npedrazzini/19thc_murder_suicide_news huggingface dataset:
The Express. — 1853-08-24 (London, England)

THE POLICE CO URTS.  Mr. TV. H. Phillips, who stated himself to be the patentee of the "fire annihilator," was on Monday charged with having made a disturbance in the offioss of the company, in Leadenhaltstreet, and assaulted the secretary. Mr. Clsrkaon appeared for the company, and called witnesses to prove the case. Policeman Smith, 66, said : I was sent for this morning by the Secretary to the Fire Annihilator Company, and upon going to the offices I found the di fendant there. There were around him several chairs, with one of which he struck at the secretary, who asked him to leave the room. He declared that he would not move without being put out, and he took up another chair, and something also from the window, with which he deliberately broke the window. He then got his legs out of the window, and I thought he was going to throw himself out, and took him into custody. Mr. J. J. B. Curtis, secretary to the company, said the defendant, who had been connected with the office, ceased to be superintendent two years ago. He came this morning, at half past ten o'clock, and seated himself at my desk. called upon him to move, but he refused, and he tore up some prospectuses, and interfered with some documents connected with the company. I reasoned with him upon the subject, but found that expostulation was quite ineffectual. He then broke the windows, and called out " murder I" and I actually thought he was insane. The defendant said he had acted under circumstances of  great excitement, when he went into the office. He was the patentee of the " Fire Annihilator Invention" and he held a large number of shares in the association established to carry it into effect. Finding, however, that certain reports were in circulation calculated to injure the company, he had ceased to have any interest in the patent. He went into the offices he admitted, as he considered he had a right so to do, and he had torn up some of the prospectuses which represented his connexion with the company as patentee ; but so far from having committed an assault upon any one he had actually endeavoured to save himself from an expected assault by breaking the windsw in the hope of alarming some persons in the street. He thought that sort of hint would be better than any other, and he therefore gave it. Mr. Clarkson said the company were only anxious to pre-' vent the recurrence of such disagreeable incidents as he had described, and could have no possible objection to a legal dispute with the defendant if he considered himself a wronged party. The Lord Mayor said it was quite evident that the complainant had no desire to act harshly towards the defendant, and it was as palpable that the defendant, as a shareholder, had no right to obtrude himself into the office of the secretary, and take possession of any room in the establishment, much less to destroy any papers belonging to the compeny. Under all these circumstances his lordship cousidered himself bound to call upon the defendant to enter into his own recognisance, in the sum of 601. to keep the pram for six calendar months.
The Express. — 1853-04-07 (London, England)

MARYLEBONE.  A labourer who refused toicesaay other name than Robert, was charged on his own confemion with murdering his wife. Battersby, 4 D, said—At a quarter past three this mornlog the prisoner came to the station-house, being quite sober, and requested me to hear a statement which he desired to make. After being duly cautioned he said I and m wife Mary went into a lodging-house in Blair's-close, Old-town, Edinburgh, at half-past twelve on the morning of lit of last January. I gave her five shillings, and told her to get me some supper. I then went out and returned in the course of half an hour, when I found that my wife had not provided supper as I expected she would have done. I asked her what she had done with the money, but received from ber nothing more than abuse. I sat down and smoked my pipe for an hour or so, and let her go on as long as she liked. She got so enraged at my not saying anything to her that she stied out, "Speak to me--speak to me, or I shell bunt." She then dew at me and scratched my face. I seised her by the wrists and held her down en the seat, and said to her, Now, Mary, this is the last row lou and I will have ;" and I told her that I would go and eave her. She still went on, thinking that I was not in earnest about going. I reasoned with her a long while, and on my at last leaving the room she followed me. By the time I had got to the bottom of the stairs she reached me, and, laying hold of m arm, said, i" Where thou gout there will Igo too." She clung to me, and I shook her off and she fell down the stain ; m fact, I threw ber down. I did not know that the stain were there ; it was quite dark. She gave a scream. I rushed to the stairs and spoke to her, but she gave me no answer. I then went I up and got a light, and on my return I found her senseless. 1 dare say there was life in her, and that's all. I carried her upstairs and laid her on the bed. She was then quite dead. I wag afraid of being taken up for the murder, so I took the light down stairs and found in the cellar a heap of rubbish and ashes. I lifted up some of the flag stones, and having dug a hole, about three feet deep, I fetched my wife down and put her into the hole; after which I covered her up, and put the stones down again in their proper places. I then mixed the earth with the ashes and rubbish, which I threw over the stones. I then left the house.  There was no other evidence, and the prisoner, who declined to add anything to his contention, was remanded.
The Express. — 1853-03-08 (London, England)

HEROIC CONDUCT OF A GIRL.  In the night of the 11th of August last, during a violent thunderstorm, cries of distress were heard under the walls of the ruined chateau of Galilee (Lot), then inhabited by three rustic families. The cries were " Help, help ; my wife is murdered ; I ant a lost man • it is Albarel that is lulling us." Albarel was one of the inhabitants of the chateau, and was the terror of the district. The voice of distress was that of another of the inmates, named Fan, who, with his wife, had been prevented from coming home till late by the violence of the storm. The third family living in the chateau consisted of a man and his wife ,'lamed Barth*, end their dughter Victorine, a girl scarcely turned thirteen years of age. At the sound of the dreaded name of Albarel, who that morning only had threatened to strike Victorine's nuttier, Barthe sad his wife were struck dumb with terror, but little Victories jumped out of bed, rushed to her parents' chamber, sad exclaimed, "Oh, father ! take • gun and go out." Boeing that he hesitated, she added, "If you will not, I will go myself ; it shall never be said that • man was killed at oar door for want of help." Stimulated by this appeal the father went out, but it war too late. Fan was mortally wounded, and his wife dead. Meanwhile Victorine hid herself in the corner of a doorway through which Albarel, supposing him to be the murderer, must pass to gain his own lodgings. She presently heard the mania approach with stealthy step. The slightest movement, and her life would have bees sacrificed to the fury of • desperate ruffian armed and reeking with blood. She remained firm, assured herself of the identity of Albarel, saw him creep into his chamber, and instantly went in search of the officers of justice. Upon her evidence Albarel was sentenced to hard labour for life. The Emperor on hearing of Victorine's courageous action, sent a watch to the Minister of Justice, and wrote with his own hand upon the envelope enclosing it, " For Victoria, Barthe, to be presented to her in a solemn sitting of the Court of Assizes." Formant to the Emperors desire • solemn sitting of the Imperial Court of Calton was held on Feb. 27 last, Victoria@ was conducted by the usher to the witness seat in the centre of thelesurt, and there, in the presence of the prefect of the department, a full bench of judges,' the amiss Puy, and • large assemblage of the gentry of the department, the watch wee presented to her by M. Joly, the presiding judge. M. Joly, is the course of a long speech, said that heroism had in all time been the natural production of the department of the Lot, and enumerated a long list of worthies born in the province from the time of the Romans downwards. After the delivery of this speech the prefect presented Victorine with a medal of honour of the let class and • purse of 150 f. on the part of the Minister of Justice; and at the conclusion of the ceremony the jury requested that the speeches of the President Joly and the prefect might be printed, and that each of them might be allowed to have a copy.  SEIZURE OP AN Enos Arr SHIP, AND DETENTION OF Tall
The Express. — 1853-09-09 (London, England)

STOCKPORT.  The eeroner's inquest was resumed yesterday, before Mr. Butter, coroner for the county, at the Navigation Ina, Heaton Norris.  W. Ithe, the secretary to the Middle Hillgate Benevolent Burial Society, held at the Old Admiral public-homes said : I don't know the prisoner, I remember the deceased James Higbani, being entered a member Feb. 2, 1816; John was entered June 17, 1848, and their mother has paid the money for them regularly. She and her first hasbind had been entered as members in 1848. There are three branches of the society, and James was entered in two of them, for 71. 12s. ; and John was in one, for 31. 121.; I don't know whether Moore knew they were members. He never paid the money.  Robert Taylor, residing at lark•hill, near Stockport, said —I am collector to the Temperance Burial Club, and brother to Mrs. Moore, the mother of the deceased children. Both the children were members. I find from the books of the society that John was entered July 8, 1849, and James, the eldest, on the 29th August, 1852, and 41. each was payable at their death. The prisoner knew that the children were members, and was himself entered on Sunday weekI called at the house foe the subscriptions, which was paid by the mother. In the coarse of some further evidence, John Lee, polio* constable, said--I apprehended the prisoner last Saturday, about two o'clock in the afternoon. 1 told him I had a warrant against him for neglect of family, Hs sakt, " Very well, I had rather go with you than be where I am." I took him to the police-office, and told him at was charged with taking away two children from the street in which he lived, and 1 wanted to know what account be had to give of them. Re said he took them up the street to Dr. Walters's corner, and then went to Mrs. Barton, velum* he remained till liva o'clock at night. Hs said he went to Heaton Norris at a quarter before one, to wait fur his dinner at Mr. M'Clores mill, and remained there till balf-past two. He said he sent the elder boy home with as umbrella, and left him In Maraland-street, Portwood, to tell his mother to send him his dinner at Mr. li'Clure's mill at one o'clock, but the dinner did not come. This concluded the evidence.  The Coroner, in commenting upon the evidence, observed that there were several diserepancies between the rigour's statement and what appeared to be the truth. The jury would have to determine whether the evidence they had heard was sufficient to justify them in roterning a verdict of wilful murder against the prisoner; or, if not satisfied with the evidence against him, they should say that the children were found drowned.  The jury, after deliberating about five minutes, returned a verdict of " Wilful Murder" against the prisoner, Thomas Moore, who was accordingly committed to take his trial at the next Liverpool amino.
The Express. — 1853-10-10 (London, England)

DST.  The Royal Mail steam-ship Niagara, Capt. Leitch, arrived in the Mersey about one o'clock to-day with the usual mails from the United States and British North America. The Niagara left Boston on the 28th, and Halifax early on the 30th ult., and has brought, besides the mails, about 5.5 passengers, and 180,000 dollars in specie on freight. The Cunard screw steam-ship Andes, from hence and Boston, arrived at Ncw York on the 20th ult.  The Royal Mail steamer America, from hence on the 17th for Halifax and Boston, arrived at the former port on the 29th ult.  The usual mail steamer from San Joan had arrived at New York with California dates to the lit of September. She brought a million and a half dollars' worth of gold dust, on freight and in the hands of passengers. The principal feature of news in the journals is details of depredations committed by the Indians, with frequent murders. The commercial intelligence from San Francisco is of an unfavourable character. Trade was extremely dull, in consequence of over-shipments from the Atlantic states. At the latest dates from New Orleans the ravages of the yellow fever had so rapidly subsided, that the daily reports of deaths from the pestilence had ceased to be pablished. At Mobile the fever had also continued to decrease in virulence. On the plantations, and in various towns of Louisiana and Mississippi, however, the epidemic still continued very severe.  At the departure of the Niagara business at New York was brisk; but the stock market had become further depressed. Exchange on London was firm at 1091 to 1091 ; Paris, 5.121 to Ili; Hamburg, 361 to 361; Bremen, 791 to SO.  In cotton there was but little doing. Holders, however, did not press sales, and this, added to continued complaints from the cotton•growing districts of the injury to the young plants from nix and cattcrpillars, sustained prices. The transactions effected were at the following quotations:—Yew Orb ns and Mobile, mid fair to fair, lite. to 12;c. per lb.; Uplands, mid fair, to fair 111 c. to 12c. per lb.  The market for breadstuff* was rather quiet, and transactions were to rather a moderate extent. Holders were waiting the arrival of further advices from England. Prices were reported as follows : Western Canal Hour, 6 dub. 26c. to 6 dols. 371 c. per barrel, steady ; Genneasee prime wheat, 1 dol. 46c. to 1 dol. 48e. per GO lbs. ; Southern wheat, I dol. 38c. to 1 doL 40e. per 69 lbs.; Indian corn, round yellow, 82c. to 84c. per bushel, steady ; Indian meal, 3 dole. 75c. to 3 dole. 871 c. per barrel.  The provision market was in a healthy state, and at former prices a good deal of business had been doe.  Freights remained unchanged at the steamer's departure, the asking rates being—Flour to Liverpool, 2s. Gd. to 2s. 9d. per barrel ; grain, 81d. to 9d. per bushel; cotton, 3-113 d. to Id. per lb.
The Express. — 1866-01-17 (London, England)

ANOTHER SHOCKING MURDER.  Yesterday morning a man was arrested at Wolverhampton, and afterwards brought up at Petty Sessions, charged with having perpetrated • foul murder in Shropshire. The crime was committed in • village called Diddlewick, about eight miles from Bridgnorth, and about the same distanoe from Cleobury Mortimer and Ludlow. Near to the village is a flour mill, driven by water power, and tenanted by Mr. John Meredith, a bachelor, who has for some ten or twelve years had living with him, as his adopted child, the son of one of his sisters, now deceased. The youth, on Sunday last, was about eighteen years of age. His name was Edward Edwards, and his father was for many years clerk to Mr. Noek, ao auctioneer of Bridgnorth. The mill stands at about four or five hundred yards from Mr. Meredith's bowie or that of any other person ; and it was the young man's habit to go to the mill every Sunday morning to balance his accounts, and also to see to the feeding of • hone and some poultry. Last Sunday morning he was up early, and, after assisting the cowman at the farm, went to the mill at about 8 o'clock. He did not return to breakfast, but no concern was felt, because, on the previous evening, he had talked of taking breakfast with some friends named Leighton, who occupy a farm at Blundell, not far away. When he did not come home to dinner his uncle sent to Mr. Leighton's, but found that he was not there. Mr. Meredith became alarmed, and, accompanied by • young man named Dorrell, who lives with his father on the next farm to that of Mr. Meredith, and by a boy servant, went to the mill. They found the door locked, and the key, with blood upon it, was hanging up in its usual place outside the mill. The mill is entered by steps which communicate with the middle floor. Mr. Meredith upon opening this door found much blood upon the floor, and near to it the hat of his nephew. On looking down through the opening by which the sacks of wheat and flour ascend and descend from the middle to the bottom floor, the searching party saw young Edwards lying with his head terribly wounded, and apparently a corpse. On reaching him, however, they found that though shockingly wounded be was not quite dead. He seemed to have been beaten to insensibility by repeated blows upon the head with some blunt weapon. and then to have been pitched •lown into the ground floor by his assailant. The poor fellow remained unconscious until four o'clock on Monday morning, when he died. The object of the murderer would teem to have been plunder, for Edwards was known to have some little money with him when he went to the mill. Suspicion has fallen upon • labourer named James Childe, aged about thirty. who was seen some little distance from the locality on Sunday night, with marks of blood upon his clothiogoi and flush of money, of which he was previously known to be almost. if not entirely, destitute. if. has been remanded to Bridguorth. •
The Express. — 1866-01-05 (London, England)

THE MURDERER FORA' ARD. —At the last weekly meeting of the Ramie; ite Local Board of Health, Mr. Livick, superintendent of polar., said be bad received a reply hum Sir George Grey to the letter forwarded by the clerk of the board as to his claire for the reward offered by government for the apprehension of the murderer of the three children at Starr's Coffee-house, Holborn. The clerk read the communication, from which it appeared that Sir George Grey did not consider that Mr. Livick was entitled to the reward, as Forward was apprehended at Remoras for murdering his wife and child, although it turned out that he was the murderer of the children in Holborn. Mr. Livick thanked the hoard for the trouble they had taken on his behalf ; and said he was still of opinion that be was entitled to the reward, as he might have conveyed Forward to London on a charge of murdering his three children, instead of taking him before the local magistrates.  A MAN BURIED gLlVE.—Yesterday the DeputyCoroner H. S. Wasborongh held ea inquest at the Rising Sun, Marsh-bridge, St. Philip's tied Jaeob'e H ontretol, on the body of a man named William Penny, aged 73 years. Deceased was in the employ of Mr. Dottie, haulier. of Barton-read, and was engaged in sereenine ashes, which he dug from • large heap, the property of Mr. Bryant, a ma. nufacturer of patent manure, carrying on business at St. Philip's Marsh. The ashes formed • mound from 90 to 100 feet high, had been some ten years forming, and eontained many hundred tons. When ashes were required men were employed to dig and screen them, and in this way the heap became gradually honeycombed, and occasional falls bad taken place. Not loon ago • little boy became buried owing to one of these slips, and although his life was saved he will be a cripple for life. Deceased was working in the manner described when, it is presumed, that that portion of the mound upon which he was engaged, having become undermined, fell and buried him. However, between 1?. and 1 o'clock his wife took him his dinner, but failing to find him at the usual spot proceeded to search for him, but in vain ; his shovel was missing also, but his pickaxe was there. At length the poor woman bethought her that her husband was buried beneath the rubbish, and corn. menced digging with her whole energy, when after some time she came upon the dead body of the unfortunate man. She screamed loudly for essistance,which was obtained, and the body was exhumed, when it was found to be greatly mutilated, the Iliad in particular being crashed in a fearful manner. The jury, alter bearing the evidence, and care. fully inspecting the place, returned a verdict of "Accidental death." The coroner remarked, however, that it was the duty of the proprietors of such works to use the utmost caution to prevent such accidents, and said be would himself address • communication to the owner of the ash heap  is qustios.
The Express. — 1866-08-13 (London, England)

CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT.  (THIS DAY.)  The August session of the Central Criminal Court em opened this morning before the Right Hon. the Lori Mayor, the Recorder (Russell Gurney, Esq,. V.), Alderman Challis, Alderman W. Lawrence, and (thiamin Waterlow, the Sheriffs, tinder-Sheriffs, &c. file calendar, as at present made up, contains the names ILK male prisoners and 16 females, total 113. Of these wieners 40 are committed from the city of London, 58 troia Middlesex, 3 from the Admiralty jurisdiction, 10 from Sent, and 5 from Surrey. The offence. are classified to follows :—Murder, 1 ; feloniously wounding with intent to murder, 10 ; manslaughter, 7 ; assaulting women, 5 ; forgery, 8 ; burglary, 10 ; larceny, 36 ; uttering counterfeit omm, 14 ; embezzlement, 8 ; robbery, 6 ; and perjury, 1. Among the cases not in the calendar is a charge against one of the voters of Maidstone for perjury before the ooremittee of the House of Commons, in reference to the last election for that borough. The prosecution will be conducted by)the Solicitor-General on behalf of the governmeat. The allegation of perjury is that both the sitting cascabers, Messrs. Lee and la batman, gave him a sum of sway in order to obtain his vote on their behalf, and they be called as witnesses upon the trial to disprove the statement so made b 7 the defendant. The Recorder, in his charge to the grand jury, said that although there were a couatderable number of prisoners for trial at the present session, it was not larger than would have been expected considering the interval that had elapsed since the last session. There were several canes of MM. 'laughter, in two or three of which the death of the Assessed appeared to have been the result of a fight between the prisoner and the deceased, and the only question for their consideration would be the cause of death. In one of these cases he was sorry to see that the wife of the deceased appeared to have taken a very active part in the matter, and that, although be himself appeared to be anxious not to continue the struggle, the wife insisted that he should do so, and said that ho bad been called a coward, sad that be must fight. In one of the cases of wounding with intent to murder, a prisoner was charged with Aping wounded his wife, and her statement appeared to be that her husband had dragged her out of bed, and then bfiicted the injury upon her. The prisoner appeared to hare denied that there was any ground for the charge that was made againat him, and although the statement of the prosecutrix was to some extent sofirmed by one of the children, it appeared to him that dt was a case in which they ought to pay attention to the evidence that would be laid before the:u, and particularly to the statement made by the prosecutrix, before they decided upon returning a true bill against the prisoner. The learned Recorder then directed the attention of the mend jury to some of the other cases in the calendar, and =eluded by dismissing them to the performance of their duties.