npedrazzini/19thc_murder_suicide_news huggingface dataset:
The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle. — 1876-01-22 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

ROBBERY AND ASSAULT.—Patrick Macdonald, who from his appearance, evidently belongs to the genus " rough, " was charged with robbing George Lee, of a hat, on the 15th inst, and, in company with fonr others, wounding him whilst doing so. —Mr. Addison prosecuted, and Mr. Perry defended prisoner. Complainant, who was formerly driver of the 'bus at the Talbot, was proceeding on his way home shortly after eleven o'clock on Saturday night last, and when near the Freemason's Arms Inn, Birmingham-street, some one tried to trip him up. He turned round, and asked some of the men who were near him what they did that for, when five men set upon him, knocked him down, kicked, and struck him. He was kicked on his eye and on his lip, and two of his teeth were loosened. He was also kicked about his head and body, and was bleeding profusely. Whilst he was lying dowii,he put his hand over his watch, as he thought they wanted to rob him of it, and turned his face to the ground. He also shouted out, "Murder." Prisoner then pulled him up by the collar of his coat, struck him on the face, and took his hat from him. The hat produced was the one he was wearing at the time. He could swear to it, because tnere was a mark round the top where he had tried to wash some dirt off it. It was also a little too large for him, and the shop keeper from whom he bought it had put some pieces of felt inside the lining which were there now. There was also a small yellow spot upon the band. When he got up he went to the nearest public-house, but could not get admittance. He then went to a house which was near and whilst he was standing near the door he was struck by prisoner under the chin. Directly after that Police-constables Firth a.nd Philpot came by, and they escorted him home. Whilst they were doing this they were pelted with brick bats. He described his hat and the appearance of the man to the police officers, and about an hour afterwards Sergeant Jones and Police-constable Philpot came into his house, bringing the prisoner with them4rho had his (complainant's) hat on. When they'Zame in he said "That's my hat, and that is the man who took it." Prisoner said he had the hat from West Bromwich. Complainant told prisoner that he bought the hat from West Bromwich, and that it cost him 4s. 6d. He had bought it only a fortnight before Christmas. Mr. Birt, surgeon, had attended him ever since.—Police-sergeant Jones proved apprehending prisoner who'had the hat produced on his head at the time.—Police-constables Philpot and Firth corroborated Jones.—Mr. Birt, surgeon, described the the injuries inflicted on the complainant, and prisoner was committed to take his trial at the next Worcester assizes, bail refused, Colonel Fletcher remarked that it had come out as evidence that some of the witnesses had been threatened. He wished to tell them that to tamper with witnesses was a very serious offence, and punishable by penal servitude. Wo
The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle. — 1876-04-01 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

LETTER FROM THE CONDEMNED  CELL.  Tbe following is the copy of a letter written by Thomas Fordred, who was found guilty at the recent assizes for the murder of Mary Ann Bridger, near Margate. It is addressed from Maidstone County Gaol, and, after referring to a letter he sent last week, he says :  "My dearest sister and friends, —I got your letter. I was glad to hear from you all. You sent a letter to the governor of the gaol to know if I would like to see you. I shall be glad to see any one, and my dear sister, if I did not see you I could not die happy. You may think I had a dislike to you; no, God forbid; I was always fond of you. Now when any of you come to see me, come firm, do not cry and make a set out, because it will upset me very much. I am quite cheerful and happy, so do not make me unhappy. You ought all to be th,ankful to think God gives me time to repent. I believe God will let me die happy. You know we must all die. There is many a good Christian gone before me. When I went before the judge he told me I was guilty of wilful murder, but I have a greater judge to stand before than him and he will say that I am not guilty of wilful murder, but I believe I was the cause of her death by falling about with her; but not wilfully, God forbid. It was the last of my thoughts. My dear sister, my poor brother, and my poor wife that is gone before me, I hope that we shall all meet in Heaven. Tell my poor mother to make her peace with God, and I hope I shall sure meet her in a better world. We all know it is a bad end to come to; bat you may depend there is many a poor man gone to Heaven that has lost his life in a prison. No matter where we die God has the same love for us all. Now, my friends, supposing I had died in the crime at a moment's-notice, not time to ask God to have mercy on my soul, that would have been worse than this. You would then said, 'Poor fellow; he is gone,' and that would be all about it; but would you ask yourself a question about my poor soul? Now, when I am dead, never mind what they do to my body; let that go. It is our poor souls that is the main point. My dear friends I am as well in health as ever I was; but what about my poor mother? She is very old, and it will upset her so. Now I shall be very glad to see any one that likes to come to see me; I shall be happy to see my dear sister again, and may God bless us all. I am so glad that you are going to take care of my poor dear Jenny. May God bless all your family, and I hope we shall meet some day in a better world. When you come to see me be firm, and thank God my dear motht r will know well the last of me. God ever bless you all."
The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle. — 1876-04-29 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

THE BLACKBURN MURDER.  COMMITTAL OF FISH. The prisoner Fish was again brought before the magistrates on Friday morning on the charge of wilfully murdering and mutilating Eruily Holland. Toe prisoner, though pale and evidently ill at ease, looked a little more composed than he did on the previous day. On the application of the chief constable, the prisoner wal allowed to have a seat. Previously to the evidence being taken, Chief Constable Potts made. a statement to the Bench in explanation of the course which had been taken by the police. Evidence similar to that given at the inquest was then tendered, aid the prisoner was formally committed to take his trial at the Liverpool Assizes.—A perfect howl of execration was set up in court as the plisoner left the dock ia the custody of two police officers.  The prisoner, prior to being brought before the coroner's Jury on Thursday, was in a weakly and excited condition, and it was deemed necessary to give him a dose of brandy and soda-water. Ms sletp during the night had been unrefreshing. He had in his cell a large Bible and several books sad tracts, and these he frequently read. Ile expressed a wish that the time may soon arrive when he may pay the penalty of his crime.  On the night of Good Friday it is said Fish read to some customers the report of the previous day's proceedings, at the conclusion of which he exclaimed, " If that fellow gets hung I will have a jolly spree I will break the pledge and get drunk." On the 914 at Darwen, he said the murderer deserved to be cut to pieces. On the 6th inst the police for the second or third time searched his premises, whereupon a flock of persons surrounded the door and even filled the street.  On raking the soot of the oven-draught, on Friday, two little fingers from the hands of Emily Holland were discoveted.  On Friday morning the prisoner's wife and two children had an interview with him in company of the Rev. George Heyes, curate of St. Michael's Church, who married them five years ago. The interview was of the most affecting character both being moved to tears. The prisuier listened attentively to the earnest prayer which Mr. Heyes offered up. The prisoner's wile told, him that the parents of Emily Holland had sent a message to her stating that they freely forgave him, upon which he exclaimed "Thank God !" The prisoner took his food with heartiness, and on Friday morning, when asked how he had slept, replied "Very well," though his guardians said that he was very uneasy daring the night. The.mother of Emily Holland is now reported to be much better, and it is thought that she will recover.  It has been said that " when Fish got married five years ago he j &fed the religious sect of his wife, who is a Primitive Methodist" toe Rev. John Vaughan, Primi,ive Methouist minister, has ascertained that Fish was a scholar In St. John's Church School, and a member of St. John's* congregation, at Blackburn, and never was in any way connected with the Primitive Methodists.—The
The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle. — 1876-07-15 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

THE FIRST RAILWAY IN CHINA.  The Daily Telegraph makes the following observations on the opening of the first railway in China : Intelligence was published in London on Monday to the effect that the first Chinese railway for the conveyance of passengers was opened on the 30th of June last at Shanghai. The line, it is true, is not of great length. It will extend only from Shanghai to Woo sung, a distance of about forty miles; and the portion . completed goes nearly half-way, to a place called Kangwan. A hundred and fifty Invited guests belonging to the foreign community participated in the " in. " of the line; but on Saturday, the lit inst , the natives were allowed to travel free—a privilege of which they appear to have availed themselves con amore; since it is stated that six trains started in the course of the day, and that they were all crowded with passengers. Advices down to the sth mention that the cash receipts on the Monday and Tuesday succeeding the free day were highly satisfactory. Why John Chinaman should have been deemed entitled to a gratuitous pass for himself, .his wife, and olive branches on Saturday, may at the first blush seem difficult of comprehension; but the concession was probably made with a view of conciliating the native population in the presence of that which promises to prove the most radical innovation ever introduced into the social and perhaps into the political, economy of the Chinese Empire. Our surmise is strengthened by a significant remark in one of the telegrams from Shanghai: "It is thought that the railway will not be interfered with." Imperfectly civilised races are, as we all know, apt to "interfere" with modern improvements. The Spaniards of the South—who are not much less barbarous than the Chinese—" interfered '! with the electric telegraph, and nearly tore a telegraphic engineer to pieces on the almost incredibly absurd ground that he had used the fat of new-born babies to grease his wires withal; while the Spaniards—or rather the Basques—of the North systematically interfered with the Catalonian and Aragonese railways by tearing up the rails, breaking .down the bridges, plundering the trains, and murdering the station-masters. The Chinese, who have rather a weakness for infanticide, are not likely to be afflicted with the hallucination regarding the adipose residuum of babies being used for the lubrication of telegraph wires ; and, if the Shanghai and Woosung Railway, yid Kangwan, does not pass through any of the graves of their ancestors, there does not appear to be any valid reason why they should mob the trains or assassinate the drivers and stokers ; unless, indeed, they regard anything proceeding from a "Red-headed Devil" to be a " pidgin " which must be forthwith hurled to the "topside galow " of destruction. At all events, the momentous experiment seems to have been begun in right earnest; and its progress cannot fail to be watched with the utmost curiosity by civilised nations.
The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle. — 1879-04-19 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

THE ASSASSINATION OF A JUDGE IN AIJERICA.  The American Correspmdent of The Times gives the following particulars of a lad tragedy which has occurred in Kentucky "The Kentucky Court of Appeal recently directed a lawsuit against Colonel Thomas Buford. It is the highest State Court, and its decision is final. Buford, on the 26th March, in Frankfort, the State capital, shot Chief Justice Elliotto,who made the decision, and he died almost instantly. How it was done is coolly told by the murderer to a newspaper interviewer, his statement causing as great sensation as the crime itself. Buford met Elliott in the street, Buford carrying his gun and being dressed in hunting costume. He says "'I thought on Monday that I would kill both him and Judge Pryor, but I thought of Judge Pryor's children, and took a walk to see if I could not save Pryor, on account of his children. I finally concluded to do so. I made up my mind to kill him (Elliott), not because he was the first to decide the case against me, but because he gave roe a Judas kiss. He came to me after the decision and said, 'Colonel, I did all I could for you.' I knew that was a lie ; I knew the profession was against me. My gun was loaded with 12 buckshot in each barrel. I thought this morning I would go snipe-hunting. I met Judge Elliott, and said to him, Judge, I believe I will go snipe-hunting; won't you go along.' He said, No.' I then asked him if he would not go and take a drink, and raised my gun and pulled the trigger. It went off clear as a bell. He fall upon the pavement, and then I was sorry. I leaned down and placed my hat under his head. I wished to treat him with as much courtesy as he had shown in the robbery and assassination of my sister by his decision. It was the most ignominious game my gun ever killed. I was arrested then and gave the sheriff a letter to my niece, Annie 0. Wallace. You can see the letter. I simply give her all my estate in law and equity, and ask to be buried by my sister. I did not intend to kill Judge Hines or Judge Pryor. I kilied Eiliott to try my case, to show that they could not rob and assassinate with impunity. Last week I was down in Henry, and I knelt on my shter's grave, and swore to gain this suit or die with her. I know what I have done. I made up my mind, and I am ready to take the consequences. I had a pistol in my pecket, and I intended to use it if the gun-shot failed, but it did not  Buford was administrator of his sister's estate, and in that capacity brought the suit that was decided against him,"  The New York Herald gives the following further details : _ _
The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle. — 1879-04-05 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

STOURBRIDGE OBSERVER.  quiet.' I went to pay her when they were removing the goods. She refused to take the money and thought there was something wrong. I vent back into the house and told Church tnere was some noise being made. He said, ' I'll go to Porter and say I think there is aomething wrong abDut this. Don't move the things.' Church added, Ton will have to clear out and go to your friends;' and I left soon after. lit knew where I was going. He gave me a card with his aldress, and said I was to write to him, and he would i,top at home and brazen it out. This was on Tuesday, the 19th, and I reached my 'uncle's house on the following Friday aright. I wrote to Church to his address in Hammersmith, telling him I had arrived safely. Before leaving it was partly arranged that I should remain at home for about three weeks; that he would send me money to come back with, sad then we were to go to Amerma. I never laid a hand on Mrs. Thomas, and had nothing to do with murdering her; but I knew Church had done it All the money in the house belonging to Mrs. Thomas was a a note and is. This note I changed at a fishmonger's in Rtchmond. Church and Porter were with me at the time. I intend to tell the whole truth, as Ido not see why I should he blamed for what Courch has done I would not accuse my greatest enemy of anything wrong, let alone a friend, which Church has been to me up till now."  Mr. Pollard farther ststed that the prisoner Webster had made an addition but pith that he would not now trouble the Court.  Robert Porter, 16, was then called. He said—My father is Henry Porter, and I live with my parents at 10, Rosegardens, Hammersmith. I lave known the prisoner as " Kate " from her living next door to us In Rose-gardens. I was asked by Kate to carry a box. She was at my father's house on the 4th of March, and she said to my father, "Harry, will you ht Bob come with me to Richmond ? " This was about half-past six in the evening, and my father allowed me to in on her saying that I should return quickly that night. Ste had a Us& bag with her. She, my father, and I left our louse about seven o'clock, and she said that she wanted to tee a friend over Hammersmith-bridge at Barnes. We tlree went towards the bridge. I carried the bag as far as the ' Angel " publichouse, King. street, Hammersmith. Then my lather carried it, for I found it heavy. We went to tie " Oxford and Cambridge" beerhouse, in the Bridge-road, Hammersmith. We had some beer, and the prisoner said, ":11 take the bag now." Father said, "It's heavy; I'll carry 11;" but she said, "Oh, no; I'll carry it," and took it. We vatted at the beerhouse while she went towards the bridge. She came back to us in ten minutes or a quarter of an bur, and said she had seen her friend. She showed us some photographs—one the size of a shilling. The landlady also saw them.
The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle. — 1869-03-13 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

MURDER IN MAIDSTONE.  Early on Sunday morning a shocking murder was committed at Maidstone. Shortly after twelve o'clock the report of a gun was heard on the Ashford-road, and not long afterwards two lads discovered the body of a man within two yards from the curb, bleeding from the face, and a bundle lying close to him. They went to Turkey paper-mill, within a few yards of the spot, and told a man named Tovey what they had seen. He returned with the lads to the body, when they found that the bundle which had been lying by the body was missing. Inspector Hills arrived shortly afterwards and conveyed the body to the "Artichoke Inn," about DO yards from the spot where it had been found. Mr. Furber, surgeon, had been apprised f the fact, but upon his arrival life was found to be extinct. From an examination of the body it was found that the deceased had been shot through the mouth, the charge taking effect in an upward direction. Several shots were extracted. He was recognised as a young man named John Phinn, tailor, residing with his lathe. at Weavering-street, about a mile from Maidstone. On Saturday he had been out walking with a young woman to whom he had been paying his addresses, and while walking he left a bundle at the house of a barber named Knight, in Maidstone. After leaving the young woman at her own door, he agtsin called on his way home at the house of Mr. Knight and obtained his bundle. Nothing more was seen o. him till his body was discovered as above stated. A portion of the contents of the bundle was found near Gidd's Pond. Upon the deceased was found his purse and its contents, also his watch. It would apppear from this that if the object of the crime was robbery, the perpetrator had been defeated by the arrival of the boys.  An inquest has been held on the body, and the only evidence offered in addition to the facts recorded above, was the testimon) of a young man who, in company with three others, bade the deceased "Good night" about a quarter-past twelve at the corner of Huntsman's-lanes, leading into the Ashford-road. They had previously seen a man dressed in dark clothing lurking in the lane, and as soon as the deceased passed the man walked rapidly out of the lane and followed Finn. At twenty minutes past twelve Mrs. Carpenter, keeper of the lodge at Mr. Whatman's park, heard the report of firearms, and shortly afterwards the lifeless body of the deceased was found lying on the road, bleeding profusely from a wound in the face. Mr. Furber, surgeon, deposed to making a post-mortem examination, and came to the conclusion that the deceased had been killed by the firing of a pistol close to the face. He extracted several shots from the upper part of the torque and skull. Captain Euxton, of the Kent County Constabulary, was in attendance, and stated that no clue had yet been discovered of the murderer. The jury returned a verdict of "Wilful murder against some person or persons unknown."
The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle. — 1869-03-27 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

SHOCKING MURDER OF A BOY BY HIS FATHER.  On Friday morning, in last week, a dreadful murder was committed by Henry Se man, a pocket-blade grinder, residing in Sheffield. He had live children, and appeared fond of them all, but his especial favourite was the youngest but one, a little boy four years old named Harry. Shortly before twelve o'clock he was in bed, Oeeping off the effects of the previous night'is intoxieal ion, and his wife sent the little boy up to him with Koine te I. At first she asked her daughter, an older ch.lb, to take the tea up, but the girl objected, and said, "bet Harry go." Harry also strongly objected to go, but his mother persuaded him to take the tea to his father. A few minutes arta rwards, hearing no noise, iihe went up stairs, but concluding that her husband had taken the child into bed with him as he often did, and bad fallen asleep, she went down again without looking into his room. A little time pasred on and her husband came down stairs, put on his boots, and said to his wife, "Go upstairs and look at Harry, he is dead!" The poor woman followed her husband into toe street, clinging to him, but he broke from her and ran away at the top of his speed. A neighbour who had witnessed this incident in the street, at once went into Mrs. Seyman's house to see what was the matter, but the anxious mother had already ran upstake, and was coming down in a frantic state. When the mother inad fully reali,ed the wretched deed she became distracted, and a most painful scene followed. The report states that she sat in the house nursing her youngest child, an infant, and singing hymns, her reason having been unable to withstand so terrible a shock. The poor little boy was found dead in his father's lied, his head nearly severed from the body. The unhappy murderer is a confirmed drunkard. Naturally he appears to be of a kind disposition, but under the influence of drink he is violent and brutal. Just before eight o'clock in the evening a man presented himself at the police-office, and applied for a ticket for the vagrant ward. Police Inspector Cooke had, with singular shrewdness, anticipated that the murderer would shun the police-station during the day, when lie woulditnagine that people would see him enter, but would give himself up at dusk. He accordingly bestowed a careful scrutiny on every person who entered, and his examination of the applicant for the vagrant's ticket revealed a remarkable resemblance to the murderer, as described to the poliet. He at once taxed the man with the crime—" You are Seyman. and you are wanted for the murder of your child.' 'rhe criminal contested—" Yes, I have murdered it." He was searched, and a razor smeared with blood WWI found in one of his pockets. The surgeon to the police force shortly afterwards saw the prisoner in his cell, and reported that he had been suffering from ddiriunt tremens, and was still under the influence of drink. He appeared to be enduring mental anguish, but was outazardly calm. He is 34 years of age.