npedrazzini/19thc_murder_suicide_news huggingface dataset:
Nelson Chronicle, Colne Observer, and Clitheroe Division News. — 1899-12-22 (Nelson, Lancashire, England)

SGT. HITCHCOCK. 2nd Coldstream Guards, Field Force, South Africa.  Belmont, 24, 11, 99.  Dear Dick,—As my letter has .not'yei gone, I thought I would give you a word about the battle of Belmont. fought and won yesterday. We moved from Orange River camp about 4 p.m. Wednesday, arriving here about 8 p.m., when we bivouacked—that is, lay on the ground—until 3 a.m., when we formed up and advanced on the enemy, who were in a very strong positioa, about two miles front here up in the hills, and don't forget they are hills— Pendle is nothing to them—and all rocky, where they lay behind and shoot us. We found them, or they found us, about 4 a.m., for our troops started dropping on all sides and we could not see anyone. We advanced under a murderous fire across a plain and charged up the hill, only to find when we got there that those whose horses were shot. threw clown their arms and cried for mercy while the others rode away. It wa,s a job to keep our troops off them (the miserable curs), but we took them prisoners and disarmed them and followed the others who again took up another position, and we were at it again. We fought them for four and a half hours, then they broke and ran for it, and my word we did give it them then. I expect we suffered badly, but we won a better victory than Dargai so the General says. We buried 20 guardsmen yesterday in this camp and one officer, and several men have since died in the hospital tents. One case of the Boer treachery occurred yesterday. A Boer holding a flag of truce advanced to us and when an officer of the Grenadier Guards went to know his message he shat the officer through the head. Needless to say he was captured and brought to camp along with the other prisoners, and the rumour is that he is to be shot at sunset to-day. The cavalry have just brought in another batch of Boer prisoners. Well, Dick, yesterday I never expected to get away from the field, for where I was •22 men were killed in about five minutes. I got a shot through my haversack; that was near enough, wasn't it ? But I got away clear. I was in command of a section, about 30 men, and we had a warm corner for a time. I shot a horse quite close to us, and before the rider could get at me I had another round through him. Oh the miserable brutes, they were shootingi at our stretcher bearers who were bringing in the wounded. Their wounded we took were treated just the same as ours. We are off to Hodder River to-day; that is about 25 miles from here, and 30 from Kimberley, and where the Boers are in another position, but roll on and let us get at them. We will have our own back. Please let Willie Hartley know the sort of people he defends. You will read in the papers that the Boers are hard up and have got no food, but don't believe it, for yesterday we came across a laager filled with all sorts of stuff, rugs, oil, sheets, food, drinks, and better stuff than we got. The only thing they are short of is pluck. They are r.ir more numerous than is given out in England. Now I must say good-bye.—Yours truly, 7797
Nelson Chronicle, Colne Observer, and Clitheroe Division News. — 1897-11-26 (Nelson, Lancashire, England)

CHARGE OF MURDER. A JURY DISAGREE.  At the Northampton ASSiZ•IB, on Thursday, before Mr. Justice %Villa, Jalllol4 Shaw, 20, labourer, was indicted for the wilful murder of Albert Smith, aged thirteen, at Stuekbury, on July 10. Tlie evidence showed that the prisoner visited his brotherin-law's house and took his nephew and niece for • walk. When in a cornfield Le first attempted impropriety with the girl, and then sent her home, after which he murdered the boy, severing his head from his body with a razor. For the defence insanity was urged, and witnesses attended from the Scots Guards to prove the prisoner's strange behaviour while in the army. The jury retired at 5.30, but at eight had not agreed, and were locked up. After an absence of alumet five hours they returned a verdict of "Wilful murder" against Shaw, and sentence of death was pawed soon after ten o'clock.  A 138181' shrewd son of the soil was once sent to the house of & Yorkshire farmer on his master's business' and, as the good old custom goes there, he had a hearty drinking set before him ; but still one part of the refreshment was a puzsle for Luke, being different from any thing that he had ever seen before viz., a whole Dutch cheese. How to begin of it Lae was at no small loss to imagine. The master, however, popping in just at that moment, Luke, in a tone of apparent symplicity, said, "It's varry like a fooit-ball, this, insister whereivver am ebe cut it P " " Cut it ! why," exclaimed the farmer in the midst of a hearty crack of laughter, cut it where you like, my man." " Wha, then," responded Luke, with a smile, and popping the cheese under his left arm, "a'l cut it at hoiuue, if yo please, =dater." Nor syss:s. DROP —An hotel-keeper in Ireland having got in a cask of whiskey was busy engaged in the cellar transferring the liquor by means of a pump to his own barrels, assisting him in this operation was RR Irishman, his servant,named Pat,whose mouth was watering all the time at the smell of the spirit he liked so well. The hotel keeper received a call from his good wife to the upper regions to speak to some gentleman who desired to see him, and being afraid to trust Pat in the midst of such a great temptation, hit upon the experiment of chalking Pat's lips with a piece of chalk which he used for scoring the number of gallons. Pat was quite agreeable,aud held up his head to 111111.11 in lips chalked. The master merely made II pretence if doing so by draw.ing his , thumb across Pat's lips, ntl the man thought all fair at once been at the pump again while the master went up stairs. When he returned us the course of half an hour Pat was still as busy as ever. Pat, of muse, had never even WIWI a drop, but the most curious thing was that his lips was new artfully chalked all oven
Nelson Chronicle, Colne Observer, and Clitheroe Division News. — 1897-08-27 (Nelson, Lancashire, England)

GRIMES AND TRAGEDIES. REVOLTING MURDER IN LONDON.  A murder of a particularly revolting character tool place at 236, Caton Street, Peckham, London, th. fore part of last week, though the discovery of th. crime WU not made until law on Saturday night. I appears that the deceased woman, who was known aj Mre. Francis, had been cohabiting with a man, am together they bad occupied the ground floor,the uppel portion of the house being tenanted by Mr. Daniels a bootmaker, and his family. An offensive odour it the vicinity of the bed room floor of the deceased wai noticed on Saturday morning by Mrs. Daniels, wilt mentioned the fact to her husband,and his suspicion§ being aroused by the fact that the door was lucked, while nothing had been seen of the man since Thursday morning, the police were called in. A key having been found to fit the lock, the door was opened, and the body of the woman was discovered upon the bed in a pool of blood, with several gashes about the head, the blows having apparently been administered by an ordinary hatchet. The body was conveyed to the mortuary, while the details of the discovery were immediately communicated to Detective-Inspector Fox, to whom the task of unravelling the mystery has been entrusted. A press representative on Sunday had a conversation with Mrs. Daniels, who made the following statement: "I have lived here with my husband and children more than two years, but it was only during the last six months that deceased occupied the ground floor, the latter having with her a bey about mix years of age, who, I believe, is the child of her marriage. I -have undertaken the care of the boy mince Thursday morningms I have done upon several occasions when deceased and the man with whom she heed have left home and locked the bed room door. On Thursday morning as he was leaving the house he called upstairs to me, and asked me if I would mind the boy, as his wife had gone out to attend a confinement. Neither of them returned that day, but they had frequently behaved like that and I thought nothing more of the matter until Sunday morning, when I was sweeping the passage. As far as I know, they lived upon amicable ternis with each other. I can suggest nothing which would have led the man to commit such a crime." The police have circulated a description of the missing man, but up to Sunday evening no arrest had been made. Several postcards were discovered in the bed of the deceased, some of which bear the postmark of Ley. *hasten°, where it is thought her husband may be living. Late on Sunday night it was stated that the police: have several clues in connection with the ma tter,and it was believed that an arrest was imminent. Mr. Daniels, the other tenant of 236, Cater Street, on Sunday inspected several hundred photographs of convicts at Scotland Yard, but failed to identify any of them sea fac-simile of the missine• man Francis.  100111  THouult fIVE DON'T  ENACTLY OFFER  To give you NEW :DOOTS FOE OLD ONES, yet we do offer you BOOTS and SHOES CHEAPER THAN ANY OTHER Hotus IN
Nelson Chronicle, Colne Observer, and Clitheroe Division News. — 1897-10-15 (Nelson, Lancashire, England)

THE PLAISTO W OUTRAGE.  INQUEST AND VERDICT.  Mr. leery, the coroner for West Ham, concluded the inquiry, at the King's Head Tavern, West Ham, on Friday, into the circumstances surrounding the death of William Thomas Barrett, aged six years, son of a stoker living at 120, St. Leonard', Road, Bromley-by-Bow, who was found murdered on an open spaoe adjoining Plashet Lane, Upton Park, on September 15.—Arthur Simpson, 4, Lasingham Road, Forest Gate, stated that on the evening of the 15th ult. he got into a North Loudon train for Plaistow at Bromley. When he entered a thirdclass compartment he noticed something strange about a man and a boy. The former ho knew as John Bennings,having gone to school with him. Witnese had always been under the iuipressiou that the man was not "altogether right' in his head. Benniugs was about twenty-eight years of age, about lit. 7ill. in height, had a slight, light moustache, and a scar on his feel) which was of a peculiar nature. The maze was dressed in a black reefer coat, corduroy trousers' a dark, greasy skull cap, and heavy boots. The compartment was crowded, and the boy was sitting next to Bermings. The man and boy got out at Plaistow, but did not leave the station until about ten minutes after the other passengers, w hen the child was holding the luau's band. The boy was about six years old. The Coroner : Have you seen the clothes the deceased wore? Witness : I identify the tunic that the deceased wore as exactly the same as the boy 1 saw was wearing.— Did you see what became of Beuninge and the boy' They went in the direction of the staircase. It was about 6.40 when I last saw them. Continuing, witness said he had missed 11,rinings for some time. He bad never known him to do any work. When he BIM Benning again he seemed to have just returned from sea, and was wearing a I'. and 0. cap. It was about three years ago that witness PAW Benuinge, and should he meet Lim again he was sure he would recognise him. Detective • inspector Mellish stated that when engaged in searching the piece of vacant laud where the deceased was found he discovered a stocking (produced), and a garter lying within two yards from the grounds of the new school in the course of erection on the land. The person who threw it there seemed to have been going towards Upton Park Station. The mother of the deceased had identified the stoc lug as belonging to the child. The boots were still missiug. Every effort had been made to find the man spoken of by Simpson, but the police had been unouccesful up to the present. Benuings was ' away at sea. He had been with his relatives the day before the deceased was found, but wits missing ; now. It was thought by Bennings' friends to be very strange that he should be at Brumley on the night of September 15th. Dr. Stocker (recalled) said he was still of opinion that the deceased died of ' asphyxia. This had been caused probably by the deceased being grasped outside tin collar. After other evidence had been given, the jury returned a verdict of wilful murder against some person or persona Unknown.
The Nuneaton Times. — 1875-07-31 (Nuneaton, Warwickshire, England)

THE EXECUTION.  The execution took place on Tuesday morning within the precincts of the County Gaol. There were but very few persons outside thQ prison at the time of the execution. Shortly before seven o'clock Father Kelly, who had been into town to attend to his duties there, was met quietly walking back to spend the last hour with the unhappy man within the prison, and we learned from him that the poor fellow had passed a very good night. The wretched man retired to rest on Monday evening at about eleven o'clock, and after a restless night dressed at half-past four. He partook of no breakfast, and as the hour arrived for the execution, he became terribly depressed and agitated. He was visited about seven o'clock by the governor of the Gaol, and the convict made an 'ambition to him equally as important as a written confession. As the Governor was leaving Corkery said, " I did it and no One else," This aonouricement will be eminently satisfactory, as it removed all doubt as to the guilt of the condemned man. Father Kelley resumed his ministration in the condemned cell at seven o'clock yesterday morning, and Corkery joined heartily in the prayers. About ten minutes to eight Marwood, the executioner, was introduced to the culprit, who submitted to the operation of pinioning with marvellous fortitude. The scaffeld was erected, as usual, at the west end of the County Gaol, and was the same as used for the execution of Hancox, condemned for the murder of his wife at Priors Hardwick two years ago, Corkery being the second only of the private executions which have taken place in Warwick Gaol. No one was permitted to witness the executiou but the Under-Sheriff (Mr. R. C. Heath), Mr. J. M. Anderson (the Governor of the Gaol), Dr. Noun (the surge*, a few other gaol officiale, and the representatives of the Birmingham and local press. About two doren men and women and a few children assembled outside the gaol just before the time of execution, and stood gazing till after the black flag had been hoisted. None of the culprit's friends, nor even anyone from Birmingham, were recognised amongst theni. Precisely at eight o'clock the bell of the prison was heard tolling its melancholy death knell, and in a few seconds the procession advanced into the courtyard, Father Kelly walking beside the culprit and chanting the service as they came along. The arms of the unhappy man had been already piuioued, and as he came in sight of the drop he cast a terrible glance at it, and turned ghastly pale. He knelt in front of the scaffold and prayed audibly, the priest repeating the response, very dietinotly. At the does of the prayer he Shook hands with Father Kelly sod Mr. Anderson, the governor. His legs were then pinioned, the cap was drawn over his lace, and the bolt having been withdrawn, the unhappy man was launched into eternity, dying almost instatitaneenaly, for in ten seconds nothing was observed but the swaying of the body as it hung lifeless from the huge black beam. The drop was four feet.
The Nuneaton Times. — 1875-04-03 (Nuneaton, Warwickshire, England)

CARDIFF.  At the Town Hall an inquest has been held on the body of Mary Jane Richards, who was murdered by her husband. Richards and his wife and six children• occupied apartments in Bute-road. Mrs. Colston, a woman who, with her husband and children, occupied rooms in the same house, heard some one on the stairs proceeding to the room in which Richard's children slept. Thinking it extraordinary that any one should be moving in the upper portion of the house at that early hour, she called out "Who is there," but received no reply. The door of the children's bed. room was closed, and Mrs. Colston heard the footsteps of some person returning down stairs until the door of the room occupied by Richards and his wife was reached. The door was opened by some one who entered the room. No further movement on the part of any one in the house from that early hour up to nearly half-past seven o'clock occurred to create a Suspicion of anything wrong having happened. But at about half-past seven, when the inmates were beginning to bestir themselves, Miss Colston heard aoine alight raps at the wall which separated her bed. , room from the one occupied by Richards. Ship was also somewhat startled to hear faint screams emanating from the other apartment, and immediately ran to see what was the matter. On opening the bed-room door she was horrified at the sight of Richards struggling with his wife, and mating at her throat with a knife in a moat desperate manner. The terror of Miss Colston on beholding such an unexpected eight rendered her almost incapable of speech or action. Her father interrogated her tut to the cause of her alarm, but being utterly unable, from the shock which the girl's nerves had receive 4, to obtain Any coherent expression from her, he locked her up In a room, believing that as her mind was affected the enforce.  ment of—some restraint was necessary. From something which Miss Colston had said, however, Mr. Colston was induced to go up to the room iq which Richards and his wife were, and there be found a sufficient explanation of the hysterical behaviour of his daughter. Richards was lying on his aide, with his arm over his wife, and bleeding from a large wound in the throat. Mrs. Richards was lying o n her back gasping faintly, and Sc.. Icely capable of the slightest articulation. The woman stated in reply to a question put to her, that her husband had done the deed, her words being, "He done it, and he done his own trio." Richards also said, "I have done it, I cut her throat; but it is all thron4h destitution, we were starving." He and his family were suffering from great privation. But he only permitted his circumstances to be known to his relatives. Assistance was frequently rendered to the family, but Richards grew despondent, and his mind, under the intense anxiety, utterly broke down. The jury returned a verdict of Wilful Murder. Richards is slowly recovering from the injuries which he inflicted on himself.
The Nuneaton Times. — 1875-04-03 (Nuneaton, Warwickshire, England)

DEREK. (fifth series), says: —George Brine, one of the old- John Morgam a young soldier, was executed eat mendicants, and one who has cost the country Wednesday morning, at nine o'clock, at the County much expense, declares that nine out of ten beggars Gaol, Maidstone, for the murder of a comrade at and tramps make it a profession; few individuals Shorncliffe iJump, on the evening of the 6th March escape being fleeced by one or other of this hater- last. Far some time after his conviction the nity, and on some of us they have imposed a prisoner persisted in assorting that he was innoconsiderable tax. The visitors of one of our Loch- cent, but within the last few days it appears that dale benevolent societies had great anxiety and he has admitted to the Rev. Mr. Harrison, the trouble with one of the "Flops," who had become , chaplain of the prison, that he committed the c.ime, afflicted in a low lodging- He also divulged the motive, but only upon the daily andattended, d provided with condition that it should never be made IMAM shhuoiscludeseexPleyn He and w" PallfilY , a doctor, wine, and many other corn- I With some difficulty the chaplain appears to have forts. The doctor could not define his malady, or obtained the consent of the prisoner that the motive give him any relief; week after week still found of the crime should be divulged to the Secretary oA.I him in great pain. A wag, who understood a little State, but he insisted that on no condition of the mendicants profession, hearing of the case, should be divulged to any other person, si• undertook to cure him for nothiug, and went with that whatever may be the nature of the two of the sisters in the ()aplenty of a medical communication made by the prisoner, it. man; be felt his pulse, examined his tongue, shook will—as in the case of Quaker Tawellr his heed, looked very solemn, declared it a bad and who was executed some years ago for the murder of dangerous case, but thought he could give him re- • young woman at blough—remain for ever a lief. Addressing the sufferer, he said, "Wall, my secret so far as the public are concerned. At a few door man, you seem to be in great pain, but I minutes before nine o'clock Mr. Brennant (sating think we can soon make you better. You must under sheriff) arrived at the prison, 64 the pr. have your head shaved, covered with a large mus- Boner was MOOD afterwards pinioned, exhibiting tard plaster, and ten leeches on your temple; also extraordinary firmness to the last. He was mustard planters must I” laid on your back, chest, attended to the scaffold by the Rev. Mr. Harrison and bottom of your feet, and we will have all ready and the schoolmaster of the prison. He did not for you about ten in the morning. Good-bye, for utter a word while the rope was being adjusted. the present." The only answer from the sick man When the drop fell death appeared to have taken was a pitiable groan, but he disappeared that even- ' place almost instantaneously, and has not been seen in Rochdale since. One  .----0  DR.