npedrazzini/19thc_murder_suicide_news huggingface dataset:
The Sun. — 1856-11-29 (London, England)

REJLIRKABLB TRIAL FOR MURDER.  An extraordinary trial for murder, at the late Toronto Assizes, has excited a very strogg feeling in Canadian society. Mr. Thos. Henderson, an attorney, had seduced the wife of Mr. George Brogdin, of Port Hope, a member of the same profession, Brogdin and Henderson were young mien ; they had been schoolfellows and pupils in the same office. Brogdin, who is now 25 years of age, was married two or three years ago, and has one child. Henderson was paying his addresses to Mrs. Brogdin's sister ostensibly, but in August last he persuaded Mrs. Brogdin to elope with him, and afterwards, in letters to his friends, boasted that he ha i made her his mistress. He also told several persons that be always carried arms, and that Brogdin was a poor fool and coward, who did not understand the use of them, and that if they chanced to meet it would be the worse for Brogdin. These remarks came to the hearing of Brogdin ; indeed, the affair had got into the local newspapers, much to Elonderson's glorification. Some weeks passed over before they met. Henderson had pistols about him whenever he went out, and often talked of fighting with Brogdin. Arrangements were made by Brogdin, after his wife went away, to settle an income upon her, as he said ho loved her too well to let her die in a ditch, which she would do if she continued with Henderson. When Henderson heard of this he said he did not care for anything Brogdin conld do after that, because he was perfectly satisfied that such conduct towards her would preclude Brogdin from getting a verdict against him in an action for cries. con. On the very next day, Sept. 23, they met accidental) y on the steamboat wharf. Henderson nodded insolently to Brogdin, and said, " How d'ye do, George ?" Brogdin immediately drew a pistol from his pocket, and shot Henderson dead. These were the facts proved iu evidence, without contradiction, and the Chief Justice told the jury that he could not imagine "aces plainer not case of murder." "The law (said his lordship) d admit that Henderson's conduct was any excuse for murder." The jary, however, declared that Brogdin was not guilty of the murder. The Toronto Globe comments upon the case in the following terms :—" This was the form of their verdict, but we all know that their meaning was— ' Guilty of tho killing, but it was justifiable.' It would have been better if the jury had returned a verdict of guilty, with a strong recommendation to mercy. It is an alarming precedent to declare a man innocent of all crime who has taken the life of a fellow creature. But this is not the feeling of the community generally. There is a strong, healthful detestation in the public mind of the seducer. I There is no redress against him as a criminal by law ; and when the injured relative of the victim takes the law into his own hands he has the sympathy of the community. The jury at the trial were, no doubt, 444°14°4 by this reasoning."
The Sun. — 1856-09-13 (London, England)

FEARFUL MURDER ON BOARD SHIP.  CALLAO, July 12.—The American ship Elvira, Crosby, from Havre, has arrived here. While at Havre, Captain Crosby, with the consent of Captain Trask, of the ship Saratoga, shipped as his first officer Mr. Smith, at that time mate of the Saratoga. The Elvira sailed for this port, having on board a mixed crew of Italians, Frenchmen, Sardinians, &c., about as desperate a looking collection of villains as is ever seen. On the 18th night from Havre the ship was running through the trades with beautiful weather, and royal etuddingsails set on both sides. At 12 o'etock (midnight) the mate's watch came on deck, and with the exception of one to relieve the wheel and one for the look out, each selected some good hiding place, and spread himself for a nap. At two bells (1 o'clock) one of the men (and the only witness to the horrible transaction which followed) was aroused from his sleep by the sound of the bell. He remained lying on deck until three bells struck aft. This was not answered forward by the look-out immediately, and the mate left his position on the quarterdeck, and started forward, with the probable intention of ascertaining whether or not the look-out was asleep. As he walked up the ladder of the topgallant forecastle, this witness ' saw three of the crew follow him, and the fourth—the look-out—walk towards him as he mounted the forecastie. The four got him down, and three of them stabbed him with French dirks, and the fourth struck him three times on the skull with a heavy iron belaying pin, weigh. ing 151hs. The three men with dirks went off the forecastle, and the fourth dragged the dead body of their victim forward and threw him on the rail between the cathead and heel of the bowsprit. He then gave him two heavy blows with the belaying pin, which were distinctly heard by the witness, and, lifting him by the leg, threw the body into the sea. The whole affair occupied but a moment. When the poor fellow was stabbed he gave three shrieks, which •awake the • steward, who aroused the captain, who came on deck in time to see them throw their weapons into the sea. Their guilty looks accusing them, they were at once put into irons, when the witnel related to the captain the circumstances of this horrible murder. The men were kept in double irons until the arrival of the ship at this port, when they were taken from the ship and placed in prison by the American Consul, to await the arrival of a ship of war, by which they may be sent to the United States. The depositions of the captain and etew were taken, from which no reason or excuse for this cold-bio,ded affair can be deduced. The only evidence in favour Of the prisoners is that of some of the men, that the mate had been rather severe towards one of the prisoners. The four murderers from the Elvira substqeently escaped from prison, and are cow at large, no efforts being made for their recapture.
The Sun. — 1856-09-13 (London, England)

FEARFUL MURDER ON BOARD SHIP.  CALLS°, July 12.—The American ship Elvira, Crosby, from Havre, has arrived here. While at Havre, Captain Crosby, with the consent of Captain Trask, of the ship Saratoga, shipped as his first officer Mr. Smith, at that time mate of the Saratoga. The Elvira sailed for this port, having on board a mixed crew of Italians, French. men, Sardinians, &c., about as desperate a looking collection of villains as is ever seen. On the 18th night from Havre the ship was ranning through the trades with beautiful weather, and royal atuddingsails set on both sides. At 12 o'clock (midnight) the mate's watch came on deck, and with the exception of one to relieve the wheel and one for the look out, each selected some good hiding place, and spread himself for a nap. At two bells (1 o'clock) one of the men (and the only witness to the horrible transaction which followed) was aroused from his sleep by the sound of the bell. He remained lying on deck until three bells struck aft. This was not answered forward by the look-out immediately, and the mate left his position on the quarterdeck, aid started forward, wish the probable intention of ascertaining whether or not the look-out was asleep. As be waled up the ladder of the topgallant forecastle, this witness saw three of the crew follow him, and the fourth—the look-out—walk towards him as he mounted the forecastle. The four got him down, and three of them stabbed him with French dirks, and the fourth struck him three times on the skull with a heavy iron belaying pin, weighing 15lbs. The three men with dirks went off the fore. castle, and the fourth dragged the dead body of their victim forward and threw him on the rail between the eatheai and heel of the bowsprit. He then gave him two heavy blows with the belaying pin, which were distinctly heard by the witness, and, lifting him by the leg, threw the body into the sea, The whole affair occupied but a moment. When the poor fellow was stabbed he gave three shrieks, which awoke the steward, who aroused the captain, who came on deck in time to see them throw their weapons into the sea. Their guilty looks accusieg them, they were at once put into irons, when the witnes related to the captain the circumstances of this horrible murder. The men were kept in double irons until the arrival of the ship at this port, when they were taken en from the ship and placed in prison by the Aeri theywhich maybe sent to, the United States. The depositions of the captain and crew were taken, from which no reason or' e..cuse for this Cold-blooded affair can be deduced. The only evidence in favour of the prisoners is that of some of the men, that the mate bad been rather severe towards one of the prisoners. The four murderers from the Elvira subsequently escaped from prison, and are now at large, no efforts being made for their recapture,
The Sun. — 1856-12-06 (London, England)

DECEMBER 5.  Was. White, aged 27, was indicted for an assault with intent, &c., and also for an indecent assault. Mr. Maunsull prosecuted, and Mr. Cockle defended the prisoner. The transaction in question took place as long ago as Feb., 1854, and iu the meantime two persons had been convicted and sentenced to two years' imprisonment for the part they took in it. The prosecutrix, M. Appleby, is a married woman of middle age, and, according to her statement, she went into a publichouse in Northampton on the Sth of Feb., 1851, in which there were several men drinking, and had a glass of gin ; that after she left, and had walked some distance, several of the same men came after her, ' and one of them struck or slapped her on the side of the face ; that the blow rendered her insensible, and that she knew nothing of what happened afterwards until she found herself at the police station. She did not identify the prisoner at all, but it appeared from the testimony of the witnesses that a party of four men (of whom the prisoner was one) were seen carrying her along the street in a state of drunkenness and apparent insensibility. They were met by a constable, who made them take her to a house, in which it was said she lodged, and ho left her in charge of the woman of the house, cautioning her that the men were bad characters. Notwithstanding this the four men were subsequently seen carrying or dragging her out of the town to a place called Dalliugton moor ; and once during their progress she was heard to call out " Murder !" The attention of several persons was called to the conduct of the four men, one of whom made a pretence to one of the witnesses that the women was his wife ; and it appeared that no fewer than three men (two of whom were examined as witnesses) ac' Rally followed the four to the meadows, and there saw the woman's person outraged by one man, while two were holding her down, without attempting to interfere—conduct which the learned judge denounced in the strongest terms. At length, a parish constable having been procured, the men ran off, leaving the woman, still in an intoxicated and partially insensible con• dition, on the ground. Two of the men were apprehended almost immediately, and the prisoner White was sought for, but could not be found until the mouth of September last, when he was apprehended and com. mitted upon this charge.  The le.artied fudge, in summing up the case to the jury, mentioned that some doubts were entertained whether the offence cf rape could be committed upon the person cf a woman who had rendered herself pertacitly insensible by drink so as to be unable to give any signs of resistance. The jury found the prisoner guilty of an indecent as'Ault, and he was sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment and bard labour.
The Sun. — 1856-08-15 (London, England)

MYSTERIOUS MURDERS IN FRANCE.  A wealthy inhabitant of Nantes, named Baudin, and a young woman named Legendre, who lived with him as servant, disappeared in December, 1851, and all attempt' to discover what had become of them proved unavailing. It was supposed that they had been merdered, but the object of the crime did not clearly appear, as no robbery had been committed in the house which they occupied in the Rue Dobree. The affair naturally created an immense sensation, and strange reports of every kind in connection with it were in circulation. Amongst other things, it was said that the bodies of the two persons could be found buried in the garden of a respectable man, named M. L---; the authorities deemed it necessary to Fearch the garden, but nothing was discovered. In December last (as reported in the Messenger at the time) a farmer named Lefudois was murdered in the village of St. Nicolas de la raille, near Havre, and his house was robbed and burned down. It turned out that a man named Crochu had committed these crimes, and he was brought to trial for them before the Court of Assizes of Rouen in June last, was convicted, and condemned to death. As this man had lived at Nantes, where he bad carried on the trade of a dealer in second-hand clothes, as he was of very bad character, and as he had had some transactions with M. Baudin, it was thought likely that he might have been concerned in the disappearance of that gentleman and his servant. An application was accordingly made to him to confess if he were guilty ; but he said that though he knew a good deal, be would not speak, until his wife and her servant, a female named Maziere, who had been arre-ted at Nantes on suspicion of having been concerned in disposing of the goods which he had stolen at Saint-Nicholas, and who were detained in the prison of that city, were removed to Rouen. This having been done, he said that M. Baudin and his servant had been murdered on the 11th December, 1851, that he had taken part in the crime, that he knew where the bodies were buried, but that he would say nothing mere unless the heirs of M. Baudin would pay 30,000 fr. to his wife. The chap;ain of the prison and other clergymen represented to him that a confession made under conditions would have no moral value, and exhorted him to tell the whole truth without any stipulations. For some time he refused to do so • but on Sunday last he said that he would reveal all. 'He then reiated that a At L. formerly a pnbUc functionary, living in the Route deßennee at Nantee, who is possessed of some property, and who has for eome time past taken I an active part in municipal affairs, had in December, 1851, premised him 10,000 f. to assist him in murdering M. Bandit' and his domestic. On his accepting this
The Sun. — 1856-08-15 (London, England)

MYSTERIOUS MURDERS IN FRANCE.  A wealthy inhabitant of Nantes, named Baudin, and a young woman named Legendre, who lived with him as servant, disappeared in December, 1851, and all attempts to discover what had become of them proved unavailing. It was supposed that they had been murdered, but the object of the crime did not clearly appear, as no robbery had been committed in the house which they occupied in the Rue Dobree. The affair naturally created an immense sensation, and strange reports of every kind in connection with it were in circulation. Amongst other things, it was said that the bodies of the two per. sons could be found buried in the garden of a respectable man, named M. L-- ; the authorities deemed it ne• cessary to search the garden, but nothing was discovered. In December last (as reported in the illessimger at the time) a farmer named Lefudois was murdered in the village of St. Nicolas de la Taille, near Havre, and his house was robbed and burned down. It turned out that a man named Crochu had committed these crimes, and he was brought to trial for them before the Court of A.ssizes of Rouen in June last, was convicted, and condemned to death. As this man had lived at Nantes, where he had carried on the trade of a dealer in second-hand clothes, as he was of very bad character, and as he had had some transactions with M. Baudin, t was thought likely that he might have been concerned in the disappearance of that gentleman and his servant. An application was accordingly made to him to confess if he were guilty ; but be said that though he knew a good deal, he would not speak, until his wife and her servant, a female named Maziere, who had been arre-ted at Nantes on suspicion of having been concerned in disposing of the goods which be had fit den at Saint-Nicholas, and who were detained in the prison of that city, were removed to Rouen. This having been done, he said that M. Baudin and his servant had been murdered on the 11th December, 1851, that lie bad taken part in the crime, that he knew where the bodies were buried, but that he would say nothing more unless tho heirs of M. Baudin would pay 30,000 fr. to his wife. The chaplain of the prison and other clergymen represented to him that a confession made under conditions would have no moral value, and exhorted him to tell the whole truth without any stipulations. For some time he refused to do so ; but on Sunday last he said that he would reveal all. He then related that a M. L----, formerly a public functionary, living in the Rotate de Rennes at Nantes, who is possessed of some property, and who has for sometime past taken an active part in municipal affairs, had in December, 1851, promised him 10,000 f. to assist him in murdering M. Baudin and his domestic, On his accepting this
The Sun. — 1856-02-19 (London, England)

CONFESSION OF THE MURDERESS.  • By the untiring zeal and intelligent perseverance of Inspector Hatton and Sergeant Townsend, N division, circumstances have came to light which place beyond the scintilla of a doubt the fact of the poor child, whom they discovered so horriby mutilated in the cellar of the house, Na. 18, Linton-street, being the offspring (illegitimate) of the murderess, Celestria Somner. Immediately after the examination of the prisoners yesterday, the officers mentioned proceeded, in company with Karl Somner, the husband, to a hones, No. 4, Peter-street, Hackneyroad, inhabited by an elderly woman, named Harrington, and her two daughters. Here it was ascertained that a child, aged 10 years, who had been nader the protection of Mrs. Harrington nearly from its birth, was taken away by its mother last Thursday week, because she declared her inability to continue longer th• payment of 108. a month far its keep, since which time Mrs. Harrington bag not heard or seen anything of the child. The officers next went to 18, Murray-street, New North-road (adjoining the howe occupied a short period since by Mary M‘Neil, who murdered her two children there), and found it occupied by a sister of the prisoner, whose husband is also a German, and engraver. Here they learnt that on the evening of the day the girl had bees taken from Mrs. Harrington she was brought by the prisoner and kept until 10 o'clock last Saturday night, when the wretched .woman took her child away, without shawl or bonnet, under the pretext that she had obtained a place for her at a greengrocer's in the neighbourhood ; finally, Mrs. Harlington, Mr. Somner, and the authorities went to the scene of the murder, and the former there identified the victim, who was lying on the servant's bed in the kitchen, to be the same child she had reared from its infancy. The poor woman's tribulation was very great at the sight, and she repeatedly reprehended herself f,r having parted with her. She said that the child went by the nainl of " Celestria Christmas," and subsequent inquiries elicited the fact of that having been the maiden name of Mrs. Somner, whose parents are most respectable silversmiths, in King-square, Goswell-streetovad. A. direct confession of the murder has been since made by the miserable parent, she alleging that the act was committed with a knife, and that she was impelled to the commission of it by the frequent quarrels with her husband, who was obliged to pay ss. a-week for its keep, but at the same tune she asserts it to be her brother's offspring. Mr. Somner distinctly denies this, and states that 2s. 6d. a week only was pail by him by agreement before his marriage with the prisoner, and that such sum was always paid willingly by him. The prisoner has not made any remark relative to how she has disposed of the knife, nor can any clue he found to the place of its deposit. She has been married two years, ;;nd Mr. Somuer's circumstauces are very respectable. The house, No. 18, is elaborately furnished.
The Sun. — 1856-02-19 (London, England)

CONFESSION OF THE MURDERESS. 13y the untiring zeal and intelligent perseverance of Inspector Hatton and Sergeant Townsend, N division, circumstances have come to light which place beyond the scintilla of a doubt the fact of the poor child, whom they discovered so horriby mutilated in the cellar of the house, No. 13, Linton-street, being the offspring (illegitimate) of the murderess, Celestria Somner. Immediately after the examination of the prisoners yesterday, the officers mentioned proceeded, in company with Karl Somner, the husband, to a house, No. 4, Peter-street, Hackney road, inhabited by an elderly woman, named Harrington, and her two daughters. Here it was ascertained that a child, aged 10 years, who had been under the protection of Mrs. Harrington nearly from its birth, was taken away by its mother last Thursday week, because she declared her inability to continue longer the payment of 10s. a month for its keep, since which time Mrs. Harrington 1183 not beard or seen anything of the chili. Tho officers next went to 18, Murray-street, New North-road (adjoining the house occupied a short period since by Mary M`Neil, who murdered her two children there), and found it occupied by a sister of the prisoner, whose husband is also a German, and engraver. Here they learnt that on the evening of the day the girl had been taken from Mrs. Harrington she was brought by the prisoner and kept until 10 o'clock last Saturday night, when the wretched woman took her child away, without shawl or bonnet, under the pretext that she had obtained a place for her at a greengrocer's in the neighbourhood ; finally, Mrs. Harrington, Mr. Souther, and the authotities went to the scene of the murder, and the former there identified the victim, who was lying on the servant's bed in the kitchen, to be the same child she had reared from its infancy. The poor woman's tribulation was very great at the sight, and she repeatedly reprehended herself for having parted with her. She said that the child went by the name of " Celestria Christmas," and subsequent inquiries elicited the fact of that having been the maiden name of Mrs. Serener, whose parents are most respectable silversmiths, in King-square, Guswell-street.road. A direct confession of the murder has been since made by the miserable parent, she alleging that the act was committed with a knife, and that she was impelled to the commission of it by the frequeit quarrels with her husband, who was obliged to pay ss. a-week for its keep, but at the same time she asserts it to be her brother's offspring. Mr. Somner distinctly denies this, and states that 2e. 6d. a week only was paid by him by agreement before his marriage with the prisoner, and that such sum was always paid willingly by him. The prisoner has not made any remark relative to how she has disposed of the knife, nor can any clue be found to the place of its deposit. She has been married two years, and Mr. Somner's circumstances aro very respect. able. The house, No. 18, is elaborately furnished.  L IT