npedrazzini/19thc_murder_suicide_news huggingface dataset:
Stockton Herald, South Durham and Cleveland Advertiser. — 1868-04-24 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

LIVE', LOST. LA, collision took place in the Bristol Channel, off Ilfracombe, shout nine o'clock on Saturday evening last, between a Fel-A schooner, said to be the Reiue Rance, and the Orchid, belonging to Messrs. Daniels, of Bristol, and bound to that port from the West Indies. How the veseels came into collision is at present unexplained. It was light, and the weather clear when it took place. The French schooner went down immediately, siod four of the crew were drowned. The remainder, three in number, were saved, two of them being picked up by the crew of the Orchid, and one saved by a dog belonging to the schooner. The Orchid arrived in Cumberland Blain • on Sunday evening, and the three French sailors were , taken to the Sailors' Home, on the Grove.  NARROW ESCAPE FROM DROWNING, AND INTRIEPID CONDUCT OF A POLICE OFFICER —Early on Saturday morning, a datman, named Daniel Ward, had a narrow eecape from drowning at George's Dock passage, Lverpool. It appears that a dog fell into the water, and that Ward, who was drunk, went down the iron ladder into the water for the purpose of rescuing it, and, becoming exhausted, he called for help, when police constable oit (NPKinley) proceeded to his assistance. taking with him a life-buoy The drowning man seized the officer by the leg with one hand, and held to the ladder with the other, but the officer succeeded in making a line fast to Ward's wrist, and passed the life-buoy over his head. Inspector Rigby and one or two customhouse officers attempted to pull up, when Ward slipped and fell into the water. The officer and those who were assisting him then made another effort, and the officer fastened the line to the man's wrist again, and Ward was then brought out. He was taken to the receiving-house, where he soon recovered.  An inquest has been held on the body of Mr Featherstonbaugh, who was shut dead while returning from Dublin on Wednesday evening. It wasdeponed that on the arrival of the unfortunate gentleman at Killucan station, by the nine p.m. train, he found his private car, with the coachman, in waiting to bring him home. On taking his seat in the vehicle he drove through the village of Kilcock. en route to Braoklyn. his!residence, where he arrived at half-past nine o'clock. Up to this point he drove rapidly, but on ascending Knockshabane Hill, which is only a quarter of a mile from Killucart, he went at a slow pace. Here a man jumped over a ditch on the right-hand side of the road, adjacent to which is a house occupied by a man named Andrew Reilly, and, presenting a blunderbuss at Mr Featherstonhaugh, lodged the contents in his right side, some of the slugs passing through the right lung and heart. The assassin then recrossed the ditch and effected his escape. Mr Featherstonhaugh only survived a few minutes, expiring in the arms of his servant. The jury returned a verdict of wilful murder against some person or persons unknown.
Stockton Herald, South Durham and Cleveland Advertiser. — 1868-10-02 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

MURDER NEAR CHESTERFIELD.  Bank Close, a beautiful mansion, about 300 yards out of the borough of Chesterfield, and the residence of Aid. Drabble, solicitor, was the scene of a shocking murder on Saturday night. The person murdered was a man named George Ktlk, coachman to Mr Briaht, the sun-in-law of Mr Drabble, and his murderer was a collier, named George Hughes About ten o'clock at night, a noise was heard outside of Mr Drab')le's house, and the butler, whose name is Holmes, sod Mr Bright h; . .  .inaself, who was visiting Mr Drabble, went out to-see what was the matter, and they saw • man near the house, whom they seized, and found in his possession a lot of potatoes, which the fellow had dug up and stolen from the garden. Mr Bright told the fellow he would have him locked up ; anti he on one side and Holmes on the other escorted him duwn the walk to the entrance gate, from Hasland-lane. Here they were met by the unfortunatemau Knit, who had been to MisoClaughtou's, of Maitland, for some game. Mr Bright gave up his share in the matter ti K.lk, and return d to the house. At this time a heavy shower of raiu took place, atid Holmes left the fellow in the custody of Kills, for the purpose of fetching an umbrella and a top coat. He considered the prisoner would be quite site with Ktlk, seeing that a number of persons were passi g the gate from Chesterfield market; and at the time, a man named Batnford, and his two sisters, from Grassmoor, were standing by. Immediately Holmes left them Kilk was heard to give three pitiful screams, and the women immediately cried out " He's got a knife." Bamford rushed up, and snatched a large dagger knife, with a blade six inches in length, iron] the fellow's hand. Kok fell to the grouod, and died almost inv mediately. On removing his trousers a wound about three inches in length and six inches deep was discovered in the right groin, dividing the femoral artery. The murderer escaped, but it was ascertained that he lodged with a woman at Hasland, and it seems singular that no watch was put on her house, as early on Sunday morning the Clio,. (whose name is George Hughes, a collier, who worked at Messrs. Barnes' pit, at Grassmoor,lneariChesterfield) entered her house, and he was at once charged by her with stabbing a man. He did not deny the tact, hut asked if the man was dead. She replied in the affirmative, and he burst into tears. He proeeeded to divest himself of his best suit of clothes, and put on his pit clothes and went out of the house, saying he didn't mean to be hung for it. He went away, and at the time of writing had not since been heard of, although the elice are on his track, and unless he commits violence upon himself there is no doubt as to his speedy apprehension.  covered
Swansea and Glamorgan Herald, and South Wales Free Press. — 1847-12-15 (Swansea, West Glamorgan, Wales)

THE CHARGE OF MATRICIDE AGAINST W.  S. SIIERIDkN.  This case, in whlc);;;Tet:d-it;i4 " Wilful Murder" was last week returned against the prisoner, on the charge of poisoning his mother, has excited considerable attention in consequence of it having been erroneously suppostd by the coroner (Mr. Baker), that the prisoner was a descendant of the late celebrated Richard Brimsley Sheridan; and that functionary, in summing up to the jury, appears to have acted upon the supposition in an extraordinary manner. After remarking the singular c 'incidence that that once great man :Imola have been the very beacon held out to warn others of the vice of intemperance, Mr. Baker said it was a no less painful fact that he was the grandsire of the unfortunate man now immured within the walls of a prison on the dreadful charge of matricide. Ile then read a descriptive account of the latter days of Sheridan, whose " death took place amidst a complication of difficulties, fears, and sorrows," and said, bitter indeed must have been his reflections if he could but have been conscious of the legacy he bequeathed to his posterity—the hereditary inheritance of a broken constitution, a debilitated ' body, and an emaciated and atten ated frame. What did the jury now see before them A whole family immersed in the lowest depths of intoxication, their minds debased, their morals impure. So.,fittal had been the effects that the mother had died a victim of filth and disease; one of the daughters, unable to bear the last closing scene, wandered forth on the evening of her death, not knowing where she was going, and only returning when driven back by the prostration of her physical energies. The son, instead of closing his parent's eyes, having first placed the " poisoned chalice to her lips," hurried to the office in which her life had been insured on the very day of her death, and secured the psltry pittance of £96 to feed his depraved appetite for future revels of intoxication.  In reference to the above subject,./erro/d's Newspaper I observes :—A forlorn wretch named Sheridan, is now in Newgate, charged with the murder of his mother. Mr. Baker was the coroner on the inquest, and on summing up, went considerably out if his way—wandered as it now appears, into a quagmire—to show his reading. It now appears—on the testimony of Mr. Richard Brumley Sheridan—that the prisoner is no way whatever related to the distinguished man, whose memory has been needlossly reviled by a zealousness that, we trust is sot cant, albeit it has very much the complexion of it. If Mr. Baker had known anything of the descendants of Sheridan he would have acknowledged in them excelling grace and beauty of person, and an intellectual development worthy of their grandfather. Rut Mr. Baker wanted to find "a moral application," and cared not how he poked about for it. When Mr. Baker shall be thoroughly convinced of his mistake, we have no doubt that he will be very anxinus to do penance for his blunder in search of morality.
Swansea and Glamorgan Herald, and South Wales Free Press. — 1849-05-02 (Swansea, West Glamorgan, Wales)

THE LATE MURDERER RUSH. Since the perretrntion of the murders at Stanfiela-hall the country has teemed w ith stories of the murderer's previous life. Farts are recollected which before ap peared natural and af small account, but, seen through another medium, are now deemed mysterious full Of suspicion. The nu se wham he had engaged to attend his mother on her death-bed remembers that one night, in the month of August 1848, Rtish told her, be would sit up With the sick woman, and desired her to go to bed: When she had retired, as he bade her, she declares Rush came into her room, as it to ascertain if she were asleep. At the fleet dawn lie entered her apartment again, and told her that his mother had been dead for some hours. She adds that when she rushed into the dead woman's room she found that Rush had laid out the corpse with his own hand. He bad summoned no witliess to lier last moments—he had asked no assistance in performing the last offices to the dead! The papem have called attention to the fact that the hitsband of Raelas mother had been killed by the discharge of a gun ; and a horrible surmise has been formed that the death was not accideatal. Of course. no direct proof of the correctness of this surmise can now be adduced ; but the Norwich papers have re-pill Tailed the following account of the death, as given at the time of its occurrence i—"(iii Thursday last (the 2 lth of October,lB44), Mr. Rosh, a respeetsate farmer at Felmingham, and father of Mr. Rusti, er and auctioneer at Wymondham, was shot dead on the spot in his own kitchen, by the accidental discharge of a gun. It appeared that the son bad been over the father's farm at Fehningliarn shooting, haviug paid his father a visit for a day's sport; atid having returned home to his father's, had been admiring his gas, and directing the attention of his father to it as a very superior one. The son retired into another room, and left his father without examining the gun. Almost directly after, a report was heard, and when the son Went to see what was the matter, lie found the bleeding corpse of his father lying prostrate in the kitchen. It WAS found that the gun had gone off, lodging the whole contents ip the head of Ilia father, entering at the left cheek. Instantaneous death Was the conaeqttence. kii inquest was held on the following day, before Mr. Danch, coroner for the liberties of the duchy of Lancaater, when the jury returned a verdict of Accidental death." One of our greatest novelists, by a happy flight of imagination, represents a convict, when on the scaffold and about to die, proving the ruling passion strong in death by picking the pocket of the chaplain Rush managed at his trial, in the presence of judge and jury, with the court crowded in every corner by spectators, to abstract a 10 check from a pocket-book handed up to him for inspection, and dexterously to conceal the pap r in the lining of his hat, principally, as it would appear, for the purpose of blackening the Character of the solicitor of the Clown. Resn's
Swansea and Glamorgan Herald, and South Wales Free Press. — 1849-11-28 (Swansea, West Glamorgan, Wales)

ADVLTERATION OF COFFEE.—The Times, in rema,kiug 00 a trial in the Coin t of Exchequer on Saturday, says " it attracted a good deal of attention among parties interested in the coffee trade, as exen,plifying the system carried on for the adulteration of that article, : and which, although easy to be prevented by the simplest ' means, has long been tolerated, and almost sanctioned, by the Chalicellor of the Exchequer, it appears that a country dealer sent an order to London for the purchase of chicory nibs, and that the broker employed on the occasion met with a firm to whom a spurious article liad been consigned, which was uprely an in, of chicory, and which they were glad to sell at 28s. per Cs' t., while the price of chicory (of English growth) was Cis. The broker made the purchase, and sent the stuff to his principal as genuine chicory, which he had bought for 30a. The jury, of coarse, found a verdict against him. During the trial it ca:ne out that the pretended chicory was made up from dried carrots and parsnips, which were afterwards ' dyed ' and flavoured,' to procure the necessary smell and colour. The materials used fur these purposes were not stated, but they are prbably of a highly deleterious nature. The poor, therefore, who are forced to buy their coffee in a ground state, are not even so fortunate as to get a worthless but innocuous substance , like chicory palmed upon them, but are exposed to a poisonous imitation even of the original subterfuge. Mr. Baron Platt characterized the thing as one of the most scandalous frauds lie had ever heard of."  A female child of only nine years of age was Charged at the Liverpool Police-office. on Satortbly, with haring dexterously picked the pocket of a Lady in St. John's Market, a second offence of the same kind! The mother was in court, and seemed distressed at such conduct in her child, whom (she said) she sent to school daily, and to a place of worship on Sunday. Benjamin Banks, who was examined on the charge of murdering Mr. Griffiths, formetly of Brecon, bat latterly of Brighton. brewer, has been discharged, the evidence being insufficient for his committal. A barrister, named J. H. Brown, is in custody in London, charged with having forged the siva.. tore of Or. Gifford, of the Standard, his fatner-in-law, to a promismory note for £2OO, with a view to defiaud a bill-discounter.  A fellow was taken before the magistrates at Bishop Auckland. Durham, last week, charged with imposing upon the natives by exhibiting a figure termed " Mermaid" for the " small charge of one penny." On examination the head consisted of a turnip, apparently fresh pulled, and the body stuffed with cottnn rags, and the whole covered with a skin, with a most hideous looking face. The bench ordered him to be committed to the house of correction for 14 days._  BRUrAL
Swansea and Glamorgan Herald, and South Wales Free Press. — 1849-01-17 (Swansea, West Glamorgan, Wales)

THE REPEAL ASSOPIATION.—The snake in the grass has again reared its bin half crushed head. The "Committee" have just issued their annual address, setting forth an abstract of the sums of money swindled and expended since the last hopeful balance-sheet was issued. The receipts, including £471 7s. Fal. the proceeds of the sale of the library,amoutit to £1,145 Ins. Ind. and the expenditure to £1,120 13s. 71 , leaving a ballance towards liabilities of £2l Is. rd. The debts, it appears-, are "practically" wiped away, and unless the imposture is crushed to roans by the strong aim of power, there is now no doubt that a daring attempt %ill lie made by the "happy family" to revise the agi'ation es son as Lord flarentlon is depri:ed of die means now at his disposal for the suppression of all seditious assemblies.— 7'imes.  A deputy-collector of grand jury cess, named Madigan, was waylaid and brutally murdered on Monday night week, on his way through Ratbkeale-common, Limerick.  Another brutal murder was perpetrated on the same night. The particulars are as follows :—On the night of Monday four awed men came to the house of a pool farmer named Kilheen, at Clahanemore West. On his opening the door they presented their guns at him' and demanded the price of a horse he sold a few days previously. fie denied having the money, and three of the party then entered the house, and commanded Killeen and his wife to go to bed, and cover their faces. They then searched for the monvy, and found f:3 10s, in the bed. A btother-in-law of Killeen's, named 'Murphy, was in the house, and they made hint lie on his face over some potatoes. They then asked Killeen who the stranger was, and, on his telling them that he was his brother- in-law, one of the ruffians put his gun to Murphy's left side and drove the bullet through the oweitutiate man's Cody. The emigration from Tipperary is going on by thousands. The Thurles-station of the Great Western Railway is the rendeivoes, the central point, tor the hordes of departing emigrants who are to bid a long farewell to home and Ireland. We hear of 60 respectable families, at once, disposing of thtir holdings in Waterford county, previous to embarking Cm America. Limerick harbour is crowded with vessels daily, which go freighted with human cargoes of 200 r 250 from Limerick and Clare. We se ten emigrant vessels, at mice, in Cove, having, on an average, 250 passengers each. So runs the tale, front Belfast to Waterford ; and WI this in the depth of wbder, anti some three months before the ordinary emigration period usually commences. The emigration agents in Cork are preparing for a remarkable harvest in the ensuing emigration season. Already :etters are pouring in to them from families in this and the adjoining counties, seeking for particulars of information. The approaching spring and glimmer will witness a title of emigra:ion such as uever before left the shores of Irelands—Code Eaaminer.
Swansea and Glamorgan Herald, and South Wales Free Press. — 1849-04-04 (Swansea, West Glamorgan, Wales)

VCRITTER PARTICULARS. (From the Liverp,ol courier.) The servant girl has recovered be consciousness, and made a statement which unravels the whole mystery of th:s shocking murder. The facts are briefly as follow :—Last night, a man who gave his name as Wilson came and asked for lodgings at the house, lie was a person of very respectable exterior, and apparently between twenty-four and twentyfive years of age. He described himself as a carpenter, in the employ of government, and that lie had a sister who kept an hotel across at Birkenhead. Ile said he had not any luggage with him, but that it would be forthcoming in the morning. His representations induced Mrs. lienrichson to take him as a lodger. This forenoon, whilst Mrs. H. was out ordering some potatoes for dinner, the man was in the back parlour with the eldest boy, and something had transpired between them which did not please the boy, on which be struck him. The boy ran into the front pal lour to the servant, who was on her knees cleaning the fire grate ; the man followed him, and again struck him, on which the servant said, " No, sir, you must not do that, I am sure my mistress will not allow you to strike the child." He then, without further ceremony, took up the poker, and struck:the servant several severe blows on the head, and then turned round and struck the boy with the same weapon. Before the servant was insensible she heard the youngest chill come into the parlour, and run our again screaming. The man ran after him, and there is no doubt that he followed him into the cellar and cut his throat.  A boy, who took the potatoes to the home which Mrs. llenrichson had been purchasing at a shop in St. James'sstreet, states that a man came to the door and took them in, that he seemed in a state of great excitement, and was perspiring very much. Another boy who took some meat to the house at half-past eleven, makes a similar statement. There is no doubt that he opened the door for Mrs. H. on her return from the market, and at once attacked her in the manner already described. Two or three witnesses have given evidence at the police office that shortly before the discovery of the murder they saw a man come out of the house much agitated, and in a state of perspiration, with one leg of the trousers turned up almost to the knee. The house has been searched, and it is ascertained that nothing has been taken away. There appears to have been no motive for the commission of this revolting deed. There are no hopes held out for the recovery of either Mrs. Ifenrichson or the boy, and but little for the servant girl. Placards descriptive of the murderer have been issued by the police, but as yet there is no clue to his detection. Information has been sent to the metropolis and other towns by telegraph, and there is little doubt that the murderer will be in custody in a few days.
Swansea and Glamorgan Herald, and South Wales Free Press. — 1849-11-21 (Swansea, West Glamorgan, Wales)

THE DAFFIEST DAY OF MY LIFE."—The ancients certainly made a great mistake in not choosirg Niobe for the Goddess of Marriage. Hymen is by far too jolly ; he is all smiles -inure of the hyena than the erocodue , ; whilst Niobe is just as she ought to be—all tear-. There never yet wan a marriage that was not it perfect St. '1 ftwithin affair. No one—sinless he has the soul of gutta 1 percha, thoroughly waterproof—should think of going to ' a wedding with less than two pocket handkerchiefs ; and even then, a sponge is better adapted to the joyful tweesion.' Men take wives as they do pills, with plenty of water—excepting indeed, when the 'little things' are well gilt. Nobody can feel more truly wretched than on the happiest day of his life. A wedding is even more melancholy than a funeral. The bride weeps for everything and nothing. At first she's heart-broken because she's about to leave her Ma and Pa; then, because she hopes and trusts Chawles will alwevs love her and, when no other excu.e is left, she bursts into tears t;eause she's afraid he will uut bring the raig with him. Mainma, too, is determined to cry for the least thing. Her dear dear girl is going away, and she is certain something dreadful is about to happen; and, goodness gracious! she's forgotten to lock the dining-room door, with all the wine and plate on the table, and three strange green-grocers in the house. ft hen , the party return home, however, the thoughts of breakfast cheer them tip a little: and the bridesmaids, in particular, feel quite resigned to their fate. The chanipagne goes oil", and goes round Then the father gets up, and after a short and pathetic eulogium upon the virtues of that'sweet girl ' whom lie loves as his own flesh and blood,' thumps the table, and tells the company that 'any one who would not treat her properly would be a seroundel. Upon this, every one present turns round to look and frown at the wretched villain of a bridegroom, and then they all fall to weeping again. But so strongly has the feeling set In against the new son-in-law, that it is only by a speech full of the deepest pathos, that he can persuade the coinpany that he has not the least thought of murdering, Cr indeed even assaulting his wife. At last the mother, bride and bridesmaids retire to say, 'Goodbye.' and have a good cry altogether upstairs. And when the time comes for the happy pair to leave, in order to catch the train for Dover, then the mother, father, sisters, brothers, bride bridegroom, bridemonaids. and every soul in the house, all cry— eveu down to the old cook, who knowed her ever since she were a bobby in long clothes'—as it' the young couple were about to be 'transported for life' in the literal rather than the figurative sense of the term.—Ceamic Almanach.