npedrazzini/19thc_murder_suicide_news huggingface dataset:
The Sun. — 1824-08-16 (London, England)

MORNING CHRONICLE.]  It is a very ancient and valuable truth, that it is extremely imprudent In persons in authority to give reasons for what they do, because their meltsures may be wise, while their reasons for them may be particularly absurd. There are in many cases only a right and a wrong way before a Magistrate ; and it is an even chance that he %%ill take the right, but the chances are many against his assigning a good reason for doing so, and sometimes we have the pain of observing a worthy and worshipful functionary pursuing one course, while his reasons are going in preciselt the opposite direction ; and thus we see realised what our brethren of the Emerald Isle have laid down to be an impossibility—a man in two places at once like a bird. Another inconvenience attending the ostentation of reason in the Commission of the Peace is, .that it renders the Magistrate amenable to a very audacious Tribunal, and one with which the laws of our country are at perpetual discord. If we ere asked, however, whether Mngistrates are to he denied the exercise of reason, we reply, certainly not. We only inculcate the prudence of not making a public parade of it, and if used prudently, the probability is that in ninety-)sine cases out of a hundred it will never he discovered to have been used at all. If in the appointment of Magistrates the possession of the reasoning faculty sere considered a necessary qualification, we should esteem it becoming in these functionaries to make a display of that which recommended them to their offices ; but as we know that such is not the case, for the causes already assigned, we hold ratiocination in the administration of summary justice to he a very gratuitous indiscretion. We were led into these reflections by the arguments held by Mr. Ballantyne, in support of his committal of Mr. Foreman, Captain of the ship Adonis, for the alleged murder of one of his sailors in the Bay of Biscay. Mr. Foreman, it uppeared, had ordered a drunken lad aloft in a gale of wind, by way of punishing him for his offence against discipline; the lad fell overboard and was drowned ; Mr. Ballantyne committed the Captain for murder, and he doubtless did right ; but the reasons he assigned for his determination are about as whimsically inapplicable to the cit.-, cumstances of the case as can well he imagined. Did we not observe, indeed, that all the reports concur in attributing to the Magistrate the same language, we should infer that there must be some inaccuracy in the statements-s-" Mr. Ballantyne said, he certainly should commit the prisoner for the murder. Ile considered the case exactly analagous to that of a person who fired amongst a crowd of people, and killed one without taking a'parti'cularaim at any. The malice was obvious— it was general malice; just such was it in this case. The deceased had, in fact, beet! ordered to destroy himself; far he could not disobey the orders he bad received, and the attempt at performance Was certain death." This is an extraordinary specimen of reasoning.. The case, it is clear, is not in the slightest de. greed ,analagoos to ~that of firing amongst • a tt-
The Sun. — 1824-07-02 (London, England)

FMK 7.) We regret to state that this gentleman, whose great improvement as a tragedian has of late become so conspicuous, has been afflicted within these few days with mental derangement. It is said that this has been occasioned by the sudden death of his wife. It has been found necessary to place him under restraint, to prevent him from doing injury to himself or friends ; but it is hoped that by the kind attentions of the family under whose charge he now is, his recovery will be speedily effected. His benefit was to have taken place on Wednesday evening. ANOTHER AccouNT.---We regret to learn that this distinguished actor was seized with a violent fit of insanity on Saturday. On Friday night he played Othello, and in some passages is said to have been inimitably fine,• while in others it was thought by some he was turtling the character of the Moor into burlesque. In the dying scene he even excelled himself. But before the drop of the curtain, he turned over facing the audience, raised his head upon his hand, and said," There, what do you think of that !" These circumstances were looked upon as very strange at the moment ; but no further notice was taken of it at the time. About eleven o'clock on Saturday he was in the entrance of the theatre, conversing with #ilr.Woodhull, when suddenly, but with au air of calmness, he said to W-- " I must cut somebody's throat to-day, and whom shall I take ? Shall it be Wallack, or yourself, or who ?" Woodhull asked what he meant. "Why, I mean what I say," replied I3ooth. 'Woodhull then observed that he was grasping a dagger wbsststa t a by under his coat ; and at the very moment Wallack pasosoeddhaulioi ncga'lleid3oohtillinniaatdettale sane a le t hire,it pass turning round, the blow missed its object. Wallack then rushed into the street, and Booth alter him; and Woodhull after him, Booth gained upon Wallack, and just as he was making a plunge at his back, Walinek providentially stumbled and fell, and Booth passed over him.— He was then seized, disarmed, and secured. In the evening he was taken to the house of a friend, where he is treated with every kindness and attention. He has become tranquil, and it is hoped that he will soon recover from this painful indis iosition. [Miss Johnson, in Desde►nona, cerainly ran a risk of being murdered by the ealous Moor in good earnest, and may felicitate ►erself upon her escape.]  Letters from Malta, under date the sth of June, advise the arrival there of the merchant ship the Little Sag?' from London, hound to Greece, with specie for the account of the Christian population of that interesting part of the world. His Majesty's frigate, the Active, had also arrived there from off Algiers. At the date of the Malta letter the Marquess of ILtsumos, the expatriated Patriot, was hourly expected to arrive to assume the Government of that island.  - - - - - • I. A large packet Greek newspapers was're-i ceived by the Packet yesterday morning, the" postage upon which was charged 771.105.
The Sun. — 1828-01-31 (London, England)

SUSPECTED ROBBERY AND. MURDER.  In our last we shortly noticed the loss of the Charles, of this port, at Ryhope, near Sunderland. Since then we have elicited several particulars which tend to excite a horrible suspicion of foul play having been used towards the unfortunate master of the vessel, Captain Potts. The vessel sailed from Sunderland on Saturday the 12th instant, and was observed beating against contrary wind and tides on Sunday. Of course, therefore, she did not make much head way, and about half past four on Sunday afternoon she was observed in broker.' water off Ryhope. Seeing the distressed condition of the crew, during Sunday, application was made to the person in charge of the life boat, for him to put off to her assistance with his crew. This, however, he declined doing. About half-past six o'clock on Sunday evening the vessel struck at a distance of only three quarters of a mile from the beach. Four men were observed between Sunderland and the 'place where the wreck occurred, watching, and these four t t men state that about seven o'coloche vessel came onk the same evening the two boats belonging shore,—the long boat being regularly fitted for living in a heavy sea, with only about twenty gallons of water in her bottom : the oars were all ready for being used. The men thus employing themselves called upon an agent of the Lord of the Manor, who assisted them to watch, but no other application was made for assistance. On the falowing day the body of Dixon the mate was founsed ; he was completely dressed, but much bruid about the head, as were also the bodies subsequently found. Whether these bruises were owinn. to the bodies being dashed against the rocks, or to human agency, no clue has yet appeared. On the following Wednesday the body of Captain Potts s s t probably e was found on the beach, clothed only with a linen shirt. A day or two after some persons employed in the Preventive Service near the spot where the awful catastrophe occurred, observed four men digg. ing a hole in the sands, who on discovering that they e belongedlndeNr worn rnnd, and therefore were watched, made a precipitate retreat, leaving behind them a shovel they had used. On examining the spot, three bags of clothes were found, which clothes Potts, and m o amongwh n them is a flannelssel l ef tshirtsi to the r at the time of the wreck; for it is not at all probable that he should have thrown off so material a part of his clothing when suffering from inclement Captainby the deceased P weather. This flannel shirt was perfectly dry when found ! Shortly after this discovery a relation of the deceased accidentally overheard two of the four men on whom suspicion at present rests, quarrelling about a brace of pistols ; on seeing him they walked off in different directions. This is important only because Captain Potts was known Co have been in possession of a brace of pistols.—Boston Gazette.  A few days since, at the parish church of Silverten, in this county, a woman was married, churched, and hit child christened, all in ono day...-Exeter Mfred.
The Sun. — 1828-06-10 (London, England)

PORTUGAL.  On the motion of the CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER, for the House resolving itself into a Committee of Ways and Means,  Mr. DAVENPORT was anxious of putting a few questions to the Right Hon. Gentleman opposite, relative to a subject of considerable importance to the Government of this country, as well as to that which it inure nearly concerned. It was well known to the House, that Portugal had for some time been iu a state extremely unsatisfactory, arising from civil broils and contentions. The facts were briefly these :—A Prince known three years ago only by his having committed a very atrocious murder, and having seized upon the person of his father, was subsequently sent to Austria to take lessons under Prince Metternich, and ea soon as his education was deemed completed, was called back to his own country to preside over its Constitution. On his return to. Portugal he visited this country, and having given a solemn pledge to the Court of London that he would observe the laws and uphold the spirit of the Constitution, which pledge he had previously given to the Courts of Vienna and Paris—after he had enjoyed the society of the Constitutional King of this country.-.-went hence to Portugal, and there took the oaths of the Constitution with all solemnity and apparent sincerity; but then, with a perfidy unexamp'ed, he suddenly threw off the mask and conspired against that Constitution to which he had so solemnly sworn. The consequence of such proceedings was the utmost confusion and consternation ; the affrighted Constitutionalists sought fur refuge in every thing which seemed to afford them security. They sought for safety and protection in their ships, and whatever was at all likely to screen them froth the malice of their enemy; and yet, strange as it may appear, and strange alit ought to appear, this moment of agony was the one chosen for the withdrawing of the British troops. The forts were consequently turned into State dungeons. He looked upon the removal of the British at this dreadful and important crisis—at this solemn moment--as a cool blooded and heartless measure, and one of extremely had policy ; and he wished to know whether, by withdrawing the troops, it was intended to expose Portugal to all the horrors she had subsequently, undergone, or whether it was as accident and not a premeditated design. lie had heard it said that a Noble Lord had written letters to the Government of Don Miguel encouraging them to persevere in their proceedings; he hoped, however, that such was not the case. He wished to know on what terms the fortresses on the Tagus were given up, and he also wished to know what steps had been taken to recover the sums of money due to us by Portugal fur the support of the troops. He was also anxious to know how fat• England was bound to support the Government of the Usurper, and those who were about him?  Mr.
The Sun. — 1828-07-07 (London, England)

TIIE WIMBLEY MURDER.  John Casey, Timothy Cochrane, James Barry, Cornelius Barry, John Shea, Jerenzigh Murray, Dennis Burke, James Mayes, and Timothy Connor, were indicted for having wilfully murdered John Eales, otherwise Long John, by sundry blows and stabs of a pitchfork, at Wimbley, on yesterday week. The prisoners appeared a wretched sample of the Irish harvesters, and crowded over each other in the bar, seemingly almost unconscious of their situation. They'all pleaded "Not Guilty." • Mr. BARRY and Mr. J. ALLEY were engaged for the prisoners. John Pintman, servant to Mr. Ellmore, a farmer at Wimbley, was sent to Wimbley for some bread. About half a mile from his master's house he heard a great noise, as if a great number of persons were fighting. It was then very dark. • First observed John Casey. strike Long John. He struck him first with a blackthorn stick on the shoulder; the stick was the thickness of witness's thumb. The blow knocked Long John down. Casey then fell with his knees on John, and beat him about, the head with the stick very violently, which made the blood pour out from Long John's forehead. John kept trying to get up, but could not. Witness assisted him by 'pulling off• Casey, and the other prisoners came up after Long John got up, and was pulling off his clothes to fight Casey with his fists. lie • said, that • if assistance was given him • while he could get-. his clothes off, he would". fight him "Long John and Casey had a round, .or two before any others came up. The fighting was not fair,'CasCy fonghtWith a stick, and Long John with Isis lists; witness cried out that it was fair; after about three blows were- struck wit li.the stick it was lost, and they then both fought with their fists for about. •an- hour altqether, irr which Casey'had -'the • best; the, other prisoners came up; Connor; Shea, Hayes,. and Cochrane; he, could speak to. • Some 'of them had har-forks; and some had stickS; they came frOrn Mr. J. Reid's barn, about 200 .yards distance; John Casey got a fork from some of them, and struck Long John with• it across the loins, which knocked hint down, and he never mowed hand .or foot after that blow; was certain that at time none of the othera had done any thing; could pot see whether 'the fork was given' to 'Casey, or whether he' took it himself'. Witness and the others (English) were obliged to run, as the prisoners and other Irishmen eluirged them with'their forks. Long.Tplut was left, on. the ground. In about twenty inniptes. witness and the others returned to - the spot where Long. John had -been left. They: found hiM still lying with Jas. Bell,,and a:'wopian standing beside him. As they took Long John •away,,.he never moved or spoke, but attempted to !Now the bloodfrom his nose. He fetched his last breath us they were carrying him into the Green Man. • - Cross-examined by Mr.
The Sun. — 1828-04-08 (London, England)

ANATOMICAL SUBJECTS.--A General Meeting of the Medical Students in the Metropolis is shortly to be held, for the purpose of preparing a petition to be presented to Parliament, after the Easter Recess, to remove the difficulties under which Surgeons labour in procuring bodies for dissection. From the repeated notices of this important subject, which have appeared in the Daily Papers, the Profession appear to have been at length roused from that apathy to which they are mainly indebted for the inconveniences which they at present suffer. It is intended to show the Legislature, from official documents now in preparation, that if the unclaimed bodies of persons dying in our hospitals and other eleemosynary establishments could be made available for this purpose, the supply would be fully equal to the requirements of the medical classes, without offering violence to the feelings of any.  DARING BURGLARY,—On Saturday night, between ten and eleven o'clock, the dwelling-house of Messrs. Hottostrox, millers, adjoining the Old Dock Mill, at Flathouses, in this neighbourhood, was entered by a man disguised, and armed with a pistol, an iron bar, and a knife stuck in the breast of his coat. The female servant, who was in the kitchen, thinking the front door was open, examined it, and on finding it so, and attempting to close it, she found she was obstructed by some person on the outside. Much alarmed, she ran sere lining into the parlour, in which were Messrs. Houoirroe,theit sister, a male friend, and the housekeeper, followed by a villain, whose face, save as far as the eyes, was concealed. The fellow, immediately presenting the pistol in his left hand, and the iron har in the right, called upon them to stand back, and to give up to him 201. Mr. W. MARvIN, the friend of Messrs. Houottrost alluded to, having seized the poker, the ruffian swore if he did not relinquish it immediately, and the whole of them give up what money they had, he would murder them. The money about their persons was then yielded up. He then ordered the whole of them up stairs, with which, nncleitheir state of alarm, they complied. The robber afterwards proceeded to ransack the premise., below, but being unsuccessful in his attempt to open some of the drawers, which were locked, threatened, if the toaster of the house did not come down with the keys, he would "blow his brains out." Mr. EDWARD Houoirrosr then came down and unlocked them ; upon which the villain collected some silver spoons, and de. camped, holding out a warning to the inmates, that if they made any alarm, or either of them should leave the premises within two hours, he would return and put them all to death. It is supposed that the robber is acquainted with the premises, as he evidently knew who was the master of the house; that he was not the only person concerned in it, is sufficiently certain, as he occasionally went to the street floor and held conversation with some one, previous to his leaving. No trace of the offenders has as yet been discovered. The property carried away amounted to between 301. and 401.—Hampshire Telegrapk.
The Sun. — 1828-07-16 (London, England)

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.  UNION BALL.—Yesterday, a respeetabk-looking young man, named George Dent, was charged with having assaulted a lady, named Inman, under the following circumstances :  The complainant stated, that on the preceding night, about 10 o'clock, as she was proceeding along the Waterloo-road towards her residence, the defendant, who was accompanied by a young man, approached and attempted to take indecent liberties with her, which she resisted. The moment she told the defendant to go about his business, he struck her with his fist on the breast, and afterwards gave her a blow with an umbrella on the Fide of the head with such violence as to prostrate her along the road. The watchman, she added, could testify as to the filthy state in which her dress appeared when he came up, owing to her having fallen into the mud when she was struck.  In reply to the Magistrate (M. SwAaly, Esq.) the complainant said she was a married woman, but that her husband was prevented from attending in consequence of illness.  The defendant in answer to the charge said, that the complainant had assaulted him in the first instance, because he refused to accompany her home. This assertion, however, was positively contradicted by the complainant, who declared that she did not speak to the defendant until he struck her, and then it was reproaching him for his unmanly conduct. The watchman, who took the defendant in custody, on hearing cries for assistance, ran up and secured him. lie added that the defendant tried to' make his escape; the lady's clothes were very much disordered, and had mud upon them as if she had fallen in the gutter. The constable of the watch-house, where the defendant was taken to, said that he behaved with great violence while there, declaring that he should murder himself, and drew a penknife from his pocket, with which he said he should cut his throat. It was with difficulty the weapon was wrested from his grasp. The Magistrate expressed great indignation at the brutal behaviour evinced by the defendant towards the complainant, who, being a married woman, it was most improbable she should have invited a stranger to her house, as bad been insinuated. The imputation thus cast upon a respectable married woman materially aggravated the case against the defendant, and instead of allowing any compromise taking place, ke (the Magistrate) should hold him to bail to answer the charge at the Sessions.  In the Kremlin at Moscow is-a cannon of an enormous size. It was cast, by order of Prince THEODORE IwANowtrscir, in the year 1586, in the third year of his reign, by a Russian of the name of ANDREAS TSCHASIIOYF, whose name can still be read upon it. This cannon weighs 96,000 pounds; it will carry a ball weighing 4,800 pounds; to do which it requires a charge of 1,600 pounds of powder. The Lcmburgh Gazette, after mentioning the above, facetiously adds, " though it remains unguarded, no one has hitherto attempted to steal it."-iiamburgli Reporter.