npedrazzini/19thc_murder_suicide_news huggingface dataset:
The Sun. — 1847-03-31 (London, England)

THE ACTON MURDER.-SENTENCE OF DEATH.  At the sitting of the Court this morning, at 9 o'clock, Catherine Foster was placed at the bar to receive the fearful sentence which the verdict of Saturday entailed upon her. Proclamation having been made, The CHIEF BARON assumed the black cap, and proceeded to address the prisoner to the following effect:— "Catherine Foster, you stand convicted of the crime of murder under circumstances which require no words of aggravation from me. It is sufficient to state the fact, that you were married on Wednesday, the 18th of October, and on that day three weeks your husband died in consequence of the administration of poison. It is im possible to doubt that you prepared his food, and administered it, and that yours was the hand which put the poison into it. These are facts which it is Impos • sible to doubt, and it seems to be equally impossible to escape from the conclusion that your heart and mind went along with your hand, and that the poison was placed in that food for thed eliberate purpose ofprocuring the death of an individual with whom you had so lately formed at the altar of God a connexion the must sacred which can exist on earth between man and woman. I have no desire to enter into the facts of this unhappy case beyond the expression of my entire concurrence in the verdict of the jury; and it only remains for me now to pass upon you the sentence of the law, which, whether in conformity with or obedience to the laws 0' God, requires that your life should be forfeited on the scaffold. I pray you to make the best use of the time now so short on earth, and to seek for peace and mercy, where alone they are to be found, at the throne of your Redeemer." The Learned JUDGE, whose voice was at times almost inaudible from emotion, concluded his solemn address to the prisoner by passing the last sentence of the law upon her in the usual form, and the prisoner was removed, as on Saturday, without any apparent appreciation of the position in which she stood. Not a single tear glistened in her eye, which was unobservant and inattentive— not a single contraction of the facial muscles betokened the inward workings of suppressed feelings; but calm and composed she received the sentence as she had listened to the overwhelming evidence adduced against her, and she descended from the dock to the dark cell beneath with as light a step as if she had been convicted of an ordinary larceny.  His Eonositir then disposed of the two or three remaining cases in the calendar, which were entirely divested of any features of public interest, and the Suffulk terminated at twolvc. o'oleetc, 1.0 far e.e the Crown aide was concerned. The labours of his Lordship were materially lightened by the fact that the grand jury threw out, amongst others, four bills for arson, with respect to which class of offences the Learned Judge, in discharging the grand jury, took occasion to remark that he highly approved their disinclination to find bills on weak evidence, which would, when subjected to a petty jury and sifted, fall to the ground.
The Sun. — 1847-06-12 (London, England)

THE TRIPLE MURDER AT MIRFIELD. COMMITTAL OF THE ACCUSED. FRlDA.Y.—Yesterday morning, at eleven o'clock, the inquest on the bodies of Mr. James Wraith, Mrs. Wraith, and Caroline Ellis, their servant, who were so barbarously murdered on the 12th of May, was resumed at the Wesleyan Methodist school-room, at this vdtage. before Mr. G. D. Barker, deputy coroner. The evidence adduced was in a great measure the same as that given before the magistrates at the Dewsbury court-house on Saturday. Michael M`Cabe and Patrick Reid, the two men in custody charged with the murders, were not present. Mr. Richard Green, superintendent of the Dewsbury police, produced the razor found on the body of Mr. Wraith, a carving knife found in the same room, and a kitchen fire poker, all of mhich were marked with blood. He also produced the soldering iron found at the bottom of Mr. Wraith's well. Both the poker and soldering iron appeared to have been bend..d by force of blows against tome hard substance. Mr. Green then stated that on Friday morning last week he first saw Thomas Kitty, of Daw-green, and asked him if he knew anything about a soldering iron. He said he had been in the habit of borrowing a soldering iron at the house of the father of the prisoner, Patrick Raid, and that he believed the iron he used to borrow was Reid's father's property. Witness asked him to give a description of the iron, and he gave a correct description of it before he saw it. Witness then showed the it no to him, and he said he was very sorry to see it again, as it was same. Mr. Howarth was present at the time. Mr. John Howarth, constable of Mirfiol.l, corroborated Mr. Green's testimony as to the conversation with Kitty and his identification of the soldering iron. Thomas Kitty, of Daw-green, hawker of spectacles, identified the soldering iron produced as the instrument he had frequently borrowed from the prisoner Reid's father. Witneas wife generally fetched the iron. The day before the murder the prisoner Reid took the iron away from witness's house, and witness never saw it again until it was shown to him by Mr. Green. In speaking to various marks on the iron, the witness said he also knew it from having filed the copper end, where there wa,i a small hole, using a fine file, six days before the prisoner Reid fetched it. By the aid of a small magnifying lass marks of a file g could he seen on the end of the soldering iron. By .the Jury—l have frequently. been with Patrick Reid in company, and have been with him at Mirfield. On the day of the murder he came into my house and asked me where I was going that day, and I said I as should not go out that day. I went hawking with him the day after the murder, and we had conversation, but nothing particular was said about the murder. I was not with him-wre than half an hour in the morning of that day, but I saw him at Bailey in the eve Ling. H. and I have always been friendly., and no one ever beam me give him a bad name before. Ido not know the prisoner M'Cabo. stherine igty., wife of the last witness, corroborated tutipotiy uto borrowitg rolderiDg
The Sun. — 1847-06-12 (London, England)

THE TRIPLE MURDER AT MIRFIELD. COMMITTAL OF THE ACCUSED. MIRFIELD, FalDAY.—Yesterday morning, at eleven o'clock, the inquest on the bodies of Mr. James Wraith, Mrs. Wraith, and Caroline Ellis, their servant, who were so barbarously murdered on the 12th of May, was resumed at the Wesleyan Methodist school-rooin, at this village, before Mr. G. D. Barker, deputy coroner. The evidence adduced was in a great measure the same as that given before the magistrates at the Dewsbury court-house on Saturday. Michael M'Cabe and Patrick Reid, the two men in custody charged with the murders, were not present. Mr. Richard Green, superintendent of the Dewsbury police, produced the razor found on the body of Mr. Wraith, a carving knife found in the same room, and a kitchen fire poker, all of which were marked with blood. He also produced the soldering iron found at the bottom of Mr. Wraith's well. Both the poker and soldering iron appeared to have been bend,td by force of blows \against some hard substance. Mr. Green then stated that on Friday morning last week he first saw Thomas Kilty, of Daw-green, and asked him if he knew anything about a soldering iron. He said he had been in the habit of borrowing a soldering iron at the house of the father of the prisoner, Patrick Reid, and that he believed the iron he used to borrow was Reid's father's property. Witness asked him to give a description of the iron, and he gave a correct description of it before he saw it. Witness then showed the iron to him, and he said ha was very sorry to see it again, as it was the same. Mr. Howarth was present at the time. Mr. John Howarth, constable of Mirfiell, corroborated Mr. Green's testimony as to the conversation with Kill and his identification of the soldering iron. Thomas Kitty, of Daw-green, hawker of spectacles, identified the soldering iron produced as the instrument he had frequently borrowed from the prisoner Reid's father. Witness's wife generally fetched the iron. The day before the murder the prisoner Reid took the iron away from witness's house, and witness never saw it again until it was shown to him by Mr. Green. In speaking to various marks on the iron, the witness said he also knew it from having filed the copper end, where there was a small hole, using a fine file, six days before the prisoner Reid fetched it. By the aid of a small magnifying glass marks of a file could be seen on the end of the soldering iron. By the Jury—l have frequently been with Patrick Reid in company, and have been with him at Mirfield. On the day of the murder he came into my house and asked me where I was going that day, and I said I should not go out that day. I went hawking with him the day after the murder, and we had conversation, but nothing particular was said about the murder. I was, not with him more than half an hour in the morning of that day, but I saw him at Batley in the evening. He and I have always been friendly, and no one ever heard me give him a bad name before. Ido not know the prisoner WCe.bc. Katherine linty, wife of the last witness, corroborated her husband's testimony t%B to borrowing the soldering
The Sun. — 1847-06-03 (London, England)

MARTIN, Q.C., said he had been instructed to apply to his Lordship, on behalf of Miss Eliza Cook, for a rule, calling upon Thomas Wharton Smerden, the printer and publisher of a paper bearing the title of the Daily Advertiser to show cause why a criminal information should not be filed against him for the publication of a gross and malicious libel, reflecting upon the conduct of the lady on whose behalf he made the present application. Miss Cook was a young lady of about 25 years of age, and of considerable poetic genius. She had written a number of poetical pieces, and had published to a great extent, and her effusions had been mush admired by those who were in the habit of reading poetry. The matter to which he was calling the attention of the Court, was to Miss Cook of the most serious nature, as she had been charged with one of the most horrible crimes that could be perpetrated. In the copy of the paper, published on the 29th of May, there appeared a paragraph, which stated that she had given birth to a child, and that she had murdered it.  Mr. Justice WlGHTDlAN—Murdered her own child?  Mr. MARTIN replied that the statement in the paragraph was to that effect ; but there was not the slightest ground for the charge. He had a number of affidavits, which stated that Miss Cook was a person whose character was wholly free from reproach, and that she had never been suspected of any impropriety of conduct whatever. Of course the publi.7 cation of such a charge had caused Miss Cook and her friends much anxiety. It was in the following words : " Et IZA Coox.—Considerable anxiety has been excited on the part of the public, who do not read the poetical contributions of the Dispatch, to know what really can have induced its proprietors to present their subscribers with a portrait of a woman who has murdered her own child. Such is fame amongst the masses—a murderess is a heroine and a poetess unknown !"  He was at a loss to divine the object which the publication of such a statement was intended to answer. He had the affidavits of all of Miss Cook's friends, who, on hearing the charge, immediately came forward and gave the most explicit denial to it; but he would not trouble his Lordship by reading them, as it would be sufficient for him to state that they concurred in saying that there was really not the slightest ground to suspect that Miss Cook at any period of her life had been guilty of anything which could entitle any one to cast an imputation upon her private character ; and that, therefore, both she and her friends were most anxious that the most public and distinct denial should be at once given to so foul a charge. He understood; however, that his Lordship after granting the rule would hear no more of the matter, as the paper complained of yesterday published a statement denying, in the most positive terms, that there was any truth in the accusation which it had put forward, and to-day he believed some communication had taken place, which would, no doubt, tend to the same result; so that any future proceedings would, in all probability, be obviated.  Mr. Justice
The Sun. — 1847-04-19 (London, England)

GENEVESE TRAVELLER.  EXECUTION OF CATHERINE FOSTER FOR POISONING HER HUSBAND THREE WEEKS AFTER MARRIAGE.—HER CONFESSION. BURT ST. EDMUNDS, SATURDAY.—The wretched convict, Catherine Foster, condemned to death by the Chief Baron Pollock at the late Suffolk Assizes, for the murder of her husband three weeks after marriage, by poisoning a dumpling with arsenic, expiated her dreadful offence this morning on the scaffold adjacent to the county gaol in this town. Those persons who have perused the evidence adduced at the trial have doubtless been at a loss to conceive the motive that could have induced her to destroy her husband, whom she had apparently loved from a child, and now that her life has been justly forfeited to the law, and her confession is published to the world, it will be found that it contains nothing that can be construed into a motive, and the reasons, therefore, which tempted her to commit the murder must remain enveloped in mystery. Earnest were the solicitations of those whose duty it was to attend her after her condemnation that she should divulgeo r i hth v ca frank avowal of her guilt, she studiously avoided allud;onbnuetctedwith sehe wrals e abouttiie to hiscutffserc although sheing to any circumstance which might lead to the motive t hcrime made fd fur which she perpetrated the horrid deed. The following is a copy oilier comfession:— " Buy Gaol, April 12, 1847. "To the Governor,—.First of all I must confess th .t L am guilty, and very guilty or this awful crime, and well deserve the death that I am condemned to die; and as I am soon to stand before my Heavenly Judge, I wish to speak the truth. I am sorry to say I bought the poison at the shop of Mr. 11. Ely, chemist, Sudbury, three days before I mixed it in the dumpling which I gave to my husband. It was served to me by a young man in the shop. Mr. Ely was not present ; had he been present he would have known me, as I had been frequently at his shop on errands for my mistress when I was at service. The act was entirely my own. No person persuaded me to it, and any mother had no knowledge or suspicion of it. I had nominee for complaint against my husband. Ho was always and kind to me, but I never had any affection for good a, and wished to go back to service. Ido not wish to live, for I never could be happy in this world, and kbope, ere repentance of this and all my sins, to obtain forthrough the' merits and blood of my Saviour, and a sinciveness of God, and to be received into Heaven. I die at peace with all, having no complaint to make of any witness that appeared against me on my trial, and full of remorse for the crime which brings me to this premature andion Ithheavßeevr.eclielirv.eEd yfrroem, ftohreesitrphieriir: (loath. I wish to express my grateful thanks to the Rev. wishand fmorrt.hEy w. West, the chaplain of the gaol ; the Rev. Mr. Ottley, instructionsgivut attention an d admonitions, tom y ete r n a l shinterest,ouid spiritual parishhope andln minister sot en rs consolation attend me in my lastre. to. moments, and earnestly request that he will do so. (Signed) "
The Sun. — 1847-04-19 (London, England)

HER  CONFESSION.  BURT ST. EDMUNDS. SATURDAY —The wretched convict, Catherine Foster, condemned to Beath by the Chief. Baron Pollock at the late Suff.,lk As,iies, for the murde r of her husband three weeks aber mirriuge, by po,,;oning a dumpling with arsenic, expi4ted her dreadful offence this morning on the bcuifold adjacent to the c .uuty gad in this town.  Those persona who have perused the ( yid-nee adduc d at the trial have doubtless been at a I.iss to c.)neeive the motive that could have induced her to destroy her hus• band, whom she had apparent! loved fr.en a child, and now that her life has been justly forfeit. al to the law, and her confession is published to the world, it will be found that it contains nothing that can be cee into a motive, and the reasons, therefore, which tempted her to commit the murder must remain enveloped in mystery. Earnest were the solicitations of those whose duty it was to attend her after her condemnation that she should divulge the whole of the facts connected with the crime for which she was about to suffer; but although she made a frank avowal of her guilt, she studiously avoided alluding to any circumstance which might 1e ad to the motive for which she perpetrated the horrid deed. The following is a copy of her comfe.3sion:— " Bury Gaol, April 12, 1847. "To the Governor,—First of all I must confess that I am guilty, and very guilty of this awful crime, and well deserve the death that I am condemned to die; and as I am soon to stand before my Heavenly Jud,e I wish to speak the truth. I am sorry to say I bought the poison at the shop of Mr. H. Ely, ' chemist, Sudbury, three days before I mixed it in the ' dumpling which I gave to my husband. It was served to me by a young man in the shop. Mr. Ely was not present ; bad he been present ~e would have known me, as I had been frequently at his shop on errands for my mistress when I was at service. The act was entirely my own. No person persuaded me to it, and my mother had no knowledge or suspicion of it. I had no cause for complaint against my husband. He was always good and kind to me, but I never had any aff. mice( for him, and wished to go back to service. I d.) not wish to live, for I never could be happy in this world, and I hope, through the merits and blood of my Saviour, and a sin cere repentance of this and all my sins, to obtain forgiveness of God, and to be received into Heaven I die at peace with all, having no complaint to make of any witness that appeared against me en my trial, ae d full of remorse for the crime which brings me to this premature death. I wish to express my grateful thanks t the W. West, the chaplain of the gaol ; th.• Rev. Mr. Ottle3, my parish minister ; and the Rev. Mr. Eyre, for their great attention to my eternal interest, and for the spiritual hope and consolation I have received from their i,structions and admonitions, I should wish Mr. Eyre to attend me in my last moments, and earnestly request that he will do so. (Signed) "
The Sun. — 1847-06-23 (London, England)

MURDER TWENTY YEARS AGO.  The Belfast papers of Saturday contain the report of an adjourned inquest on the body of the late Hugh Dunlop, Balloo, in the barony of Ards, that was found buried in Gransha bog, on the 2d inst., which was held on Thursday, before the coroner, Mr. Ward, of Downpatrick, in the public-house of Mr. John Martin, who resides beyond the Six Road-ends, on the road leading from Newtonards to Donaghadee. The circumstances concerning the death of Dunlop are of a most mysterious character. He was missed from the neighbourhood about twenty-one years ago: and not the least trace of him was found until Wednesday, the 2d instant, when the body was discovered by two persons named Hayes, father and son, in the above named bog, at the depth of four feet. Three sticks were laid over the body, one across the breast, anoth•r over the thighs, and the third across the legs. Immediately after the body was found, several persons who had been intimate with the deceased identified it as that of Hugh Dunlop. An inquest was held on Saturday, the sth inst., and four witnesses were examined as to the identity of the man ; but it was deemed advisable, in consequence of some rumours having been circulated to the effect that Dunlop's family, who are still alive, were privy to his supposed murder, to adjourn until Thursday last. Deceased's body had been lying at Mr. Martin's house since that period; and great numbers of people from different parts of the country panredserthveedflmesuhrnomny.the trunk was in a It have come to see it. Its appearance rteswemasbolefd as om darke sbwi brown nl tahroa colour, statel oo fu ra, of preservation. The legs and thighs were greatly shrivelled up, and there was scarcely any flesh on them. The marks made by the pressure of the sticks were very visible. When first t e rt ane ediscovered the features of the face were more discernible than what they were on Thursday, because it had been for a few days exposed to the influence of the weather, besides having been tossed and b ohe r wise injured by the country people wnhoosscaimoe t theexamine it. The principal marks of identity were upon s nose trhaiesefodootn, Nivth;icahnhdaad bpeeecnulbiairokhenoiloawnd aro both of which were strikingly evident to an observer. There were no external marks of violence on the body. A strong feeling of prejudice has been created for miles round the country against the family of the deceased.  After a number of witnesses had been examined, whose testimony, however, threw but little light on this mysterious transaction, the jury, after a short deliberation, returned the following verdict :—" We find that the body of the man found in Gransha bog is the body of the late Hugh Dunlop, of Primacy, in the parish of Balloo, county of Down, who has not been seen since June of 1827 ; and we are of opinion that the said Hugh Dunlop's death was caused by violent means, though we have not evidence to show by whom." A reward of 501. has been offered to any person who will prosecute to conviction the supposed murderers of the deceased.