npedrazzini/19thc_murder_suicide_news huggingface dataset:
The Wolverhampton and Midland Counties Advertiser. — 1876-06-03 (Wolverhampton, West Midlands, England)

NOTES-LOCAL AND GENERAL.  The decision of the Villiers Memorial Committee that the Memorial should take the form of a bronze statue to be erected in one of the principal streets, is a wise one. Those who talk about a Public park make a great mistake. To attempt it would be te cover the movement with the confusion of defeat, as the liberality of the town would not bear the strain of such a subscription. A Free Park would be an ad. mirable remembrancer to ,the apostle of free trade in bread, but we doubt the possibility of obttining the funds.  Is the atmosphere of Walsall favourable to suiei among young females lc It would appear to be b(). few months ago a romantic case of a young woman drowning herself happened, and now we have to chronicle the self-murder of a young girl named Amelia Brown, who took three pennyworth of verminkiller on Monday last, because her mother had re. monstratcd with her for staying out late at night. Truly it is not the weight of trouble alone, but the capacity to bear trouble, that has much to do with the derangement of the mind's even balance.  One of those peripatetic vendors of medicine who frequent our market places on market nights was recently holding forth in one of our ebony towns, when he referred to the impure water supplied to the people, and said that was not the first time he had spoken upon that question, for shortly before the unwelcome advent of Dr. Ballard into the district, he :iad discoursed upon the subject, and, he did not Bay mat Uovermment official hod come because of his remarks, but to say the least it was singular that he came so soon after. The intelligent people around swallowed his buncomb and then swallowed his pills; and he was content, as his pocket in its turn received their money.  The rent day is the black-letter day in the farmer's calendar. However unfortunate the season may have been this day comes round like a fate, and it causes commotion in many a homestead how to make up the required sum. If there were any such needy team:lU that wended their way to pay their rents to Lord Hatherton's agent, on Tuesday, at Penkridge, their hearts must have been lightened whea that gentleman announced that he had received instructions from his lordship to return to the agricultural tenantry 10 per cent, of their half-year's rentals, in eonsideration of the recent unfavourable season. It is no wonder that this graceful act elicited enthusiastic applause. We doubt not his lordship's health would be heartily drunk in the farmers favourite "nut brown."  It must have been a severe wrench for the Rev. T. G. Horton to leave the many friends he has made in Wolverhampton, during his long residence in the town as the Pastor at Queen Street. There was a large attendance on Sunday evening, to hear the farewell discourse of the rev. gentleman; and again, on
The Wolverhampton and Midland Counties Advertiser. — 1876-03-18 (Wolverhampton, West Midlands, England)

ALLEGED ATTEMPED RAPE AT WODIBOURN.  At the Wolverhamiton County Petty Sessions, on Monday, a boatman named Thomas John Jones. 20, was charged with having attempted to commit a rape upon an elderly woman named Elizabeth Evans, a boatwoman, in the employ of the Shropshire Union Company.—Mr. R. A. Willcock defensied.—The proeecutrix stated that last Tuesday night, between 11 and 12 o'clock, she was near the Bratch Lock, at Wombourn. As her boat had sunk in the canal, having nowhere to go for the night, she went towards the house of the lock-keeper to see if she could stay there for the night. On the way prisoter stopped her, and threw her down on the ground, after which he attempted to commit a rape upon her. She struggled and shouted for Birch, the lock-keeper, and on his coming up she got out of the prisoner's graep. The prisoner then said "lie would drown them both in the cut" (canal). Birch seized hold of the prisoner, when they had a struggle, during which they fell into the canal. She shouted "Murder," and ran and fetched some people who weee inn boat 200 yards away. When she returned they were out of the canal, and the prisoner ran away. She afterwards gave information to the police, and the prisoner was apprehended at the Bmtch.—ln crossexamination, she denied that she had lived with several men as man and wife. She was at the Bridge Inn, Bmtch, on the night in question She did not "give him a smack in the face and ask him what he was going to pity for drink." She was not drunk; she was sober when she left the public-house. She could not tell whether the prisoner was drunk or Bober: She did not tell him " that her bloke (man) had gone away, and he (prisoner) might take his place." She denied that she made improper solicitations to the prisoner. Birch was only two or three yards behind her when the prisoner knocked her down. She did not know that Birch encouraged prisoner to take indecent liberties with her. The present was not the first time prisoner had attempted similar conduct with her. Not long ago he went into her cabin before she was dressed, and she drove him out with a poker. She denied that she was drank last Wednesday, and that she had to be carried all fonts by a man and woman into the boat of Joseph Guest. She was drinking, but not drunk, last Thursday. On the night in question she had a small glass of ale or two. She was in the habit of employing boatmen to go with her on journeys; she occupied the same cabin but not the same bed.—Thomas Birch, the lockkeeper referred to, was called, and said he pulled the prisoner off the prosecutrix, and he and the prisoner immediately fell back into the canal. After further corroborative evidence, he denied that he encouraged the prisoner to commit the offence on the prosecutnx.—The case was dismissed,
The Cannock Chase Examiner. — 1876-04-28 (Cannock, Staffordshire, England)

COMMONS.—Wannesasr. able to cry out for assistance. He then dragged him Mr. Forsyth moved the second reading of the down the steps of the cellar, and left him there while Women's Disabilities Removal Bill, the object he went to fetch a spade and pickaxe wherewith to of which is to give unmarried women, othtrwise dig the grave. The Provost, wounded and gagged, properly qualified, the tight of voting in Perliscould neither defend himself nor call for help, and mentary elections. Representation and taxation, was obliged to look on in silence while the hae was he contended, ought to go together; and whet being made. Tears ran down the poor man's eyes, should not women who had to bear the burdens he crossed hishands over his chest and muttered a of property enjoy a share in the election of their hoarse prayer. When a sufficient depth had been eepresentatives There were 137,000 indepenreached, Segondo seized the body of the priest in his dent landowners in this country who were women, widows or spinsters, bearing the burdens a land, arms and cast him into the sandy hollow. M. Blanque fell into the pit head foremost, and still paying rates and taxes, and not one of those living. lie struggled hard to rise, and this gave the women was on a par, as regarded their electoral murderer eonsiderable trouble, so that, in order to power, with an occupant of a house in a borough effect his purpose, he was obliged to hit hit victim who paid ss. of poor rates. All he wanted was to on the head with the spade. The blow was so violent secure to women their proper share in the choice that the iron made a wound cutting through the of a person to represent them in Parliament. eye and opening the skull. Segondo then threw a Viscount Folkestone, in a maiden speech moved quantity of earth over the feet and chest of the the rejection of the bill, and was followed by Mr. Provost, whose arm made one last desperate attempt Leatham on the same side. to clear away the soil and raise the body but the Mr. Jacob Bright spoke is. saapport of the gardener licked it down, and shovelled about two measure, confessing that personally he would go feet of sand into the grave. He then stamped upon it, and, after watching the spot for about a qoaerl a step further and give a vote to every house. of an hour, went back into the college kitchen, where holder, man or woman married or unmarried. he m ett, an r. breadisted heartily. The next day he turned Mr. Newdegate, Mr.lS ell d M Chaplin the water of a sewer into the cellar, in order to wash opposed the bill, which was supported by Mr. away the stains of blood. The ruffian was taken into college on account of his being a Carlist Mr. Bright closed the discussion by a mgoWard, Mr. Fawcett, and Sir R. Instruther. destitute of all means of earning his livelinf: runs and argumentative speech. in which he conDade Telegraph. tended that the bill was founded on an Rammed
The Cannock Chase Examiner. — 1876-01-08 (Cannock, Staffordshire, England)

DREADFUL SCENE AT AN EXECUTION. A shocking scene took place on the 17th December at the Tombs prison, New York, where three !Aloes were hanged for the murder of a pedler. The New York Harold's report says i—The sudden leap into the air made every one shrink, and a 6/ of those who were before so anxious to seethe Progress of the execution turned away their beads, afraid to look upon the death struggles of those three black men who had between them 13nlered a poor old Mtn in the lonely Lydig's 400,18. Weston being of slender build and so tonchalant in his actions, died the easiest of the three. He had quietly submitted to the adjustmeat of the noose and had just raised the crucifix to his muffled lips 1113 the weight fell. Being so I PAssive, he struggled very little, and although ! Is.is neck was unbroken, he did not appear to suffesally pain. Thompson also died comparatively lint, being very muscular in the neck, his struggles were more prolonged. llie, however, net a dreadful death. Just as the weights fell he was noticed to quickly raise his left hand and clutch the knot, and he also moved his head to the kit with a sudden jerk. • These two movements caused the knot to slip under his chin, and as his body sprang involuntarily in the air he dangled in awful torture, for consciousness continued. He thus remained for perhaps half a minute, presenting a most horrible spectacle to the shuddering spectators. Then there was a structide. One of his hands rose and fell in spas. .  evxlie emotion as if to seise the rope, and next I the unfortunate creature swung round until his feet touched the board screen. As they did Fo Ellis began actually to walk up the screen, using his head as a lever, thus relieving the strain upon his neck, and, to the horror of all, he uttered a terrible moan, and cried out in anguished accents " Save me ! save me!" As the words were uttered his feet fell, only to rise again and encircle the body of Thompson. As lily instinct Ellis clambered up upon his fellow-convict, his hind clutching the cord. The scene was a most dreadful one, and for a moment no one seemed to know how to act. Just at this juncture, Undersheriff Coining passed through the executioner's door to order Ellis to be lowered, but as he die4PPeared the half-hanged wretch struck the fatal  knot with his hand, and cased it to slip to the side of the neck. In an iffstant of time Ellis's legs fell, and he began to die slowly of strangulation. The unhappy man suffered greatly even then, far his limbs moved rapidly to and fro until death relieved him. When the knot became adjusted, the relaxation of the body was so sudden thit the handkerchief in the hand that had clutched the rope was caught in the tightened noose, and remained dangling in the air. Thus died the three murderers.
The Cannock Chase Examiner. — 1876-12-29 (Cannock, Staffordshire, England)

THE POACHING AFFRAY AT FOUR ASHES.  At a special session held at the Lyttelton Arms Hotel, Penkridge, on Saturday, before Lord Bather. ton and Mr. F. C. Perry, Thomas Jones, who had been remanded from Wolverhampton, was again charged with night poaching and attempting to murder John Morrison, gamekeeper to Mr. 3.lonekton, M.P. Mr. Haden Career, instructed by Messrs. Corser and Fowler, of Wolverhampton, prosecuted, on behalf of Monckton ; and the police were represented by Mr. 05weil, deputy chief-constable. Morrison,. whose left arm had been amputated, deposed that at 12.30 on the night of the Ist inst. he was out on his master's estate at Four Ashes with George Cowley, sen., and Thomas Brew, also keepers to Mr. Morckton. While in a copse abutting on thel Brewood and Wolverhampton roads, they saw five men, carying poachers' bags. Sm.; pass along the Brewood-road towards a stubble field close by, tenanted by Mr. Waring. Witness sent Cowley and Brew to call up George Cowley, jun, and two farm servants. All assembled outside the Four Ashes Inn at about one o'clock, and hearing the report of an alarum gun which they had set in the stubble field, they went there. They found a net and it was being watched by two poachers. On seeing the keepers, the men walked away, but quickly returned with three more men. The stubble field adjoined a -cover. The keepers advanced to within a few yards of the poachers, when the latter called to them to "come on." Witness replied, "Don't be too hasty ; I think we are a match for you," and unleashed a dog he had with him; but before it could attack the poachers, their leader fired. a gun at it. The animal was not wounded, but it did not again attempt to attack. The poachers then threw stones, and the elder Cowley advancing to close with one of the men, was set upon by.three of them, who threw him to the ground three times, and beat him with sticks. Prisoner was one of the three. Witness heard some one call out, " Loose it into him," and saw the foremost poacher, then only three yards away, level his gun and aim at his (witness's) breast. Witness stepped on one side and wheeled slightly round, but the charge entered his left arm. He fell, and called to his men to "get away." Be was taken to the Four Ashes Inn, and ultimately his arm was amputated. A lureher dog was at this stage of the proceedings brought into the room, and witness identified it as one of two that the poachers had with them. The animal, upon being let loose, ran with evident delight to the prisoner, who was not at all pleased with the recognition. This evidence was substantiated by the Cowleys and Brew, who also recognised the dog. The elder Cowley said he was struck by several of the stones that were thrown, and prisoner was one of those ho threw. _  Mr. Samuel. Walsh, surgeon, Brewood, said that at 2.15 on the morning of the affray he attended _ _ .  Morrison at the inn. ills left forearm was badly torn, and shots and gunwadding were in it. Both the bones shattered. Witness sent for Messrs.
The Cannock Chase Examiner. — 1876-03-31 (Cannock, Staffordshire, England)

INFLUENCE OF THE STAGE.  At a temperance meeting held at Exeter Hall. last week, Cardinal Manning denounced all establishments for theatrical representations, " fr 3133 the costly theatre of the rich, to the penny gaff of the poor," as "ens 'vast scale of corruption," and strongly urga hil.,neapars never am any account to set their feet in one of them. This sweeping and uncharitable denunciation has provoked a moldy from Herr Bandmann, the tragedian, who,, without attempting t, question the good or evil influence of the stage, reminds his eminence that nowhere has the drama a healthier and greater influence than-in Roman Catholic countries—Austria, I Savaria, Suabis, Italy, Trance, and Spain. Herr Bandmann says he has seen rows of stalls and galleries, tilled with ecclesiastiea in, the theatres of Vienna' Stuttgart, Munich, Prague, and Paris, while hundreds of seminarists are nightly seen in the gallericw of the Court theatres of Vienna, Munich, and Stuttgart. He wonders what effect this anathema would have upon them.  An eldeoly man presented hirceelf at Windsor Castle on Monday, and informed the officials on duty that he bad come to marry Princess Beatrice before she left for Germany. The Household .Police, who have had some experience of visits of this kind, took charge df- the unfortunate A boiler explosion occurred on Monday at the Caledonian Dye and Bleaci Works, Pendleton, belonging to Mr. Peter Reed. Two men were scalded, and the block of buildings in which the boiler was fixed was reduced to ruins. The damage is estimated at £6,000. A young man, named Jam Cheaters, is in custody at Hyde, charged with ceasing the death of a young woman ,who was his fellow-servant at Hollingworth Hall Farm. The prisoaer presented a gun at the girl and said he wolOd shoot her. She cried out that she would tell her employer, whereupon Ches. ters pulled the trigger and shot her dead. A Melbourne telegram statce that the salmon ova shipped from England in Jannary last have arrived in a healthy condiV.pn. This will be good news for Mr. Frank 13uckland, who was greatly disappointed at the failure of the first expeeim,erit, in the furtherance of which tis had devoted so much time and labour. On the retursof the Priam of Wales to London his Royal Highness will be invited to a grand banquet at the Guildhall, be be followed by a ball, to which the Invitations will be numerous and the company distinguished. At Belfast, on Tuesday, John Daly was found guilty of the murder of Margaret Whiteley on the 15th of last September, and sentenced to death. The execution is fixed for the 26th of April. Upwards of £lO,OOO have been collected on account of the Sir MOR(01 3lontefiore Testimonial Fend, the executive committee of which, on Thursday evening, presented its report at a meeting of the general committee, held at Ae vestry rooms of the Portugoese Synagogue, Bevis Marks. The House of Lords held a formal sitting on Saturday, to pass the Consolidated Fund Bill through all its stages, in order that it may receive the Royal assent before her Majesty leaves England for the Continent.
The Cannock Chase Examiner. — 1876-11-24 (Cannock, Staffordshire, England)

LAZZST PARTICULAB.s.  The mystery overhanging the case of robbery and suspected murder in Wolverhampton is in a fair way of being cleared up. There is now no doubt that the cattle dealer who was robbed, and who it was feared had been murdered, is yet alive. At about eleven on the night of Friday, the 6th of October, the landlord of an inn in Bilston-street, which is much frequented by dealers who attend the Wolverhampton markets, admitted to his house a dealer who had long been a customer, but whothen appeared for the first time that day. The dealer was ins sad plight. He was only partially sensible, and seemed to have narrowly escaped drowning. Evidently he had been in the canal or some such place, for he was not only wet through, but was covered with the filthy mud and slime which is plentiful in the canal about Wolverhampton. By and bye the dealer was able to explain that he had that day sold in Birmingham, to a. well-known dealer of that town, for about 4300, a herd of cattle which he had brought from Ireland. That he had lost the money he now for the first time discovered. How this had come about was clear enough. He had come to Wolverhampton in the afternoon with the money in his possession, and in Berry-street met with some women, with whom he drank in a public-house. Afterwards he accompanied them to their dwelling, in oat Yard," where he had more drink. What m 'ently took place till he found himself led int, inn yard in Bilstou-street was all a blank. He interred that he had been robbed, and had then been thrust or had fallen into the canal. In either and any case he wished his adventure to be kept a profound secret, and imposed secresy upon the publican. That condition the dealer had afresh imposed in a letter received by the publican this week. Seeing, however, the trouble to which the polies were going, and the nature of the confession made by the woman Waldren, the publican deemed it his duty as a citizen to report this much to the police. The name of the dealer is for the present withheld, but he is described as "a respectable man, accustomed to large transactions." Under these circumstances, the further dragging of the canal has been stopped, for there is now no room for doubt that the two cases are identical, and that the ugly business will by-and-bye be wholly known. The facts now I ascertained having been substantiated in evidence, the charge of murder 118 wellam of robbery upon which, on Waldren's confession, she and the man Thompson have been arrested, will be reduced to a charge of robbery and attempted murder in their ease; and of robbery in the case of the third prisoner, the woman Edge. The police believe that the cattle dealer was drugged, and that after having been pushed Into the canal, he got out and had *guined consciousness enough to ask the way to his stopping place, in Bilston-street, whither he was then conducted. All the Huse prisoners will be brought up on Saturday.
The Cannock Chase Examiner. — 1876-12-22 (Cannock, Staffordshire, England)

SERJEANT COX ON SHAM SPIRITUALISM.  In big charge to the grand jury at the Middlesex , Sessions on Monday, Mr. Serjeant Cox, referring to the , case of Regina r. Lawrence, known as the "Rant End j Spiritualist Case," said the charge was one of obtaining j money by false pre. ences, the alleged false pretences being that he represented himself to be a spirit. They need not trouble themselves with all the controversy raised in recent discussions upon that and other oases. The question for them was, did the defendant falsely represent himself to be a spirit, whatever that might be, whereas in truth and fact it was himself personating a spirit? If they should be satisfied of this, it would be a false pretence, and if he obtained money by pretending to be a spirit, the only other question for them would be if it was so obtained with an intent to defraud the prosecutor. Shortly afterwards Mr. Cooper, who is instructed to prosscute by the Treasury, asked the court to be allowed to add two counts for conspiracy to the indictment. Mr. Serjeant Cox concurred, and the application that the case should be postponed until the January general 1 sessions was granted.  The reported capture on Dartmoor of one of the men charged with the murder of a police-constable at Yeovil is incorrect. A reprieve was, on Tuesd y, received at Cardiff for 'Wary Mahoney, sentenced to death for the murder of her child near Whitchurch. Mr. Handel Cossham is seriously ill, though he is now considered out of danger. He has had an attack of typhoid fever, which Is believed to have been brought on by drinking impure water. Sir Joseph Napier, Vice-Chancellor of Dublin Universi y and ex-Lord Chancellor of Ireland, Is in such a precarious state of health as to cause serious • apprehension on the part of hig friends. Mrs. Peake, wife of the Rev. G. E. Peke, curate in charge of St. John's parish, Chatham, caught smallpox while visiting the sick, and died on Monday. The deceased lady had only been married about eighteen months. A woman named Bannister died in the Stockport Infirmary, on Monday, from the effects of injuries which she received on the inch inst , at the hands of her husband, a factory operative. The latter made a determieed attempt on his own lies, and he is in a dangerous state. The Monel,6ter Guardian announces the death, on Monday, at the Mansell Fever Hospital, of Kr. Pitt, the steward of the Manchester Assize Courts. Mr. Pitt was seized with small-pox shortly after the close of the assizes, and was removed to Monsen at his own request. There is little doubt that he contracted the disease in the performance of his public duties. The National Rifle Assuoiation have made considerable alterations in the size of the targets for the next Wimbledon meeting, assimilating them in certain respects to the LeW regulation targets, and granting the concession of the "corners " at the 500 and c&J yards, at which ranges the bull's-eye is increased two inches in diameter, a diminution of the same amount being made at the short range.