commission. lam informed that it is not necessary, but common as a matter of fairness, to give the names of new witnesses who may possibly be called. This has been done as soon as was practicable. Your application by letter that the Government should bear the expenses of the defence cannot be entertained."  The following is the list of counsel actually retained by the Government to conduct the prosecution : The Attorney-General, Sir J. B. Karslake ; Mr. Pickering, Q.C., Mr. Sowler, Q.C., Mr. Hannen, and Mr. Higgin. During Saturday Mr. Sergeant O'Brien and Mr. Digby Seymour were communicated with on behalf of the prisoners, and an answer was received ou behalf of those gentlemen that one of them would reach Manchester on Saturday night, and the other yesterday. Mr. Ernest Jones and Mr. Cottingham will also hold briefs for the defence.