npedrazzini/19thc_murder_suicide_news huggingface dataset:
The Blandford and Wimbourne Telegram. — 1883-01-26 (Blandford, Dorset, England)

TRALEE.  Silvester Poll and Thomas Barrett, the two men convicted at the last Cork assize of the murder of a farmer named Thomas Browne, at Clastleialand, on October 3rd, in broad daylight, wale on Tae,day morning eaecuted in Tralee gaol. Browne was a husbandman or good repute, aho held a feral at Dromultau, near Custleistand, under Mr. Robert Fitzgerald. On the date in question he we, working in a field near his house when two men, Eubsequently identified as the now executed crimlnals, went up to him, and, apparently without any warning, shot hun dead. A boy named O'Connor witnessed the ocJurrence, which took place in the atternoon, in a neighbeurhood where many persons were passing to and fro. Both men were tried at Cork Assize last month, before Hr. Justice Barry, and after having been twice tried, toe jury in the drat trial haviug disagreed, they were convi-tied and sentenced to death. Aar w.,Odi the executioner. arrived at Tralee on Toursday last, and at once directed the erection oi the scaffold, which was built by wokmen from Dublin, no local men being obtainable for the purpose. It was situated in the east angle of the gaol yard, and was a substantial structure of about 12:t. high. the two wretched men did not polts a very restui nigut, Barrett rising about ex o'clock, and. Poll three•quartere of an hour after hies. Nett oer MA any breakfast or any refreshments, but at seven o'clock they were waited upon by the Rev. Father Riordan, who administered the sacrament to them and celebrated mass in the chapel of the hospital. Tan culprits were conducted into the presence of Marwood a few minutes before eight o'clock. Walla they were being pinioned, Poll cried out, " declare before may God that I am innocent of tie murder. I neve: murdered Brown, or took auy part ia iC, but I forgive them that have sworn against me." Barrett made 'a simlar statement, declaring that be neither murdered Brown nor took part in any outrages. After the process of pinioning had been competed, the culprit, each accompanied by a warder and preceded by the sub-sherdf and the nub-governor of the gaut and the chaplain, walked from the cell in the naspital, where they hod been pinioned, to the scaffold, a distance of about eighteen pacts. Each Mae was attentive to the exhortations of the priest, and tervently repeated the responses to the service for the dead as read by the Rev. Father Rio:A in. They mounted the steps oh the scaffold uaaasisted, and took their places oil the drop without making any further observationf. Harwood qttickly accomplished M1041411%1 operations oi 61 rapping the logs of the culprits, end at live minutes past eignt, toe bilt was drawn, an ,di tee men appeared to the ivatantaueously. Tad tuack flag was immediately hois ed on the wad tit all out-butioing .n the yard. The wife ot ,he man Poll was near the gaol when the black flag was ran up. Alter tile bodies bad remained hanging for an hour they were cut down, and the customary inquest was I held.
The Blandford and Wimbourne Telegram. — 1883-05-04 (Blandford, Dorset, England)

THE REMARKABLE MURDER AT WINFORD. At the Somerset Assizes at Taunton, on Monday, - Joseph Wedlake, a young man of 30, described as a farmer. was trie I befo-e Mr. Baron Maddleston for the wilful mut. ler of Mark Cox at Winford, in the coal districts of Somerset. Cox is only 17 years of age, and was a miner in th eeryicss of the Ironworks Company. He bad been in the habit of going to his work very late on Sianday night in order to begin the first thing on Monday morning. For some time past he has gone to his work liesitating'y, expressing his fears that some calamity would befall him. On the night of Sunday, January 7th, he went to work about midnight, having orevi easly expressed increased reluctance at going. The next morning about five o'clock his body was found on the road, with his skull split across. There were two sets of terriele injuries, either one of which would have caused it is heliey?d instant death. Th re having been some ill blood between him and a man named Thomae Wedlake, the brother of the prisoner, the former was taken, an I some blood was found on his clothes. He was detained till January 23th, when he made a statement, inculpating his brother, the pHs mer. The prisoner at first endeavoured to cast the blame upon another Wedlake, named Job, but after he had been a little time in confinement he made a remarkable admission that he had killed the man with an axe in mistake for another named Thatcher, of whom be was jealous. Fri the house of his uncle, with whom Joseph We-flake, on the farm, served as assistant, there lived a Miss Pearce, for whom he had formed a violent attachment quite unknown to her. She wag keeping company ostensibly with the yourg man Thatcher. Oa one oces,sion Joe Wedlake hell a lantern in Thatcher's face saying "Let's see whether you are good looking or no l" Prisoner told the police superintendent he WAS jealous of Thatcher, and should not have dene what he slid but he had bad a drop of drink He r—,mtnitted the deed with the axe which his uncle used to kill the pigs with. He had had it on his mind ever since, and should not have been able to keep it any longer, for he handed all the time he saw the poor young man he had killed. Although prisoner was defended, there was no excuse for him, and the fact that he had taken one life when he htd intended to take another of course makes no difference in the eye of the English law. This the judge plainly told him when the juty returned a verdict of guilty. He was sentenced to be hung.  "Mr. Johnsm, in hie Chemistry of C )mmon Life pointed out that Cocoa had long reached the consumer with too much of its own fat, or 'oaded with a variety of farinaceous substances, produrdnr a soup rather thao a beverage. The Cocoa bean affords admirable nutritive fle.h•forming qualities, and staying power. In Cad hiiry's Cocoa Eisence these are retained and concentrated. providing an exhilarating infusion, not a starchy soup,"— . Warnings to Householdere,  '
The Blandford and Wimbourne Telegram. — 1883-03-30 (Blandford, Dorset, England)

CHILIIGS OW MITROBB.—On Saturday, at the Town Hell, efore Mr, 5. bbott (D,puty-nuayor), George Seaviour, the vouud man remanded on a charge of wilful mnrder by slaying Ellllll9, Tanswell, at Bland furl, was brought up in cu.t.eiv of the bo ou.h police. The ce.e exeited great interest, the court being er .wded. Evidence W 9.4 given by .alartha EMI:I4 Hall, aid Jeinirna Kad, three women who were present a d saw Seaviour give the de-eased woman blows in the head with a pint cud, and kicks in th, side, each of whom teetitie4 to seeing marks round her neck the next uxoriiieg, which marks de :eaeed told them were caused by S aviour trying to hang her the preceding evening. Two other witnesses named Baskett and Cox gave evidence of previous treatment in deceas-d's cettege by Seaviour. The medical gentlemen, Dr. Ingram and Dr. Spooner, who were entrusted with the post ntortent examination, repeated their evidence as given at the coroner's inquest, and reported in our last week's issue. The only additional witness was the deceased's mother, Sarah Foot, wife of John Foot, a labourer, of Bland-. ford, who dep eled that on the Sunday previous to her daughter's death she was called in to make no her bed, and, in lifting her out, she saw some black marks round her neck. Witness continued—" holloaed out t " Potty," a nick-name of prisoner's, and said " What is this you've ~een doing to my child? I believe you are slowly murdering her." To this he made no reply, although just dowestaire, and went on out of doors. Saortly afterwards my daughter sail—" 0, mother. I hove you won't leave nee anther ; you don't know what I went Oar ugh last night with him." she al-o said—" I can't tell yn n ,w, but I will tea 1 you in the evenb g ;" bat the mother continued, "She was ,sot capable of telling ins then, she wa4 too far gone near death." ['he r ,flt) (produced) ,vas the o ..- her .laugh er said he had put r nod her neck, an lit was foun i in the house after werde. She did not take much notice ef the other bruises on her (laugh er, as she had s en her almost cevere lin bruises fon Seavi ,u-'s r eugh t.-43 •tm'•nt bef ,re ; and only 184 h i he corn fields her daughter o itild not sit down for bruises inflicted by him, and she had t lay oa one side ti eat her food. —The formal evidence of P.O. G diarl was taken as to apprehending prisoner, and producing the cup and rope ; and that of Eia /teeth Land, the woman who laid out the body, was taken, and the charge being read over to prisoner, who seemed qui..e unconcerned, he said he had nothing to say, and he was fully cone. mitted for trial at the next Assizes for the wilful murder of Emma Tanswell.
The Blandford and Wimbourne Telegram. — 1880-04-16 (Blandford, Dorset, England)

DANUEROUS PLAYMING.  Borough Poll oe-eour t, Saturday. —fief ore the Mayor (G. E. Eliot. Eel) Dr. Drew. J. E. RJbene, Eiq.. 11. Maggett, EA' J end J. Loathe. E3q.  H. G. Morant, an officer. wee charged with being drunk on the let uf Apri:, and having in hie poseession a loaded firearm. to wit a revolver.  Mr. R. N. Howard appeared for Mr. Morant On behalf of his client he regretted exceedingly what had occurred In the excitement of the election. Mr. Morant was extrem”ly sorry in every sen-ie of the word, and begged to leave the case entirely in the hands of the Bench. lie could not justify himself in any way. No one in court was more sorry than he was, and he would take care that it should not happen again. As he admitted the offence he auggeAed to the Bench that it was not necessary to call evidsnce. His Worship: We most hear the evidencit ; it is a serious nutter.  William S windle was called, and deposed that on the day of the election he was saorii in a+ a special constable, and was put on duty in Sc. Mary-street. Ho heard there Was a man in Upper Bond-street presenting a pistol at several people. He went there, according to his duty, and found a etowd of people gathered there. He saw Mr. Morant there. He asked what was the matter, and a man said—" That's the man there." on his going near him he said—" If you don't stand back I sill shot you.'' He pulled one of the triggers. Witnew said—" That will never daunt me, the pistol I m ate to have.' He pushed through the crowd to get (Amer to him, and the defendant then tallied auutiii r trigger. Witness semod him by the Irieht hand, end whi I be was trying to take it away from him a man named Pitman also seized hold of his hand, and while defendant was grabbing tor the revolver a man Slimed Huneybun jumped hi and wrenched it front him. The weapon was hauaed to toe Bench. It was a murderous-looking six-chambered implement, ant was at the titnol loaded in two claim', Mr. Howard: My clboiv —bolts the drunkenness and also having tile firearm in hi, p ossessim. and tie regrets extremely the whole affair. Ti explain his possession of the revolver, I may say Mr. Xerant has been to the Zulu war, and is just now about to leave England again for the C pe. The Mayor: We are extremely sorry to finds person of the detendant's position and experience brought here before us. It is an action woich certainly surpasses the limits of folly or a joke. It is a very serious offence for a man to be about the streets on a crowded and excited day like the election day with a loaded pistol in his possession, and still more aerious is the offence for a man to have a loaded pistol in his poisession wile') drunk. We cannot pass this over as a light matter, nor can we accept as an excuse that it was election day. From the fact that you were in a sinti, I presume, of having had too much to drink, and having pointed a revolver with two chambers loaded, at a man's 'Velma in a crowd—it is a matter we cannot overlook, or in whiiM we can exercise any leniency. Fled 404. and costs.  illewi;eyWili at once paid. AN
The Blandford and Wimbourne Telegram. — 1880-07-09 (Blandford, Dorset, England)

THE ALLEGED MURDER AT CREW. KERNE.  In the Queen's Bench Division on Thursday.-Before the Lord Chief Justice and Mr. Justice Bowen. .  Mr. Bullen moved in the case of the Queen r. Robert Slade Calmer and Jane Colmer for a rule /thri for a writ of certimwri that the two prisoners might be tried at the Central Criminal Court. They had been committed for trial for the wilful murder of Mary Budge, a widow, who underwent an operation in the female prisoner's house, which, according to the evidence, caused her death. It was an operation to procure abortion. She returned home on the following day, and died on the 20th of March in the present year, and the two prisoners were committed for trial on the 28th of April. The Lord Chief Justice—What had the male prisoner to do with it ? Was he a party to the operation? _  Mr. Bullen replied that according to what was alleged the operation was performed by the husband at the wife's house. They were living apart, he at Bristol, and she at Yeovil, and he was sent for, and he catne to Yeovil and performed the operation which caused the death of Mrs. Budge. The application was made owing to the prejudice which prevailed against the prisoners, so that it was not likely they would be able to obtain a fair trial. Owing to former proceedings against the male prisoner he did not anticipate that justice would be done to him by any jury in that or the adjoining counties. In 1864 he was tried at Taunton for a similar offence, and was acquitted. There were 42 affidavits, but he would read only one Mr. Bullen went on to say even the coroner, who had not accused before him, but who went into the circumstances of the death of Mrs. Budge, seemed almost to have lost his head, if he might use the expression, because he said to the jury that "there was scarcely a paper or a railway station where they did not see Madame Jane Glitter, curer of worms, but if destroyer of babies was put it was more likely to be true." There were several other affidavits, among them that of the prisoners' solicitor, Mr. J. C. Davis, clerk to the justices of Sherborne, who said Mary Budge was well-known in and about the locality, having been brought before the public a good deal owing to the sudden death of her husband, a solicitor, two years 'ago. She was then left with five children, and much sympathy was expressed for her. Jane Colmer had for many years advertised herself as a herbalist and curer of worms, and it was generally believed in Somersetshire and the adjoining counties, that under the pretence of being curer of worms she carried on illegal practices for the purpose of procuring abortion; and the coroner at the inquest, in addition to the words quoted above, said "it is not the first time I have been obliged to investigate a painful case, and been obliged to send the husband for trial for the manslaughter of a young woman." Rule wisi granted.  MR.
The Blandford and Wimbourne Telegram. — 1881-08-26 (Blandford, Dorset, England)

CHILDREN.  On Saturday, at the County Pelice-court, before J. 11, P. Montague, Esq.—James Higgins, a married ~0f Hook, was charged in custody with having maliciously and feloniously set fire to a certain feather lei and bedding, the property of Charlotte Cornick, of Hook, with intent thereby ta burn the house, therebyteloarously injuring the said Charlotte Cornick.— The prisoner, who is about fifty years of age, appeared to suffer from aberration of intellect, and behaved very strangely during the hearing of the case. His application for a seat was granted him, and he remained sitting throughout the hearing. Higgins received a olustroke about 12 months ago, and the effect probably tto weakening of his intellect. —Charlotte Cornick deposed: I live at Hook, in this county. The prisoner Higgins and Caroline, his wife, lodge with me, and hove doae so for about four years. Prisoner has been very ill for a twelvemonth. -Yesterday, the 19. h inst., I heard prisoner call his wife upstairs to him, and she (Witness) want up also. Prisoner drove us downstairs mi threatened to murder Iv. We both went out, and prisoner --istoad at the door, bat afterwards went opetairs and dashed in the windows. I sent for the plias, and caled George Penis, a neighbour. I saw iltalte coming out of prisoner's bedroom window, the lame window he had broken. I heard prisoner say the day before he would set it alight. I went for assistance, and prisoner was removed from the house. I went upstairs and saw Geo! ge Perris there. The rooms upstairs were full of smoke. a quilt, two sheets. feather bed, bolster, and two pillows were burning, There were two young children in bed in another room titistairs. Only the prisoner and the two children were otoinirs.—George Parris swore: I am a smith and live it Hook. I went to prosecutrix's house yesterday. and prisoner came down partly dresee I. He said " There Seething the matter with me, those -- have robbed ke of my marriage lines, and I will kill the —." %melt fire and asked him what it was. Ile said " It's Lo fire that lam aware of." He came down again, Mal said "There's something burning." I went up Ind saw two little children in bed in one room. In another room I found fire in the middle of embed. About °Yard wide of the bed the bedding was burning. The {moiler was then downstairs, I took the children tionstairs—water was thrown on the fire; there was !ouch smoke that I was almost stifled, and could "rttlY file my way out. The e.eighbours at last pat fire out. The peisoner was in the kitchen all this !me. He made no attempt to put the fire out. l'aiisoner was removed by the polic Clothier, Posed : " I live at Hook, and am the wife of Tom Clothier, labourer. I went to Charlotte Cornick'e esterday with others, I saw her driven out of the uckthe.l saw smoke coming from the two upatair
The Blandford and Wimbourne Telegram. — 1881-09-23 (Blandford, Dorset, England)

THE FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE IN ITALY. Foot and mouth disease still prevails to a considtrable extent ir Lombardy and the VenAlan Provinces, Umbria, and tlo Miaclup. From the province of Aquila the weekly bulletin reports 7,500 cases.  It is not often that congregation sees the heir to a peerage in the choir-stalls and pulpit, and a peer at the teem, n. Such was the luck of the people at St. Mark's, Woreley, on Sunday morning. Lord Mu!grave intoned the service and preached, and Lord Ellesmere read the  lessons. Welsh Gool Templars have their own way of manifesting enthusiasm. At the oppening of a grand lodge at Llanelly reference waslinade in one of the reports read to the passing of the Welsh Sunday Closing Act, whereupon the whole lodge rose and sang the Doxology. Of course, we ought to delight in the spread or temperance, but the people who object to State provision for religion wish to make people abstain by Act of Parliament. At Wolverhampton, on Thursday, Thomas Ellis, aged 55, labourer, was charged with attempting to murder Mary Sue ward, an aged louging-house keeper, of Salop-street, ; with whom for 23 years he had lived as her husband. The asauli was committed on August 20, and since then prosecutrix had been in the hoepital. She was paralytic, and on the date mentioned the prisoner attacked ha. as she lay in bed, with a table-knife, inflicting serious wounds over the right eye and temple. He then attempted to cut Ws own throat. He was committed to the assizes. An inquest was held on Thursday at Tipton, on the body of William Cook, farmer, Yeaveley, Derby, who was killed at a level crossing of the London and NorthWestern Railway by the Liverpool express. There was no official at the crossing, or on either piatform, to warn the decea 3ed. In returning a verdict or accidental death, the jury appended an opinion that the railway company had bean guilty of great neglect. A novel swimming match took place on Thursday in the sea off Suuthsea. Twelve membera of the laaies' branch of the Portsmouth Swimming Club competed for the ladies' championship of the club. The distance was 88 yards, and twelve ladies started, plunging off from the club's stage. Toe prize was won by Mass Beatrice Levi san, who completed the distance in lmin. 553ece. Mies Hudson was second, being two yards behind; and Mrs. Genders, the wife of a Baptist minister, third. Hundreds of spectators witnessed the contest. We are informed that the Queen has given a second donation of £lOO to the Hampshire Diocesan Society, which is the chief promoter and helper of spiritual agencies in poor and populous parishes, of church buildings, and Church of England education in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, and our readers are aware that she joined the ladies of the diocese of Winchester in contributing to a pastoral staff. These illegal ornaments are the rage after this, and the Bishop of Bath and Wells is to receive one. We shail live to tee Royalty subscribing to provide the Bishop of Liverpool with the Episcopal vesture prescribed in the Ornaments Rubric.—Church Review.
The Blandford and Wimbourne Telegram. — 1881-07-15 (Blandford, Dorset, England)

BRIGHTON RAILWAY TRAGEDY.  'ME ARREST OF LEFROY.  The err; at of Lefroy (or Mapleton) for the murder of Mr. Gold, woe effected on Friday night. Inspectors Jarvis and Swans.,n viers prosecuting their inquiries in the East-stet of Loedon, and visited Smith-street, Steer eq. At the h ,use numbered 32 in that street— a privste lodsin;-house—th-y discovered Lefroy, who had been lodgiug in the helm since last Thursday week, three day s after the murder Was committed, and siacs his stay thr ye h hid sited ia the most reserved manner. He ha I never alluded to the murder of Mr. Gill when conversing with those about him. When the two in 'rectors entered the piece they found Lefroy seated in a chair. lie hid a most defeated appearancs, and as reon as the pelice-officets out red the room he ssis "1 x leo ed you." Swanson replied " Yes ; I am a p eice-officer," an I Lefroy then answered "Yes, I exp. so." Swanson then informed him that he was charges with the murder of Mr. Gold in a railway carriage, and teensy then tamed round and said " I am not e.inpelied to giva an answer, am I?" and then added "I am not guilty." II is demeanour was very calm and collected, and he made no attempt whatever at resistance. Os being searched, nothing of impoltarice wat found upen him, and be denied knowins anything of the gild watch or revolver. It is pasitively added that Lefroy had nest, r been from his room since he first entered int o:•cupatien, and the people who own the house had little idea that they had such a notorious c.inainel under their roof. A cab was at once procured, and Lefroy was at once conveyed to Scotland Yar I. Lefroy has ma le a full confession of the committal of the minder. When arrested :.5 was in good spirits, but on his being c ccfined in the cell at King•street he became depressed. He asked for refreshment, end was allowed by the asithoriths at the station coffee and sandwiches but orders were given ti at no knife or fork shwa be supplied with his fo d. The pule nor said that he had bad no inr ale during the day, and that he was particularly desir us of obtaining some ref reehment. On being searched not a farthing was found moan his person. From inquiry at the house in which trie arrest was made, it appears that on Thursday week a young man, describing himself as an engraver, presented himself at the house of Mn'. Bickers, who lives at 32. Smith-street, Steeney, and aske I the price of a room, which she happened to have t let. He said that he came from Liverpool, but bad left his luggage behind him. Mrs. Bickers, who appears to have been taken with the young man's plausible manner, received him without further question. and, on his taking possession of the room allotted to him, he Promised to pay the rant, which amounted to es. in advance. This promise, however, he failed to redeem in its entirety, as he only paid 3s. 6d. At the time of his entrance into the lodging, he did not stipu.ate for any food to he provided for him, and seem(d to imply that he should get his own meals,