npedrazzini/19thc_murder_suicide_news huggingface dataset:
The Sun. — 1849-06-30 (London, England)

WESTBUR Y, WILTS. WESTBURY, FRIDAY, JUNE 29.—An adjourned in. quest was held here yesterday, before Mr. G. Sylvester, one of the coroners for Wiltshire, on the body of Richard Smith, an infant about a month old, which has resulted in the committal of the mother, Rebecca Smith, to take her trial for wilful murder at the ensuing Wilts assizes. From the evidence there is reason to conclude that a series of murders has been committed.  The prisoner is the wife of Philip Smith, a labourer at Westbury. She has been married 18 years, and has given birth to 11 children, all of whom, with the exception of the eldest, died in infancy. The subject of the present inquiry was born on the 16th of May, and died on the 12th of June. The body was exhumed on Saturday last, and a post mortem examination was made by Mr. G. Shorland, surgeon, of Westbury, in the presence of another surgeon named Gibbs. They were convinced of the presence of arsenic in the body, and the viscera were accordingly carefully sealed up and sent to Mr. Herapath, of Bristol, for further analyzation. On the following Monday a jury was sworn to investigate the case, when it was shown that on the 7th of June, five days before the child died, the prisoner went to a person named Prudence Mead, and requested her to accompany her to the shop of Mr. Taylor, druggist, of Westbury, to purchase arsenic, which she said a sister of hers residing at Bratton, near Westbury, wanted to destroy rats.  The purchase of the poison was likewise proved by Mr T;.ylor's apprentice, who put a label on it, and warned her as to its deadly properties. Mr. G. Shorland, surgeon, and registrar of births and deaths for ,Westbury, deposed, that the child's death was registered by the mother on the 13th of June, the day after its death. She declared she did not know the cause of death, but that the child had been ailing for a little time, and, as it appeared no satisfactory reason could be assigned, the cause of death was registered as unknown. The inquiry was then adjourned. Mr. W. Lierapath, of Bristol, now said, he received the contents of the deceased's stomach from Mr. Shorland on the 24!h instant, and on subjecting them to anal) sis, found them to consist principally of milk and arseniou3 acid in solution, and an exceedingly light trace of arsenic not dissolved. He had no doubt that the infant to which the viscera belonged had died from the effect of arsenic, and he believed that white arsenic had been administered, and that it had been given at more than one time.  After some other unimportant evidence had been addue( d, the Coroner recapitulated the whole to the jury who, having deliberated a short time, returned a verdict of .‘ Wilful murder against Rebecca Smith." The prisoner, a sullen-looking woman, apparently about Say years of age, maintained an asptct of the most stolid indifference throughout the proceedings.
The Sun. — 1849-05-28 (London, England)

SCHLESWIG-HOLSTEIN.  SCHLEAWIG-HOLSTEIN, MAY 24.—The bombardment of Fredericia is still carried on by the Germans with untiring energy, and the Danes seem disposed to carry out their menace of defending it to their last man. A division of the German troops, however, led on by Captain Know.; has succeeded in driving the Danes from, the blockhouse which they had erected close to the southern gate of Fredericia for the purpose of covering their sallies. During the attack the Danes, both in the fortress and at the batteries of Funen, kept up a brisk fire on our troops. The Danes had several killed and ten taken prisoners, and as soon as they had evacuated the blockhouse it was fired by our troops. The Germans say that on their side they had not a single man killed and wounded. Immediately after the burning of the blockhouse, the Commander ordered 150 of the same battalion who had made the attack to pierce the dam in order to let out the water and leave the moat dry. This they effected under a murderous shower of balls from the batteries.  The Danes afterwards made a sally, in which eleven of their jagers were taken prisoners. The Danes kept up an incessant cannonade. Yesterday General Boras, attended by his staff, rode along our entrenchments, when an unexpected shot from the Danes struck down the brave aid-decamp, blockade continues to be a great Captain DELltrs. In him our country will lose one of its most valuable officers. It is true that ihe sat this moment still alive, but no hopes are entertained of his recovery. The Danishimpediment to trade, and the authorities of Dantzic are preparing a petition to the King of PRUSSIA, for the 13eecly conclusion of peace with Denmark, as,in consequence of the stagnation of trade and commerce in the harbours of the Baltic, there has arisen a want of em to y ment not only among the day labourers, but among all the smaller masters who are p occupied in shipbuilding, &c. Panic and anarchy have attained an alarming height among the working classes.  The Chamberlain REEDTZ has left Copenhagen for Berlin. He is charged with the mission of arranging the preliminaries which are at length to serve as the basis of the treaty of peace to be concluded in London. The Hanover Zeitung says the Prussian Minister is said to have notified to the Regent of the Empire that he may be free from all anxiety in regard to the Danish war, because Prussia will now undertake the sole conduct of it. We have received this intelligence from a source which has hitherto always been worthy of credit. The Baltic Journal of the 22d says that the English war-steamer Hecate, Captain Oldham, with eight guns and 117 men, arrived at Swinemunde on the 22d. The object of their visit is to ascertain the actual state of the blockade in the Baltic. After taking in coals tho Hecate will go to Datzic. We  have not seen any Danish cruizers ''or some days, but the Hecate saw a Danish frigate eabtwane.s this morning.—Hamburgh Papers, May 25.
The Sun. — 1849-11-12 (London, England)

THE MURDER IN THEI4LLBANK PRISON. "/..4-It will be remembered that on WecTrilss4,3l last a\-1 most desperate and murderous attack was made, abirt4l,—,, four o'clock in the afternoon, upon Thomas Hall, one of the warders in the Penitentiary at Milbank, by John Francis, one of the convict prisoners, inmate of that prison, from the effects of which the injured man died on Thursday last. An inquest was held on the body on Saturday, by Mr. Bedford, the coroner for Westminster, and from the evidence it appeared that, at the hour above stated, Francis requested the warder Hall to let him out of his cell for a necessary purpose, with which request Hall immediately complied, and waited for him to return in order to lock him up again. As Francis was returning to his cell, with his cell utensil in his hand, which he had been to empty, he struck Hall with it and felled him to the ground, and followed up his attack with a succession of desperate blows upon his head with the same utensil. The attack was witnessed by some of the other prisoners from the gratings of their cells, but as they were all locked up except Francis, they were unable to assist the unfortunate warder. Their cries from the windows, however, eventually attracted the attention of some of the officers, and brought other warders to Hall's assistance, by whom the prisoner Francis was secured and placed in the refractory cell for security. Hall was then found lying on the floor in his own room in a state of insensibility ; both eyes were completely blackened, and the skull was smashed in, and the brains protruding. He died the following night about twelve. When the prisoner was taken into custody a pair of scissors were found upon him, from which the screw had been taken away, and the points had been sharpened. William Crawley, a convict confined in an adjoining cell to the prisoner, gave evidence at the inquest, and stated that he had heard the prisoner call for the deceased, who, upon corning to his cell, told him he ought not to have called, as this was contrary to the rules of the prison, but he should have exhibited his signal. He did not say this in an angry tone. After this Francis was let out from his cell by the deceased for the purpose of emptying his cell utensil in the opposite closet. He returned in about a minute and a half with the lid of the utensil in his right hand, and the other part in his left. He then went up to the deceased and immediately struck him on the head with the cover of the utensil. The deceased screamed out, and endeavoured to crawl to his own room. Witness cried repeatedly to the prisoner to desist from his murderous attack ; but, instead of listening to him, he followed the deceased and struck him again several violent blows. Witness had not heard the prisoner express any ill feeling previously towards the deceased. Mr. Itendle, the surgeon, who was called in to attend the deceased, deposed to the extensive nature of the wounds on the head, which be said were quite sufficient to produce death. At the conclusion of the evidence the jury returned a verdict of wilful murder against John Francis.
The Sun. — 1849-11-12 (London, England)

RSEIIION GE R-LANE. (THIS DAY.) A stranger passing along llorsemonger-lane today, and who was ignorant of the awful drama on the eve of its enaction, would imagine that some vulgar pageant, such as a village fair or an exciting openair meeting, had drawn the vast concourse of people who stood in groups opposite the county gaol of Surrey, or sauntered up and down, gazing at the prison. There were hundreds of low women, and men, and young people—as many women as men we may say; well-dressed persons of both sexes passing to and fro ; and though the gaol wore its wonted aspect—though no hideous engine of death was erected over the porter's lodge, the usual place of execution for the county of Surrey, for the populace to feast and descant upon—though all was peace within, " the busy note of preparation" resounded outside the prison walls, for the erection at any point where a view could be obtained of the place where the execution is to take place, of scaffolding and seats, was being rapidly proceeded with. Some came, no doubt, to behold the scene who would not come to behold the actors. Indeed, the comfort of those who might be disposed to pay well for a sight of the public strangulation of the convicted man and wife seemed to be much cared for by the constructors of the places of exhibition, for tarpauling was being raised to keep the cold away. At a few of the houses bills were exhibited, setting forth that seats might be had, and the windows of one or two were being completely cleaned, in order that the view might not be impeded by a speck of dirt. Large bills were exhibited at the stands to the same effect. Seats were being prepared on the top of one or two of the houses. It is due to the persons who were gathered this morning in the front of the gaol, to say that, as far as we could see, no indecent levity marked their conduct. The awful punishment seemed to awe the mass into partial solemnity. Whether, however, when the shades of night have fallen upon the spot, and when the scaffold will be in busy preparation, riot of the most boisterous kind, mirth the most unrestrained, and mimiekry the most indecent, will not burst out, and make the place a modern Pandemonium we will not undertake to say, but will only express our fear that the great moral lesson to be inculcated to the populace in the morning will not restrain the orgies of the preceding night.  It may be well to state, and the argument issomewhat forcible, that the erectors of the scaffolds referred tiled ec jucAw.7by many, on the ground that the execution of Manning and his wife on the top of the prison, in the seeing of,the public, is done for a great purpose—to show " God's revenge against murder," and to exhibit what will be the fate of those who shed human blood, and that the more facilities they offer to effect that purpose the better citizens, and truer and more practical moralists are they.
The Sun. — 1849-11-12 (London, England)

THE MURDER IN THE 3IILLBANK  PRISON.  It will be remembered that on Wednesday last a most desperate and murderous attack was made, about four o'clock in the afternoon, upon Thomas Hall, one of the warders in the Penitentiary at !bank, by John Francis, one of the convict prisoners, inmate of that prison, from the effects of which the injured man died on Thursday last. An inquest was held on the body on Saturday, by Mr. Bedford, the coroner for iVestminster, and from the evidence it appeared that, at the hour above stated, Francis requested the warder Hall to let him out of his cell for a necessary purpose, with which request Hall immediately complied, and waited for him to return in order to lock him up again. As Francis was returning to his cell, with his cell utensil in his hand, which he had been to empty, he struck Hall with it and felled him to the ground, and followed up his attack with a succession of desperate blows upon his head with the same utensil. The attack was witnessed by some of the other prisoners from the gratings of their cells, but as they were all locked up except Francis, they were unable to assist the unfortunate warder. Their cries from the windows, however, eventually attracted the attention of some of the officers, and brought other warders to Hall's assistance, by whom the prisoner Francis was secured and placed in the refractory cell for security. Hall was then found lying on the floor in his own room in a state of insensibility ; both eyes were completely blackened, and the skull was smashed in, and the brains protruding. lie died the following night about twelve. When the prisoner was taken into custody a pair of scissors were found upon him, from which the screw had been taken away, and the points had been sharpened. William Crawley, a convict confined in an adjoining cell to the prisoner, gave evidence at the inquest, and stated that he had heard the prisoner call for the deceased, who, upon coming to his cell, told him he ought not to have called, as this was contrary to the rules of the prison, but he should have exhibited his signal. He did not say this in an angry tone. After this Francis was let out from his cell by the deceased for the purpose of emptying his cell utensil in the opposite closet. He returned in about a minute and a half with the lid of the utensil in his right hand, and the other part in his left. He then went up to the deceased and immediately struck him on the head with the cover of the utensil. The deceased screamed out, and endeavoured to crawl to his own room. Witness cried repeatedly to the prisoner to desist from his murderous attack ; but, instead of listening to him, he followed the deceased and struck him again several violent blows. Witness had not heard the prisoner express any ill feeling previously towards the deceased. Mr. Rendle, the surgeon, who was called in to attend the deceased, deposed to the extensive nature of the wounds on the head, which he said were quite sufficient to produce death. At the conclusion of the evidence the jury returned a verdict of wilful murder against John Francis.
The Sun. — 1849-11-12 (London, England)

HORSEMON GER-LANE. (THIS DAY.) A stranger passing along Horsemonger-lane today, ar.d who was ignorant of the awful drama on the eve of its enaction, would imagine that some vulgar meant, such as a village fair or an exciting openair meeting, had drawn the vast concourse of people who stood in groups opposite the county gaol of Surrey, or sauntered up and down, gazing at the prison. There were hundreds of low woman, and men, and young people—as many women as men we may say; well-dressed persons of both sexes passing to and fro; and though the gaol wore its wonted aspect—though no hideous engine of death was erected over the porter's lodge, the usual place of. execution for the county of Surrey, fur the populace to feast and descant upon—though all was peace within, "the busy note of preparation" resounded outside the prison walls, for the erection at any point where a view could be obtained of the place where the execution is to take place, of scaffolding and seats, was being rapidly proceeded with. Some came, no doubt, to behold the scene who would not come to behold the actors. Indeed, the comfort of those who might be disposed to pay well for a sight of the public strangulation of the convicted man and wife seemed to be much cared for by the cons'ructors of the places of exhibition, for tarpauling was being raised to keep the cold away. At a few of the houses bills were exhibited, setting forth that seats might be had, and the windows of one or two were being completely cleaned, in order that the view might not be impeded by a speck of dirt. Large bills were exhibited at the stands to the same effect. Seats were being prepared on the top of one or two of the houses. It is due to the persons who were gathered this morning in the front of the gaol, to say that, as far as we could see, no indecent levity marked their conduct. The awful punishment seemed to awe the mass into partial solemnity. Whether, however, when the shades of night have fallen upon the spot, and when the scaffold will be in busy preparation, riot of the most boisterous kind, mirth the most,unrestrained, and mimickry the most indecent, will not burst out, and make the place a modern Pandemoneun, we will not undertake to say, but will only express our fear that the great moral lesson to be inculcated to the populace in the morning will not restrain the orgies of the preceding night.  It may be well to state, and the argument issomewhat forcible, that the erectors of the scaffolds referred to justify their proceedings, which have been stigmatised by many, on the ground that the execution of Manning and his wife on the top of the prison, in the seeing of,the public, is done for a great purpose—to show " God's revenge against murder," and to exhibit what will be the fate of those who shed human blood, and that the more facilities they offer to effect that purpose the better citizens, and truer and more practical moralists are they.
The Sun. — 1849-11-12 (London, England)

ONE WHO BELIEVES SABBATICAL OBSERVANCE PROHIBITED TO CHRISTIANS.  FASHION.—The outre and at best mere' fancy sketches in books of fashion, too often wholly useless in a practical sense, may have suggested to the Messrs. Jay, of Regent-street, the production,of the work of art forwarded by them gratuitously to the most remote distances, Furtraying tastefully-executed designs of mourning cloaks, dresses, &c., delineated from their actual stock, thus combining a beneficial employment to many artists with the advancement of commerce, and giving the recipient a faithful notion of the general effect and elegance of their various garments.—Evening Paper. Viscount Anson has left town for Shugborough Park, Staffordshire, where the Earl and Countess of Lichfield and family are paining the oilmen.  children, and have sandwiches and a glorious scamper on the sands; or they strike up a dance; or they go to the British Museum to see Nimrod, if he be yet come; or to the theatre to see Mix:ready, if he be not yet gone. And ci by not ? 'The Hebrews of old praised God by dancing. They tuned their harps and tinkled their symbais, and the Bible records it as not less devout than listening to long Rabbinical homilies. In Greece the drama was devotion. If good, a new play served for a pious thanksgiving. I protest against praising God on Thursday by stopping trains and closing theatres and museums. Rather throw them all open. Let people see sights, and the sea, the greatest sight of all, gratuitously. It should be no dolorous thanksgiving. Indulge the great national heart in showing its gladness, by whatever harmless mode it prefers, whether with or without church-going. One more hint it is a bounden duty to give, however vainly. In this tierce cholera battle, the men of the medical profession have done their work gallantly. They have stood in the breach between the dead and the living. They have persevered, under the:most depressing discouragements. 'They have cheerfully enconntered the worst forms of personal peril, and not a few have fallen victims. Their remuneration has been as beggarly as their behaviour was brave. Had destroying life been their occupation, instead of saving it, coronets would have been showered on their heads, the public treasure lavishly poured out at their feet, and their names would have been greeted with legislative thanks and acclamations. And yet no battle-winning implies a tithe of the intelligence which hundreds of that profession have evinced. No army has ever rendered equal service. Have we no public honours but for wholesale homicide ?—no substantial recompence but for fire and slaughter ? Around the sanitary hero, even when he falls, there is none of the false glitter of military glory. The medical is not an aristocratical profession. Men who have fairly and strenuously earned the nation's gratitude will sink back unnoticed and unrewarded into the common ranks. The folly and knavery of aristocratical Government, and of servile opinion, will laugh at the idea of making Dukes of doctors rather than of destroyers.