npedrazzini/19thc_murder_suicide_news huggingface dataset:
The Pontypridd District Herald and Rhondda Valley, Llantrisant, Caerphilly, and Mountain Ash News. — 1892-12-24 (Pontypridd, Mid Glamorgan, Wales)

THE ALTHORP MYSTERY.  ANOTHER INCOMPLETE JURY.  Judge Kennedy on Tuesday opened a special assize at Northampton for the trial of George Macrae, who is charged with the murder of Annie Pritchard, a dressmaker, who had lived with him, and p irt of whose remains were, in August, found in a ditch near Althorp. The trial was begun at the last assizes, but was postponed owing to the default of a juryman, who, during luncheon time, absented himself from the court. _ .  The appearance of the prisoner in the dock excited general comment among those who saw him at the assiz--.8. His face was much more careworn, bet, as before, he appeared self-possessed, and watched every detail of the proceed. logs with keen B 4szixcl, Q.C., opened the case for the prosecutim. He had scarcely begun, when a medical certificate was handed in to the effect that one juryman, named Everard, was ill. After consultation it was decided that this jury, like the one at the assizes, must be formally discharged. This was done, and thereupon all the jurymen, except Everard, were re-sworn, and another put in Everard's place. Naturally this second contretemps produced much excitement in the court.—Mr. Buszard resumed, commenting on the fact that the case rested on circumstantial evidence.—Much time was taken up with the evidence of the Borough surveyor, who submitted plans of the premises where the murder is alleged to have occurred. In cross•examin,tion for the defence, he was interrogated as to the fact of surgeons having lived near the warehouse, it apparently being the object of Mr. Attenborough thus to account for the finding oi the calcined bone producztd in the case.—Witnesses were called as to the finding of the remains at East Haddon.—The trial as adjourned.  One of the oldest inhabitants of Edinburgh— Mrs. Gifford Allan—died recently at the age of 93. She was related to Sir Alex. Crichton, for severs years physician at the Court of St. Petersburg. At Gravesend Mary Batch was summoned for neglecting and ill-treating Jane Hilmar), aged two and a half years, who, being a cripple, was sent to her house for the benefit of her health. The parents of the child were similarly charged. The child when found by a constable was in a shocking oondition, weighing only about 151 b. BAtch was sent to prison for two months, but the parents were discharged. The slaughter-houses of Belgium are controlled by the municipal authorities, to whom they belong. The killing of cattle is there under the supervision of i OspeAors. On Monday the body of • seaman which had been found floating in the Bristol Channel, supported by a lifebuoy, was landed at Tenby by the crew of a fishing smack. From the papers on the body it was found to be that of Oaptain Brown, of the vessel Daring, which seems to have sailed from Wicklow last month, and has been presumably , lost. A silver watch and a small sum of money ' were found on the body.
The Pontypridd District Herald and Rhondda Valley, Llantrisant, Caerphilly, and Mountain Ash News. — 1892-01-09 (Pontypridd, Mid Glamorgan, Wales)

EXECUTION AT LEEDS.  On Tuesday mo'ning James Stockwell was executed at Leeds fir the murder of Kate Dennis, a s-rvant girl, 16 years of age. Stockwell, who was 32 years of age, and a farm labourer, was a married man with one child. Au inn at. Linthwaite, near Huddersfield, was one day left in sole charge of Kate Dennis. Some hours afterwards the body of the girl was discovered in a room at the inn. The girl's throat had been cut, and it appeared ske had first been outraged and then murdered. Suspicion fell upon Stockwell, who was found to have' decamped. For 16 days he managed to elude the vigilance of the police ; hut at the end of that time he crawled to his mother's house in the early morning a miserable, half-starved object, and asked for food. At his desire his mother summoned a police officer, into whose custody Stockwell surrendered himself. He stated that for over a fortnight he had lived on the moors. The defence was largely a plea of impulsive insanity and hereditary taint, but it was unavailing, and he was sentenced to death. Tile execution was carried out privately, the High Sheriff having decided that no reporters should be admitted. The hoisting of the black flag was witnessed by • small crowd of persons. Stockwell, on being told by the chaplain that he would have to suffer the extreme penalty of the law, was somewhat overcome, having hoped that the plea that insanity existed in the family would save him from the gallows, but, recoveting himself, he said he was prepared to die and that he was drunk when he killed the girl. He also wrote letters to his relatives cautioning them against the evils of drink. Billington was the executioner, and he allowed a drop o 8 f* Death was instantaneous. An inquest was held upon the body, the usual verdict being returned.  The following is a copy of Stockwell's last letter written from Armley Gaol, under date of January 4 :—" My dear Father and Mother, Brothers, and Sisters,—l write this short letter to you in the hope that you will bear your troubles which have so greatly distressed you of late. I was very pleased to see you all W-day, although I felt greatly troubled at the time. Many a prayer have I offered to God, both on Wialf of you and myself. Has He not said, 'Come unto Me all ye that labour, and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest?' I leave with you my most affectionate love to my dear mother, may God have mercy on her, and if it be His will, return to her her health and strength again. Grant, 0 Lord, Thy protection and mercy to all those from whom I am about to be separated in this world, especially to my father, mother, sisters, and brothers, and graciously supply all their needs. Comfort and support them in al: their troubles. Deliver them from all temptation, and bring them to everlasting life, through Jesus Corist our Lord. Amen. Remember me kindly to Abraham Lassey and Joe Sharp. So now I will bid you all a long and affectionate farewell, hoping to meet you all hereafter.—From you affectionate son and brother,
The Pontypridd District Herald and Rhondda Valley, Llantrisant, Caerphilly, and Mountain Ash News. — 1892-05-21 (Pontypridd, Mid Glamorgan, Wales)

HUSBAND POISONING IN HUNGARY.  The trial of three peasant women, named Piosieski, Kurjakow, and Kernaez, who were charged with having committed a series of murders by means of arsenic poisoning, has been concluded at Neusatz Ujvidek. rionieski was accused of poisoning her husband and her father, Kurjakow of poisoning her lover, and Kernaez of murdering in the same manner her husband. The two former prisoners attempted to account for the presence of the arsenic found in their houses by stating that they used it for killing rats. In reply to the questions of the judge, the woman Kernaez declared that her late husband was suddenly seised with convulsions last year, and died on the fifth day after being thus attacked. She admitted that she had a lover whose name Was Csirits, and that serious quarrels had occurred between her husband and herself on account of her relations with' this man. She was unable to offer any explanation as to the presence of arsenic in the body of her husband. The mother and daughter of the prisoner, however, and several witnesses who were called, stated positively that the husband of the accused had died very suddenly and that the symptoms of his illness seemed to point to foul play. The report drawn up by the doctors who made the post-mortem examination of the bodies, and the anal 3 sis made by the district sanitary council, were then read to the Court. It was stated that disdnct traces of arsenical poison. tug had been found in the bodies of the husbands of the prisoners Pionieski and Kernaez, but that on the other hand the quantity of arsenic discovered in the body of Stejeits, Kurjakow's lover, was comparatively small. Tte public prosecutor demanded that sentence of death by hanging should be passed on all the accused, whose guilt, he contended, had been incontestably proved. Counsel for the defence claimed, on the other hand, that the evidence had not established the guilt of the accused, and on that ground urged that they should be acquitted. Pionieski was found guilty, and WAS sentenced to penal servitude for life. Kurjakow and Kernaez were acquitted on the ground that there was not sufficient evidence against them, and were immediately set at liberty. The Public Prosecutor gave notice of appeaL  In a duel between an infantry officer and a law student fought at Leipzig the latter was killed.  A fatal accident has occurred at Bournemouth Gas Works. A labourer, known to his comrades as "Dorset Jack," was working at a line of rails, near the gas works, leading a horse attached to oae of the trucks when by some mischance the horse knocked the unfortunate man down. He fell across the rails, and the truck passed over him, indicting terrible injuries from which he died.  It was Lord Bramwell's wish that hi v funeral should be carried out as quietly as possible, and the ceremony at Woking was therefore of a private character. The cremation of the remains occupied about three hours. Lady Bramwell's remains were cremated at the same place about three years ago.
The Pontypridd District Herald and Rhondda Valley, Llantrisant, Caerphilly, and Mountain Ash News. — 1892-10-15 (Pontypridd, Mid Glamorgan, Wales)

SHOCKING MURDER AND MITTILA TION IN GLASGOW.  At noon on Tuesday the Glasgow police received information of a shocking murder which had been perpetrated at %Vest Lodge, Pollokshields. The house in question has been for some time in the care of a gardener, named William McEwan, a native of county Down, Ireland. About 6 o'clock in the morning McEtven't assistant, a man named McDougall, went to the former's room and tapped at the window, as was his custom. McEwan immediately replied "All right. lam not going out this morning. lam sleepy." McDougall then went to work, but returned at 9 o'clock and went to the room. Obtaining no response to the knocks, he entered the room and was horrified to find it and its contents smeared with blood, and McEwan himself missing. McDougall immediately communicated with the police, who, on examining the room, found that a terrible crime had quite recently been committed. The bedclothing was covered with bloo I, and the bloodstained clothing of a woman was found in a heap on the floor. A trail of blood led from the room into the garden, and following this the police came to four mounds in a flower bed. In the first mound was found the head and nght arm of a woman. Beneath the second they came upon a woman's trunk from which the whole of the internal organs had been removed. The left arm was unearthed from the third mound, and the removal of the fourth mound disclosed the missing internal organs. The body was thatdbf a well-nourished woman, between 30 and 40 years of age, but up to the time of telegraphing its identity had not been established. Tie police search in the room in which the murder had been committed failed to discover any weapon which the murderer could have used for his purpose except an ordinary axe which had evidently recently been washed, but which still bore a few stains of blood. Outside the house, however, following some more blood marks which led to a tool house, the police discovered among the rubbish lying about a half of a large saw which was clotted with blood and sticking to the teeth of which were several ragged pieces of flesh. There could be no doubt therefore that it was with this instrument that the murderer has sawn to pieces the body of his victim. It is probable that the crime was committed during the night. McEwan has worked in the district as jobbing gardener for several years past, and bore a good character. He was engaged to be married to a domestic servant living in the district, and the mother of the girl went to the house in great fear that her daughter might be the victim, but this happily was not the case. McEwan'e description has been circulated throughout Scotland, and the police were scouring Glasgtm in the hope of capturing him. He is described as a man about 30 years of age, sft. Bin. in height, with dark hair, sandy whiskers and moustache, clean shaven chin' I and sharp features.  The new docks at Avonmouth, Bristol, are to omit a million of money.
The Pontypridd District Herald and Rhondda Valley, Llantrisant, Caerphilly, and Mountain Ash News. — 1892-12-31 (Pontypridd, Mid Glamorgan, Wales)

THE POLLOCKSHIELDS TRAGEDY.  At the High Court of Justiciary, held in Glasgow on Tuesday, Lord Adam on the Bench, William M'Keown, a gardener, and Thom Is M'Neilly, a fireman on board an Anchor liner, were indicted for the murder of Elizabeth O'Con• nor in tke mansion house of West Lodge, Pollockshields, on October 11. M'Keown was caretaker in the mansion, which belonged to the family of the latp Bailie Wilson, one of the magistrates of Glasgow. The family were at the time in the country. The allegation against prisoners was that they had been drinking in the city, where they met O'Connor, and drove with her to the house, where the three spent the night together. Next day a neighbouring gardener, named Alexander hi'llougall, discovered the murder. He had been in the habit of breakfasting with M'Keown, but on the morning in question he found the house empty, and a large pool of blood on the floor, and portions of a woman's clothing lying about. With the aid of the police he afterwards traced the blood into the garden, where in four pits, separated trom one another by several yards, the mutilsted remains of the woman were found buried about a foot beneath the surface. A hatchet and a saw, both covered with blood, were discovered in a cellar. M'Keown two days afterwards was apprehended by a gamekeeper while crossing a field in the outskirts of the city. On seeing that he was about to be run down, he made an attempt to out his throat, but his captor succeeded in preventing him from inflicting a fatal injury. lid'Neilly was apprehended within his house in Finzieston•street on the evening of the murder. He admitted that he had spent the night in the room with M'Keown and the murdered woman, but denied all knowledge of the crime. He had left at 6 o'clock in the morning and had t. one to his work on board the Furnessia. Up to that time there had been no quarrel between his fellow prisoner and O'Connor. The case was not concluded when the Court rose.  Mr. Gladstone is spending Christmas at Hisritz. He will return to London on January 9  By the capsizing of a pleasure yacht' in the harbour at Sydney several lives have been lost. A boy, aged thirteen, named William Smith, was killed at Bolton Station on Monday. By mistake he got into an express train to Blackpool, and on jumping out again fell between the moving train and the platform, sustaining hue frightful injuries that he died immediately.  France has been doing honour to M. Pasteur, who is now a septuagenarian, and it will be a relief to her to turn a moment from the Panama scandals to the contemplation ot a career which she has good reason to think with pride. M. Pasteur's genius has won for him the admiration of all who are capable of forming an independent judgment as to the value of his work. He has opened a new era in biological research, and everyone knows hlw splendidly his discoveries have contributed not only to the intellectual progress, but to the practical welfare of mankind.
The Pontypridd District Herald and Rhondda Valley, Llantrisant, Caerphilly, and Mountain Ash News. — 1892-09-17 (Pontypridd, Mid Glamorgan, Wales)

THE ALTHORP MURDER.  STATEMENTS BY THE PRISONER. The wife and brother of the accused man Macßae have had an interview with the prisoner in gaol. The prisoner at first said he did not wish for any of his relatives to visit him, aa he knew it must be painful to them, but afterwards said he was glad they called. He was particularly talkative about his children, and Edward said, "If you die I work my finger nails off in order to take charge of them and your wife." The prisoner said, " I know you will, Edward," and he then crossed his foreheld with his hands, and with uplifted hands, remarked, "It all seems a dream." Edward and Mrs. Macßae were so overcome with grief that they burst into tears. The accused maintains that he is quite innocent of the charge, and is certain that he will be able to prove tils innocence in the shocking transaction. His real trouble appears to be the welfare of his little boys, who think he is away from home ill, and for his wife. The latter assured him that she freely forgave him any sin he had committed with Annie Pritchard, and earnestly bade him to keep a good heart. He smiled, and repeated that he was innocent. In a letter to his wife the prisoner protests his innocence of the crime.  At Northampton Divisional Court on Saturday, Andrew Mcßae, 32, grocer's assistant, of Birmingham, was brought up in custody, charged on suspicion with causing the death of Annie Pritchard at Althorp, near Northampton. Great interest was evinced in the proceedings, and the court was crowded.—Superintendent Alexander, chief of the Northampton County Constabulary, stated that he was called to East Haddon on Sunday, August 7, and ascertained that a body had been found there sninus the head and arms. The body was wrapped in part of a chemise, a night-dress and two skirts. There was also a quantity of lime in the package. A sack in which the parcel was enclosed bore the nante of "Rae, L. and N.W., Northampton."—Lizzie Pritchard, of 86, Sparkbrook, Birmingham, deposed that prisoner lived next door to her, and was on intimate terms with her family. Witness last saw her sister Annie alive towards the end of March. Witness identified the skirts, chemise, dress, and a photo produced as belonging to her sister.—Harriett Durrell, of St. John's-street, Northampton, identified the prisoner as the man who went with a lady to a house in St. John's-street in June. The lady was confined on June 23rd, and left on July 20th. Witness identified the photo and skirts as having belonged to the woman.—Louisa Bland, secondhand clothes dealer, of Northampton, said she bought a jacket, chemise, and other articles (produced) from the prisoner about July 91h.—Prisoner was remanded until Monday next.  The police are still busily engaged in investigating the Althorpe mystery. Doubts are expressed in certain quar.-kra as to whether the mutilated body is really that of Annie Pritchard. The sceptics contention is that the remains could not have decomposed to such an extent in so short a time.
The Pontypridd District Herald and Rhondda Valley, Llantrisant, Caerphilly, and Mountain Ash News. — 1892-04-16 (Pontypridd, Mid Glamorgan, Wales)

IMPORTA N T DISCOVERY.  A curious discovery has been made which, if the testimony were trot already tolerably conclusive, would suffice to eats lish a strong link in the evidence tcuding to identify the man 1/OW in prisou on the clil.rge oh murdering his wife at Windsor with the author of the crime at Raiuhill. It will be reniembered that the device adopted by the latter in order to get rid of the clothing of his wile and children was to iktck it in a box and forward it to a fictitious address. Williams, it has now transpired, did piecisely the same with much of the personal property of his wife Emily, and the box has just been found at a remote railway station, namely, Rairrmlale, in Gippsland. The box bad been returned to Melboutne, and has been opened by the police. There was a label on the top, with the address written on it, " Mrs. L. Dods, Railway Station, Ban-owls.le.' This was at once recognised to be iu the handwriting of Williams. When the clothing contained in the box was examined no signs of bloodstains were die coveted, but a number ..f articles which had unmistakeably formed part of the murdered WOIWAll's wardrobe were found. These west) constituted of hate, feathers, collars, and numerous other articles of feminine attire, including some dresses  made in the latest fashions, and several pairs of boats and shoes of a peculiar pattern. A portion of a dress piece found in tits box exactly matched some in terial found amongst tise prisoner's luggage. lu the box, too, there was a petticoat, minus a waistband, which latter at ticle was also found in Wiiliams's baggage. med., saes in the box were identified with those worn by Mrs. Williams on the Kaiser Wilhelm on the p °Nage out from England. Further corroborative evidence was furnished by the fact that the bottom of the box was lined with a portion of the Liverpool Evening Exprem of August 29, 1891, and a further portion of the stole paper was found in the house at Windsor in which the murder wss committed. " aItoRT.HIGHTEDitIas " Owing to Williams still maintaining that he is shortsighted. his eyes have been examined by oculists. They pronounced his sight to be good, and that he could read very well Wiabout glasees. This only confirms tke result of a eratag& in resorted to by the gaol °facials, in order to prove the unfounded nature of his complaints regarding the removal of his s.ectacies. It appears that one morning, very shortly after his arrival in the Melbourne gaol, be asked that his glasses might be returned to him, and the request was refused. A few hours later one of the officials entered his oell with a list of his erects, awl desired him to look at it and see that it was correct. Willimins at once fell into the trap, and after reading the list over without any apparent difficulty handed it hack to the. official, saying, "Yes, it is quite correct." This was taut mount to an adiniesion that he amid read well ennugh without spectacles.