npedrazzini/19thc_murder_suicide_news huggingface dataset:
The Sun. — 1858-09-21 (London, England)

THAMES.  ASSAULT ON A POLICE-CONSTABLEo—JOhn Petelin, a tall German sailor, was brought before Mr. Yardley, charged with assaulting police-constable Simon Ralph, No. 244 K. The complainant said—At half-past 11 last night I was on duty in South-street, and saw the prisoner fast asleep on the ground. I aroused him and found he was drunk, and he fell down again. I got him up and told him to go home. He swore at me, and hit me twice on the chest. I did not take him into custody, but advised him to go home, on which he hit me again and kicked me  Mr. Yardley—Where did he kick you ? Witness—He kicked me nine or ten times on the shins, and also upon the hand, and he has injured my wrist. The prisoner, on being called upon for his defence, began laughing, and said—" Please you, mine vorship, I vos dronk, and cannot tell vot vos the matter on Last night, but I vent to go to mine ship." Mr. Yardley—Drunkenness is no excuse at all. You are fined 205., or eight days' imprisorunent. TERRIBLE CAST; OP STAnnlxa.—Dennis Harrington, a big, burly, morose-looking fellow, who said he was an Irishman by birth and a dock labourer by trade, was brought before Mr. Yardley, charged with assaulting and wounding Mary Regan, who appeared in court with bandages on her head and face, and in a weakly condition from loss of blood. The complainant said the was in no row last night, but there were a few angry words between her husband and the prisoner in Stone-stairs-court, Ratcliff. She told the prisoner to go home, and he struck her a viofnt blow on the eye and knocked her down. Sh 6 called out " Murder" and " Police," and a constable soon arrived and took the prisoner into custody. The prisoner broke away from the constable, and struck her and knocked her down again, and while she was upon the ground he kicked her and stabbed her with a knife below the shoulder on the-left side. Mr. Yardley—ls your eye much injured?  Witness—lt is indeed, sir. I thought my eye was out.  am in great pain, your. worship.  William Freestone, a palice-constable, 105 K, stated that he was on duty in Brook-street, Ratcliff, last night, and heard cries of "Murder" and "Police." He went to Stone-stairs-court, and saw the prisoner, who was mad drunk. He took him into custody for assaulting the woman, and on the way to the station-house he broke away from him —as the woman described—and knocked her down, and struck her while she was down. He was not aware the woman was stabbed until he reached the station-house,, and he then found her bleeding copiously, and called in a surgeon, who dressed the wound. It was below tho shoulder, He found a clasp knife upon the prisoner. It was in the prisoner's pocket, and the blade was stained with blood. Mr. Yardley—Does the wound correspond with the size of that knife? • _ .  Witness—Exactly so, sir. It is a deep wound. The Prisoner—l was stoneblind drunk last night, yer honner's wortehip, and I don't know anything about it. Yardley—You are committed for trial at the sessions.
The Sun. — 1858-02-03 (London, England)

MURDER BY A MANIAC OF EIS FATHER AND MOTHER.  The Utica Telegraph reports a dreadful crime which was perpetrated a few miles from Hamilton, in the state of New York, on Sunday night, Jan. 10, when Jared Comstock and Blar:saa his wife, were brutally murdered by their own son, Wm. Comstock. The murderer was arrested next day. The parracide is a man 37 years old ; his clothing was besmeared with blood when found. He has always resided with his parents, and is unmarried. He has been drinking hard for some time, and is evidently labouring under the effect of mania-apottc. He conversed calmly iii relation to the awful deed, manifesting no concern for himself, speaking of the manner in which he deprived his parents of life, as if he had been butchering bogs. He says, for about four or five days something seemed to tell him ho must have a number of hearts ; this was repeated to him many times during the day ; he seemed to live in Sherburne, and a wire came over the hill, connecting with the rcom, telling him he must,have a number of hearts ; some one who lived In Sherburne seemed to telegraph for them. "Three or four days ago I attempted to kill my father to get his heart. Yesterday I went again, placed an axe in the room, intending, if I could find my brother and his wife, setting down to kill them bosh at once. It seemed as if I must have both their hearts, but I did not find them so situated. About dark I went over to my father's and found him and my mother sitting—she was sewing. I immediately struck her with a skillet on the head and broke it. I then struck my father over the head three or four times with the remains of the skillet, and attempted to get the axe. After knocking my father down I got the axe and cut out their hearts, and put them in the stove and b Tned. them. This voice seemed to tell me that their hearts must be burned. After the deed I washed my hands, and after remaining in the house a short time left, and went down tl A. Gusting's. When I arrived I found my brother and his wife there, visiting. I told them I had some fresh meat up to father's. After remaining there a short time, I wens down to the house of Harmon Gustin and told them to get me a quart of cider and bottle; and after obtaining it left for my father's house, without mentioning anything concerning the deed. On arriving, I lay down upon the lounge, near my father and mother, and slept for soma time—until near morning; on awaking, I !eft the house, and met several persons coming towards it. I do not recollect who I had informed of the deed previous to this. As they approached me, some Slid, "Here is Bill." This was about right rods west of my father's. They asked ma what I had been doing. 1 told them it was none of their business. Part of the company held me while a couple of them went to the house, and afterwards they took me to Potter's, where I was arrested. During the night, after the deed, I attempted to end my life, and thus close the tragedy. I afterwards went to my brother's house to kill him and his wife. I kicked the panels of the door in, bat they had gone away.%
The Sun. — 1858-02-03 (London, England)

MURDER EY A MANIAC OP HIS  FATHER AND MOTHER.  The Utica Telegraph reports a dreadful crime which was perpetrated a few miles from Hamilton, in the state of New York, on Sunday night, Jan. 10, when Jared Comstock and Blar:ssa his wife, were brutally murdered by their own son, Wm. Comstock. The murderer was arrested next day. The parracide is a man 37 years old ; his clothing was besmeared with blood when found. He has always resided with his parents, and is unmarried.. He has been drinking hard for some time, and is evidently labouring under the effect of mania-apotit. He conversed calmly in relation to the awful deed, manifesting no concern for himself, speaking of the manner in which he deprived his parents of life, as if he had been butchering hogs. He says, for about four or five days something seemed to tell him he must have a number of hearts ; this was repeated to him many times during the day ; he seemed to live in Sherburne, and a wire came over the bill, connecting with the room, telling him he musthave a number of hearts ; some one who lived in Sherburne seemed to telegraph for them. "Three or four days ago I attempted to kill my father to get his heart. Yesterday I went again, placed an axe in the room, intending, if I could find my brother and his wife, setting down to kill them both at once. It seemed as if I must have both their hearts, but I did not find them so situated. About dark I went over to my father's and found him and ' my mother sitting—she was sewing. I immediately struck her with a skillet on the head and broke it. I then struck my fathor over tilt head three or four times midi the remains of the skillet, and attempted to get the axe; After knocking my father down I got the axe and cut out their hearts, and put them in the stove and barred them. This voice seemed to tell me that their hearts must be hi-lined. After the deed I washed my hands, and after remaining in the house a short time left, and went down te A. Gusting's. When I arrived I found my brother and his wife there, visiting. I told them I had some fresh meat up to father's. After remaining there a short time, I went down to the house of Harmon Gustin and told 1 them to get me a quart of cider and bottle ; and after obtaining it leftfor my father's house, without mentioning anything conc-ruing the deed. On ..iaridug, I lay .I.,byn upuu tut, lounge, near my father and mother, and slept for some time—until 1 near morning; on awaking, I left the house, and met several persons coming towards it. - I do not recollect who I had informed of the deed previous to this. As they approached me, some said, "Here is Bill." This was about eight rods west of my father's. They asked me what I had been doing. 1 told them it was none of their business. Part of  the company held me while a couple of them went to the house, and afterwards they took me to Potter's, where I was arrested. During the night, after the deed, I attempted to end my life, and thus close the tragedy. I afterwards went toi my Mother's house to kill him and his wife. I kicked the panels of the door in, bat they had gone away.',
The Sun. — 1858-10-23 (London, England)

THE ATTEMP TED MURDER OF P OLIVEINSP ECTOR B UDD.  Edwark Mark Council, a pensioner from the Royal Engineers, and formerly employed at Woolwich, wns placed at the bar before Mr. Traill, at Woolwich Poliee-court,r.yesterday, on a remanded charge of attempting to murder William James Budd, senior inspector of police at Woolwich Dockyard, by firing a loaded pistol at his head. The prosecutor was not in attendaxce, and the following medical certificate was handed in :  wi" I hereby certify that Inspector Budd, of the It d i i3ion of police, is unable to attend the court, in consequence of the state of prostre.tion and debility which has resultei from the injury Inflicted on him. The wound on his face is healing favourably. " WILLIAM STUART, Divisional Surgeon of Police." Mr. J. P. Cook, surgeon, attached to the Fisgard, flag-ship, corroborated the above certificate, and added that the shock to the system rendered it unsafe for Mr. Budd to attend the court at present. Mr. Traill said, under the circumstances, he should again remand the prisoner for a week, and when again brought up he would be sent for trial, a:4, if it was necessary, Mr. Budd might be bound over to prosecute at the Old Bailey after the prisoner's committal.  Amongst the numerous documents which were addressed by the prisoner to the coroner's jury. whom he stated would have to sit upon his body, is one which contains the following singular statement., signed by the prisoner : " Sly father, John Council, was the illegitimate son of Councillor John Scott—afterwards Lord Chief Justice of the Court of King's Bench at Dublin, and Earl of Clonmel. My father's mother was a young woman of good family, and gave my father a good education. He was apprenticed to a gumnaker at Dublin, in King-street, and afterwards became connected with the leaders of the Irish Rebellion in 1798. The Earl of Clonmel was before that a good friend to my father, but finding that he had joined this party, sent him a message that he (the earl) never wished to see his face again. However, after this, my father and several of his friends were captured, and but for the intervention of the Earl of Clonmel they would have been hanged." The prisoner then details his early history, having enlisted into the Royal Military Artificers, subsequently termed the Sappers and Miners, &c.  Roberti, the composer, has just left Paris for Tulin with a new opera. The subject of the opera, of which report speaks highly, is Petrarch and Laura." The libretto, by Dall'Ongaro, is said to be of the highest interest, the poet having chosen the moment of Petrarch's triumph at Avignon, and, with great taste and judgment, has introduced the famous stanzas of Petrarch on the hopes of Italy, for which ltoberti has composed a chorus of immense power and effect. The role of Laura was written, bath by poet and composer, expressly for Mdlle. Vuneri, of the Theatre Royal, Drury-lane, to whose talent and personal appearance it is said to be admirably adapted. Calzado has engaged with the composer to bring out this opera, during the season, in Paris.—Court Jorrdol. A
The Sun. — 1858-10-23 (London, England)

THE ATTEMPTED MURDER OF POLICEINSPECTOR BUDD.  Edwark Mark Council, a pensioner from the Royal Engineers, and formerly employed at Woolwich, was placed at the bar before Mr. Traill, at Woolwich Police courtAyesterday, on a remanded charge of attempting to murder William James Budd, senior inspector of police at. Woolwich l )oekyard, by firing a loaded pistol at his head. The prosecutor was not in attendaxce, and the following medical certificate was handed in :  M‘' I hereby certify that Inspector Budd, of the R dii ision police, is unable to attend the court, in consequence of the state of prostration and debility which has resulted from the injury inflicted on him. The wound on his face is healing favourably. " ILLIAM STUART, Divisional Surgeon of Police." Mr. J. P. Cook, surgeon, attached to the Fisgard; flag-ship, cm roborated the above certificate, and added that the shock to the system rendered it unsafe for Mr. Budd to attend the court at present. Mr. Traill said, under the circumstances, he should again remand the prisoner for a week, and when again brought up he would be sent for trial, as, if it was necessary, Mr. Budd might be bound over to prosecute at the Old Bailey after the prisoner's committal. Amongst the numerous documents which were addresied by the prisoner to the coroner's jury. whom he stated would have to sit upon his body, is one which contains the following singular statement, signed by the prisoner:— " 3fy father, John Council, was the illegitimate son of Councillor John Scott—afterwards Lord Chief Justice of the Court of King's Bench at Dublin, and Earl of Clonmel. My father's Mother was a young woman of good family, and gave my father a good education. lie was apprenticed to a guninaker at Dublin, in King-street, and afterwards becone connected with the leaders of the Irish Rebellion in 1798. The Rirl of Clonmel was before that a good friend to  My father, but finding that he had joined as party,;ent him a message that he (the earl) never wished to aee his face again. However, after this, my father and several of his friends were captured, and but for the intervention of the Earl of Clonmel they would have been hanged." The prisoner • then details his early history, having enlisted into the Royal Military Artificers, subsequently termed the Sa2pers and Miners, &e.  Roberti, the composer, has just left Paris for Turin with a new opera. Tho subject of the opera, of which report speaks highly, is Petrarch and Laura." The libritte, by Dall'Ongaro, is said to be of the highest interest, the poet having chosen the moment of Petrarch's triumph at Avigno 1, and, with great taste and judgment, has ininxluced the famous stanzas of Petrarch on the hopes of Italy, for which Roberti has composed a chorus of immenie power and effect. The role of Laura was written, bath by poet and composer, expressly for Mdlle. Vaneri, of the Theatre Royal, Drury-lane, to whose talent and peraortal appearance it is said to be admirably adapted. Calzado has engaged with the composer to bring out this epara, during the season, in Paris.—Court Jot rd al. A
The Sun. — 1858-03-22 (London, England)

THE ANDAMAN ISLANDS.  The last of the Moguls, the unworthy representative of a once powerful though barbarous dynasty, has been placed in the dock, convicted of being accessary to foul murder anti treason, and sentenced to transportation for life. The few renetining years, or rather months, of his miserable existence are to be endured amid the savage population of a group of small islands in the Bay of Bengal. Since the year 1824, ehen the British expedition against Burmah assembled at Port Cornwallis, the Andamane have scarcely been hem] of in this country, and even their position on the map is still comparatively unknown. The principal island is also the most northerly t,f the group, and extends 140 miles in length, by 20 in breadth. The Little Andaman, on the other hand, is the most southerly, but does not exceed 28 miles in length by 17 in breadth. In th.i centre of the Great Andaman the land rises to the altitude of 2,400 feet, forming a well-known beacon to milliners—the Saddle Peak. A few small streams thence desc-nd to the sea. Various kinds of timber suitable for ship-building are bond in abundance ; but the only fruit worthy of mention is the mangrove : the cocoa-nut, which flourishes in the neighbouring Nicobars, does not grow in these islands. Many veirieties of fi-h are caught off the coast, and constitute the chief food of the barbarous inhabitants. who also indulge in lizards, snakes, guanas, and rats. On the skirts of the forest which occupies the interior of the principal island, are seen herds of a diminutive species of hog, supposed to be descended from a shipwrecked stock. With the skulls and bones of these animals the islanders adorn their huts, and were thence accused of cannibalism, from a belief that their favourite ornaments were the indigestible remains of human beings whom they had slain and devoured. They are, in truth, a cruel and savage race. All attempts to communicate with them have been repelled by darts and flights of arrows. They are described as resembling a degenerate tribe of negrctes. They have woolly hair, thick lips, and a flit nose ; their stature seldom exceeds five feet ; their colour is a deep, unshaded black ; and their costume that of primeval Adam before the fall. Their huts consist of four poles driven into the ground and interwoven with boughs of trees. Their chief want is a sufficiency of food, in search of which they are constantly prowling along the shores or climbing steep rocks ; their chief annoyance is from the countless insects that infest the islands, to guard ag-inst which they plaster themselves over with mud, and thus tender their skin as impenetrable as the hide of a hippopotamus. Their woolly hair is painted with red ochre to an extent that would excite the envy of the Gael. But wild as is their aspect and fierce their disposition, they are nevertheless amenable to the laws of politeness and good breeding. That man is considered a boor and no gentleman who does not salute his neighbour in a becoming manner by lifting one leg and smiting the lower part. of tne thigh with the open hand,—Allen's Indian Mad.
The Sun. — 1858-03-22 (London, England)

THE ANDAMAN ISLANDS.  The last of the Moguls, the unworthy representative of a once powerful though barbarous dynasty, has been placed in the dock, convicted of being accessary to foul murder and treason, and sentenced to transportation for life. The few renaming years, or rather months, of his miserable existence are to be endured amid the savage population of a group of small islands in the Bay of Bengal. Since the year 1824, then the British expedition against Burmah assembled at Port Cornwallis, the Andamans have scarcely been henrd of in this country, and even their position on the map is still comparatively unknown. The principal island is also the most northerly f the group, and t xtends 140 miles in length, by 20 in breadth. The Little Andaman, on the other hand, is the most southerly, but does not exceed 28 miles in length by 17 in breadth. In the centre of the Great Andaman the land rises to the altitude of 2,400 feet, forming a well-known beacon to mariners—the Saddle Peak. A few small streams thence descend to the sea. Various kinds of timber suitable for ship-building are hand in abundance ; but the only fruit worthy of mention is the mangrove : the cocoa-nut, which flourishes in the neighbouring Nicobars, does not grow in these islands. Many varieties of fish are caught off the coast, and constitute the chief food of the barbarous inhabitants, who also indulge in lizards, snakes, guanam, and rats. On the skirts of the forest which occupies the interior of the principal island, are seen herds of a diminutive species of hog, supposed to be descended from a shipwrecked stock. With the skulls and bones of these animals the islanders adorn their huts, and were thence accused of cannibalism, from a belief that their favourite ornaments were the indigestible remains of human beings whom they had slain and devoured. They are, in truth, a cruel and savage race. All attempts to communicate with them have been repelled by darts and flights of arrows. They are described as resembling a degenerate tribe of Degrees. They have woolly hair, thick lips, and a flat nose ; their stature seldom exceeds five feet ; their colour is a deep, unshaded black ; and their costume that of primeval Adam before the fall. Their huts consist of four poles driven into the ground and interwoven with boughs of trees. Their chief want is a sufficiency of food, in search of which they are constantly prowling along the shores or climbing steep rocks ; their chief annoyance is from the countless insects that infest the islende, to guard ag inet which they plaster themselves over with miel, and thus sender their skin as impenetrable as the hide of a hippopotamus. Their woolly hair is painted with red ochre to an extent that would excite the envy of the Gael. But wild as is their aspect and fierce their disposition, they are nevertheless amenable to the laws of p diteness and ,good breeding. That man is considered a boor and no gentleman who does not salute his neighbour in a becoming manner by lifting one leg and smiting the lower part of the thigh with the open hand,—A lien's Indian Mail.