npedrazzini/19thc_murder_suicide_news huggingface dataset:
The Express. — 1851-09-20 (London, England)

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.  THIS DAY.  GREEN WICII. MURDER OF A POLICEMAN.  IVilliata Creasy was re-examined, charged on suspicion with the murder of a policeman of the It division, of the name of James Iltuitie, about the middle of Feb., 18 IS. Mary Ann Davie, who lived with the prisoner, said—l first became acquainted with the prisoner about six years ago, at Hackney, when working with a laundress. It was in the summer, and I east not know the prisoner before. Ile was then lodging about three miles from me, having a wife living at the time, of which I was not aware. About six months after I became acquainted with him I went and lived with him at Deptford, at Gibbons-street. We lived there one week before the murder took place, and three weeks after we went again to Hackney, where we resided for about three mouths, and then removed to Jersey. We stayed there about six or eight months. Ile used to use me very bad, and I said that if ever I went back to England I would make him suffer for that, when he took up a pair of bellows and cut my head open. We came back from Jersey, but where we landed I cannot say, and we lodged near Dooley-street, and afterwards removed to Deptford. We had no settled place for about four months before we came to Deptford. The witness was very lath to say anything in the charge saying that she could not recollect, her memory being so bail. She was certain that he had told her that lie had killed the p Iceman. His right hand was full of blood, and he threatened that if she said anything about it he would be hung for her as well. It was not out of malice that she said this, for she had loved him as she had loved her soul, and would hove dune anything for him. When he struck her with the bellows and cut her head open, she did not say that he did it, but said that she had fallen down stairs. Could not recollect the doctor's name that attended her, she had such a bad recollection, owing to her being frightened by the prisoner's constant ill-usage. She was ill all the time she was atJ ersey. The prisoner said he could, if allowed, explain where he hail lodged fur 28 years past. The magistrate mitt be had much better reserve it for a fitter occasion. . . . .  Ser;rea7ti.:Crpenter Mated that he hut made inquiries at Hackney and at Deptford, and found that the statements as to dates were generally correct. The prisoner had stated that at the time of the murder he was working at Walthamstow, and on making in. quiries he found that he was absent for about twelve mouths; thus including the time that the murder took place. Ou the 10th of July, 1844, ho went away, and has not been heard of since till the prevent time. He bad heard that he was the terror of the place, that ho was tried fur the murder of his first wife, and had ill-used very much the second. He had been engaged the whole of the time in making inquiries, but owing to the length of time since it occurred, was nut able to gather anything more, and therefore prayed for a remand. The magistrate said, under the circumstances he should remand the case for it week.  LORD JOHN ItUsSELL IY
The Express. — 1851-02-25 (London, England)

THE EXPRESS, TUESDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 25, 1851.  THE BUROLART. AND ATTEMPT TO MURDER AT WINDSOR.  Yesterday morning Thomu Ash, who _ en ts.e charge of being concerned in the perpetration of the 'Burdening outrage at Mr. Tucker's, was brought up br essmination before the magistrates at the Town-hall, Windsor. Neither Mr. Tucker nor Mrs. Whittaker were present, and it was stated in court that they are as yet unable to leave their beds. Police-superintendent F. Eager produced a black cloak Turned with blood, which was handed to him in Mr. Tucker's house, and also *handkerchief with the corner torn off, which is of precisely the same pattern as one belunging to Mr. Tucker. George Beagles, a gardener, who was at work in the plantation near Clarence-crescent on the morning of Wednesday, the 19th, stated that he found there a bottle wine and a chisel or " jemmy " which he identified. of Sarah l'iner, the servant of Mr. Tucker, proved that Ail was well acquainted with the premises, having been Ms played to repair the kitchen range. Charles Prinee—l reside at 18, Oxford-road. The priInner Thomm Ash has lodged with me four or five months. The prisoner borrowed the chisel now produced of me on ITuesday afternoon, the 18th inst., and said he wanted to take it to be ground, as he had got to do some business at I the barracks. He left my house between two and three on I Tuesday afternoon. I did not see him again until ten minutes after two o'clock in the morning of Wednesday, the 19th instant. (It will be remembered the burzlary was committed between one end Miry are ; morning). When net him ill he told me that he had desired the other lodger not to have the door fastened, es he 'bosh' I be home in two or three hours. The chisel belongs to a lodger of mine, named James l'hilbey. Jame!, Philtry, bricklayer,sworn.—Have lodged with piloner NOW time, at Mr. Prince's. The prick chisel now produce-1 is my prop, rty. It has been fresh ground since I last used it. Mr. Prince, having told me he had lent the chisel to the prisoner, about 8 o'clock last night I said I I wanted it. The prisoner replied, " I will bring it home at dinner-time to.morrow or ouc in the place of it." About four or five days since f was in a room down-stairs with the prisoner, when he amid " I know where is some money and how I can get it, and I will be • rogue for once." I gave information at the station-house when I heard of the robbery. Superintendent Eager inspected the premises, and found the house had been entered t, thieves, who gained weeds by breaking a square of glass in the kitchen wurdow, and hireing the fastenings with a chisel. The chisel he received from Mr. Beslobrough he had compared with the wine-bin, and it exactly fitted the marks on it. Apprehended the prisoner, and showed him the chisel, when he said be knew it, and that it had been in his basket some time. I tom' parcel the prisoner's shoes with the footmarks on some fresh dug ground in Mr. Tucker's garden, about three yards from the window, and they exactly corresponded. There were also footmarks of another person. The prisoner was remanded until Monday next.  L in
The Express. — 1860-03-31 (London, England)

ARYLEBONE. A young man named Samuel Sands, late footman to Mrs. Samuels, No. 30, Gloucester-plaa, Portman-square, was charged with having attempted to murder George Matthews, butler to that lady. The prisoner was brought up to this court a fortnight ago for disorderly sod abusive conduct at the house, and was then fined 205., which he paid. Prosecutor, who bore marks of injury upon his person, deposed that on last Monday week, after the prisoner was discharged from his situation, a robbery of plate was effected on the premises, and he (prisoner) was suspected as being the thief. Yesterday morning, between seven and eight o'clock, be (prosecutor) heard a noise in the area which proceeded from the water-closet. Having looaked at the door of it without receiving any answer to his question " Who's there r he towed his way in, when the prisoner, who had a black mask over his face, presented • c=at him, at the name Jone threatening to blew out his . _  Mr. Hammlll—How near to your person was the pistol placedT Prosecutor—Within a foot of my head, your worship. I throttled him and held him firmly in my grasp, keeping him down, when he swore that he would shoot me in my leg. I hallooed out for assistance, and continued to keep secure bold of hitontini the arrival of a polioe constable, for whom some had gone in guest. Mr. Hammill— ow do you suppose the prisoner got in ? Prosecutor—Everything was secure between 10 and 11 o'clock last night. He bad no doubt climbed over the area Sergeant Bedford, D 29, stated that upon being called to the boom he found the butler struggling desperately with the prisoner. He (witness) called out, " What's the matter upon which prisoner exclaimed, " I've not stolen anything, but I'll give him something ; I'll do for him." Mr. Hammill—You searched him, of course? Witness— I did, your worship. He had with him a large carpet bag, and in addition to the pistol taken from him he had in his possession a rope, a belt, a mask, a flask, with powder in it, a bullet, and seven percussion caps. (These were produced.) Prosecutor, in reply to Mr. Hammill, he was living in service with me he threatened to stab me, and he swore that he would knock the coaclunaa's brains out. He made a pull at the trigger while I was struggling with hint in the watercloset, hut the pistol fortunately was half cooked. Had it been otherwise I should doubtless have been killed. Mr. Hammlll (to the sergeant)—ls the pistol loaded? Sergeant--It is, your worship. Mr. Horatio S. Samuels stated that when be gave the =into custody a fortnight since be swore that he ) would do for Matthews, who had attended as a Titans against him in the case. Witness had also underdeed that ' er had threatened to stab a butler in 18104blif y where he bad been living. The primmer was committed fur trial.
The Express. — 1860-06-06 (London, England)

OOLIZSPOYDECT.) MALTA, JUNI 1. On the 29th May Salvatore Coatillo, one of °tribelas Moira, arrived at Malta from Palermo in 35 home, 15 of which were occupied in riding to Girgeoti, and 20 in craning to Malta. . _ .  He antes that on the 27th the largest portion of Garibaldi's force, under Orsini, attacked the !...eaeolitan troops at Monreale ; that when fully engaged, Orsini feigned a retreat, and induced the Neapolitans to follow him. In the meantime Garibaldi, with 5,000 men, got between them and Palermo, which place he entered the same afternoon, after a march of 15 miles, having made a considerable detour to deceive the Neapolitans. Signor Castillo is on his road to Genoa. Several of Garibaldi's former associates have arrived from different parts of the Levant, on their way to join him, but none of them are Sicilians. Garibaldi has scarcely any time for aleep. He has no preparation made for his meals, but takes a piece of bread and cheese, or anything else the place affords, as he can get it. All his followers do the same. _ _ _  A short time since • seizure of powder end muskets for Sicily was made by the Custom-hove authorities here, but after some investigation the powder and muskets have been released. It is not permitted to send either arms or powder to Sicily, but they may be sent to Tunis or other porta ; stress of weather may drive vessel, so loaded to Sicily. The government of Naples made a purchase of some 10,000 tons of coal here lately, and • Neapolitan government steamer arrived on the 29th to tow the vessels which contained it.  On the 27th her Majesty's ship Assurance arrived from Sicily with dates from Marsala 24th, Palermo 25th, Messina and Syracuse 26th, at which dates these places were all in the hands of the royalists. Garibaldi's headquarters was at the Porto. The surrounding hills in all directions showed his banners waving. Some of the officers of her Majesty's ship Assurance tried to get to his camp, but the royal troops stopped them at Monrenle. On the 31st a vessel from Terranova arrived, stating that Garibaldi bad entered Palermo, and had possession of all except the fortress and palace, and that the allied squadrons prevented the Neapolitans from bombarding Palermo. Our latest news from Sicily leaves no doubt that Garibaldi is in Palermo, and the king's troops, outlenerallest, outside.  The following is an extract from a private letter dated Messina, May 29 —" On Sunday, at daybreak, the fortresses and all the ships of Tar commenced a murderous bombardment at Palermo. At seven in the evening the heavy firing was again heard ; all the bells were ringing, having hammers substituted for their clappers, which were taken off two months ago. Large bonfires were displayed all over the town. Yesterday (Monday) the bombardment still continued. This morning the report is that Palermo is in Garibaltli's possession. Here the forts and troops are ready to open fire. God help us!"
The Express. — 1860-07-17 (London, England)

MURDER AT GOSPORT.  f irhael Hynes, • soldier, aged 32, was indicted for the wilful murder of Anne Shein. Mr. Poulden and Mr. Beetham prosecuted ; Mr. W. M. Cooke defended the prisoner'. The prisoner, a fine.looking man, was a sergeant in the 16th Regiment of Foot, . stationed at Aldershott, and in March, being on furlough, he went with one of his children to the house of his father-in-law, John Clark, a waterman residing in Chapman's-yard, • passage leading from the High street, at Gosport. A few months ago he received an injury to his head on board the Himalaya, and since then was much affected by drink. On the 9th of March he was out drinking with some soldiers of the Enryalus, oext with Clark, and he eventually returned home much intoxicated : he would not be quiet, many angry words ensued, and the disturbance was so great that the neighbours came in to endeavour to quell it, including the deceased, who was a woman 64 years of age. Mrs. Shein tried to pacify him, when he forced Mrs. Clark out of the room, locked the door, and he was then seen by • person who looked through the window hocking with his drawn sword something upon the floor. He ran from the house when further assistance arrived, his sword and clothes covered with blood, flourished the sword in the dark passage until Clark obtained • poker, and then, with the assistance of others, he was disarmed, secured, sod handed over to the police. Mrs. Shein was found lying upon the floor, her skull fractured, and with many dreadful wounds upon her head and body. Dr. Rundle and Mr. Warlle the surgeon, found that she bad received two pa gashes on the temple, respectively three and four inches long, reaching to the now ; • third cut, three inches in length, on the left temple ; a cut beneath the left eye ; • serious jagged fracture of the skull ; two cuts on the left arm, and some minor wounds and bruises. These shocking injuries caused inflammation. The inflammation was followed by an abscess on the brain ,• in consequence of the abeam, paralysis ensued, and at the termination of a few weeks the unfortunate woman died. . _  Mr. Cooke, in an eloquent address to the jury, urged that there was uo previous malice on the part of the prisoner, and that the wounds were inflicted by -him when he was in a state of temporary rrental derangement, in consequence of drinking, he being previously a sober well-conducted man. Colonel Peacock, Captain Healy, and Lieutenant Le Fenore, who had known the prisoner from 14 to 5 years respectively, gave him an excellent character. Mr. Justice Keating having summed up, The jury, after a lengthened deliberation, found the prisoner Guilty, with the strongest possible recommendation to mercy. His lordship then assumed the black cap, and passed sentence of death in the usual form. The prisoner appeared much prostrated on hearing the awful sentence of the law, and be had to be assisted from the bar.
The Express. — 1860-08-24 (London, England)

THE MURDER IN YIN EDINBURGH. —The post-mortem examination of the body was completed on Wednesday morning, .and a report given in by the medisal men to the authorities. The details have not been allowed to transpire, but it is said that it confirms what was previously only a dark though generally-entertain suspicion—that the murder of the unfortunate girl was by a criminal assault. A number of additional witnesses were examined on Wednesday by the Procurator-Fiecel, incuding the uncle and aunt of the deoeaaed. From inquiries made at Piershill, it seems that the two private soldiers— named Cavanagh and Barr—who are still missing from the barracks, disappeared, the fernier on the Monday, and the other on the Wednesday before the perpetration of the murder. They have not Ilea heard of in town since, and it is therefore considered extremely unlikely that they have been mixed up in any way in this deplorable affair. Tanner, who is in custody on the charge, and Quin, who was in his company when arrested, ivad was apprehended along with him, had not got out on peas on Saturday, and consequently should have returned to the barracks before ten o'clock on that fatal night. On Tuesday, a woman who like many others had gone to see the spot where the occurrence took place, picked up a button from the ground, belonging Ito the 13th Light Dragoons, within a few yards of the foot of the tree near which the body was discovered. The button is now, we believe, in the hands of the authorities. Allman bitumen AT HULL —About half-peat one o'clock yesterday morning a tideweiter, named Richard Harrison, on duty on the south side of the Queen's-dock, at Hull, observed two foreign seamen and • female par him. They halted a short distance from him, and thse walked towards the edge of the quay, the female having bold of one ofthe men's arm. The tidewaiter alluded to then passed them, and they appeared to be in 0011•01111. tion • but when he had got about a score yards from them, he heard a splash in the water and a shriek. He immediately ten to the spot, and perceiving the woman was in the water, he asked them what they had been doing, but got no reply. He then raised an alarm, and another customs officer and a seamancame up with a hook. The woman was got oat of the dock, but died immediately. The two men who were in company with her, instead of rendering any ansigtanoes ran away, though the vessel of which one of them Is captain, lay close to the spot. The body was conveyed to the police-station and identified as that of Lucy Gray, an wifortuaste. about 22 years of me and the two men, who were both captains, and who had been at • house with her, werended during the morning said taken before the stipends'magistrate, charged with causing the death of the and were remanded until Saturday. Their names are Captain Argelander, of the schooner Elo, and Captain Mutchreich, of the brig Diana, both Finlanders. The inquest was being held on the body when our_parcel left.
The Express. — 1860-07-20 (London, England)

JULY 18.  The trial of Thomas Kirkwood, who was charged with the wilful murder of Elizabeth Aim Parker, at Hull, on the Zlrd of April last, under the circumstances already detailed in our columns, was continued after our parcel was despatched. Evidence having been called to prove the insanity of the prisoner, as alleged in the statement of bis learned counsel, The learned Judge summed up. The first question they had to decide, he said, was whether there was iu the case any sufficient or adequate motive for the act. To his mind there was not a tittle of evidence to show that the prisoner could gain anything by what he had done, but there did appear to be some grounds for jealousy. He then commented upon the facts of the prisoner sitting for several hours before the murder with the deceased, and then the deceased, in making her dying declaration, saying that the prisoner had no motive whatever fur the act which he had committed. He regarded the evidence of the poor deceased woman as the most important in the case, and of a character which required the serious consideration of the jury. He advised them to consider first whether there was a motive, because if they found that there was not, then the ground of defence that the act was done whilst the prisoner was labouring under an unsound state of mind would have a double effect. The question they should next consider was the circumstances immediately connected with  the committal of the act. He remarked upon the improbability of the prisoner being drunk when apprehended. At ten minutes pest eleven, it was shown that the prisoner wax sober, and at 19 o'clock, when he arrived at his lodgings, reeking with him victim's blood, it was said that be had had • considerable amount of drink. But he could not conceive how this could have been got without detection in the state in which the prisoner was in the interval, and he confessed this went • long way in inducing him to attribute it to the state of mind which the learned counsel for the defence had suggested. Reviewing the evidence for the defence, his lordship said that it went beck a long time anterior to the offence, end WWI therefore of considerable value, soil more particularly the evidence which showed that there had been other members of the family of unsound mind. Having moat carefully gone through the whole of the evidence, the learned judge instructed the jury that if they found that at the time when the murder was committed the prisoner did not know the character, nature, and consequences of the act, they were to find him not guilty ; but should they believe that he was aware of the character and quality of the act, then they must return • verdict of guilty. The jury then retired to consider their verdict, and after au absence of nearly an hoar returned into court with • verdict of /V.>, Guilt!, on the ground of temporam iruessiZy. The prisoner during the whole of the trial, which lasted between nine and ten hours, stood at the bar with his bead resting on his hands, sod it was only on one or two occasions during the trial that a glimpse could be had of hie features.
The Express. — 1860-08-06 (London, England)

MURDER AT ISIBMDIGHAM.  Francis Price, aged 24, shoemaker, was charged with the wilful murder of Sarah Pratt, at Birmingham, on the 18th of April last. dlbct.2ooner was for the prosecution, and Mr. O'Brien, inby the crown, for the defence. The prisoner on being placed in the dock, and the Clerk of the Antigua having put the usual questions, said he did DOOM to plead ; but, at the suggestion of the judge, he allowed a plea of not guilty to be entered for him. It appeared from the evidence, which was of considerable Lisp, that the prisoner, who is • shoemaker, had been paymg his address. to the deceased, who was a barmaid or aervaist at • small inn at Deriten, near Birmingham, but his attentions did not seem to have been acceptable to her. However, he persevered, and at an early hour on Monday, the 18th of April, he went to the inn before her master and !Sense were up, and seeing her cleaning in the bar he endeavoured to lift her over the counter. She escaped from hlm and be left the house. On the following Wednesday be west to the house of a washerwoman named Holms, who  lived in a court a short distance from the inn. Telling her that be would give her be., he sent her to Mr. Jackson's to my that her sister wanted to see Sarah Pratt. This had the effect of bringing the victim to Mrs. Holmes'. Just as the mistrime of the house had readied her door she met Price rushing out. On entering the house she found the young woman lying in a pool of blood on the door, and on medical assistance being procured, life was extinct. A young baker (Mr. Thomas Powell), whore bakehouse is near Cm court, hearing the cry of " Murder," ran pp to the spot, and saw the murderer rushing from thehonee. He was immediately afterwards taken into custody. On being searched, a nearly new and extremely sharp shoemaker's knife, smeared with blood, was found upon him. The &sonar, considering his age possessed the greatest amount of coolness and self-possession, and volunradmitted that it wall jealousy which prompted him to rid se be had done. Deceased, be said, had that morning positively refused his addressee. When searched he had about him photoptis of himself and the deceased. Just before leaving MosiMr•strest for Moorstreet station, inferring to the dreadful deed, he said, "I did it, and know I shall be hanged for it. I did not think of it five minutes before." The unfortunate young woman's heed was nearly severed from the body. The jury found the prisoner Guilty, and sentence of death was pared in the usual form, the unfortunate man having lirst made a long statement of the causes which induced ' him to commit the crime, but the effect of which is con. tamed in the expressions made use of by him as given above. The prisoner walked steadily from the dock.