npedrazzini/19thc_murder_suicide_news huggingface dataset:
Star. — 1814-02-15 (London, England)

MISS LAVINIA ROBINSON.—The most interesting parts of the evidence hn t}l Coroner's Inqugst on the body of this unfortunate young Lady, were those of two sisters and a brother of the deceased, who stated their belief that the letter, purporting to be Lavinia's hand-writing, was not written by her; and the testimony of a Mr. Barlow, who was returning home, past the western wall of the New Bayley, Manchester, between eleven and twelve o'clock nn the evening be. fore stated.: saw a Gentleman and Lady, who seemed to be quarrelling ; followed them some time ; saw the Lady struck and knocked down by the Gentleman : she got up again, and took hold of his arm, and he wrenched it from her he, seeing the witness, suffered her to take hold of his a. m, and walked on : witness heard her say, believe me—but you won't-1 don't care if you murder me, if you'll only believe me."— He heard him say, is Who was it ? if you don't tell me, I'll never forgive you." He saw them under a lamp, near the late Mr. Beck's brewery, and being asked to describe their dress, it corresponded with the dress worn by Miss Robinson and Mr. H. that evening. They afterwarals went to the new road leading to the river ; and, when they were about 150 yards from the banks of the river, he left them, and went home.—lt appears, as before stated, that Mr. H. accused the deceased of a lapse from chastity ; and in the truth of which he persisted on the Inquest, 'and gave in a written document, in .hich he thus expresses himself: " I resolved upon the desperate alternative or being convinced of her virtue before marriage.. Thursday evening, Dec. 16, I discovered, with horror, that my fears were realised ; I immediately taxed her with it ; in answer to which, she asserted her innocence with considerable vehemence." The well-known high sense of honour and character of the. young Lady, however, coupled with the most clear and satisfactory testimony of the very respectable Surgeons, who examined the body at the instance of the Coroner, totally -preclude the possibility of the least truth in the accusation,.even to the last moment of her:existence. Miss ROBINSON was possessed of tl:e cost engaging qualities.: her compositions, both in prose.and verse, breath throughout the purest sentiments of religion and virtue. In a letter, addressed, Only a few days preceding her death, to one of her companions, speaking of their mutual loss of a beloved school-fellow (by the sudden bursting of a cannon in the West Riding of Yorkshire, when celebrating Lord Welliogtort's victory) she says--" Poor Maria, I was shocked to hear of her 'awful end ; but I hope, through the merits of that Saviout who died for .us, she is now received a saint in Heaven! May we, my dear girl, be prepared. to meet that• great King of Tenors whenever he appears to summon us, which may be as equally unexpected by to AS it was by Maria!"
Star. — 1830-08-26 (London, England)

THE HARVEST.  SALTSBURY.—The greater part of the wheat is now in rick, and, not. withstanding the occasional showers, has been got in in excellent order. The barley exhibits a finer appearance than is recollected by the oldest man living. Potatoes are in abundance, and of excellent quality. There is a double crop of every thing.  On Saturday last, a sample of prime new barley, which had been cut about ten days before by Mr. Lumley, of Corbridge Mill, was exhibited in our market. The produce of this crop is estimated at the astonishing quantity of 32 bolls per acre, being 12 boll* per acre above the usual average. Indeed the crops in general this year on the banks of the Tyne are said to be eo promising, that they are expected to average about 26 bolls per acre.—Tyre Mercury. The sickle is still in full operation throughout the county ; although an immense quantity of corn has already been lodged in the granary. The wheat around us falls both excellent in quality and abundant in quantity. The barleys are a good crop, the calculations being between five and six quarters to the acre. The oats are equally promising Maidstone Gaulle.  We have been favoured with the most delightful weather during the past week, which the farmers have made the most of. The harvest is quite general, and the crops good, in this neighbourhood—Cheater C.  The influence of the Government in Essex is very considerable, especially down the river, and along the coast. This, as well as the whole weight of the Church, was thrown into the scale of the successful candidate, Colonel Tyrrell, who, besides this, had an advantage to which we may allude, but must not permit ourselves to mention.  Such was the determined abstinence from plunder observed by the heroic men who accomplished the late revolution in Paris, that we are credibly informed, on one of them having been discovered to have purloined a valuable watch from a body slain during the encounter, and determined to retain it, he was shot dead by his incensed comrades.  Yesterday afternoon, a porter who had been hired to take some valuable luggage in a truck from the counting-house of Messrs. Cohen and Co. Great St. Helen's, to the residence of E. Cohen, Esq. in Suffolk-place, Islington, absconded with the whole of the property, which was contained in two black leather trunks and a wooden case. It consisted of linen, wearing apparel, silk dresses, and other valuables of the family, and amounted to upwards of 5001.  Yesterday morning, a shipwright, named Joseph Cooke, while walking along New Gravel-lane, near Rateliff-highway, suddenly fell down. He was taken to the shop of Mr. Crouch, surgeon, who attempted to bleed him, but in vain : the vital spark was extinct. The deceased was in his 68th year, and has left a wife and four children.  A woman named Mary Fitzgerald has been committed to Cork goal, charged with the murder of her infant child, in an unoccupied room, in Fair-lane. She attempted the lives of two othcrs of her children, at the age of six and four years. The wretched woman, it is thought, is deranged.
Star. — 1830-10-07 (London, England)

OLD BAILEY.-(THIS DAT.)  Opening of the Special Commission for the Trial of Capt. II et, utast, charged with the wilful murder of Lieut. CitowvitEe. This being the day appointed for opening the Special Commission, and swearing in the Grand Jury, to whom the bill of indictment was to to be preferred in the above case, there was a more than ordinary full attendance of the gentlemen summoned to attend on the jury by half. past nine o'clock. A few minutes afterwards Capt. Heisham. with 111 r. Alley, one of his counsel, entered the Court. Capt. Helsham took his seat at the council's table, and frequently consulted with his solicitor. The witneries in the case had previously assembled in a room prepared for them. At ten o'clock the Judges, Mr. Justice Bayley, Mr. Justice Bosanquet, the Recorder, Lord Mayor, Aldermen, &c. took their scats on the Bench ; Mr. Alley, Mr. C. Phillip, and Mr. Bodkin, appeared as Counsel for Capt. Helsham. The Commission having been read by the Clerk of the Arraigns, the following Gentlemen were sworn in to serve as the Grand Jury, the first mentioned Gentleman being chosen as Foreman :—T. Watkins, J. Gray's, B. Gibbons, F. Hay, W. Hyde, L. Howard, P. Johnson, W. Woodward, J. Scott, J. Stubbs, J. G. Simpson, T. Hall, J. Kay, T. L. W. Heaton, F. B. Herring, J. Smith, G. Hodirkin‘un. J. H. Tibbs, T. Fraser, R. Stelling, W. Smith, end W. Thoroughgoud, Esqrs. Proclamation being made, Mr. Justice BAY LEY addressed the Jury, and explained to them that they were now assembled under a Cornmissioa issued by his Majesty under a modern Act of Parliament for the trial of a case in the event of a bill being preferred and found by them, the circumstances of which did not occur in this country, but in the kingdom of France. They were not assembled at the ordinary period, but no fault was attributable in any quarter,as the moment theCommisakin was presented it received the Royal signature. The Act of Pahanient which took cognizance of the present ease was the 9th of his late Ma. jesty, which provided that a subject of this country might be tried here although the offence were committed abroad. To bring the charge home to the accused, they must be satisfied that he was a subject of his Majesty's realms, a resident in them, or had admitted that he was a subject. His Lordship, referring to the evidence that might be call 4 suggested to the Jury the neassity of their not allowing any of the witnesses to commit themselves without caution, as the law stated that any_penon aiding or assisting were equally guilty with the prin. cipaL He then distinctly laid down the law as applicable to duelling, and having Intimated that in the event of any doubts arising in their minds on points of law, the Court would readily assist them. The Jury retired to their room, where the bill was presented, and the wit. names called in to give their evidence. The Judges consulted for • short time, and the trial was fixed to OEM en to. sorrow morning at ten o'clock. Contain Helsham, on barbs the vadiet of the Grand Jury, rut. rendered, and was removed into die gaol.  MR. OW EN MEETIN!; al the
Star. — 1830-04-05 (London, England)

BOW.STREET.  TEE FATAL OCCUItiNCI IN Buzz.— Saturday a gentleman, who we understood was a banister, and relata to Captain Moir, who has been committed to Chelmsford Gaol for the murder of a fisherman named Malcolm, by shooting him, came to this office and presented himself before Mr. HALLS, the only Magistrate on the bench, to request his assistance under the following circumstances :—The gentleman, whose feelings appeared to be a good deal agitated, stated that his application was of a very pecu. liar nature—it was on behalf of Captain Moir, who had been committed on the warrant of the Coroner for Essex, to take his trial for the murder of a man named Malcolm, on his (the Cap. tab's) estate, Shelhaven Farm, near Barking. It was the anxious desire of the Captain and his friends that a medical gentleman, who was acquainted with the family, should have an opportunity of viewing the body of the deceased, to enable him to give a correct description of the injury which had been inflicted in the arm of the deceased; as the statement of the surgeo. before the Coroner's Jury on that subject was not satisfactory. Thc body of the deceased was lying at the house of a brother at Hammersmith, and application had been made to him to permit a surgeon to examine it, but he had positively refused to accede to the request. The body was soon to be buried in Hammersmith Church, and it was of very great importance that It should not be consigned to the grave till a further examination had taken place. Mr. HALLS said that he did not possess any power to compel the brother of the deceased to allow the body to be further examined. The question relating to the cause of the death of the de. cased had already been investigated by a Coroner's Jury, who had evidently been medalled with the evidence of the surgeons who had spoke to the cause of the man's death, and unless the brother of the deceased thought proper to comply with the request, he (Mr. Halls) did not see what power existed to compel him. The gentleman observed that the deceased did not die from the effects of the wound. Had the wound been properly attended to, the deceased would have recovered; but he bad been neglected; lock-jaw was the consequence, and that occasioned his death. It was important that more than one surgeon should view the body, that that fact should be put beyond all question ; and it could not be done unless the brother permitted the examination to take place. Mr. HALLS said he would willingly render any assistance te further the ends of justice, but he could not interfere. The gehtleman said that he should proceed to the Secretary of State's Office, and endeavour to obtain an order for preventing the interment of the corpse till it had undergone another surgical inspection. Mr. HALLS said that he could not advise the gentleman, he must adopt his own course, when the conversation terminated, and the gentleman withdrew.
Star. — 1830-07-31 (London, England)

BOURN.  A coroner's inquest was held on Tuesday last, by Samuel Ed. wards, gentleman, on view of the body of Thwas Sowards, apparently fifty years of age, and, after several hours' investigation, Michael Lundy, an Irishman, was chsuged with the murder, and committed for trial to Lincoln Castle at the next assists. It appeared from the evidence on the inquest, that the men on Monday applied to Mr. Wilson fur work, and that he employed them, and offered than a barn to sleep in at night, which the men accepted. fie proposed to lock them up, but the prisoner declined it, allegiog that he was unwell, and did not wish to be confined. Mr. Wilson left the two men at eight o'clock on Monday night, at which time the deceased had got into the barn to lie down, and the prisoner was sitting near the barn. There was a lock and key to the barn-door, which could be fastened in the inside. This was pointed out to the prisoner. About halfpast nine the prisoner went to Mr. Wilson's house apparently much agitated, and crying out " Murder." He told Mr. Wilson that he had left his comrade asleep in the barn ; that an Englishman (describing his figure, dress, &e.) bad gone into it, and wished to sleep there ; that the prisoner at first consented, but afterwards he did not like it, and rushed towards the barn door as if to shut it; but instead thereof, ran out of the place, suspecting that the Englishman meant to murder them, and that on prisoner's coming from the barn-door to Wilson's, he was pelted with stones on the head, but could not see the person who pelted him. Mrs. Wilson told the prisoner that he had better go back to the barn, as he was only frightened, but he said he durst not go alone for fear of being murdered. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson, and others, then accompanied him. They found the door locked, but the key could not be found. The door was forced open, and a most horrible spectacle presented itself. The corpse of poor Thomas Seward, lay stretched at full length on the back in a corner of the barn, upon some clothe*' ins straw bed. A large quantity of blood was upon the head and face. Marks of blood were upon the wall. A carpenter's axe was in a dap wound, extending ftom the mouth to the right ear. The jawbone was much shattered, and another wound, as well as an extensive fracture of the skull, appeared on the right side of the head. The axe was proved to have been in the barn at seven o'clock on Monday night. It was much stained with blood, and there were marks of blood on the prisoner's breeches. There were also several other corroborat. ing circumstances to satisfy the jury that Lundy was the murderer. The prisoner, on being charged, with the crime, denied that he bad killed Sewards, and repeated what he had told Mrs. Wilson as to • the Englishman's going into the barn and the prisoner's being pelted. It appears that Lundy is married to Seward's daughter, but what induced him to commit the murder is at present enveloped in mystery, as they appeared to be friendly. Lundy stated, that half his father-in-law's property was given to him on his marriage.—Lineolit Mercury.
Star. — 1830-09-30 (London, England)

XVIII. and I consider all those who have received the same honor from Charles X. have the same right to it as Ito mine. But their exclusion bears in particular the most inauspicious character, in regard to the accusation now preparing against the Ministers of Charles X. The natural Judges of Ministers are, not a portion of the Peers, but the whole Peerage. Art. 62 of the Charter, which all the Peers have sworn to, says, " None can be diverted from their natural Judges." Art. 63 adds, " That in consequence, no commission or extraordinary tribunal can be formed." I consider that the highest established tribunal of the State, arbitrarily divested of a portion of its members, if summoned to judge, must be transformed into a commission or extraordinary tibunal ; in fact, I do not see how it can be otherwise maintained, and I am convinced that posterity will sicken, and look back with horror, upon condemnations to death sentenced by such a species of tribunal. I shall therefore not associate myself by an oath to an act of exclusion, which transforms the Court of Peers into a Commission or Extraordinary Tribunal; as the condemnation to death which it has the power to pass, will be defaced before band with the character of judicial murder. Posterity will be more severe in discerning that character, when the Judges have in the condemnation of the accused an apparent interest. The Peers who have adhered in the Sitting of the 7th of August last to the declaration of the vacancy of the Throne, do not pretend to be relieved from the oath which they had taken to his Majesty King Charles X. and to the Constitutional Charter, but they charge that unfortunate Prince with having by: the advice of his Ministers violated the charter himself ! These same peers have, then, an apparent interest in tinding guilty, the Ministers for whom the accusation is preparing; and I will not associate myself by an oath to a system which gives to Ministers for Judges, men who have created to themselves an apparent interest to condemn them. I have just explained the motives of my refusal to take the oath which is required of me. I considered it my duty to declare it to my colleagues. I therefore beg of you, M. le President, to have the goodness to give to the Chamber, in its sitting of to-day, the reading of this letter, and beg it to order the insertion in its verbal process. A member of the Chamber of Peers, dismissed from his right of sitting because be remains faithful to his oath, cannot think himself validly discharged by that of his obligation to determine and to vote in a Chamber of which he is a member. His will does not make him an accomplice of the obstacle which prevents him from fulfilling his duty. He gives up to the abuse of material strength.—l am, &c. The Count FLORIAN DE HEROORLAY, Paris, Rue St. Dominique, No. 102, Peer of France. Sept. 23, 1810.
Star. — 1830-10-25 (London, England)

SPANIAILDS I. The time has arrived for us to shew ourselves in the face of the world, with the dignity and nobleness peculiar to our nation.—After having seen branded, in 1815, the laurels acquired in the war of independence, and all our rights trampled under foot, since then a crowd of misfortunes has fallen upon this unhappy nation, persecutions and murders : Spaniards are no longer governed but by caprice, insatiable greediness, tyranny always—cruelty often. Let us no more recal these appearances of evil, unless it is to terminate them; unite with us, sons of this unhap_py country, by a fraternal and indissoluble tie. —Time has taught the one, that to leave the state of a people to the free and arbitrary will of those who govern, gives rise to abuses, to vexations without measure, to irreparable injustice: and to the other, the desire of enlarging too greatly the elective franchise and the public liberties begets disorder, first cause, or at least pretext, for the re-establishment of despotism. France has just given us the example, already traced in another age by England, the manner in which a people prevents the destruction of their liberties, by defending them with heroic efforts and an ad. mirable moderation. Let us imitate in that, these illustrious nations. Let us also imitate them in the institutions which direct them. It is by means of these institutions, and by placing ourselves in harmony with the other constitutional countries of Europe, that we establish the two grand bases of prosperity of states, liberty and order. The Spanish nation united, represented by its Deputies, and enlightened by the lemons of experience, will adopt without doubt a liberal government, in which will be found at the same time united, the rights of all Spaniards and the prerogative of the Crown. The nation, by these wise and just measures, will open the sources of public wealth, at present so obstructed, and terminate the dissentious with America, which time and events have rendered indispensable; In fact, by putting an end to the frightful dilalidations of the public money, and the (muds introduced in its credit, it will make the debt and the former contracts respected, at first so reli gionsly accomplished, and afterwards so scandalou.lv conceived and annulled.  To the nation assembled in the Cortez it belongs, then t„ discuss and determine subjects so important. My design is co„_ fined at this moment to excite Spaniards, in order that 39 should concur to so salutary an end, and that they hasten tLe dawn of so propitious a day. Many other leaders, my coin panions, all agreed in setting off from a common center, to upon different points of the Peninsula. We will receive eat nimously those who will repair to our banners, to sorts ti, sacred cause of liberty, wishing to forget all former conch:. ; and every species of party. Upon those who will opp,, themselves to us, or will be wanting in good faith, intl, will we inflict a speedy and severe justice. Our deviro • Oblivion for the past ; Union, Liberty, and Order f. the future. Given in the Field of Honour and the reunion of all good SpAnitt Oct. 19, 1830.