npedrazzini/19thc_murder_suicide_news huggingface dataset:
Blandford Weekly News. — 1886-02-20 (Blandford, Dorset, England)

ATTEMPT TO COERCE A JURY.  An extraordinary scene was witnessed on Monday evening in the course of an inquiry held by the coroner for Lambeth, into the circumstance. attending the death of a newly-born male child, who was found dead beneath a railway arch. The body was found by some boys, and it was taken to the police-station, where it was examined by Dr. Frederick Farr, the divisional surgeon of police. Mr. Jordan, one of the jury, said it was highly important that Dr. Fair should be called to give evidence as to how the child had met with its death.—The Coroner: The proper course would be for the jury to return a verdict of found dead; the inquiry would then be left in the hands of the police.—Mr. Jordan remarked that it was improper for a coroner ti give the jury instructions as to their verdict in a case of grave importance. Child murder was greatly on the increase in the metropolis, and in order to put down vice of such a fearful character he, as • juryman,would not sign the inquisition form, nor would he be dictated to when he knew he was doing his duty. ("Hear, bear," from several of the jurymen.) Tradesmen were not to be called from theix businesses to serve on juries as " durnmies."—The coroner requested the juryman to resume his seat and hold his tongue, and threatened that unless be did so he would commit him to prison.—Mr. Jordan said he would go to prison willingly, and then Lsy the case before the magistrates of the county of Surrey. He was there for the express purpose oil doing his duty, and he intended to do it.— The foreman of the jury (Mr. Drake) said he endorsed all that had been uttered by his fellow-juryman, and should decline to return a verdict until he had heard the medical evidence, inasmuch as the case, if left as it now stood, would be an inducement to vice and an incentive to child murder.—At this stage of the proceedings a scene of an extraordinary character occurred, and scarcely a word could be heard in court. After silence was obtained, the foreman said in the absence of medical testimony he was not in a position to form an opinion as to whether the child had met with its death by foul means or otherwise.—The coroner informed the jury that it was simply a waste of time and an unnecessary expense to the county to adjourn the inquiry for a post-mortem examination and medical evidence, as it had been definitively decided by the superior courts that unless there was independent legal proof of identity, and of the child having had a ()emirate existence, no criminal charge could be sustained.— Another scene then occurred, and the coroner ordered the court to be cleared with the exception of the jury. After a short consultation it was decided to adjourn the inquiry, and in the interim a poet. mortem examination will be made.
Blandford Weekly News. — 1886-07-31 (Blandford, Dorset, England)

POO. Hot, I, examining it and other inns, and he then came back to witness and questioned him further, treating him n with ale in the Vv bite Bear, and asking him to be opposite time Victoria Hotel at 9.30 on the following morning, when he would give him a job and pay him well. Bail for the prisoner was asked by his solicitor, who stated that he was a man of means and good connexions and accustomed to a luxurious his.. He could give bail to any amount. Superintendent Edwards objected to bail, and the prisoner was remanded to Shrewsbury gaol. The Aston police state that prior to Viviates removal to Shiiipshire he acknowledged that he was the man who was wanted, but emphatic illy denied that he is guilty if the hotel robbery at Whitchurch. Mrs. Law, nee Miss Barnett, acknowledges that the man in custody is her brother, whom Ole had lost sight of for many years, but she does not believe him capable of the offences laid to his charge. While residlng at Aston, before he took up his quarters at the Queen's Hotel, Birmingham. Dr. Vivian proposed to no fewer I han live young ladies, including the baimaid of an inn which he frequented, describing himself in each ease as a rich American who was desirous of taking an English bride to his own country. When he made the acquaintance of Miss Wilkes only three weeks ago at tee Shirley Flower Show, he described himself as a medical man who was on a pleasure tour, his family residence being in San Francisco, while he also possessed extensive estates in Canada and was worth quite half a million id money. His assertien of wealth was backed up by a wild display of cash, jewels, and clothes. He was at the time putting up at the Queen's Hotel, where he hue 1 in the best style. One of the most mysterious phases of the case is the large amount of money which "Vivian " seemed possessed of. His wife says that while at the Langham Hotel, London, she saw him with a roll of bank notes to the amount of 1:2,000, which he said he had drawn from the bank, and when they left on their honeymoon he took a cash-box, which was well filled with notes and gold. Apart from the Manchester affair there is no known source from which " Vivian" got this money. Miss Wilkes's aunt bail had an interview with "Vivian." He main. tamed in the most emphatic manner his innocence and gave her a bag, in which there was a surn of money, which he said was for " Eramie." and further, that there was a large sum of money at Liverpool which woeld be placed at tier disposal.  A veterinary college and hospital for animals has been opened iu Bombay. William Samuels was executed at Shrewsbury Gaol on ninday morning for the murder of William Mabbats, at Welshpool, by poisoning him with strychnine. Samuels sliept badly during the night. and ate little or no breakfast. Ile had to be supported to the scaffold, after making a full confession of the crime, at which he expressed his regret. Berry was the executioner,
Blandford Weekly News. — 1886-01-09 (Blandford, Dorset, England)

SHOCKING DOUBLE MURDER. On Saturday detairs transpired of a shocking dmbi., murder committed on the previous night at Button-at-Hone, near Dartford. A man named John Knocker, azed 42, an army pensioner, who has been working as a labourer in the Hawley Paper Mills for the last twit or three years, entered the Greyhound Inn, where he was lodging, and went to the tap-rounnwhere a fellowlodger named Kemp was sitting in company with two other men. Knocker pas-ed his arm round Kemp's neck, and cut his throat with a razor before the man knew what Knocker's object was. The murderer then tried to reach one of the other men, but he escaped. Knocker then ran into the bar, when he attacked the landlord, William Smith,an old rr.au, who defended himself vigorously, but was overpowered, and sank to the ground with his throat cut from ear to ear. Both men died directly. The murderer escaped from the house and ran towards Dartford, but was captured after a chase of three miles and taken to Dartford police-station. The prisoner had been dunking heavily of late, and was in depressed spirits. On Monday an inquest wa held at the Ship Inn, Sutton-at-Stone, Kent, on the bodies of Smith and Kemp. After having been sworn, the jury proceeded to the Greyhound, the scene of the terrible murder, which is situated in the Lower Sutton-road, and-'towed the two bodies. Kemp's throat was cut in a shocking manner, the head having been nearly severed from the body. The landlord must have struggled bravely for his life, for it was not until the murderer had inflicted a deep wound in his thigh that he was able to get him on the floor and to cut his throat. The jut), the:s returned to the Ship Inn, and evidence of identification was given.—Alban Kemp, 22, Crawford street, Camberwell, identified the body of Alfred Kemp as that of his brother, who was 39 years of age.—Mrs. Smith said her deceased limband was 63 years old. Knocker went away on Christmas Eve, and when he returned on the following Tuesday he looked strange towards her. He was in the habit of shaving, and she saw him sharpening his razor. On New Year's Day she went to bed just before closing time. She beard her husband's voice and then a rumbling, and she jumped out of bed on hearing someone trying her door. She cried, "God gracious, what do you want ?'' When she got down she saw Kemp and her hu,band de .d. The evidence given at the police-conit was repeated. Stroud adding that alter the murder he did not stop about, for he thought Knocker was behind him at every step he took.—Chsrles West, hammerman,said lie had some whisky with Knocker on Friday night. The accused then ietnaiked to Hobert Mackay, "Bob, if you call down in the morning you can have my banjo." Knocker got talking about going to the 'better land,'' and the witness, not undei star dile.; him, asked if the " better I end" meant Chatham.— Superintendent Webster said he found two pieces of razor handle near whets Smith lay.—A verdict of wilful murder against Knocker was returned.
Blandford Weekly News. — 1886-04-03 (Blandford, Dorset, England)

LYNCHING THREE MURDERERS.  It is reported from Shoals, Indiana, that the mem. hers of the notorious Archer gang, who had been confined in the county gaol there for several weeks past on a charge of having been concerned in several brutal and unprovoked murders, but more especially for the killing of an old man named Bunch, expiat, d their crimes on the morning of the 10th of March, at the hands of a mob of determined men, all armed and thoroughly prepared to carry out their purpose. The mob was composed of many of the farmers of the surrounding country,and was quiet and orderly. On reaching the city, the men passe t rapidly through the streets to the gaol in West Shoals. The keys were demanded of the gaoler ; but he refmed to give them up. Without tarrying a moment for a colloquy, the spokesman of the mob pushed the gaoler aside, and, calling out to the men to follow him, led the way up to the door.A few vigorous stokes against it, and it fell in with a crash. In an instant the excited men were before the gratings of the cells. These were speedily broken op, n, and the doomed prisoneas were led out into the courtyard. From tho courtyard the prisoners were led a short distance up the road to a place where three trees stood. Here a few moments were given them in which to exchange parting words or to make a confession of their crimes. But the men made no sign, and as the three nooses were slipped about their necks they stood composed and resigned to their fate. The ends of the ropes were then thrown over the limbs of the trees, a strong pull was given by each of the little groups of men who held the ropes; and in an instant the bodies of John, Martin, and Thomas Archer were dangling in mid-air. The crimes for which the three culprits were hanged were of almost every grade, from murder to petty thieving. For .25 years they have been a terror both in Martin and Orange counties, until the people did not know when they went to bed at night whether they would be murdered before morning, or their houses burned down. They never failed to visit vengeance for a fancied slight ; and many farmers in Orange and Martin counties have lost con. siderable sums of money by having their cattle stolen or their barns or houses burned down. Martin Archer has a family living in Orange county, and they are well thought of. Two of his daughters are teaching school in that part of the country.. Old Tom Archer, as he was called,lived in Celumbia,Martin county, and had a large family, every member of which is under indictment for larceny, arson, or murder, and bears a bad name generally. John Archer formerly lived in Columbia township, and was as bad as the rest. The lynchers waited until they had positive evidence that the men were guilty, whereupon the hanging immediately followed. Word was sent in from the country not to cut the bodies down, butto let them hangote the country people wished to see them hanging
Blandford Weekly News. — 1886-04-17 (Blandford, Dorset, England)

THE DARING DIAMOND ROBBERY.  Dorato Toussaint, a Frenchman, was on Thursday charged on remand at Bow-street with being concerned with another man not in custody in attempting to murder Jules Tabak, a diamond merchant, of Belgrave-street, Euston-road, and further with stealing a quantity of diamonds, valued at £2,oo.—Mr. Tabak deposed that on the 24th of March the prisoner and another man called on him about 1 o'clock. Witness admitted them, and invited them upstairs into • back room on the first floor. He opened his safe and produced a parcel of diamonds, weighing about 158 carats. Prisoner said he wanted to see some other diamonds for a large necklace. Some larger stones were shewn him, weighing about 80 carats, and valued at 4:8 a carat. Prisoner selected some stones, and represented that he had to go to the bank to change some foreign money. He said he would come back in the afternoon with the money. The diamonds he selected were placed in two parcels and sealed up in an envelope, which was marked " D. D." on one side, and on the other "Toussaint.' the name prisoner gave. Both men then left. The same night witness received a letter through the post to the effect that they would call on the following morning, at 10 o'clock. They came at half-past 9, and witness took them to his office and showed them some more diamonds. Prisdner said he wanted them for a bracelet. He selected some brilliants from an envelope. As he did so the other man struck witness a blow on the back of his head with some instrument. He put out his hand to protect his diamonds, when he received another blow on his fingers. Prisoner then seized the diamonds, and both men ran out of • the room, leaving a life preserver on the table. Witness called for help, and tried to follow the men. He got to the door, when he met his wife and then fell down insens.ble. Ten minutes afterwards prisoner was brought back by a policeman. Witness estimated that about £1,400 worth of diamonds had been stolen. The brilliants recovered were worth between £6OO and £7oo.—Sarah litting, servant in last witness's employ, deposed that she heard screams upstairs, and on running into the hull she saw the prisoner and another man rush out of the street door without their hats. Witness followed the men into Argyle square, where they separated and went in different directions. Witness pursued the prisoner, calling out " Stop him," and he was taken into custody by a policeman.—The policeman who took the prisoner into custody said he made no reply to the charge, and did not open his mouth at the police-station. He was searched, and one of the diamonds belonging to Mr. Tabak was found in a pucket-book.—A warder at the House of Detention having proved the finding of the thumb of a glove with sonic diamonds in it in a pail which Toussaint had passed, the prisoner was committed tom trial.
Blandford Weekly News. — 1886-05-15 (Blandford, Dorset, England)

THE DRAMA AT THE UNIVERSITIES.  A Cambridge gentleman, having asked Mr. Henry Irving's opinion with regard to the drama at the Unitersities, has received the following reply: "I am not quite sure that I fully understand the question put to me, but if it refers to the unwillingness of the University authorities to sanction theatrical performances within their immediate jurisdiction, I can only say that they draw an arbitrary distinction between the drama, which in its highest form is the chief literary glory of our nation, and any representation of it on the stage. lam wholly unacquainted with any weighty argument in favour of the system which directs the attention of undergraduates to the treasures of the classical drama, and denies to them the pleasures of dramatic interpretation. It is no answer tl say that the plays of Shakspere are profitable to the mind, and many modern plays are not. You do not cultivate a heal.hy and discriminating taste for fiction simply as an index expurgaturius of worthless novels. The good of the stage, as of every other institution, is appreciated by experience. To keep undergraduates in leading strings and cotton wool lest they should become contaminated by a theatrical performance near their colleges is not very consistent when tb-y are allowed to roam at will through the highw 'ye and by-ways very queer by-ways —of ancie. literature. The stage is an indispensable reflex i human character, and is not to be condemned wholesale because the reflection is not always admirably virtuous. What the University authorities gain by tabooing histrionic performances I have never been able to Imagine, especially as I understand they semetimes licence certain music-hall entertainments, a form of intelligent diversion which Is a substitute for the demoralning drama is a truly remarkable adjunct to a University education."  A number of barbarous murders are reported from Nagy Egrery, in South-Eastern Hungary. A theft having been committed, three young peasants seized band of similes, whom they suspected. At first they intended to take them to Szasvar,but, passing through • forest, they killed the similes, two of whom were women, in the most cruel manner. The peasants have been arrested. Mr. Justice Chitty reiterated on Saturday the complaint he has often made about suitors writing letters to him on pending cases. He stated that he had received a letter that morning, and tasked the learned counsel who appeared for its author to tell his client that it was very improper conduct. At the Marlborough-street police-court on Saturday, a miserably-dressed man, who gave the name of Thomas Walker, and described himself as a tailor, was charged with breaking a sheet of plate-glass at the Devonshire Club. It was stated that the prieoner said, upon being arrested. that he had been walking about all day without food, and would rather be in prison than in the streets. He had only just been dischar:ed from gaol, where he had undergone two months' imprisonment for a similar offence. He was set t baek to prison for a similar period.
Blandford Weekly News. — 1886-10-16 (Blandford, Dorset, England)

BERE REGIS.  SHOCKING MURDER.  The inhabitants of Bere Regis were startled on Wednesday morning by a report that a young man named Sydney Russell had shot his grandmother some time during the previous night, at Chamberlain cottage, about one mile from Bere Regis. It proved only too true, for the poor old lady was found dead in her bedroom by the policeman, to whom Russell, after committing the dreadful deed, gave himself up. It appears the young man, who is about 21 years of age, named Sydney Russell, lived with his grandmother, an old lady in her 79th year, at Chamberlain's Cottage, near' Bere Regis. The old lady, whose name is Sarah Scutt, was the widow of a small farmer, and was generally held in high esteem by her neighbours and acquaintances. Russell is the son of one of her daughters, and both his parents are dead. He, like his grandmother, was well-known in the neighbourhood, where he occupied his time as a jobbing gardener ; and it seems that Mrs. Scutt was sufficiently partial to him to admit of his residence uuder the same roof, as the remaining member of the little h usehold. Upon the death of Russell's lather, he came into possession of a small sum of money; and this circumstance apparently begot the idea of emigration. In fact, he had so far matured his arrangements in this direction as to removal of his personal effects and belongings for shipment. Mrs. Scutt had also beyond doubt resolved upon leaving the homestead, and had gone the length of arranging with auctioneers, to sell the whole of her furniture and effects on the 25th inst., her intention, it is said, being to spend her remaining days with a relative, who lives at Blandford St. Mary. At about half-past five o'clock Russell called at the Police. station at Here Regis and asked to see P.O. Bugby, who was in charge; and upon that officer presenting himself, the young man coolly said that he had shot his grandmother and that he was anxious to give himself up for murder. On proceeding to the old lady's residence he found that Russell's statement was true. The poor creature lay dead with a bullet wound near the right ear, and under circumstances justifying the conclusion that the assassination most probably rook place in cold bloo I. As a matter of form medical assistance was sought, and upon the arrival of Dr. Lys, that gentleman expressed the belief that death had taken place at least two hours previously. Throughout Wednesday Russell seemed to be altogether callous concerning the terrible position in which he is placed. He main. tamed throughout a sullen, careless demeanour, although evidently not altogether forgetful of the heinousness of the offence he will be called upon to answer, inasmuch , as he once remarked, " Wel:, I suppose I shall have to suffer for it." It has since transpired that the prisoner purchased the revolver, which was not found at the time, at Mr. Drew's, Wareham.
Blandford Weekly News. — 1886-05-01 (Blandford, Dorset, England)

LIBEL BY A LORD.  In the Queen'a Bench Division, Lord Walter Campbell has been sued for damages for libel by a Mr. Morgan, lately a florist in South Kensington. His lordship was indented to Mr. Morgan for flowers to the amount of L'7 148. 2d., for which, according to the plaintiff's eerie, he repeatedly made application to the defendant's butler. Not having been paid, he took out a summons in the countycourt. This Wa.i returned to him by Lord Walter Campbell in a letter stating in effect that plaintiff was more of a fool than a rogue, and that alter his conduct in applying for his account before it was six months due he was a nuisance, arid all people should be warned against dealing with him. The libel ci mplained of c nsisted in the words, wrtten on the envelope addressed to the plaintiff, "In liquidation," the intitn-ndo being that at this time— November, 1884—the plaintiff was in an insolvent condition.—Mr. Robert Morgan, called in support of the case, stateo that in consequence of this alleged label he had lost all credit with the growers with whom he had previously dealt at Covent Gal den Market, and his business, out of v hich he was making a turnover of about 4:1,800 a year, was gradually destroyed; he had to leave his place of businese, and had been compelled to go into liquidation, with an indebtedness to unsecured creditors of I:700. A few days after Lord Walter Campbell wrote the letter he called at plaintiff's shop and wanted to settle the matter, but plaintiff said it was out of his hands, and that his lordship should pay the amount into the county-court, on which Lord Walter got into :6 great passion, and, added the witness, "I thought he was going to slip into me." (Laughter.) In his cross-examination by the Attorney-General the witness admitted that his business had been going down for three years provions to 1884, and that he had attributed his failure in the liquidation proceedings to that fact, to the circtunstance that his house had been unoccupied for IS months, and to loss of pat. rn, • age.—Lord Walter Campbell, put into the witnessbox, said Fp, in no way sought to influence Morgan's customers ; and never spoke to a simile pertion about the matter. The words "In liquidation " which he put on the envelope, meant that the summons he had received woind be liqudiated, not that the plaintiff was in liquidarion.—Mr. Baron Huddleston briefly summed up, telling the jury that as the libel was admitted, the only CIUPBtIOII they had to decide was whether the 1:25 paid into court was nutlicient to satisfy the plaintiff's claim. —The jury awarded the plaintiff a further sum of 1.:50, for which Mr. Baron Huddleston gave judgment.  At Gloucester a coroner's jury has returned a verdict of wilful murder against a man named Hewitt, Who beat and kicked his wife Oa five or six occasions in 24 hours. The poor woman died two hours after she received the last blow—a kick in the stomach.