npedrazzini/19thc_murder_suicide_news huggingface dataset:
Swansea and Glamorgan Herald, and South Wales Free Press. — 1861-06-26 (Swansea, West Glamorgan, Wales)

CHARGE OF MURDER AGAINST A WITZ.—Ort Tuesday Jane Davies was committed for trial at the Cardiganshire Assize on a charge of wilful murder. The prisoner is about 35 years of age, and was until recently an a cultural servant in the neighbourhood of Landissul. She has been represented as a person of weak understanding but those who knew her best say that, under the sem: blance of simplicity and ignorance, she was exceedingly shrewd, particularly in matters of business. In December last she married David Davies, a shoemaker, and the couple occupied a cottage on the roadside in the beautful valley of Clytwr, near Alltyrhodin. The marriage ceremony was hardly completed before they commenced quarrelling. She was evidently disappointed with her choice, and at last she threatened "to conquer him," and talked to the neighbours of the probability that he might suddenly die, as he was not in good health. It was also known that she bought poison, and that her husband was frequently ill after taking herb tea, and obtained relief by 'vomiting. The Sunday preceding his death, she asked a woman to buy his clothes when he died, and the whole of her proceedings were suspicious in a very high degree. On Thursday, the 16th of May, he was in his ordinary health in the morning, and about 11 o'clock she was engaged in washing in front of the house. Her neighbours heard a noise as if a man was 1 in great pain, and after awhile they spoke to her, and went into the house, where they saw him lying upon the hearth-stone convulsed, and in great agony. When asked what was the matter with him, she said, " I don't know; I gave him nothing." In the course of an hour he died, exhibiting all the symptoms of dying from strychnia. She was taken into custody by P. S. Richard Roberts, on suspicion, but not until she had sufficient time to conceal any poison that remained, which her friends advised her to do at once. She told the police that she had been to Pensarn shop and had bought something to kill rats, and she said that she had got it for the purpose of destroying herself. Whea charged with giving deceased poison, she said, "There no living with him, and I don't care a straw if I was gone the same way as he is gone." She continually kept saying that she did not give it him—" I am free from the crime laid to me: I bonght it to poison myself, and not to kill rats." The stomach of the deceased was discovered on examination to be in a very inflamed state, evidently arising from some deleterious substance; and the contents having been sent to Mr. Llerapath, the eminent analytic chemist at Bristol, that gentleman discovered unequivocal traces of the presence of strychnine. Several other suspicious facts were deposed to at the coroner's inquest; and the jury returned a verdict of "Wilful murder" against the wretched woman, who will be tried for the crime at the ensuing assize.
Swansea and Glamorgan Herald, and South Wales Free Press. — 1861-07-24 (Swansea, West Glamorgan, Wales)

THE FATAL ENCOVNTER IN NORTLIUMBERLAND-ETREET.  On Monday morning Mr. Bedford, the coroner for Westminster, held on inquest on the body of William Jelin Roberts, whose death resulted from injuries received from Major Murray in the extraordinary encounter in Northumberland-stree. The inquiry was held in the board-room of the Charingcrobs Hospital, which, though amply large and roomy, was densely crowded throughout the entire course of the proceedings. Medical evidence as to the injuries sustained by the deceased having been given, the most important other testimony was that of Mr. Henry Ransom, as follows— lie said that about half-past 11 on last Friday week he was called down by an alarm that a murder was being done in Mr. Roberta 's room. He at once ran down, and afterwards saw a gentleman at the front door who was wounded at the nook. The gentleman asked for hie umbrella, and said "Let me go away to my office." Witness told the gentlemen he was badly wounded; to , which he replied, "Am I?" and witness said, "Yes, you are fearfully wounded." The gentleman said then, "Its that fellow upstairs named Grey." Witness at once replied that there was no one in the house named Grey, and if he meant the person with whom witness had wen him going to the house half an hour before, his name was not Grey, but Roberts. Major Murray replied, "He told me his name was Grey." Witness had seen the gentleman whom he afterwards found was Major Murray walking down with Mr. Roberta from Hunger' ford market about half an hour or so before the affray was discovered. Witness saw that Major Murray was blooding, and told him he had better see a surgeon at must, and he accordingly walked with the Major to procure medical assistance. On their way to the doctor's witness asked the Major how it had all occurred, to which he replied by the following statement, which we give as made by the witness to the coroner. Major Murray said, "I got into a penny boat at London-bridge and came down to the Hungerford pier. While coming across Hungerford market Mr. Grey met me, and, lifting up his hat, said, ' Have I the . pleasure of addressing Major Murray ?' to which I replied, 'Yes, my name is Murray; what is your business with me?' Grey replied, 'I think your company intend to enlarge their capital, or to borrow capital, or something of that sort.' I said, 'I think there is something of the kind intended, but recollect I am only one of ten directors' if you will give me your card and address I will call' on you on Saturday (the next day), between three and four, and talk about it.' Grey replied, 'My offices are close hero, and my name is Grey; let us come there, then, and talk over it.' I then walked with him to his offices, and we sat down in the back room and talked about the business. After we had talked some time Grey got up and went to a desk behind me, and rummaged in it, aa if looking for some papers, but suddenly he turned round with a pistol in his hand and shot me in the back of the neck. 1 felt a sting and heard the report, and in a second or so afterASSAULTING INiii.F.
Swansea and Glamorgan Herald, and South Wales Free Press. — 1861-04-03 (Swansea, West Glamorgan, Wales)

HERALD,  MURDER OF A WOMAN BY HER SISTER..  A fearful crime was committed on Tuesday morning at the Militia Barracks, Kingston-upon-Thames. The victim was a fine young woman, only 20 years old, named Diana Wickens, and while asleep she was murdered by her step-sister, a married woman, the wife of a sergeant. major in the 3rd Regiment of Royal Surrey Militia, who, while in that state, nearly severed her head from her body, dividing the right carotid artery, the jugular vein, and the windpipe with a razor. It would seem that the husband of the wretched woman, who is highly respected by his officers, had left his bed about 7 o'clock in the morning and gone out into the barrack-yard, leaving his wife in her own bed and the unhappy deceased in an adjoining room, where she slept upon a temporary bed, made up for her upon a sofa, and his wife must have got up almost immediately, taken one of her husband's razors from the drawer in which it was kept, and then proceeded to the adjoining room, where the unhappy deceased was lying. There appears to be very little doubt that at the time she was asleep and lying on her left side, and while in that position the murderess inflicted a dreadful wound upon the right side of the neck, which was uppermost, thus causing the injuries above described. Instantaneous death would not appear to have been the result, for there is very little doubt that upon the first sensation of pain the poor creature raised one of her hands, and in so doing recived a severe injury upon the fingers. She then got out of bed and staggered for about six feet into the adjoining room, whele she fell dead, literally covered with blood. Dr. Cory and Mr. Sudlow Roots, burgeons at Kingston, the latter gentleman being surgeon to the police force, were speedily in attendance, but ii/1 human aid was, of course, unavailing. After committing the , dreadful 'deed the wretched wom.in went out to the barrack-yard. where she met a -serg..ant belonging to the regiment, named Oates, to whom she at-once statiedthat she had murdered her sister, and she then vtentio the pump and washed heir hands, 'which were covered with blood. A constable belonging to the V division of police was then sent for, and the prisoner was taken to the police station, where the charge was entered by Mr. Armstrong, the inspector on duty. It may be naturally imagined that the occurrence created the most intense anxiety in the town, and, as is usual in such cases, there was a variety of rumours as to the cause of the dreadful occurrence, among which was one that the deed was committed through jealousy ; but, so far as the evidence which was given before the magistrates went, there does not appear to be any ground for such a supposition, and at present the motive for the commission of the dreadful crime appears to be entirely a mystery. The murderess, who has manifested great excitement since the crime, has been committed for trial.
Swansea and Glamorgan Herald, and South Wales Free Press. — 1853-01-12 (Swansea, West Glamorgan, Wales)

THE KIRWAN CASE.-The Examiner, in the '. . human, conneted of the murder of hi ~ . augmented means of consumption possessed by tM workineto one month's in sprisonment for stealing half n wvereign and wittleas with a conspiracy to criminate him, and denied c an e a mrate stamment of the circumstances attenditm it ; Mr. Skinner and Mr. Fglon were for the at Merthyr.-- -Eleanor Cronin was !sentenced to six [Sacks produced by the polimman.] Witnms said lie all knowledge of the matter until prosecutor went tip to him to fill. The notee earl, who bad been in communication upon the subject with hits and other friends, had been Mr a Court of Criminal Appeal. For the last wrtnight amount of M 363,712 ; and the whole of this accession of ___ could identify them as being those ot the company.-weeks imprisonn lent tor stealing monies at Merthyr. Min and accused him of stealing the feed. Ile answered accused. that " the example of Mr. Kirwan shows the necesmty the press has been Meming with letters disputing the revenue may be ascribed to the extension of tradine ahoy Wilhams, charged with stealing coal at Aberdare, . .. Pm Nm 13 count constabular de osed to havine ' Y y' P I d e in fun that it was in the Wre-deck.--The chainuan pt tte o ce. e t ioug it towanxious that lie should acce 1 tli H I I 1 everthat they wens disposed to take tou favourable a view of Airs. !Maxwell was first exatnined, and deposed that justice of the conviction of this man. The writers have transactions. Indic Property-tax there is an increase, on was acquitted.--Mary Parry was sentenced to one visited the prasonees house and asked if they la any summed up leaving it to the jury to say whether they were las Ca talailities but it• lie relt he could perform the duties to she had been acquainted with Mrs. Smith and Miss Lit- Ind the areument all their own way for no tele is dis- the y.mr's returns, of M204,714-in tM Crown Lands, of week's imprisonment for stealing coal at Merthyr.— sacks. Prisoner's wife mid that they had three sacks satisfietl of the identity of the prisoner. The jury acquit- the benefit and'advantage of the County he would do so. tlepage priw to her marriage ;at that time Mrs. Smith e • ' k f d ' • posed to undertake the tumracious tas o graving a m . £llO 000-in the Miscellaneous of M1a1,488-and in the Ellen M'Carthy wee eentermed to two weeks imprison- which her husband brought from the Dowlais stables on ted the prisoner. epaytnents of Advances, of '£2-2e,354. On the other Inasmuch, though, as lie had not had a legal education and kept a school at the Spa, Gloucester. In June last Capt. criminal of his last chance of life. Justice has thwe- " ment for stealiog coal at Merthyr. Saturday week. Witness subsequently found the sacks, ABERDAItE.-David II owells was charged with stealin - • g had other avocations to follow in connexion with the Maxwell was about to leave Kemerton Priory for London, fore had no cham ion in this onemided discussion, arid hand, we find a decrease of L 186,199 on the Taxes for the
Swansea and Glamorgan Herald, and South Wales Free Press. — 1866-04-28 (Swansea, West Glamorgan, Wales)

THE CASE OF CHARLOTTE WINSOR. In the Exchequer Chamber on Tuesday morning lArd Chief Justice Erie, Barons Martin, Channell, and Pigott, and Mr. Justice M. Smith, sitting in error, the case of The Queen v. Charlotte Winsor came on for discussion. The prisoner was sent up by the governor of the gaol at Exeter, and was accommodated with a seat under the council table generally appropriated to attorneys. She aopeani to have suffered considerable mental anguish since she appeared in the Queen's Bench in January last, and she has frequently expressed a wish to be relieved from h.r anxiety, either by the carrying out of her sentence or by its being commuted into something definite. During the reading of the record, when reference was made to the charge of murder and the sentence that she be hanged by the neck until she was dead, she exhibited some slight emotion, and shook her head :  At the sitting of the court, Lord Chief Justice Erie, addressing the Solicitor General, asked him what he prayed of the court.  The Solicitor General ;with whom was Mr. llannero, said that he was present on the part of the Crown, as he understood the prisoner wished to assign errors with reference to the judgment of the Court of Queen's Bench, and that he might be permitted to join in error. Mr. Brewer ,one of the masters of the Queen's Bench; then read the habeas corpus directed to the Governor of Exeter gaol to bring up the prisoner and his return, that he had in obedience to such writ brought her into court and surrendered her to their lordships' custody. Mr. Chitty, the clerk of assize for the Western Circuit, produced the record a the proceedings In the trial, and on the writ at error in the Queen's Bench. . . . . . . .  The Solicitor General suggested that the record, &c as In Mansell's case, should be taken as read. Lord Cluet Justice Erie said he thought it was bettor not to take anything as granted, and he directed that the document should be read. Mr. Brewer then read the document. _  air. Folkard, with whom wee Mr: alinkruoved on behalf of the prisoner, who was to court and wee the plaintiff In error, for permiulon to assign errors, and that they might be annexed to the record. Lord Chief Justice Erie : Let it be so The errors were then handed in and annexed to the record.  The Solicitor General said the usual course was flrstio assign counsel to the prisoner and then for counsel to move to assign errors. Lord Chief Justice Erie: Then take It that I have assigned you two learned gentlemen as counsel for the prisoner The Solicitor General On the part of the Crown I pray to be allowed to join in error. Lord Chief Justice Erie Let It be so. We propose to take the arguments in the case on Friday week, which will give the eight clear days notice required by tile law ; and In the meantime we commit the primner to the gaol of Newgate, to he again brought op on Friday week The prisoner was then removed in custody to be lodged in Newgate.
Swansea and Glamorgan Herald, and South Wales Free Press. — 1866-02-10 (Swansea, West Glamorgan, Wales)

DOWN TRAINS. I whet, Ball, and Co. have the accounts in hand, and ' ' Lisentiousness the says), drunkenness, dishonesty, Policeman, whose duty it was to promenade one of the was a dispute at the last Court hale there seems no doubt that a very considerable surplus falsehood, and infidelity are rampant through the Prin- terraces in the neighbourhuod, but having won the Th a' Velma h tl 'ft t d --------.. 8 young emg i n w u reeen y in ic e a Eaoie am! P DI I• In a M am •m am am iaml m pm p m pin a m m . •i As I 3 123 1 3 3,1 3 31E:12 12 Es 121 1 111 Ex 15,1011 1a 5 23 • 1 2311 2 will exult, taking the aaseta in the most favourable light. cipality. Judges and juries sympathise with drunken affections of a young lady, this Romeo of the force lind evere vvound on a student at Boon has been sentenced 6 0 915 10 0:I 46 I g 4SO 810 10 o'B 10 The debts and liabilities range, according to tee estimates murderers, and permit extortioners to rob widows and got admitted to the house, with the lad is connivance ste imprisonment tier f.o.ur months, 'but has obtained a sTindregyr - I 925111711ar4 PO 6 67 11 7 •142 11 7 made, to nearly trro millions sterling. The higheet orphans. Sberiffa and their deputiee plunder innocent The man begged to be let go, hitt his yruthless captor' fell pardon from um King. amele 15 10 to 33 12 15 !...--... 65 --.,.. 76815 15 7461120 12 15 Cheltenham BIS 1 30 12 59 testimony is borne to Mr Sayin's character, and with people by virtue of their offices. The lead's Day 12 50 35 11 15 1 0 1 pan. 39 12 3 826 II 60 How TO KNOW Goon Itle..er.-In the present state cteup'et,"w'ar ia a day took him to the police-station. 10 50 44 1 24 160 520 34 920 149 918 I NI 149 due forbearance on the part of those who have had for drunkenness, dancing, idleness, games, and wanton To persons wishful to extend their trade, or inorease et the meat market, all rentable information regarding eeremewetOnfeduis.)ar. 149 II 0 se 1 33 5 0 580 44 1 IWI • 47 1 financial relations with him, there is every expectation of lewdness among the Welsh. their income, the greatly increased domaud for Tea that the characters by which good and. wholesome meat Bristol] dep.l 946 80 45 12 40 ,4 0 60 8 0 810 0 hill ability eventually to clear himself and assume his There was considerabie improvement during the next is likely to follow the late reduction of duty, renders the may be known is valuable. Such information is very 221 11 ad 35 18 235 1 g 6 88•949 2 II 10 10 ,Vl' 2 21 port former position. century. Rut this was owing almost entirely to the ereee e f avourable opportunity for persons with spare fully given in Dr. Letheby's " Report" on the cattle bCREW
Swansea and Glamorgan Herald, and South Wales Free Press. — 1866-04-14 (Swansea, West Glamorgan, Wales)

OTHER NOTICE WHATEVER FOR KILLING HIM, 117 T A DESIRE TO OBTAIN HIS MONET. It WSW the only way suggested to me to effect that end. It did not occur to me to strip hint of his clothes, but I left him as soon as I could, and never went near him afterwards. There was a great deal of blood on the hatchet, which I hid in the wood near the works, where it remained for about three weeks. Then I fetched it, and washed it in dirty water, and took it back to the house where I borrowed it. There was also some blood on my trousers, but, as it was not very observable, I went straight to my lodgings, took off my clothes. dressed myself, went to Mountain Ash, thence to Aberdare, returned home to my lodgings about eleven o'clock that night, went to bed, got up about half-past seven the next morning, put on the same trousers, went to the works, rubbed some oil on the bloody parts, then went back, washed and dressed myself, bresktastei, left for New bridge, spent a great part of the day there, returned to my lodgings, and hoped that the murder would never be found out.  Had my trousers washed at Cwmpennar, before I went to Cardiff on the ht of October. My conscience gave me great uneasinesi at times, but! never mentioned the - .  circumstances to any one until now. I might have asked the blacksmith at Newbridge, whether he had heard of a man murdered at Mountain Ash, with his head cut off, but I do not recollect doing no in those words. lam sincerely thankful to you, (the Chaplain) far the instruction you have given me. I trust that it Will be of eternal benefit to niy Noel. Through what I have heard preached here, I have been brought to feel that religion is a reality, and that repentance towards God, and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is the only way of salvation, which I never realized before, although I once made a formal profession of religion ; lam a great sinner and have no hope in myself, but as you tell me the blood of Jesus Christ eleamirth from all sins, even the sins of a murderer, I feel that in him there is hope even for me. If you think proper it is my desire to partake of the Lard's supper before I die; as my trust is only in Him. May I through you urge all young people to take warning from me and not to neglect the Lord's Day, and the means of grace, for like me some of them may be left to themselves, and be tempted by Satan to commit great crimes. I wish to thank the High Sheriff, Deputy Sheriff, the Magistrates, the Governor, the Doctor, and all the officers of the gaol, as well as others who have taken an interest in my welfare for their kindness to me. I beg you to send my dying love to my poor afflicted father, stepmother, brother, and sisters. I ,hope they will forgive me for bringing such dreadful trouble upon them. Much more than for the value of illy worthless life, do I grieve for the disgrace brought upon my innocent family, whose character is unblemished. May God have mercy upon my soul, for Jesus Christ's sake."
Swansea and Glamorgan Herald, and South Wales Free Press. — 1866-03-31 (Swansea, West Glamorgan, Wales)

THE ROAD MURDER.  Mr. Baker, Inspector of Factories, in his annual report makes the following remarks:— Mr. Sub-Inspector Kent has been at length enabled to resume those active exertions which his unhappy position in the public mind had 80 long rendered him incapable of. With respect to him, I venture new to advert for a few moments to that which I can aP^.k of, perhaps, better than anybody else- namely, the wrong which hae been done him by the public for r long a period in condemning him, almost unheard, in a matter PO vitally important to him in every way, ....f,om which he is now, I trust, completely exonerated. It is a proverb almost too trite to repeat, and many have found it so in life, that they who have done , a man an injury never forgive him. Yet there has been an exception in this axiom in Mr. Kent's case ; for no less important a person than the mayor of a large manufacturing town was lately heard to declare that so deeply did he feel the injury which he himself had committed on Mr. Kent, by condemning him unheard, if a national subscription was commenced on his behalf, he would he one of the first and largest contributors to it. lam sure I can say if the tenour of Mr. Kent's life for the last four years bad been known to the world as well as I have been able to observe it, his anxiety to clear his name from unmerited condemnation, only rendered more intense by the agony of doubt as to the actual criminal; the threatened blindness of his wife, now unhappily terminated in paralysis; the isolation of his family from society, added to the cares of an infant family almost dependent upon a comparatively small offioe held by one advanced in life, that public sympathy always generous to suffering, and doubly so to injustice, might have probably replaced the sum he has been compelled to appropriate from his private resources, partly in elucidating so myeteriousa murder, and partly in defence of his wretched child, who, as a woman, has done what she could to vindicate the reputation of her family, and to clear it from a participation in her crime. Soon after the Road murder first attracted public notice, I was obliged to ask for Mr. Kent's removal from Wiltshire into a quiet district in Wales, when that which he was in would not tolerate him; and when I would have sent him to another, that also threatened to rise in public array against him to avert my intention.. Thus driven from district to district, a mark and a scoff for everybody, his distress of mind can only be faintly imagined, but cannot be portrayed. His name is, however, clear from the foul blot which it has so long sustained from the act of wild revenge of a child, who, to say the least of was born of a mother who for years lived and who died insane ; and it seemed to me due to him that I should take this opportunity of referring to the circumstance, in the hope that there may be left to him many years of official services now that so much of his past calamity is being forgotten.