npedrazzini/19thc_murder_suicide_news huggingface dataset:
The Weymouth, Portland and Dorchester Telegram. — 1878-07-12 (Weymouth, Dorset, England)

THE PROB ABLE DISSOLUTION OF PARLIAMENT.  The possibility of an early dissolution of the present Parliament Mks again become a prominent subject of discussion in political circles; but while the Conservative agents still assert that such a step will not be taken this year, it 14 confidently stated in Liberal semi-official quarters that a general election will take place in November next. But at the present motpent it may be taken for granted that, although this prediction may ultimately prove correct, it has not yet been decide I by the Cabinet whether there shall or shall not be a dissolution this year. In fact, no decision will be arrived at until the return of Lords Beaconsfield and Salisbury from Berlin.  The Prime Minister will return to London on Monday. A party of United States volunteers have been arnbuscaded by the Indians and nearly all killed or wounded. Some ides of the magnitude of the plague of locusts in Madras may be conceived from the fact that they are sufficiently numerous to stop the trains unon the railways. It is reported that his Excellency Sir Garnet Wolseley starts on Saturday next, via Brindisi, for the Levant. He will take on from Malta •o Cyprus a brigade of English troops as well as the Indian contingent The death of Prebendary Sinclair is announced, aged 74. In his young days he saw active service as a cavalry officer. An American named Townsend was committed for trial at Manchester on a charge of attempting to murder a cabdriver by firing two shots at him from a "seven-shooter." The German Socialist llce lel. who attempted to shoot the Emperor William on the 11th of May in the Thaten den Linden, was on Wednesday brought up for trial. He was found guilty, and sentenced to death. The funeral of the Qieen of Spain was held on the 11th, and all the foreign Clurts was represented thereat. Requiem masses have been celebrated in the churches of Madrid and the large towns. Sir Garnet W4lseley will leave in a few days to assume the governorship of Cyprus. The Pot has reason to believe that he will take with him the Indian contingent now at Malta. A labourer's wife at Manton, Wilts, who a short time since presented her husband with twin boys, has just given birth to a couple of girls. The same woman had already 14 or 15 children. More than forty county; seats which the Liberals did not contest at the last election are to be contested next time, and the Liberals count upon a gain of twentyfive seats in this respect. On Wednesday the Albert E beard Lifeboat, presented by the Freemasons of Higland as a thank-offering for the safe return of the Prince of Wales from India, was launched at Clacton on-Sea with considerable ceremony, Lord Skelmersdale taking a leading part in the proceed jugs. David MlCeown, of Bootle, does not love his mother-inlaw, and on Saturday night he set fire to the curtains of her bed. When betore the magistr .tes he said he had done it "for spite." A fine of £5 or two months' imprisonment will perhaps induce him in future to show his dislike in a leas objectionable way. AN
The Weymouth, Portland and Dorchester Telegram. — 1878-05-03 (Weymouth, Dorset, England)

CELERRE.  Lovers of the morbid interest which attaches to mysteries and murders are much excited by the trial of M. Eugene Chantrelle, French teacher in Edinburgh. for the alleged murder of his wife by poisoning, which is to begin in the High Court of Justiciary on Tuesday, the 7th of May. Madame Chantrelle died on the 2nd of January. A medical man called in on the morning of that day found her in a state of insensibility. He noticed a strong smell of gas in her bedroom, which it was discovered, was due to a rule break in the gaspipe. Concluding that the case was one of poisoning by coal gas, the physician had the patient removed to the Royal Infirmary, were everything was done for her that medical skill could devise, but all to no purpose ; Mdme. Chantrelle died at five o'clock the same afternoon. he husband was arrested immediately after the funeral on the sth of January, and was conveyed to the Calton gaol, of which he has ever since been an inmate. The chief facts that have emerged since the arrest are that Madame Chantrelle was an Edinburgh lady and twenty-five years of age; that she had been married for eight years' baying been previously a pupil of the prisoner; that the pair had led a very unhappy life—a fact well known to the relatives of of the deceased, and that three children the youngest an infant, are the issue of the mai riage. The formal indictment, which was served on the prisoner on the Bth of April, charges the husband with having administered opium or some other poison to his wife in an orange or in lemonade, with having evinced towards her malice and with having falsely accused her of monstrous immoralities, and with having threatened to shoot her and to poison her. The witnesses cited for the prosecution number 115, and the documentary and material evidence comprises 198 items. The latter includes letters from the deceased to her mother, Mrs. Dyer, describing the treatment she received from her husband, and three policies of insurance on her life— one for £l,OOO in her own name with the Accident Insurance Association of Scotland; one also for £l,OOO recently effected in the name of M. Chantrelle, and one for £lOO in the name of "Mary Byrne," who was a domestic servant in the employment of the family. It is surmised from the nature of these insurances that the intention was, in the first instance, to base the defence on the plea of accidental death from poisoning by means of the broken gas-, ipe, how bioken remains to be proved. But the result of the post-mortem, investigation has e‘, idently knocked that plea on the bead; and it is now well understood that the strength of the defence will lie in the allegation that Madame Chantrelle was in the habit of taking narcotics, and that ,the poison found in the stomach was selfadministered. In whatever light it may be viewed, it is an ugly case, and the trial cannot fail to reveal an appalling state of domestic indiscretion and social Infelicity.  ----1"1"1.41011
The Weymouth, Portland and Dorchester Telegram. — 1878-04-12 (Weymouth, Dorset, England)

THE WEST BAY AND THE LATE GALE—Over two dozen vessels, threatene,l and buffeted by the late gale, put into the West Bay, and rode safely within a few hundred ya:ds of the deadly beach. $o late as Wednesday, there were at least a d-zen fishing vessels riding off Chesil and the Railway station, and it was hoped the wind would not shift to toe dreaded S.W., or it seemed they must all be exabayed.  THE LOCAL BOARD contest has turned out a very hollow affair this time, little or no interest was shown, no canvassing was carried on, and a large number of the voting papers were returned unsigned. The following were the results :—Ar. Thomas Gibbs, 415; Mr. Elward Pearce, 31; Mr. Benjamin Collins, 336; Mr. Richard Sansom, 290; Mr Henry 0 ,er, 270; Mr. Henry Smith, 256: Mr. R. B. Scriven, 210; Mr. Elijah Flew, 234; Mr. Henry Flew, 223: Mr. George Mitchell. 222 ; Mr. John Winter. 183: Mr. John Scriven. 165; Mr. Simon Pearce, 146; Mr. Abraham Pearce, 143; Mr. Honry Gibbs, 123; Mr John Marwood. 115; Mr. W. Read, 77; Mr. E R. Way, 55. The first six are elected, and as we can only reckon one (Mr. Otter) of the New or Vigilance Party, against five returned of the Old Party, it looks somewhat like a collapse; or perhaps the Vigilance Committee have determined to "Rest and be thankful."  SOME OF THE INNER LIFE ON BOARD THE Bos.—ln H. 51. training ship were two boys, named respectively Moore and Dossett, of whom the first is said to be the worse. The story goes that they were pretty free in their dealing with the rights of property, perhaps being ultracommunist in their ideas. L' hefty in this didnt lead to equality or fraternity, Moore seems to have tyranni§pd over the other, and to put the produce of his own robberies into D issetts' bag. The latter was not anxious of the extra responsibility and risk, and threatened to confess all, when Moore, with that charming inconsistency occasionally seen in Corumuni-ts, declared he'd murder Dossett. So goes the tale, which adds that Dossett's intention remained, when Moore got possession of a marine's bayonet, threw away the scahhard, and with the weapon approached Dossett lying in his hammock. Somebody approached, and Moore is said to have given the bayonet a hasty thrust into the hammock without aim, piercing the hammock cloth and the blankets, but fortunately not injuring the boy. Moore was not then detef!ted, but next L,, is said to have broken into the deg bay, opened the cupboard eoiltamning poison, smashed one bottle and selected another enn.aining oil of tar, which he poured into Dossett's tea. 12'6 powerful rnell and taste were too much for Dossett, who did I:.!'idrink but two other lane Irt? tars enough to swallow the scented Compound, and the? are ill in the sick bay. The affair was believed to be traced to More, who was taken before the captain, and as he was unable to deal with the case, the lad Is to be tried by court•martial.
The Weymouth, Portland and Dorchester Telegram. — 1878-08-23 (Weymouth, Dorset, England)

EXECUTION OF A WOMAN.  On Thursday there was enacted at Bodmin a scene that is a disgrace to Christian England. Selina Wedge was hanged for the murder of her illegitimate child, notwithstanding the fact that the jury recommended her to mercy and the strong public appeal made on her behalf. 'I he prison officials appear to have been thoroughly ashamed of the tragedy Mr. Cross compelled them to enact, for they rigidly excluded every one from the gaol, even the representatives of the press were not allowed to be present. Mr. Cross seems ambitious of emulating the example of Sir James Graham, who earned an ttnenvious notoriety through mercilessly consigning poor, helpless wretches to the scaffold. We know not who to feel most ashamed of, the hard-hearted Home Secretary, who refused to listen to the strongly urged plea for mercy, or the nation, which makes no protest against such a revolting crime. Mr. Cross has only had the right of killing his fellow creatures for a little over four years, but he has evidently become so accustomed to the work that the word mercy appears to be unknown to him. The rapidity with which executions now follow each other is becoming quite alarming—no less than three times within the past nine months has the scaffold been erected in Nottingham • in Chelmsford and Durham men were hanged a few days since, and now a woman is strangled • dont) less there will soon be other victims. What does the civilised world say of this relentless butchery? Does Mr Cross ever think of the disgrace he is bringing upon us? apital punishment is revolting enough even when a merciful Home Secretary like Hr. Bruce keeps the hangman somewhat in check; but Mr. Cross seems determined to find full employment for Marwood : mercy with him appears to be relarded as an inexcusable weakness. Atthe beginning of the year 35,010 persons pleaded for the life of a young man at Oxford; but he turned a deaf ear to all their entreaties. Not long since he kept a woman in prison for several months with the intention of hanging her as soon as her chi d was born, but the protests of humanity became at length so loud and strong that he was compelled to let his victim go. Then there were the three yopths he sent to the gallows at Liec,ester Ihe case, too, orpoor , but there we can proceed no further: it would fill us with horror even to count up the number of his victims. We are conscious, too, that we are wasting our time. Nothing that we can say is likely to have the slightest influence upon him who now holds what used to be regarded as the prerogative of mercy Our only consolation is that Hr. Cross is not likely to be Borne secretary much longer. When the right of strangling his fellow-creatures in the name of the law is taken from him •he will have time for reflection, and then may come calmer moments. We do not envy him the retrospect of his years of office. Oh those horrid streaks of blood that he will never be able to wipe out!
The Weymouth, Portland and Dorchester Telegram. — 1878-01-11 (Weymouth, Dorset, England)

BOROUGH QUARTER SESSIONS. The Quarter Sessions of the Peace for this "town and county and borough" were held at the Guild-hall on Tuesday, before the Recorder (Mr. Arthur Collins, QC.), who was accompanied on the Bench by the Mayor (Mr. A. Balston), the Sheriff (Mr. W. Mat,), the Rector (the Rev. J. A. Lawson), and the following magistrates—Alderman M. Kemp-Welch and Messrs. C. J. Stone, W. D. Dugdale, G. H. Gutch, and J. B. Durell. The following ratepayers composed the Grand Jury:— Mr. W. Waterman (Foreman), and Messrs. W. N. Western, W. 11. Blanchard, E. N. Blanchard, J. W. Buckley, T. Buckley, W. 11. Ballard, G. Clarke, W. W. Barnard, H. Durden, G. D. Baynton, G. Burt, R. Belben, and 0. Atkinson.  The Clerk of the Peace (Mr. (. B. Aldridge) read the usual proclamation. The learned Recorder, in charging the Grand Jury, said there were only two cases that would come before them, aid he thought it was a matter of very great congratulation to all connected with the town that in the course of three months the magistrates had thought fit to send only two cases for trial at these Sessions. Of course, in this town as in every other place, there must be a certain amount of distress during the winter, but although there were about 10,000 inhabitants within the Borough they did not find a single man or woman charged with any very serious offence. It seemed as if the town was well governed, well conditioned, and he might say to a certain extent thriving. He uiderstool that during the next Session of Parliament a Bill would be brought in to increase the jurisdiction of Quarter Sessions. Now they had jurisdiction over only a certain class of cases' but the Bill would propose that they should try many of the more serious cases now tried by the judges, murder, certain offences against women, and other offences, no doubt, being excluded, and still sent for trial at the Assizes. On account of the increasing &ties of the judges a very large proportion of criminal business would be remitted to Quarter Sessions, but in that case Poole would stand very well. Circuit after circuit passed and no prisoner was sent from this town and county for trial at the Assizes; thus if the BM passed the duties he had to perform would not be very considerably increased. His Honour referred to the two cases for trial, and then dismissed the Grand Jury to their duties. _ _ _ . . . . .  Javiefforland, a married woman, living in Strand-street, surrendered to bail, and was indicted for having committed a common assault upon Caroline Pike, another married woman, living in Fish-street, on the lath of November last.—Mr. J. A. Foote prosecuted; Mr. C. Mathews defended.—The Grand Jury had throwa out the bill against the prisoner for the graver charge of unlawfully wounding, and the petty jury found prisoner "Not Guilty" of the assault, aud she was discharged.
The Telegram. — 1893-06-06 (Weymouth, Dorset, England)

BEHIND THE &JENKS AND BEPOME.—The Congregational Chapel was well tilled os Sunday evening, when the Rev. F. Lausdown (pastor), made •` A peep behind the sceues and before ' the subject of "A talk with Cheat people abut life as seen in Chard Town." The text WAS taken from Luke xix.. 41—" And when He was come nigh he beheld the city and wept over it." The preacher said that by taking "a peep behind the scenes and before " he meant to leoe at phases of life which Weis to be seen on the surface, aud also to lurk a little below the surface, where, somewhat hidden from the use of the public, were secret sins and the very same sins practised 19 centuries ago in Jetusslem, end which so pierced the heart of the infinitely loving Christ that when he beheld the city he wept over it. After describing the entrance of Jesus into the holy city, Mr. Lausdowu said that Uhrilit really saw three cities. He saw Jerusalem as it appeared to the superficial observer, with its great buildings, magaificent temple, and engrossing business—this was a peep before the scenes. Then He could see behind the scenes as well, and He could see Jerusalem as it really was, morally and spiritually, le the sight of an oinuiseient and a holy God. Then with prophetic vision He could see Jerusalem as it would be when the Roman besieger would come, when famine and murder should stalk through the streets the terraces should flow with human blood, and the fair city of God should be a heap a ruins. So in the case of their own town oi Chard He could see three towns—Chard before the 'scenes, behind the scemes,and Chard as it would be in the day of final desolation. The preacher then proceeded to refer to seine of the ems that were prevalent in Jerusalem in the days if Christ, and which ho said might also be found be their own town to-dey. Formaliem was then very general. The Pharisees were the mese complete and consummate furinaliste the world has ever seen. They had the outward signs of religiousness, without any of the force of godliness ; they made every pretence to piety without any of the power of the Divine love within Stein. The question was then asked as to whether the same formalism was existing in Chard. Was it not true that many named the name of Christ without departing front iniquity. Were there not many attending their churches and chapels, professing to be eased men and women, and in matters of common morality were not as genuine and straightforward !as men of the world. Greed for gold was another sin which Christ Saw behind the scenes at Jerusalem, as were also ingratitude for precious privilege', . and social impurity. Under the latter head the preacher spoke strongly of the sin of gambling, , especially referring to the popular card playing for money stakes. In conclusion, he earnestly appealed to all present to scorn these things and to sanctify themselves, -e that like their Master they might be engaged in saving men and women. , After the service an open-air evangelistic meeting ' was held in Old Town and was well attended.
The Telegram. — 1893-10-24 (Weymouth, Dorset, England)

HELP FOR THE MINERS.  We last week announced that we had received £6 13s from the glovers of Yeovil for the miners' relief fund. In acknowledging the receipt of this money, the Rev. W. IL Boller, of Radstock, wrote on Tuesday as follows :  To the Edit or of the Western Chronicle. Dean Sta. —I know not how to express my deep gratitude to the glovers of Yeovil for the cheque to hand this morning, value £6 131. I think it such a splendid proof of their real sympathy with fellow- 1 workers in another trade iu time of trouble, and points forward to the time when all workers shall be a real brotherhood. I have devoted the whole of my time for weeks peat to this relief work, and but for it our people must have starved. But, thank God, help has come, and not one has been sent empty away. As I have sent weekly returns to the papers, I need not make a further statement than to say help is still needed; £lO a week for pressing cases that I have now is necessary. Two thousand persons were relieved by myself alone last week. I know all the people and their needs. Ask the contributors to accept my hearty thanks, and also the thanks of Radsteek miners.—l I am, dear sir, yours very truly, W. H. BULLER, Baptist Minister, Radstock. Radstock, October Mu, 1893. The Yeovil glovers deserve well of their fellowworkmen in other branches of trade for their selfdenying efforts on behalf of the starving women and children. Trade with them has been bad ; but they have given freely, according to their ethane, and their recompense is found in the satisfaction of knowing that they have done what they could to relieve suffering fellow-creatures. On Monday (yesterday) morning, we received another donation of £2 4s 91 from the Yeovil glovers, per Mr. Taveuder, and a cheque for that amount has been sent to the Rev. W. H. Buller. We will publish his acknowledgment in the Western Chronicle. -  The employees at the Western Ctsronisle hare sees their fret donation of 12s 10d to she Daily Chrenick tund. W. H. H. (a Yeovil working inan) has subscribed le per week for two weeks and F.M., ls. Further help is still hadly needed, aud we shall be glad to acknowledge subscriptions in these columns.  The Bishop of Hereford has not been at all well during the pest few days, and Ina been compelled Co keep to the house. Mr. Reganld Witt, aged 20, was killed whdat playing as hockey at Teddington on Saturday, • ball striking him over the heart.  A ceactiman named John Greenwood, aged 50, attempted to murder hie wife by kicking her brutally, at Clayton-le- Moors. On Saturday afternoon, and afterwards drowued _himself in a pond.  While preaching at Wimbledon Roman Catholic Church on Sunday morning, the Rev. Father Mortis suddenly paused, and placing hie hand en hia forehead sank down dead in the put' A
The Telegram. — 1893-04-18 (Weymouth, Dorset, England)

DEATH OF A FORMER TRADESMAN. There has just died in Wokingham Criminal Lunatic Asylum, a former tradesman of the town—Mr..fas. Senior—who, it will be remembered, murdered his child in a fit of insanity upwards of 20 years ago. Deceased was a seedsnian and corn-buyer carrying on business on the pre'nines at the mitt:lnce to the Digby Road, now occupied by Mr. E. Foot. He was a man of mild and even-tempered disposition but appeared to have been suffering from sonic trials. He had six children all of whom with the exception of one daughter, had died. This child, who was nine years of age, and to whom lie was most passionately attached, was geized with scarlet fever, anti deceased was heard to say that he never could suffer her the last of them all to die. But, in a moment, it was thought, of deep sympathy with the child and to put an end to her sufferings, lie stabbed her through the breast with a carving knife. Persons now living, who remember the whole circumstances of the dreadful affair, state that, immediately after he had committed the terrible act, Mr. Senior's condition was evidently that of entire obliteration of mind, and the following extract from the report of the murder from the Sherborne, borchester, and Taunton Journal is interesting :—" A most tender and affectionate father, in a moment apparently of temporary insanity cruelly butchered his only child—a delicate girl of nine years—who was lying on a bed of sickness."  The dreadful deed was committed on Monday, Nov. 9th, 1874, and the verdict of the jury at the inquest on the body on the following day ran thus: The verdict nf the jury is, as the jury are charged that they cannot enquire into the state of mind of the accused, wilful murder against James Senior." Prisoner, who was, of course, committed for trial, was, throughout, the most unconcerned man in court. In February of 1875 deceased was brought up at the assizes before Mr. Justice Lush, who, in his charge to the grand jury, remarked that " perhaps they knew of no stronger instance of insanity than that of the present charge, and his feelings towards those who had formerly been the object of his affections." The jury returned a verdict of not guilty on the ground of insanity, and the judge then ordered that the prisoner should be detained during her Majesty's pleasure. Since his removal to the asylum deceased had been so quiet and well-conducted that an application to restore him to his friends was made some nine or ten years ago, and the certificate of the surgeon was favourable to this course. It was, however, greatly feared that, upon his return to his old home—at a village near Sher. borne—he might come across some reminiscence that would recall to hie mind the tragedy, and his best friends concurred in this, sod, therefore, the even tenour of the remainder of his life was not disturbed. At the time he committed the deed deceased was 54 years of age, so that when he died he had passed the allotted span of life.