npedrazzini/19thc_murder_suicide_news huggingface dataset:
The Warwickshire Herald. — 1895-08-29 (Birmingham, West Midlands, England)

BITS FROM BOOKS.  AN ASTONISHING BIOGRAPHY,  The new Life of Li Hung Chang, the "great" Viceroy of China, will come as an astounding sur• prise to people who have cherished the delusion that he is a man of wisdom and virtue. The book is by Professor Robert Douglas, and appears in the Public Men of To-day Series, issued by Messrs. Bliss, Sands and Co. Everyone should read it, if only to see to what an extent duplicity, -meanness, and cruelty are latent in the human son!. "From the time when Li first raised a troop of militia in native province to advance against the original Taiping rebels, down to the time when, grievously wounded by the hand cf a Japanese fanatic, he was compelled to sign the most humiliating treaty that his country has ever executed, his career has been thoroughly characteristic of his race. Cruel, cowardly, and utterly unscrupulous; bliber and bribed; conceited in the density of his ignorance; a compromiser with his enemies, a betrayer of his friends; yet a constant defender of the Chinese Throne, and, so far as he was permitted, a keen advocate of the adoption of Western barbarian methods to keep the barbarians at bay. The earliest and the latest periods of his career exhibit each an admirable example of the treachery of his race. The former is, of course, his horrible murder of the Wangs, whose lives when, they surrendered, he had promised Gordon lives, , Gordon's grief and anger at this inhuman treachery I were unbounded. He felt that his, honour as a British soldier had been outraged, and his sense of humanity was shocked at so foul a murder. For himself he cared nothing, but it was the wrong done to the British uniform he wore which tried him to the utmost. He recognised also the folly of the crime, for he was firmly persuaded that if these Wangs had met with honourable treatment the commanders in other towns would have been prepared to surrender. On Li the whole weight of his condemnation rested, and in the first moment of rage he, for the first time during the campaign, took a weapon into his hand. Armed with a rifle, he went to Li's boat, determined to execute summary punishment upon the malefactor. General Ch'eng, however, had seen enough of Gordon's state of mind when his suspicions had been first aroused with regard to the fate of the Wangs to know that danger threatened, and he hurried off to Li to warn him that evil was intended against him. Li took the hint with an alacrity which shewed that, however little value he put upon other men's lives, he thought a good deal of his own. With all speed he left his boat and fled into the city, where he succeeded in hiding himself, although Gordon sought him day and night. Finding that his intended victim had escaped from his hands, Gordon withdrew his force to Kunshan, and wrote to Li an indignant letter, in which, while proclaim. ling the infamy of his conduct, he resigned the command of the force."  A
The Warwickshire Herald. — 1895-02-14 (Birmingham, West Midlands, England)

EXECUTION AT CORK.  John Twiss, of Cordal, Castleisland„co. Kerry-, was hanged at Cork, on Saturday, for the murder of James Donovan, a caretaker of an evicted bolding ni the estate of Lord Cork, at Glenlara, near Newmarket, on April 21st last. The murder was very leliberate, and an unusually atrocious one, and at the time of its committal was the subject of inquiry in the House of Commons. Another man named Keefe was tried in connection with the crime but was acquitted. The evidence wen to sheW that the prisoner and another man went specially from Castleisland, and, entering the bedroom of deceased, iragged him out of bed and beat him with the stock of a gun. They then dragged the deceased into the yard, end continued clubbing him for sonic time, during which he begged for mercy. After he men left, Donovan managed to crawl back to his sod, but died a few hours later. The son of the ieceased identified the prisoner as one of the men who killed his father. The defence was an alibi. the trial lasted three days, and the jury, after an iour's consideration, returned a verdict of guilty. the prisoner, in a rambling statement, denied his guilt, and alleged that the case had been manufactured. Extraordinary nterest was manifested in the execution, and a fairly large crowd assembled outside the prison. The convict was restless up to midnight, but from that to 6 o'clock slept soundly. He then rose, and, after spending a considerable :ime in prayer with the prison chaplain in his cell, proceeded to the chapel and heard Mass and partook if the Holy Communion. Returning to his cell he ate a good breakfast, consisting of eggs and bread end butter. On, however, entering, he remarked he would eat as hearty a breakfast now as at any time. At three minutes to 8 a procession to the scaffold was formed. Fathers O'Leary and Mintern game first, then the condemned man between two warders, the Gevemor of the gaol, and Billington, the executioner, followed. Twigs walked with great liminess, and on the way protested his innocence. On reaching the door of the execution-room he said: "My sister is the only one I leave after me; she will be lonely," and wept, but recovering his firmness, in a moment he stepped on to the trap loon Billington then pinioned the culprit, drew the cap over his head, and adjusted the noose of the rope round his neck, and in one instant drew the bolt. The drop was about Bft, and it is thought that death occurred immediately. The extraordinary indifference which Twigs displayed las to his fate, which engendered doubts as to his sanity, is further attested by the fact that he increased two stone in weight while in prison. Throughout the night and during the morning the gaol was heavily guarded by police patrols, but the anly demonstration that took place outside the prison was the removal of hats by the crowd on seeing the black flag. Reporters were not admitted ' until after the execution.
The Warwickshire Herald. — 1895-02-07 (Birmingham, West Midlands, England)

FIVE O'CLOCK "MATINEE." A very interesting and novel experiment is that which Mr. Lewis Waller and Mr. H. H. Morell intend to try at the Haymarket. They are about to give a performance of "An Ideal Husband" at 5 o'clock in the afternoon of Tuesday. February 19th. It is believed that there are a large number of men engaged in business who cannot get away from Melt work in time for the ordinary marine% but whc could generally manage to get to the theatre by 5 o'clock. A large proportion of these persons will not, it is thought, come to the evening performance, some because they live in the suburbs, others because they do not care to ' take the trouble of putting on evening dress, and yet do not care tc come in morning attire. I/ the 5 o'clock matisie becomes an institution it will be possible for this class to witness a performance and be home to dinner by 8 o'clock. The Haymarket management have purposely not given the performance on a Thursday, wlue.h is the general early closing day, in order to see whether on an average day there exists an audience for theatrical entertainments at this hour. Messrs. Waller and Morell's experimelit is one that will be regarded by playgoers with considerable interest.  In the highest circles the use of scent is almost wholly tabooed, with the exception of the purest eau-de-cologne. This is due to the known objection of the Queen top perfumes. Her Majesty is, however, fond of eau-de-cologne, on account oi Its refreshing q Wee. A sensational murder has been committed on a railway train just before it reached the station of Boden, in the far north of Sweden. The body of a wealthy timber merchant named Johannson, of Lundsvall, was found in a carriage and £BlO was missing. Medical experts declare that he was killed by a blow from an American sandbag. No traces have been found of the murderer. An interesting fact mentioned by a writer in Germany is that the Emperor's racing stud at Graditz was most successful last year. The horses trained there won about £lO,OOO in stakes, the three owners coming next to his Majesty being Baron I'lunchausen, whose wife is an American woman, Herr von Longpenchotf, and Prince Furstenberg, their winnings being about £B,OOO, £7,000, and £6,000 respectivvr.  ir ttOlDert fiUMWell has written a romance called "A Duke of Britain," whioli Messrs. Blackwood will publish in single volume.  Mr. T. F.. Thiselton Dyer's book, "Strange Pages from Family Papers," which promises to be of considerable interest, is now published by Messrs. Sampson Low, Marston and Co.  Mr. Andrew Lang's researches into the history of Joan of Arc have resulted in his writing a romance of the period, which he entitles "A Monk of Fife." The story begins at once, in aerial form, in the Most* Packet.  li'  ;`  it  •r'. • f‘•:•i  I r  i•t " •  ! • 11
The Warwickshire Herald. — 1895-07-25 (Birmingham, West Midlands, England)

INDIAN ITEMS.  Changes of some importance are pending. which will have the effect of increasing the opium revenue. At the same time the duty on Orissa pave will probably be extended to the Tributary States, on the borders of the Dacca and Bellmore. districts, which have for many years been the scene of extensive smuggling. The Rajah of Sabha has taken the initiative in passing sumptuary laws for his people, which ha• means to enforce. A marriage party is to be restricted to 11, a maximum that is almost unreasonably small. The people, however, are said to be content, and that means much. It will be an advantage for provident persons to have the excuse of being "economical by law, "and thus to be saved the charge of meanness at the hands of spendthrifts. Mr. W. H. Bolton, late Head Assistant Collectorof the Jherruck Division, Kurrachee District, who only retired on pension on the lath ultimo, while proceeding home by the La. Beyne was thrown heavily on the deck, causing serious internal injuries, to which he succumbed.  Missionary enterprise in India has sustained a very great loss in the death of Dr. Phillips, Secretary of the Sabbath School Union in India, who died at Mussoorie some days ago, after 30 years' unselfish and devoted work in the East. Dr. Phillips was a man of broad sympathies and kindly disposition, who loved and was loved by all children. _ Private George Howard, of the Manchester Regiment, was at the Criminal Sessions acquitted by a special jury on the charge of murdering a punkah coolie at Dinapore on the 4th inst. The jury brought In a verdict of not guilty by a majority of eight to one, and the judge accordingly discharged the prisoner. The evidence was not conclusive as to. identity, it being possible that the accused had merely kicked the man, thinking he was asleep, after he had been murdered by another soldier. Some months ago the Mysore High Court (Chief Justice dissenting) ruled that a convert to Christianity forfeits by the fact of his conversion his right to the custody and education of his children. The Indian Christian Association, N. W. Provinces, have now petitioned the Government of India to "exert its influence towlrda securing the same religious toleration towards Christian subjects in Mysore as is accorded to the followers of other persuasions."  The celestial organ presented to Westminster abbey by Mr. A. D. Clarke is now set up in the triforium of the south transept, and at Sunday's service was played by Dr. Bridge. Though in all ' respects a separate organ, complete in itself, it forms part of the grand instrument in the choir. It I. controlled from the same console, and may be used in conjuncti is with the great organ. The action is electric, connection being established by a (*hie 200 ft in length. Since the organ is not visible from the church below, and is separated from the organist by the full length of the building, the effect when the music breaks forth is very striking.
The Warwickshire Herald. — 1895-08-08 (Birmingham, West Midlands, England)

ATTEMPT TO MURDER A SWEETHEART.  At North London Police-court on Saturday, Charles Trew, 21, a driver in the Royal Artillery stationed at Weedon Barracks, Northampton, was charged with shooting at Elizabeth Annison, aged 20, a laundry maid, at Fairbridge-road, Upper Holloway, with intent to murder her.—The prosecutrix stated that she lived at the above address with her brother and hie wife. The latter was the prisoner's sister. The prisoner was at present on furlough, and he had been staying in the same house. During the first 18 months witness and the prisoner had been looked upon as sweethearts, but witness had found another attachment and she did not wish for the prisoner's company. At 2 o'clock on the previous afternoon the prisoner came into the house and said: "What do you intend doing P Do you intend going out with me F" Witness replied: "No; I have told you I don't want you." The prisoner then assumed a threatening attitude and said: "You went out with your cousin last night." She admitted that she did, and he asked her again what she was going to do. She said she was going to have her dinner. The prisoner said: "You won't have any dinner to-day. You are going to die." Then he produced a revolver from his pocket, and fired. She felt herself struck on the shoulder. She ran into the passage, and the prisoner fired two other shots at her, but both shots missed. Then she ran into the back garden, and closed the door, the prisoner firing at her again as she did so, and she scrambled over the wall into the next garden, being subsequently taken to the Great Northern Hospital. The prosecutrix added that when she undressed on Friday night a bullet fell out of her bodice.—Mr. Roberta, house surgeon of the Great Northern Hospital, said that he saw the girl on Friday afternoon. She had a slight abrasion on the back of the left shoulder, and a mark of powder was round the injury. The injury was slight —Sergeant Gale deposed to taking prisoner into custody. Trew replied to the charge: "Look here, this is the lot of letters (producing a bundle of 22) she has been writing to me while I have been hundreds of milpa away, and she had been carrying on with her cousin all the time. On Monday last I pawned my watch and took her to the Oxford. On Tuesday I took her for a walk, and left her late in the evening. I went back unexpectedly, and saw her hanging on her cousin's neck." Prisoner continued: "I fired two shots. I can't say what has become of the others. I bought the revolver near London Bridge this morning for ss. 3d. The lot (cartridges as well) coat es. 2d. lam going to India, and I bought it to take with me, as I have frequently a lot of stuff on me."—Prisoner was committed for trial at the Central Criminal Court.
The Warwickshire Herald. — 1895-12-26 (Birmingham, West Midlands, England)

HONEYMOON TRAGEDY.  VERDICT OF WILFUL MURDER. On Saturday, at Islington, Dr. Danford Thomas held an inquiry into the death of Mrs. Maria Chipperfield, who was found in company with her husband in a cab, both parties' throats being cut. —ln opening, the coroner said he might tell the jury that the man Chipperfield, who was still in the hospital, had made a statement "which was practically an acknowiedgment."—The first witness called was the mother of the deceased, Mrs. Mary Gray, who lives in Pimlico. The maiden name of the deceased was Maria Clarke, and she had been employed as a barmaid. She was of a cheerful temperament, and was usually in good health. Witness last saw her Nix months ago, and since she had heard that she was engaged, but was not aware of her marriage. The deceased once came to her house with a young man, but witness did not know his name.—Alice Stroud, a married woman living in Rochester-row, Weitminater, said the deceased *tem her niece, and had informed her that she was engaged to a young min named Alfred Chipper field. The deceased was engaged as a barmaid at the Star, City-road, but three weeks ago she came to witness, and said she had left there, not being well. The deceased did not appear to be very pleased with the prospect of marriage, and complained that Chipperfield was very jealous of her.—ln answer to The coroner, Detective-inspector Seam said the police had discovered that the couple had been to Cork, in Ireland, but up to the present they had no evidence of a marriage having taken place. The police, however, hoped to be in the possession of the facts later on.—Thomas Brown, public-house manager, 86, Moreton-road, Essex-road, said he was walking along the road on Wednesday night when he heard screams proceeding from the inside of a four-wheeled cab. He saw a young woman with blood streaming from her throat endeavouring to turn the handle of the cab door, and on running forward he saw a man within the vehicle, also with his throat cut. The woman was making a gurgling noise, and threw her arms about to call attention to her condition. She made no reference to the man, , however; in fact, she did not speak. She was taken to a doctor's, and the witness shortly after heard that she was dead. The injured man was conveyed to the hospital.—Alfred Griffiths, a carman, gave similar evidence. In answer to the coroner, he said that when the deceased stepped from the cab with her throat cu', he asked her: "What has done it?" but she made no reply.—Potice-constable 326 A deposed to being called to the scene of the tragedy, and finding the injured man sitting on the seat, with his head reclining and his throat cut. Witness said: "How came you .to do this 7," but he made no reply. Subsequently, before being taken to the hospital, Chipperfield said: "Let me die." That was the only remark he made. —A verdict of wilful murder was returned against Chipperfiel 1.
The Warwickshire Herald. — 1895-06-27 (Birmingham, West Midlands, England)

PLAYS AND PLAYERS.  On Monday night -East Lynne" was again welcomed at the Prince of Wales's Theatre, the audience despite the severely hot weather being very large. Mr. J. Pitt Ilardacre has a good company, and all the incidents of the drama Were characteristically rendered.  Judging by the large audience that assembled on Monday at the Grand to witness "Palka," and the merriment created they were glad of another opportunity of witnessing this charming comic opera. Folbach, the military governor, was represented by Mr. llosuce Lingard, and he gave a tirst-rate conception, of the part. Falka, the heroine, is a eharae. ter which Miss Rita Presano has Made her own, and tier singing and acting were. both alike appreciated by the audience. Miss Olive Marston is a satisfactory Edwige, while Miss Ethel Barrington makes the most of her opportunities in the small part of Minna. The capital part of the Lay Brother Peh. can finds an excellent representative in Mr. George P. Ascot, who played with much drollery. Mr. J. W. Bradbury is fairly good as Tapered, Mr. Fred Parr does well as Arthur, and Mr. Carl More makes a satisfactory 13oleslaa. The opera is very well put on the stage, the costumes are bright and pretty, and there is some very first-rate dancing.  "The Wheel of Time," a drama by Mr. George Comer, opened on Monday at the Queen's, the. piece being in the capable hands of Miss Emma Rainbow and her company. The play is intensely exciting througliout the trials of the persecuted bero.—Laurence Marchant (Mr. John Carsdale)—and his wife, in which part Miss Rainbow finds an opportunity of displaying her mpabilities as an hypnotist, her marvellous power creating a great sensation. The inevitable murder in the first act, of which, of course, ihe hero is wrongly accused, leads to his being arrested and placed in durance vile, but managing to elude the vigilance of the warders, he escapes and finds the usual complement of poor but honest acquaintances. who—as they had not for a moment doubted his innocence—aid him to baffle the police. After having revolved for a considerable time to the tune of hair -breadth escapes. etc.. the enormous wheel stops at the cog marked "Virtue triumphant," the audience showing their appreciation in hearty applause. Besides those mentioned the principals i assisting n the piece are the Misses Lily Herries, Mildred Eversleigh, and Annie 'Marlow, and Messra. Henry Earlsmere, Herbert Princep, Fred Anneelev. 'Harry Trevanion, A. G. Deighton, Fred Owen, 17. Gresscr and W. Anson, the whole of the characters being well sustained.  La Loie Fuller is filling a second week at the Empire. her dancing being in every way an attraction and an inspiration. Miss Fanny Leslie. has re•lvrtrvd, and has come in. for a good share of recogni,..,n for the sparkle which she puts into the sketch of -Jack in the Box." Other supporters of a firstrate programme are Miss Florrie Heywood. Spry and Autins the Oottaways, the Brothers McGrath, ik.: Scott and son, Allan and Hart, Sam
The Warwickshire Herald. — 1899-08-17 (Birmingham, West Midlands, England)

KING'S HEATH POLICE COURT.  FRIDAY.. before Messrs. Lane and 'Madeley. Nocturnal Wanderers. Harry Pritchard, Richard Coweiy, and Joseph Watts, labouring men, were charged with sleeping in a shed at Bank Top Farm, Northfield, on the pevions night, not having any visible means of subsistence, and not giving a good account of thernselves....P.S. Burford stated that when he and P.C. Turner discovered the prisoners in the shed Pritchard used bad language, and became very voilent, at the same time inciting the others to resist being taken to the police station.—Supt. Wesley informed the Bench that he received many complaints from farmers and others as to men sleeping about their premises.—Prisoners said they lived at Northfield, near to Bank Top Farm, but they had lost their way, and resolved to lie down till daybreak. Pritchard added that the police sergeant knew his address as well as he knew it himself.—The Bench committed Pritchard to gaol for fire days, and dismissed his companions with  a oaution. Serious Charges Against a Wife. Annie Wilkins, of Gleave Road, Sally Oak, was summoned by her husband for assault.—She did not appear when the ease was called upon, and the husband Was asked what course he proposed to pursue. He said he was employed at a tailoring establishment in Birmingham, and had only been able to get leave of absence with the greatest difficulty, he was doubtful if he would be able to appear again.. He had not ,wen :,',me Ance the s-urnmons was served on his wife, as on that night his wife burst into the room where he was with us razor, and cut his face. She also threatened to murder one of the children, a litee girl, and he bad taken the child away, knowing that his wife was going about with razors in her pocket. Till recently he had lived apart from defendant for about six months on account of her drunkenness and infidelity. Three days after he returned to ber she assaulted him by throwing crockery ware iii his face, and cutting his head. Inasmuch as it might mean the loss of his situation if he had to appear at the court again, he thought he would now let the matter drop.—The magistrates said they did not like to hear the case in defendant's ebsence. Complainant had set the law in motion, mid because it happened to be a bit, inconvenient I for him to proceed with the case he wished to -withdraw it. The defendant had been guilty of ontempt of court in not appearing to the slam/none, and they should order a warrant to issue against her....Shartly after the rising of the court defendant appeared, and said she had been delayed through ignorance of the neighbourhood. 'The husband was fetched back, and Mr. Lane returned to the Bench, but Mr. Maddeley had, it appeared, left... Mr.. Lane ordered that the warrant should not be executed till the morning oi wednedav next, the day fixed for the Bearing. -Mrs. Wilkins alleged that she had been deserted be her husband, who had left her to starve with four children.