npedrazzini/19thc_murder_suicide_news huggingface dataset:
Irvine Express and North Ayrshire Post. — 1885-12-04 (Irvine, Strathclyde, Scotland)

THE CCLPHIT DECAPITATED.  THE execution of Robert Goodall (45), gardener, for the murder of his wife, Bathsheba, on the 15th September, at Walsoken, near Wisbeach, by inflicting wounds on her head, and then throwing her down a well, took place on Monday morning inside Norwich Castle. Berry, of Bradford, was the executioner. Only one representative of the press was admitted. Since his committal the prisoner's conduct had been most exemplary. He made confession of his guilt, but pleaded extraordinary provocation, alleging immoral conduct on the part of the deceased. A Baptist minister (the Rev. Thomas Wheeler) attended upon Goodall. At three minutes to eight he was brought from the condemned cell, and was met by the executioner, who quickly pinioned him, and the procession then moved on towards the scaffold, which was over a deep pit. The acting Under-Sheriff and the jail surgeon were present. Goodall, when the rope was put round his neck, and the cap on his head, exclaimed—" Good Lord, receive my soul." Berry pulled the lever, the trap doors fell away, and Goodall, rho weighed fifteen stones, and had a six-feet drop, disappeared. To the horror of the bystanders the rope rebounded. It was thought it had become unfastened. But on the bystanders looking into the pit they beheld on its floor the decapitated body with the blood oozing from the trunk. The head, with the white cap upon it, was lying against the feet. Berry had tested the rope and the scaffold before the execution. At the inquest the executioner and the jail surgeon were examined as to what occurred. Both, the Governor and Berry stated that the machinery of the drop was in perfect order, and worked satisfactorily. Berry said that after pinioning Goodall he walked him towards the drop, when, being rather frightened, he faltered, so he had to push him forward. After the usual routine, he asked Goodall if he had anything to any. lie answered No. Berry pulled the lever, and Goodall dropped from the top to the bottom of the pit, which was lift. 5 in. deep. His head came off as clean as if cut with a knife. The head and body fell together. Berry said the length cif the drop was not unusual, for at Durham he gave Lawson, who weighed sixteen stone, an 8-feet drop. The rope did not break. Berry could only account for what occurred by Goodall having a thin vertebra,. Mr Robinson, the jail surgeon, said Berry, who was perfectly sober, carried out his duties coolly and properly. On the drop falling he saw the head separate from the body. Death was instantaneous. Wha. occurred could not be foreseen. The long drop and decapitation was a most merciful death—much more merciful than the short drop, allowing a person to struggle. The jury found the customary verdict, and said no one was to blame.  A TELEGRAM from Copenhagen announces death of Duke Frederick of Gluckahnrg. broaer 714 ierr.  Christaiu.  .  4 .0 40, e (4, the IleeV
The Glasgow Chronicle. — 1847-01-06 (Glasgow, Strathclyde, Scotland)

JULY. 8. Sir Robert Peel, in the course of a very able speech, intimates the resignation of himself and the other members of the Cabinet. A list of the new Cabinet is given in all the leading journals of the day. The new premises of the Glasgow Stock Exchange are opened with great eclat. A public dinner is given on the occasion, and the leading merchants of Glasgow appear and take part in the proceedings. Rejoicings for the Repeal of the Corn Laws take place all over Scotland. A thunder storm occurs in Glasgow, Crleff, Duntanker, and other towns in the West of Scotland, accompanied by heavy rains, by which rivers overflow and destroy a great amount of property. Lord John Russell issues an address "to the Electors of the City of London," which is much admired for its boldness of tone, and the determined spirit evinced by the Noble Lord in the cause of commercial freedom. The Anti-Corn Law League is dissolved, and a National Testimonial to Mr Richard Cobden resolved upon. Lord John Russell is returned, without opposition, as member for the city of London. Mr Macaulay is returned as member for the city of Edinburgh; in opposition to Sir C. E. Smith. A great fire occurs at Quebec, by which the theatre and other buildings are destroyed, and 48 persons lose their lives. The ceremony of the coronation of Pope Pius IX. takes place on the 21st ult. A dreadful accident occurs in a mine near Truro, by which 43 men are drowned. Mr W. Campbell of Tillichewan, contributes I" to enable the working classes of Glasgow Royal Botanic Gardens free of charge. A frightful accident takes place on the Paris and Brussels Railway. Forty lives lost. Demonstrations in honour of Sir R. Peel and his I free trade measures take place in, Paisley, Calton, Bridgeton, Glasgow, and other towntof Scotland. 22. The question of the repeal of the Sugar Duties begins to be agitated in Parliament. The new Pope comes out boldly as a reformer, astonishes his brother cardinals, and submits new measures which are received by the people with acolamatioo. Lieut. Hawkey is acquitted from the charge of wilfully murdering Lieut. Seton in a duel. "The Maiden City Steamer" is lost, and the passengers miraculously preserved. Mr Milner Gibson is re-elected member for Manchester. 29. In the house of Lords the question of ' of landed proprietors in Scotland to grant Free Church is introduced by the Marquis bane, who presents 298 petitions on the subject. Mr O'Connell, in the house of Commons, gives notice of his intention to move for certain returns relating to the effect of the union tetween the two countries, with the view to a reveal of the same. By the Overland Mail news arrives to at Loodianah 210 men, women, and chil by the fall of buildings in which the ' were located—a dreadful storm of wi ness of the building, being the cause. At this date the Cobden Testimonial  6. The  , £5OO to view the
The Glasgow Chronicle. — 1847-12-01 (Glasgow, Strathclyde, Scotland)

MURDER OF AN AMERICAN MISSIONARY BY CHINESE PIRATES.  The Rev. Walter M. Lowrie, who was a missionary at NingpO, had been appointed to meet, with others, at Shanghai, to revise the translation of the New Testament into Chinese. He journeyed from Ningpo, to Shanghae the latter part of May, travelling by native vessels via Chin-bae and Cha-poo. It being necessary for Mr Lowrie to return temporarily to Ningpo, and as no other opportunity of going presented itself, he decided to return by the route he came. He left Shanghae on Monday the 16th of Await, by the canal for Chsepoo, being accompanied by his servant and another man, natives of Ningpo. Be arrived on Tuesday morning the 17th, at Cha-poo, and immediately engaged one of the Chin-hae passageboats to convey him to that place. There being a very strong southerly wind, the vessel did not set sail until Thursday morning at 9 o'clock. When the boat had proceeded some eight or ten miles; they perceived a piratical craft bearing down upon them. As it approached, Mr Lowrie took • small American flag in his hand, and went on the bow of the boat. The pirates soon clearly mettle' sted their intentions by firing upon the boat, and when alongside, boarding it. There appears to have been some twenty or more men, armed with gingals, matchlocks, spears, and swords. The boatmen and native passengers bt log all very much terrified concealed themselves as much as they could, while Mr Lowrie sat down in the cabin watching the work of destruction, and gave them the keys of his trunk and boxes. Though they indicted injury upon the boatmen and took the clothes from of them, yet they did not molest him,' nor rob Dim of his watch or money that was about his person. When the pirates began to tear up the door to rummage the hold, Mr Lowrie went on deck, and seated himself in front of the mainmast. As they had nearly finished the work of pillaging the boat, it appeareg to occur to them that Mr Lowrie would report them to the authorities on his arrival in Chin-hae ; and the question was started whether to kill him at once, or throw him overboard. This last being resolved upon, two of the ruffians attempted to execute the fell purpose; but not being able to amomplish it, a third joined in the murderous work, and they succeeded in throwing him into the sea. As the waves ran high, though he was seen two or three times, he soon sank to rise no more. The pirates proceeded to disable the boat by cutting its sails, taking away the rudder, dm., and then departed, leaving it to the mercy of the winds and waves. As soon as the crew had reocvered from their fright, they tried to fit up the boat to return to Cha-ppo. Not being able to steer the vessel, they ran her on a low shore. Mr Lowrie's servants reached Cha-poo In tho evening, and immediately laid a statement of the affair before the Chinese authorities. Their depositions to these particulars were taken down and the officers said they would take measures immediate!" to apprehend the guilty perpetrators.—Correspondent o the China Mail,
The Glasgow Chronicle. — 1847-04-21 (Glasgow, Strathclyde, Scotland)

EXECUTION  OF CATHERINE FOSTER.  The wretched convict Catherine Foster, condemned to death by the Chid Baron Pollock at the late Suffolk Asides', for the murder of her husband three weeks after marriage, by poisoning a dumpling with arsenic, expiated ler dreadful offence on Saturday morning on the scaffold adjacent to the county gaol in the town of Bury St Edmunds. Those persons who have perused the evidedce adduced at the trial have doubtless been at a loss to conceive the motive that could have induced her to destroy her husband, whom she had apparently loved from a child, and now that her life has been justly forfeited to the law, and her confession is published to the world, it will be found that it contains nothing that can be construed into a motive, and the reasons, therefore, which tempted her to commit the murder must remain enveloped in mystery. Earnest were the solicitations of those whose duty it was to attend her after her condemnation that she should divulge the whole of the facts connected with the crime for which she was about to suffer; but although she made it frank avowal of her guilt, she studiously avoided alluding to any circumstance which might lead to the motive for which she perpetrated the horrid deed. The following is a copy of her confession:— " Bury Gaol, April 12, 1847. "To the Governor—First of all I must confess that I ism guilty and very guilty of this awful crime, and well -deserve the death that I am condemned to die; and as I am soon to stand before my Heavenly Judge, I wish to speak the truth. I am sorry to say I bought the poison at the shop of Mr H. Ely, chemist, Sudbury, three days -before I mixed it in the dumpling which I gave to my -husband. It was served to me by a young man in the shop. Mr Ely was not present; had he been present he would have known me, as I had beer frequently at his shop on errands for my mistletoe when I was at service. The act was entirely my own. No person persuaded me to it, and my mother had no knowledge or suspicion of it. I bad no cause for complaint against my husband. He was always good and kind to me, but I never had any affection for him, and wished to go back to service. Ido not wish to live, for I never could be happy in this world, and I hope, through the merits and blood of my Saviour, and a sincere repentance of this and all my sins, to obtain forgiveness of God, and to be received into heaven. I die at peace with all, having no complaint to make of any witness that appeared against me on my trial, and full of remorse for the crime that brings me to this premature death. I wish to express my grateful thanks to the Rev. W. West, the chaplain of the gaol; the Rev. Mr Ottley, my parish minister: and the Rev. Mr Eyre, for their great attention to my eternal interest, and for the spiritual hope and consolation I have received from their instructions and admonitions. I should wish Mr Eyre to attend me In my last moments, and earnestly request that be will do so. (Signed)
The Glasgow Chronicle. — 1847-09-08 (Glasgow, Strathclyde, Scotland)

ENGLISH ABSENTEES IN FRANCE.—From a re- the night of the 21st ult., when an inhabitant of N York dead through the heart on his ewnewly-married oontile, annonnoineheir nuptials, and , turn which has just been published by the Minister -of the Interior, at Perim, of the number of foreigners 116, In Frame on the let of August instant, it aware that there are 75,000 English residents in different that bee WU shot d been home. On probing the wound the doctor exacted from it a bit of printed. paper, which had irow"wirefamult,'lrgrornbee; trre.er7eati n u by the assassin in loading his gun. It was ~ , ,_, ,__ party. An part of a leaf from Madame de Steel's romance ofannouncing the ,„eenit.....,ese... n attack was projected on t u b the discovery Of a coaspiracy in that onlitrawdillarY el. mance, and procures pretext to the Austrian go- stating that, as they were about proceeding to Lisbon, Mr Harrison might wish to see his aaughter first. Mr Harrison returned a very sensible answer, 7' g° e y and replied that he should be very glad to see them never been - parte of the country. At Paris and environs there ;,. • e the home of the Lostrian consul as t i rise IA both. In lame of this, a reconciliation has and the carpenter re.9 0 g PO .... a k,omnue, and soon afterward. the corresponding dist 'ferment for Interfering. Like the conspiracy at Rom% Tcsial""' are 35,000, at Boulogne 7,000, Calais and Buse fragment wu discovered in the pocket of a douanier, been off an Mr and Mrs Price will shortly visit t .4. The ship with her stores we... Ville, 4.000, toe. k the average annual expenditure residing near the murdered 's 'donee He 11l stated that arrangements were made and sold upon Red Island, hut the chests, hamm of which amounts to 10/44, 044°°°'SS° sterling' has in consequence been tto gaol at Bs. nue " was disev"r" by the ride. A nP91.1641" a 411. ibr I between the parties some time ago, but Rec., of the crew were left at Quebec, but have ./.I.ia glom Me follow ag from 'tome, 23d alt. : the fa robe it off on the Or that the lady was been brought over in the Indus, by Messrs R ft iti4doeiniandaludinoludould• hvaithe gariditerraneantourist, t1;;;t: when T k - oleo to the vicnini dant has decidedly pronounced in favour of the t'" yeeSg• She has shown a spirit of her own in the J. Gill of this port, lato owners of the Core.— Pope. 7 matter.—Lecal looptr. India, &O; Vifi , ,  Alfred General Peyron, the full vigour the advantages are eonaequently _ of fatal resolution. most contradictory versior Airenlited during two days the cause of Mt they contradict each According to soma. Count Montesquieu had pt. to his days in consequence of grief duced by um misconduct of a near relative. Ac‘ big to others, the Count conceived the unfortunate Of risking an enormous sum in a speculation in ad be was reduced to despair by seeing his compromised by Inevitable losses.
The Glasgow Chronicle. — 1849-03-14 (Glasgow, Strathclyde, Scotland)

TIONAL DEBT.—This gentleman has revised his From the National Intelligencer. arithmetic and recast his plan of paying off the naThe following is extracted from an official letter tional debt, which appears in a new edition of his pamphlet. Taking the mean of different calculaof the officer commanding the United States Naval Forces in the Pacific : tions by Mr. Maco6Tegor, he assumes the annual value Flag Ship Ohio, San Francisco, 22. of realised propropertyty in Great Britain at 270 millions Within the last three weeks we sterling, in Ireland at 40 millions; and taking a low ... . " average of rents and profits (stated by Mr. Macgrehave certain accounts of fifteen murders. In one gor to range from 3 to 6 per cent.) at four per cent. instance an entire household of ten persons—a respectable ranchero, hi, wife, two children, and six he finds that the aggregate annual value represents servants. The man named Reed had been very sue- a capital of 7750 millions. The national debt is 772 cessful in the diggings during the summer, and had re- millions. "Now, I think," says he, "you would turned to his house near Santa Barbara with a large call this a very comfortable state of figures when amount of gold. His house was surprised by an applied to private lifs. Striking off the millions, it armed party, and the whole family, as above stated, is precisely the same as the situation of an indiviwere barbarously murdered, and the house rifted of dual who, with a capital of £7750, was indebted its golden treasure. The perpetrators of this horrid only to the extent of £772. What would be your deed are still at large; of the other five cases, four opinion of the sanity or rather the honesty of an mare highway robberies committed on persons return- dividual who, being in such circumstances, would ing with gold from the mines. In a word, I may run about the country declaring that it was impossay with truth, that both person and property are Bible for him to pay his debts, and that his friends insecure in Upper California at this time; and lam must come forward to assist him? I should like to sorry to add that, in all cases of outrage and vio- see the satiric grin with which Mr. Commissioner would receive such a tale. You will see that lence, as yet discovered, emigrants from the United States, disbanded volunteers, runaway only ten per cent. upon the capital of .£7,750,000,000 would pay off the debt of X 772,000,000 ; and with sailors, and deserters from the army and navy, are believcd to be the perpetrators. The mutinies at- the view of making the payment of this ten per cent. still more easy, I would give ten years to pay tended with murder have been fully confirmed, and have cauSed much uneasiness to shippers of gold it, with interest in the meantime at 4 per cent. And thus I have established my second proposition, that from this coast. it would be very easy for the owners of realised property to pay the debt."
The Glasgow Chronicle. — 1849-10-17 (Glasgow, Strathclyde, Scotland)

HORRIBLE MURDER OF A WIFE AND CHILD BY THE HUSBAND AND FATHER.  Between 7 and 8 o'clock on Saturday morning the inhabitants of Clapham and the neighbourhood were thrown into a state of excitement ard consternation by a report which was circulated, that a double murder bad been committed in one of the courts in the immediate vicinity of White Square. Immediately after the circulation of the report, great numbers of persons proceeded to the neighbourhood of White Square, where they learned that a man of the name of Weston, a jobbing gardener, had shortly before murdered his wife and child, by cutting their throats. Amongst those who visited the spot was one of the overseers of the parish and a gentleman of the name of Parrot, a surgeon residing in the neighbourhood. Upon entering the house of the unfortunate man a dreadful scene presented itself. The wife and the child, who was about two years of age, lay weltering in their blood, with their throats frightfully cut across, and both were quite dead. In the apartment there was a child of about 12 years of age, who, however, could give no account of the way in which the tragic deed had been committed, and who appeared to be quite unconscious of the appalling scene which surrounded him. The wretched man stood near his victims, and appeared from his unconnected and wandering words to be labouring under insanity. Upon being questioned as to the person who committed the horrid deed, and the manner in which it was committed, he replied in a mild and hurried tone of voice, "You did it." In a moment afterwards he surrendered himself without the least attempt at resistance, and apparently without understanding the dreadful position in which he was placed. He was immediately removed in the custody of the police to the Larkhall Lane Station-house, and very shortly after was taken to the Wandsworth Police Office, to undergo an examination before the magistrate. The room in which the prisoner and his victims were found presented a wretched appearance, and it was stated by the neighbours that for some time back Weston had been in great distress, and had in consequence addicted himself to drinking. From both these causes it is supposed that temporary insanity ensued, and that, labouring under that state of mind, he committed the horrid deed whilst his innocent victims were asleep. No noise of any kind was heard by the neighbours, and from this fact the supposition that the crime was committed while his wife and children were asleep was strengthened. During the day a great number of persons visited the spot, and many of the neighbours stated that for some time back the prisoner had manifested indications of a disordered and unsound state of mind. During the day great crowds of persons were attracted to the spot from motives of curiosity, and from the statements of some of the persons who assembled and who were acquainted with the deceased, there is every reason to believe that the unfortunate man was labouring under temporary insanity. at least when he committed the murder. G'iobe of Saturday.
The Glasgow Chronicle. — 1849-01-31 (Glasgow, Strathclyde, Scotland)

GAMEKEEPER.—FRESH FRtin THE GAME Laws.—On Sunday last. George Mk continues to be watcher in the Duke of Cleveland's employmm. 2 percent., and left his home at Roby Folly at 6 o'clock a.m., and, .A 11 per cent. In not returning, a search was made, and the body was is worth 1 per cent, for short found on Tuesday last, in Trundle Myer's plantai. tion. He was lying on his face in a pool of blood, el, for silver bullion continues to be consider- his head being almost blown off. He had no gun. of A loaded double-barrelled pistol was found in his mitk is C, that which arrived by the coat-pocket. He had found some hare snares on be gui, of, will sell at the former, the Saturday, and went on Sunday to the planta- Candlish ' - edance of money and tion to watch. It is conjectured from the position religion at of the body that the bullet hit him as he stood with their guard 'or the purposes folded arms, and he fell on his face with his arms from less to t increase the in that position, death being instantaneous. It is der a most t. ye advanced singular that the Duke's hounds passed through slavery. If Dr. 3 closed yes- the cover on Monday without discovering the body. such tricks as that e state of the He was last seen at Kevistone gate, between 7 and tish Central Railwa -ate of interest 8 o'clock on Sunday morning; it is supposed that ed voice of the sha7rt ikes monied the murder was committed about 10 o'clock. The trains was entirely dii inquest was fixed for Thursday. at Bolton Gantz, by means of legislati as the stock where the body lies. This second murder and his friends do not getting better through the within 12 months of his gamekeepers. It force the people of Scotlant orth-Western, which closed is remarkable that the .o shot Shirley in day travelling, whether L. + 136 to 138, with February last intended t‘ killed May and not for such abstinence or no, th Shirley; May gave against Thompson and in a much higher degree by fore Nr probable Dowson on the tria murder.—Observer. man to go regularly to church, 1),„ "set, will ed in Lou- every man to worship God in h 4. the if October, to practice many other spiritual tyre, to cut report which the common sense of every man as North- in Folsom. revolt. Notwithstanding the deploral. ands, with , therefore, ot the Sabbath Alliance funds, tie says, he at once value personal and religious liberty will do erice. A great quantity keep an eye on the doings of its members. 41so to Valparaiso for mer- We have already extended our remarks so account of the state that we can only allude to the continued forbearat, d mentions that a which the Sabbath Alliance men show towards tht merchant from the Sunday carriages of their own friends. This is a murdered with a glaring and indelible blot on their scuteheon. Truly "the legs of the lame are not equalr—Saturday Post.