npedrazzini/19thc_murder_suicide_news huggingface dataset:
The Northern Guardian. — 1895-10-21 (Hartlepool, Cleveland, England)

LEAHY.  HEAVY FINE.  Isaac Evans, a barber, was charged at the West Hartlepool Police Court, to-day, with assaulting and beating John Leahy, on the 13th inst. Mr Leahy said that on Sunday night week, about 10 o'clock, he was standing outside his door in Sea View Terrace, when he heard screams of " Murder" from the direction of the Middleton Pier. He met P.C. Webster, who told him there was something radically wrong on the pier. The policeman asked him to accompany him to the pier, and told witness to stand at the end of the pier and detain the first person who came from it whilst he (the policeman) went along the pier. Witness had got about 20 yards along the pier when the defendant came running from the other end, but as he approached witness he slackened down and commenced walking. Witness got hold of him by the coat and told him that there was something wrong on the pier and he had better stop till the policeman returned. He told the defendant he had been instructed by the policeman to stop anyone coming off the pier. Defendant said he would ' leave him his name and address if that would do. Witness told him he was not supposed to believe all that he said. Shortly after that a man named Parr came along the pier and said, "That's Evans, a barber in the Market." Witness told him he did not care who he was; he would carry out his instructions. Witness told the defendant murder might have taken place, and the defendant replied, "I'll tell you the whole story. I took a girl along there, and one of these ' touts' came up, and I left him." Witness told the defendant that was all the more reason why he should detain him, because he was a mean fellow to leave a woman at the mercy of any man. The defendant said "If you don't release me I will throw you into the dock." Witness told him he would have to go as well ; 'he would never leave loose. The defendant then struck him under the throat and flung him on the pier and " bashed " his hat in. Witness still held him, and the defendant struck him several times. He held the defendant till P.C. Webster returned, and then gave him in charge. The defendant: Did you say I struck you Witness: Yea; I did. I am on my oath now, and I am not in the habit of telling lies. The defendant: Did you not say to me you had had your eye on me? Witness: I did not. I had my hands on you at. that time. (Laughter.) P.C. Webster corroborated the evidence of Mr Leahy, and said he gave him instructions to detain anyone who came off the pier. When witness returned from the pier he saw Evans on the top of Leahy. Win. Parr spoke to seeing the defendant strike Mr Leahy. The defendant denied striking Mr Leahy. The Bench retired for a few minutes, and on returning the Mayor said the charge was fully proved, and the Bench considered it a very serious offence, and ths defendant would be fined £3 and costs, or in default two months' hard labour. The defendant was further charged with wilful damage to a hat which Mr Leahy was wearing at the time, but the defendant premised to pay the damage, ss, and 4s costs, and the charge was withdrawn.  TO-
The Northern Guardian. — 1895-11-14 (Hartlepool, Cleveland, England)

THE CHARGES AGAINST A MARQUIS.  The Marquis de Nayve, who was acquitted in the Assize Court at Bourges recently on a charge of murdering his wife's illegitimate son 10 years ago, appeared at the police court of Saint Amend yesterday to answer a charge of ill-treating his wife and children. The court was crowded with spectators. The Marquise was the first, witness. She stated that her husband had been guilty of the grossest cruelty to h.q.self and her children during the years 1892 and 1893, thrashing his sons with a ramrod, striking herself with his fists, and threatening to kill them all and take his own life. One day when she ran to the ateistance of one of the bays the Marquis seizA her by the throat and strangled her, and it was only the arrival of the Abb4 Valin which let him go. He was accustomed to spit in her face, and used to make frightful scenes in order to compel her to make her will in his favour. The Marquis listened impassively to his wife's accusations, only now and then bending to speak to his counsel. Several servants from the Chateau de Presles corroborated the statements of the Marquise. Various witnesses were called for the defence to prove that no acts of cruelty had taken place.  J. HILL, Surgeon Dentist, and Chemist, 2, Bur Road (two minutes' walk from Strantou Church) Artificial Teeth in Gold Platinum or Vulcanite a lowest charges consistent with good workmanship.— Advt.  THROAT IRRITATION AND COU6ll.—Sorenems and dryness, tickling. And irritation, inducing cough and affecting the voice. For these aymptonis use Epptes Glycerine Jujubes. In contact with the glands at the moment they are excited by the act of sucking, the Glycenne in these agreeable confections becomes actively healing. Sold only in boxes, ?id., tins Is. lid., labelled " JAME% EPPS & Co., Ltd., Homeopathic Chemists, London.' Dr. Moore, in his work on "Nose and Throat Diseases," says: "The Glycerine Jujubes prepared by James Epps & Co. are of undoubted advice as a curative or palliative agent," while Dr. Gordon Holmes, Senior -Physician to the Municipal Throatand Ear Infirmary, writes: "Afteran extended trial, I have found your Glycerine Jujubes of considerable benefit in almost all forms of throat disease."-Advg.  GEM OP Cue.--The value of the shares in this sound property has been gradually advancing. The fully paid shares are now quoted at about 78 each, but they are very cheap at anything under 10—a figure they will probably touch on the result of the next crushing being announced. It is by the purchase of shares such as the Gem of the Cu. that the mining investor makes money, there being a good rise in store for the security itself, and handsome dividends being a. certainty. The property, according to cables to hand during the week, is opening up splendidly.—Advt. VENUS SOAPaold by all Grocers, 20 per bar.— Advt.  All hope of comfort in my home had died until lbw Matchless Cleanser Soap I tried.—Advt.  /
The Northern Guardian. — 1895-11-26 (Hartlepool, Cleveland, England)

DURHAM ENGLISHMEN."  THE JUDGE AND THE COUNSEL.  At the Durham Assizes, yesterday, Alfred Sutherland (36), miner, William Wears (25), miner, and Lawrence Ryan, (19), labourer, were charged with an assault upon Mary Ann Alexander, at Framwellgate Moor, on September Ist. Several witnesses were called in support of the prosecution, and the woman was subjected to a searching cross-examination by Mr Strachan as to her previous character. Several young men spoke to following the woman and the prisoners with others. Two or three of them said they heard the woman shout out, but went away. His Lordship said that was a nice state of things. Here was a woman lying on the footpath with several men about, and these people had gone away rather than risk a broken head. It was a discredit to the county. A farm labourer named Younger said he went towards home with Ryan, who came to him next day and told witness that if the police came to him he had to say that he (Ryan) was not there, and knew nothing about it. Cross-examined by Mr Strachan: If you had thought this woman was being forcibly assaulted you would have interfered, wouldn't you? —(No answer.) You are an Englishman, are you not ?•—Ye. His Lordship: A Durham Englishman, I should add. Mr Strachan :lam a Durham Englishman. I hope, my Lord, no reflection will cast on Durham Englishmen. His Lordship: No. only the witnesses in this case. His Lordship, in summing up, said the case was one of the most disgusting a jury had ever had to sit and listen to, and was very discreditable to the county of Durham.—The jury found the prisoners guilty of indecent assault, and intimated through their foreman an expression of their opinion as to the laxity of the police that such a state of affairs could happen within a mile of the Cathedral City, and that it should be going on from 10 at night to three o'clock the next morning. They thought it was disgraceful that people should be about on the roads in such a state of bestiality.—His Lordship thought the jury were quite justified in making the recommendation. He directed that it should be forwarded to the chief of the police. He did not know whether the place was in the borough or county.—Supt. Burrell : In the county.—His Lordship : I think certainly this case is very discreditable all round. It is discreditable to the witnesses for the prosecution that they should hear a woman shout " murder " several times without offering to give her any assistance. It is discreditable to the proaecutrix, who is clearly a drunken woman. It is discreditable to the prisoners ; and it is discreditable to the County of Durham that such a thing should be possible within three-quarters of a mile from the centre of this city. Sutherland and Wears were sentenced to six months' and Ryan to four months' hard labour.  All hope of comfort in my home had died until the hfatchkes Cleanser Soap 1 tried.—Advt.
The Northern Guardian. — 1895-08-29 (Hartlepool, Cleveland, England)

CANNIBALISM IN WEST AFRICA.  The R.M.S. Congo has arrived at Liverpool from Sierra Leone, having left Freetown on the 9th inst. She brings further news of the murders and cannibalism committed by a band known as the "human leopards," in regard to which three of the culprits are already reported to have been captured and • hanged. Since then eight other native members of the band had been arrested, and two were arraigned upon a charge of the murder of a Krooman named Jack Purser. They were remitted to the next Session of the Supreme Court for trial. The charges against the other six were being investigated at the Freetown Police Court.  The Rev. Father Brown, of the Roman Catholic Mission to Sierra Leone and Sherbro, who is now in Liverpool, having been invalided home, has been interviewed. He describes the proceedings of the gang as atrocious, and relates an incident which occurred at the Mission of St. 'Joseph, at Bonthe. A native of the Imperi country was brought down in a boat to the mission-house for treatment of wounds caused by the cannibals. He had been working on his land, when he was attacked suddenly from behind. He was stabbed first in the back of the neck with sharp knives, and gashes were then scored down his back in a manner which, to an unskilled eye, might suggest their having being caused by a leopard's claws. His cries attracted the attention of some other natives who were working in the vicinity, and on their hurrying to his aftlfiStallx.T 4:41: Iwere SO serious that if he had not had an ekceplioil• ally strong constitution he could not have lived to leach the mission station. As it was he died shortly afterwards. Father Brown corroborates the story of the rescue of a slave girl who had been tied to s tree, and was about to be killed. She was brought into the mission at Bonthe, and supplied by the nuns with civilised dress. Considerable amusement was caused by the difficulty experienced in inducing her to wear the garments. The most effective means of persuasion was found to be a pipe of tobacco, which she smoked with much satisfaction. Father Brown spoke with confidence of the moral effect likely to be caused by the hanging of three members of the gang on the scene of their crimes and before the people of the district, instancing a case in the Bendow country, also within the British sphere, which occurred some years ago. A number of murders had been committed, and the Government of Sierra Leone, after much trouble, arrested the chief of the place, who was then sentenced to be hanged. The natives, particularly the Mohammedans, made strong protests, but the sentence was duly carried out upon a high gallows, which was allowed to remain. The desired result was completely attained, for it is said there has not been a murder in the district since.  Printed and Publiehed for the ProOrlotorB at the Offices of The Northern Otutrdion, Robineon Street. West Hartlepool, and Northgate, Hartlepool' br
The Northern Guardian. — 1895-07-06 (Hartlepool, Cleveland, England)

PUZZLED ELECTOR.  (To the Editor of" The Northern Guardian.") 6IR, —Can you enlighten a puzzled elector, burdened with the responsibility of giving a vote, on the apparent contradiction in the action of the late Government ?  1. In proposing to enforce Local Veto in England and confiscation of property by means of the Irish vote, whilst excepting Ireland from the same measure at the dictation of their Irish masters.  2. In maintaining the extra tax on the Englishman's national beverage of beer by the Irish vote, whilst reducing the tax on the Irishman's whisky at the bidding of Irish members. 3. In proposing to rob Churchmen of Churchmen's gifts to their Church, and in not meting out the seine treatment to other religious bodies. 4. In preaching temperance whilst accepting the profits of drink in purchase of honour—a title. 5. In denouncing the Peers when they fell by the Commons aud through the abstention of their own party from voting. 6. In proposing to abolish the House of Lords when they have added 15 Peers to its numbers. Perhaps you can tell me how it is that their local supporters ask votes on the eight hour day question, whilst the local Liberal members —Sir J. Pease, Sir Joicey, and Mr John Morley—opposed the same tooth and nail, and the Unionist Captain Thomlinson granted the eight hours 1 Is there not the taint of cant and hypocrisy in all this facing both ways—all ways? Weakness alone permitted a Government de. sirous of conciliating Puritan feeling to submit to such a slap in the face as the refusal of a statue to the Nonconformist English hero, Cromwell. The British lion has lost his teeth, and is at the mercy of midgets. We are told that "Connivance at evil brings subjection to evil." The Irish allies of the Liberals, by the verdict of the most eminent judges, connived at the murderous actrocities of dynamiters, at treason, and at crime. The "subjection" of the Liberals to evil is witnessed in their release of these blackest of criminals by the order of their Irish taskmasters. Again, the Liberals are seen in captivity in their proposal to place England under the yoke of 70 Irish members, whilst Ireland is to be entirely governed by the Irish alone, with an annuai gift of £500,000 from British taxpayers. Thus, 31 million Irishmen are to have 33 million Britons under their heel. Truly, the tail waggles the dog. We need a strong Government, backed by a strong majority. The strong Government is formed; it remains for voters to put country before party, at least to make a Government that will not have 100,000 rifles without a cartridge.  What .is the alternative if voter's are misled? A Liberal Government with the Irish halter round its neck, torn by rivalries as to which shall be first, impotence at home, contempt of us abroad. Pont let us fiddle about trumpery matters—red herrings across the scent of Imperial interest— whilst great issues vital to our supremacy, our trade, our safety, are neglected.—Yours, kc , S. C.
The Northern Guardian. — 1895-08-14 (Hartlepool, Cleveland, England)

OOO-- There is nothing like being connected with a notorious case for exciting warm sympathy and ensuring offers of assistance. Mrs Bartlett, whom the jury found not guilty of murdering her husband, received many offers of marriage, same of them whilst she was awaiting trial, and she has since married a well-to-do Australian gentleman. The Rev. Mr Dyson, the young Wesleyan minister who was mixed up with the case, and was, in fact, committed for trial for complicity in the murder, and subsequently discharged, received offers of marriage from various women whilst the case was proceeding, and soon afterwards married a lady of fortune. Mrs Maybrick, it is understood, might be married many times over if she could but secure her release from prison. These and many like instances winch could be given make it less remarkable that Mrs Salisbury should have received proposals to adopt the " Baby Claimant," whom a special jury have pronounced got to be her child.  -••000 London correspondent writes : —Until the new members of Parliement are better known in the Press Gallery it need cause no surprise if some of them are in a doubt as to their own identity. One gentleman dropped into Mr Timothy Healy's seat yesterday, and was at once assumed to be an Irish addition to the Sationalist Party. He was "a well-built man with a fine forehead, a Yankee face, a ' goatee' beard, and long grey hair like a minor poet or a spiritualistic medium." This is one description of the picturesque stranger, while another says he looked like a replica of Abraham Lincoln or Salem Scudder. Yet he was neither I an Irishman nor a Yankee, though he probably has strong sympathies with both. I don't want to divulge any secrets or to spoil a promising mystery, but the fine forehead belonged to a Scot of some repute on Wearside—to a man who has left his mark very plainly written on the educational records of his adopted town. The people of bunderland may find it difficult to discover Mr Robert Cameron behind a "goatee" beard, and the electors of Houghton-le-Spring may be surprised to learn that their member is either a minor poet or a spiritualist. Yet the newspapers have said so. and what they tell us must be true. The authorities of the House of Commons are slow to adopt the convenient changes, but, if they had any regard for perplexed scribes, they would insist on all new members coming to town conspicuously labelled.  -000 The total number of members sworn in yesterday was not far under 400, or two-thirds of the whole. Sir Joseph Pease, Mr Arthur Pease, and Mr J. A. Pease affirmed, and amongst other members from the North who took the oath were Sir Henry Havelock-Allan, Sir James Joicey, Mr Byron Reed, Mr Reckitt, Sir G. Russell, Sir J. Austin, Alderman Thomas Richardson, and Mr W. Theodore Doxford. The members for Hartlepool and South-East Durham were amongst the earliest arrivals at the House on the opening day.
The Northern Guardian. — 1895-07-17 (Hartlepool, Cleveland, England)

TRU.R.. N 4,7.55 DURHAM ASSIZES. CURIOUS POISONING CASE. Elizabeth Urquhart, 54, was indicted for the wilful murder of her husband, William Charles Urquhart, at Jarrow, on June 6. Mr Luck and Mr Hans Hamilton prosecuted, and Mr Meynell, by request of the Court, defended the accused. The accused, on being charged, replied :—" He was as willing as me. He sent me for the stuff, air."  Majority _. ._ . 165  His Lordship: That is not guilty. Accused, who began to cry, and evidently was in distress, said : We loved one another dearly; I would not have done it for the world.  Mr Luck, in opening the case, said its history was the most sad and distressing which probably had come before them. The accused was 54 years old, and her husband was 66. They were living fairly happily, and apparently on affectionate terms together. They had brought up a family of ten, only two of whom survived, a son who was living away and another son, Walter, aged 23, who had lived with them. For four or five years the old man had been unable to work, and for two years he had been bedfast. During that time he and his wife had been supported by tiro son, who on account of want of work was ofien unable to supply them with all they required. They had been in receipt of parish relief, about 2s a week, and there could be no doubt that either the Infirmary or the Workhouse was staring them in the face. Over and over again the old man, who was in great pain, had expressed the wish that he was dead, and over and over again she had said she would do au ay with him and herself too. Accused: I never said such a word. Mr Luck: There was no doubt the old man was done from his point of view, and he hal very little to live for. About two months before the day he died, the son who lived with them found a bottle labelled "Rat poison" in the house. He asked his mother what it was for, and she said she was going to take it because she was sick of living, and if her husband would not take his share she would have to leave him to Providence. The son threw the bottle away. On the night of June 4, the deceased said to his son in the presence of the accused that. he thought she would do away wiih herself and him before long, and on the following day she went to Mr Clark's, a chemist at Jarrow, and got some vermin powder. Accused : He sent me, sir. Mr Luck said Mr Clark asked her what she wanted it for, and she said to kill rats. She received a packet of powder, and they could have no doubt she bought it with the intention of giving it to her husband. Accused : My husband, sir. He sent me for it. Mr Luck said after she got the powder she showed it to two neighbours, Mrs Hind and Mrs Ireland, and to the latter, who asked her what she wanted it for, she said she was going to do them both next day, and they would see a good funeral on the Sunday. Accused : Yea, but he was as willing as me, sir. After a further hearing, The jury found the accused guilty, but added that she did not know the nature of the act she committed. His Lordship ordered her to be detained during Her Majesty's pleasure.
The Northern Guardian. — 1895-10-16 (Hartlepool, Cleveland, England)

THE MIDDLETON PIER CASE.  PRISONER COMMITTED FOR TRIAL  This morning, at the West Hartlepool Police Court—before Mr Robinson Murray (chairman)and other magistrates—William Murfitt was brought np on remand and charged with an indecent assault on Jane Hannah, on Middleton Pier, on Sunday night.—Complainant said she was on Middleton Pier about half•past ten with a man named Evans, when the prisoner came up and said, "Now I have caught you." Murfitt threatened to assault her if they did not give him money. Evans said, "Go down the pier, and I will see the man does not hurt you." She went along the pier, and prisoner followed and committed the offence with which he was charged. The Clerk (to prisoner, who was laughing) : Perhaps you will not find it such a big joke as you think. Complainant, continuing, said his finger got into her mouth, and she bit it. An officer came to her assistance. Evans tried to get her away, and then went for assistance. .  Isaac Evans, hairdresser, 14, Frederick Street, West Hartlepool, said he was talking to the girl on the pier when the prisoner came and used words to the effect that he was going to have his turn. The girl went along the pier and prisoner ran after her. Witness followed, and when he got there he had his arm round her neck. Witness got hold of her wrist acd said, "Come away." They both pulled the girl and she fell to the ground. He heard footsteps and went away. Questioned as to why he went away, witness hesitated. The Clerk: Be honest; you went away to save your skin'—.Ye..  You left the woman ?—One man is no good to two or three.  And how is a woman to manage two or three? You left her to run her chance ?—lt is everyone for himself.  When you met the policeman your courage was re-established, and you returned ?—No, there was a man got hold of me, and said "This is the first man off the pier." He thought I was the man who had committed the offence.  John Furness Ridley, a N.E.R. policeman, said his attention was directed to the spot by cries of " murder " and "rape." When he got to where the woman was her clothesand hair were disarranged. When she got to her feet he asked her what was the matter, and she said, "That man who ran away tried to commit a rape on me." Witness followed, and when he got to the woodshed on the pier some one shouted "Policeman, we have got him," and the girl came up and identified prisoner as the man. Sergeant Bee said he received the prisoner into custody, and charged him. Prisoner replied, "I did not rape her." Prisoner was then formally charged, and he replied, "I have nothing to say." . . . .  . . .. He was committed to take his trial at the next Sessions or Assizes, whichever come first.