npedrazzini/19thc_murder_suicide_news huggingface dataset:
The Sun. — 1851-04-24 (London, England)

EXECUTION OF THE NRMPNETT MURDERERS. TAUNTON, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 23.—The execution of John Wiles and John Smith, convicted at the last assizes of the murder of au aged man named Wilkins, a shopkeeper at Nempnett, under circumstances of great atrocity, and in which, it will be remembered, his aged wile was left fur dead by the murderers, but fortunately recovered so as to be the means of bringing them• to justice, took place this morning at nine o'clock, at the north corner of the gaol. The execution was originally fixed for eleven o'clock, but out of deference to the wishes of the inhabitants of Taunton, who represented the injury it would be to the busihess of the town, the hour was changed to nine o'clock. From the moment of their conviction the culprits have manifested a becoming manner, and listened patiently to the exhortations of the chaplain, the Rev. Mr. Gatten, who was unremitting in his exertions, and who has deelared that he believed their repentance to be sincere. At the time of the trial there appeared to be some doubt as to which of the two was the actual murderer, but since their condemnation they both freely confessed that they each participated in the crime, and were both equally guilty, although they stated that they had no intention of perpetrating a murder when they went into the shop. Wiles was about 56 years of age, a blacksmith by trade, and, at one period of his life, in the service of the late Richard Bart Davis, M.l'., father of the present Chairman of the Board of Excise. Smith was a much younger man, and evidently a person of respectable connexions; indeed, he stated freely that his name was not Smith, but objected to communicate to any person who he really was, urging as his reason that he did not wish his relations, who were most respectable, to be marked out to the world as persons related to a man who had suffered death as a murderer. At five o'clock this morning the prisoners arose, and, after being engaged iu prayer, partook of some tea and bread and butter, and at eight o'clock they were taken to the chapel, where Divine service was performed, and the sacrament administered to them. At nine o'clock the prison bell began to toll, and the whole of the prisoners in the gaol, who were under seqtence of transportation, or who had been convicted of felony, were mustered in the yard to witness the execution. The culprits having been pinioned by Calcraft, the mournful procession commenced, and in a few minutes, haying walked firmly up the stairs of the gaol, they appeared upon the platform; they then ascended the ladder with the same firth step, and having prayed with the chaplain for several minutes, and shaken hands with the reverend gentleman, the bolt was drawn, and they were launched into eternity. Smith struggled for a minute or so, but with Wiles death appeared to be instantaneous. After hanging the immediately buried time, the bodies were cut down and buried in their clothes as they were, in the yard of the gaol. In a quarter of an hour afterwards the drop was removed.
The Sun. — 1851-04-24 (London, England)

EXECUTION OF THE 'NEMPNETT MURDERERS.  TAUNTON, WEDN-E-SD—AY,ApIIII 23.—The execution of John Wiles and John Smith, convicted at the last assizes of the murder of an aged man named Wilkins, a shopkeeper at Nempnett, under circumstances of great atrocity, and in which, it will be remembered, his aged wire was left fur dead by the murderers, but fortunately recovered so as to be the means of bringing them to justice, took place this morning at nine o'clock, at the north corner of the gaol. The execution was originally fixed for eleven o'clock, but out of deference to the wishes of the inhabitants of Taunton, who represented the injury it would be to the busihess of the town, the hour was changed to nine o'clock. From the moment of their conviction the culprits have manifested a becoming manner, and listened patiently to the exhortations of the chaplain, the Rev. Mr. Gauen, who was unremitting is his exertions, and who has declared that he believed their repentance to be sincere. At the time of the trial there appeared to be some doubt as to which of the two was the actual murderer, but since their condemnation they both freely confessed that they each ,participated in the crime, and were both equally guilty, although they stated that they had no intention of perpetrating a murder when they went into the shop. Wiles was about 56 years of age, a blacksmith by trade, and, at one period of his life, in the service of the late Richard Hart Davis, M.P., father of the present Chairman of the Board of Excise. Smith was a much younger man, and evidently a person of respectable connexions; indeed, be stated freely that his name was nut Smith, but objected to communicate to any person who he really was, urging as his reason that he did not wish his relations, who were moat respectable, to be marked out to the world as persons related to a man who had suffered death as a murderer. At five o'clock this morning the prisoners arose, and, after being engaged in prayer, partook of some tea and bread and butter, and at eight o'clock they were taken to the chapel, where Divine service was performed, and the sacrament administered to them. At nine o'clock the prison bell began to toll, and the whole of the prisoners in the gaol, who were under sentence of transportation, or who had been convicted of felony, were mustered in the yard to witness the execution. The culprits having been pinioned by Calcraft, the mournful procession commenced, and iu a few minutes, having walked firmly up the stairs of the gaol, they appeared upon the platform; they then ascended the ladder with the same firm step, and having prayed with the chaplain for several minutes, and shaken hands with the reverend gentleman, the bolt was drawn, and they were launched into eternity. Smith struggled for a minute or so, but with Wiles death appeared to be instantaneous. After hanging the usual time, the bodies were cut down and immediately buried in their clothes as they were, in the yard of the gaol. In a quarter of an hour afterwards the drop was removed.
The Sun. — 1851-04-24 (London, England)

EXECUTION OF THE NEMPNETT MURDERERS. TAUNTON, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 23.—The execution of John Wiles and John Smith, convicted at the last assizes of the murder of an aged man named Wilkins, a shopkeeper at Nempnett, under circumstances of great atrocity, and in which, it will be remembered, his aged wite was left for dead by the murderers, but fortunately recovered so as to be the means of bringing them to justice, took place this morning at nine o'clock, at the north corner of the gaol. The Execution was originally fixed for eleven o'clock, but out of deference to the wishes of the inhabitants of Taunton, who represented the injury it would be to the busihess of the town, the hour was changed to nine o'clock. From the moment of their conviction the culprits have manifested a becoming manner, and listened patiently to the exhortations of the chaplain, the Rev. Mr. Gatten, who was unremitting in his exertions, and who has declared that he believed their repentance to be sincere. At the time of the trial there appeared to be some doubt as to which of the two was the actual murderer, but since their condemnation they both freely confessed that they each participated in the crime, and were both equally guilty, although they stated that they had no intention of perpetrating a murder when they went into the shop. Wiles was about 56 years of age, a blacksmith by trade, and, at one period of his life, in the service of the late Richard Hart Davis, M.P., father of the present Chairman of the Board of Excise. Smith was a much younger man, and evidently a person of respectable connexions; indeed, be stated freely that his name was nut Smith, but objected to communicate to any person who be really was, urging as his reason that he did not wish his relations, who were most respectable, to be marked out to the world as persons related to a man who had suffered death as a murderer. At five o'clock this morning the prisoners arose, and, after being engaged in prayer, partook of some tea and bread and butter, and at eight o'clock they were taken to the chapel, where Divine service was performed, and the sacrament administered to them. At nine o'clock the prison hell began to toll, and the whole of the prisoners in the gaol, who were under sentence of transportation, or who had been convicted of felony, were mustered in the yard to witness the execution. The culprits having been pinioned by Calcratt, the mournful procession commenced, and in a few minutes, having walked firmly up the stairs of the gaol, they appeared upon the platform; they then ascended the ladder with the same firm step, and having prayed with the chaplain for several minutes, and shaken hands with the reverend gentleman, the bolt was drawn, and they were launched into eternity. death Smith appeared p p struggledeer e dto b fuer instantaneous. a After but hangingwith Wiles itthe the usual time, the bodies were cut down and immediately i buried in their clothes as they were, n the yard of the gaol. In a quarter of an hour afterwards the drop was removed.  Simons, Esq., and Henry
The Sun. — 1851-01-25 (London, England)

BAIL COURT.-(THIS DAY.) _ (Sittings in Banco before Mr. JnsticeptLE.)  Mr. COWLING moved for a rule nisi calling upon a Mr. Longhorn, a shoemaker, in Old Hutton, in Westmoreland, to show cause why a mandamus should not issue commanding him to pay the overseers of that township the sum of 1951. 4s. 10d. under the following circumstances:—Some time ago a man named Richard Simpson was tried for murder -at the Westmoreland Summer Assizes, and acquitted on the ground of insanity. He was nevertheless detained in prison, and shortly afterwards two parties of the county, assisted by a commissioner of lunacy and a surgeon, inquired into the state of his mind, and certified, under the Act of Parliament which gave them authority to take cognizance of the matter, that he was insane. Sir George Grey, her Majesty's Principal Secretary of State, who had power to do so under the same Act, ordered him to be removed to a lunatic asylum at Gateshead, in the county of Durham, and there he has remained ever since. Now, Simpson is possessed of considerable property of a leasehold character, while Mr. Longhorn, the party against whom the present application was made, held 1951. 4s. 10d. in trust for the lunatic. This having been ascertained, an order of justice, in pursuance of the provisions of the Act of Parliament, had been served on Longhorn, requiring him to !give up the money to the overseers of the township of Old Dutton, so that they might reimburse themselves the expenses they had been put to in ascertaining the lunatic's state of mind and removing him to the asylum, as well as maintaining him there. Longhorn, however, acting under the advice of counsel, refused to comply with the order, and as there was no other means of enforcing it the overseers had been compelled to sue for the interference of this Court.  Mr. Justice ERLE doubted whether a mandamus would lie; the remedy should be by an action at law. Mr. COWLING said the Act of Parliament certainly gave the overseers the power of seizing the lunatic's property, but as Longhorn was in no way violating the civil law in retaining possession of it, he very much doubted whether he could be made amenable to an action for trover or any other cause. If, therefore, the mandamus were refused, the overseers would have no remedy, and the support of the lunatic would be thrown upon tho country, notwithstanding that he was possessed of sufficient means to maintain himself, which would certainly be an anomalous state of things. There were analogous cases inithe books to this, and as it was of importance to the public that the point should be fully discussed, he hoped the Court would grant a rule to show cause.  Mr. Justice ERLE thought enough had been stated to justify a rule to show cause, and the Learned Counsel might, therefore, take one, cAlling upon Longhorn to answer the facts, or to show why the overseers should not seizs the property of the lunatic. Rule nisi accordingly.
The Sun. — 1851-09-17 (London, England)

FRENCH BALL PRACTICE.  We frequently hear of the vast superiority of foreign artillerymen and marksmen over anything thet we can show at Woolwich, or from the portholes of the Excellent, our gunnery ship at Portsmouth. Many of our marksmen were startled by the performances of the Riflemen at Lord Ranelagh's the other day, who witched the world with their noble gunmanship, and their needle rifles, with the unpronounceable names; and assuredly these lords of the unerring aim are entitled to their well earned honours ; but we have nothing to fear from France in matters of this nature. You will hear them boast and talk magniloquently of their wondrous deeds; but, as Voltaire's old woman said to the patrol, who culled out in the dark street " Who goes there ?". " Don't be afraid, patrol, it is only me,"—there is but little danger to be apprehended on this score. The crack marksmen of the French army are the Tirailleurs de Vincennes, and assuredly they did murderous slaughter in the streets of Paris, in June, 1848; wherever they could find a sheltered corner, or "coign of vantage," they perched themselves, and brought down their men at each shot, with unerring aim ; but our Rifle brigade would have done the thing as well, and perhaps even better, as would also the 60th Rifles, the Cape Mounted Rifles, or the Ceylon corps. My reason for alluding to this subject at present is, because all the world was invited on Saturday to Vincennes, to witness the wonderful performances of these celebrated French artillerymen. The " performances commenced"—for everything is theatrical in France—at nine in the morning, and long ere midday a mighty mass of powder was consumed in expelling balls, of various dimensions, from howitzers, huge mortars, and cannon of various calibre and power; but nothing was done that I have not seen surpassed an hundredfold, and an hundred times, at Woolwich and Portsmouth. The most interesting but least successful part of the performance was the shell practice ; a tub was placed as a mark at some short distance, the mortar was carefully poised and pointed, bang, bang, whizzed the shells through the air, but the tub remained to the last in secluded security, as safe and sound as if it had not been aimed at by the flower of French artillerymen for some hours. I remember last year, at the naval review at Cherbourg—which was, without exception, the most magnificent spectacle that could greet the eyes of a civilian—a boat was moored at some five hundred yards distance from two of the crack ships of the French navy, and they blazed away at it for three-quarters of an hour with their broadsides, the guns being manned by picked men, in order to show off before the English Royal Yacht Club, our Admirals, and the French President; but the boat danced gaily on the bright ripples of the noble bay made by the breakwater, and the balls rattled by it at several yards' distance, but in no single instance did even a stray shot come within ten yards of the uninjured boat.—Paris Correspondent of the Morning Advertiser.
The Sun. — 1851-09-17 (London, England)

FRENCH BALL PRACTICE.  We frequently hear of the vast superiority of foreign artillerymen and marksmen over anything that we can show at Woolwich, or from the portholes of the Excellent, our gunnery ship at Portsmouth. Many of our marksmen were startled by the performances of the Riflemen at Lord Ranelagh's the other day, who witched the world with their noble gunmanship, and their needle rifles, with the unpronounceable names ; and assuredly these lords of the unerring aim are entitled to their well-earned honours; but we have nothing to fear from France in matters of this nature. You will hear them boast and talk magniloquently of their wondrous deeds but, as Voltaire's old woman raid to the patrol, who cried out in the dark street " Who goes there ?" " Don't be afraid, patrol, it is only me,"—there is but little danger to be apprehended on this score. The crack marksmen of the French army are the Tirailleurs de Vincennes, and assuredly they did murderous slaughter in the streets of Paris, in June, 1848; wherever they could find a sheltered corner, or "coign of vantage," they perched themselves, and brought down their men at each shot, with unerring aim ; but our Rifle brigade would have done the thing as well, and perhaps even better, as would also the 60th Rifles, the Cape Mounted Rifles, or the Ceylon corps. My reason for alluding to this subject at present is, because all the world was invited on Saturday to Vincennes, to witness the wonderful performances of these celebrated French artillerymen. The " performances commenced"—for everything is theatrical in France—at nine in the morning, and long ere midday a mighty mass of powder was consumed in expelling balls, of various dimensions, from howitzers, huge mortars, and cannon of various calibre and power; but nothing was done that I have not seen surpassed an hundredfold, and an hundred times, at Woolwich and Portsmouth. The most interesting but least successful part of the performance was the shell practice ; a tub was placed as a mark at some short distance, the mortar was carefully poised and pointed, bang, bang, whizzed the shells through the air, but the tub remained to the last in secluded security, as safe and sound as if it had not been aimed at by the flower of French artillerymen for some hours. I remember last year, at the naval review at Cherbourg—which was, without exception, the most magnificent spectacle that could greet the eyes of a civilian—a boat was moored at some five hundred yards distance from two of the crack ships of the French navy, and they blazed away at it for three-quarters of an hour with their broadsides, the guns being manned by picked men, in order to show off before the English Royal Yacht Club, our Admirals, and the French President; but the boat danced gaily on the bright ripples of the noble bay made by the breakwater, and the balls rattled by it at several yards' distance, but in no single instance did even a stray shot come within ten yards of the uninjured boat.—Paris Correspondent of the Morning ,3dvertiser.  IV
The Sun. — 1851-02-06 (London, England)

CHARGE OF MURDER.  At Lambeth Police Court, yesterday, Mr. Wm. Day, a feeble old man, in the 85th year of his age, and who has been for upwards of half a century a poulterer in Leadenhallmarket, was placed at the bar, before Mr. Elliott, and charged on suspicion with having caused the death of his wife, a female 63 years of age. From the evidence of Sergeant Kearney, 26 P, and other witnesses, it appeared the prisoner and his wife had lived apart for nearly twenty years, and that the litter, who was a person of extremely eccentric habits, occupied the house No. 1, Little South-street, Camberwell, and supported herself by a small income and a weekly allowance from her husband. It had been her custom for some years past to call upon her husband at the market every Saturday evening to receive her allowance, but not calling on Saturday last her husband proceeded to her house on Sunday to learn the cause, and knocked several times, but could not obtain admittance. On Monday evening he called a second time, and knocked for admittance, but without success, and he then mentioned to some neighbours his suspicion that his wife was dead, as she had latterly been complaining of illness. The door was, in consequence, forced open, and the place was found in great confusion, but no trace could be discovered of the deceased. On Tuesday evening a more minute search was made, when the body of the deceased was discovered crouched up in a small mass behind some rabbit-hutches, a place into which it was the opinion of the police and all who saw it, she could not have got herself. On the removal and examination of the body, several marks of violence were found upon it ; the neck was discovered to be broken, and one of the stockings was on. Mrs. Burlington, who lived next door to the deceased, said she saw the prisoner at the residence of the deceased on Tuesday week, and on the following days—namely, Wednesday and Thursday, she saw the deceased at her window. On Sunday last the witness again saw the prisoner at the house of the deceased, and observed that he had knocked several times. She told him that it was her opinion that Mrs. Day was out, and he then left. On the Monday afternoon the prisoner came again, and having knOcked at the door and receiving no answer, he expressed it to be his opinion that his wife was dead. On Friday night last witness heard o'clock, and soon after the noise increased so, that the witnessbeen monis"vter a strange noise in the house of the deceased at about eleven was very much alarmed, and fancied for two that it was in her own bed-room. The noisaevwi a thrown about, but after that every thing seemed Camberwellgreen,Dr. Flower, a medical gentleman, residing loud and resembled that of some heavy lumber ' *ng the body of the deceased he dhstillng said that on examining marks of violence about the the neck broken, and several the back and other parts; and it was his decided opinion that the deceased could not have got into the position She