npedrazzini/19thc_murder_suicide_news huggingface dataset:
The Barrow Herald and Furness Advertiser. — 1866-03-10 (Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, England)

LOSS OF A LIVERPOOL STEAMER.—A.aIther L verpool steamer his been loss—The (ken idiaa hound hence AS toe January packet of the West India and Paciffic Chnpany to St. Thom is, Santa Marth ' and hlon. We hear of the loss h from telegraph Ihse.in to the eEfeet that she had been abandoned off the Azores, h tying suffered severely in a series of neavy gales, but that the crew and passeugers had beea eiteed. Nothing is said about _ the mails. This loss will fall heavily on b •th the underwriters and the ceinea, ty. Fhe Gr'renadian asq lite a new ship, one of the diet which was recondy built on tae Clyde speci Joy for this service. She was commanded by Captain 1-1. Swaiusou, R.N.R. and had a very valuable • full cargo, will a large mill for her ports of destination. DREADFUL MURDER AND SuiclhE.-0a 'Tuesday mernine, aleat se7en o deck, a woman named Mary Whistoe, residing at Harper 's Gaze, near Leek, Stiffordshlre, mardered her infant, child, about 14 in hiths by cacting its throat with a razer, with whica she also cut her own throat, and died immldiately. The deceased woinau is the wife of a labourer employed on the North Stafferdshire Railw.iy, and it see us that on' his house was searchld wider a m Lgistrates warrant—a, female neighbour, named Mary Ann Wheeldon,'havins• lost a woollen cloak, suspected that Mrs. WPaistou hid sto,eu it. The missing artic.e of dress, bowever, was not found in the house, and the deceased, who was in a very excited state of mind during the search, observed that she wouid make the woman Whe_l lon remember bringing such a false charge against her. Though the cloak was n,t found, the police, it see 114, were in possession of •certain facts which tended to show that the deceased had been guilty of the theft, and were intending to pursue their inquiry further. it is believed that the deceased knew of this, and her exeiteinent was increased when her husband, on his return home from work naturally expressed his anger at havine his house searched. At six o clock on 'Needay morning, Mr. Whiston and two men, who were lodging in the same house, got up, and, having made a fire, were preparing their breakfast, when the deeeased woman came down &airs dressed, with her infaat son, about 14 months old, in hersarmseand passed out of the house without speaking. Mr. Whitson and the two lodgers. thought she had gone to sehher mother and stepfather, who resided in a beerhouse close by. Not many Minutes afterwards the deceased and her child were found lying dead in a pool of blood, • in the privy, with their throats cut in a shocking manner. The deceased was lying face downward, upon her child, and underneath her was iound a razor covered with blood, with which she had no doubt performed the dreadful deed. Another razor,•clea,n, and in a ease WaB found upon the privy seat. A
The Barrow Herald and Furness Advertiser. — 1871-07-22 (Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, England)

ASSAULT CASES. —John Kellett charged Seth Atkinson with assaulting him on the lath inst, at Pennington-lane Eud.—Complainant said that on Sunday night laat, about 10.:30 p.m. at Pennington-lane End, a man was lying with 'his face all covered with blood. Atkinson said they were to get him up, and he would mark his face for him. He (witness) interfered to protect the man, when Atkinson struck him several times. The assault took place near the Beehive Inn.—William Wilson gave corroborative evidence.—Defendant said he had a few words with a man who broke his watchguard. Kellett interfered, and called him (defendant) all the bad names he could think of. He got irritated, and struck him.—WilliamGreenhough spoke to the provocution Atkinson received from Kellett. —Fined 10s. and costs.--Elizabeth Rafferty charged James Postlethwaite with assaulting her on the 15th inst., at Clverston. —Complainant, who had a black eye, said that on Saturday night she heard some one cry "Murder—police." She ran out of her house (in Rattan-row) and asked defendant what was to do, when he struck her over the eye, knocked her down. and pulled a quantity of hair from her head.—Lawrence Farrel, Bridget Rafferty, and Amos Breen gave corroborative evidence. —Defendant said that about twelve o'clock on Sunday night he was in the Barley Stow Inn, when some one came to say that some Irishmen were killing his brother in Ratten-row. He went, and he was attacked by seven Irishmen, who abused him very much. He was released by the police. He never touched Mrs. Rafferty. —Hannah Bell and Hannah Davis spoke to the row. Defendant never touched Mrs. Rafferty; but she said she had got a blow, and did not know who gave it her.—P.C. Scrimgour corroborated, and Mrs. Hughes gave similar evidence.—Ca• se dismissed.—Julia Cunningham charged James Cunningham, her husband, with assaulting her on the CM mat, at Dalton.— Complainant said that every time her husband got drunk he abused her. On Sunday morning he was drunk, and as she was going to bed he struck her several times, and gave her a black • eye.—Defendant said his wife got too much drink, and it was through that he struck her.— t A second charge of assault was also preferred against defendant.—P.C. Nally said he was on duty near to Dalton, on Sunday, when he saw defendant assault his wife. She called him '• back for protection, when he took defendant into custody.—Defendant admitted the assault If his .wife had kept from drink, it would never have happened.—Fined £3 for the first assault, and for the second to be bound over to keep the peace for six months. Fm.omv.— Mrs. Sarah Price, of Barrow, charged Adam A. Crompton with stealing a shirt value Is., on Monday last —lt appeared that on Monday afternoon prosecutrix left her home for a few minutes, leaving the shirt on the bed, in the parlour. When she returned the shirt was missing, and it was afterwards ascertained that prisoner had taken it. —Prisoner pleaded drinking in mitigation. It transpired that he had only just come out of prison, and he was sentenced to six months' imprisonment.
The Barrow Herald and Furness Advertiser. — 1871-03-04 (Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, England)

CAPTURE OF A SUPPOSED FENIAN HEAD CENTRE.  At the Wakefield court-house, some singular disclosures were made on an application being made to the magistrates to remand an Irishman named Edward Doyle, who is in custody on a charge of threatening to murder Mr. Bradley, of Acton Hall, of the firm of Bradley and Sons, solicitors, Castleford. The prisoner, who is rather a diminutive man,was dressed in a black suit, and had the appearance of a Catholic priest. He is said to be a native of Wicklow, and he states that he is a grocer, but the police say they have evidence which they believe will prove that he is a Fenian Head Centre, and that for a long time past he has been supported by subscriptions from his fellow co antrymen. Recently he returned from America,after an absence of ten years, and went to reside with his brother-in-law at Whitwood, near Normanton. His conduct has lately been somewhat extraordinary, and he is said to have subjected Mr. Bradley to considerable annoyance. It is alleged that he has not only addressed a number of letters to Mr. Bradley, in which he threatened to take his life, and warned him to prepare for death ; but written placards,evidently the work of the prisoner, have lately been found posted on Mr. Bradley's estate, at Acton, bearing signatures of coffins, and threats of murder, both against Mr. Bradley and members of his family. When matters began to assume a serious aspect, Mr. Bradley communicated with Superintendent Hall, of Wakefield, and the case was placed in the hands of Detective-Inspector Murray, of the West Biding police force. This officer had been engaged night and day in investigating the matter. It appeared that the officer had con siderable difficulty in apprehending theprisoner. As as instance of the means to which he resorted in order to get hold of him, Murray,who, it is said, received his education at Cambridge, engaged the school-room at Whitwood, and delivered eloquent lectures, generally occupying about two hours, on various subjects of an attractive nature. Ultimately he succeeded in getting hold of the prisoner, and brought him before the magistrates and staked them to remand him. He assured the bench that he had evidence and letters in his possession which would satisfy them that the prisoner had a bad feeling towards Mr. Bradley. and he could prove he bad said he would kill Mr. Bradley, and then return to America. The detective handed a number of letters to the bench, one of which had been found posted on Mr. Bradley's property, and another was written by the prisoner in a hotel at Normanton on the previous night, in the officer's presence. the prisoner, on being asked if he had anything to say why he should not be remanded, stated that what the detective had said was all false, and he charged Murray with being drunk and ill-using him, lie also said that Mr. Bradley had trumped up the charge against him out of spite and malice. The prisoner was then remanded for a week.
The Barrow Herald and Furness Advertiser. — 1890-08-23 (Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, England)

CONVIUT S THIRST FOR REVENUE,  EXTRAORDINARY THREATS IN COURT.  At Tavistock on Tuesday Joseph Denny, ohas George Adolphus Gordon, a coloured native of Barbadoes, was charged with breaking into the Dartmoor Convict Prison on Saturday night, with intent to set the building on fire, and also with stealing a sheep. The prisoner, who was guarded in the dock by two warders, looked at times with intense hatred towards Chief Warder Hardy, whom he had previously avowed his intention to murder. It will be remembered that Denny got into the prison by scaling the wall, and, putting his feet accidentally on the bell wire running along the wall, he set the bell ringing, and this led to his discovery. When caught he said, "I came to murder ` Flash ' Hardy, and murder him I will if I have got a chance." It was afterwards discovered that he had killed a sheep on the prison farm and eaten a large portion of the raw meat which he had cut from the animal's shoulder. He admitted having done this, and added, "1 have done fifteen years' hard labour for the old woman (meaning the Queen), and she ought to be able to stand a sheep or two now." When before the magistrate he made a long statement, in the course of which he complained of the treatment he received while in Dartmoor Prison from the time that Chief Warder Hardy was appointed there. He was put in irons only because he was a man of colour and a plain speaker. In a convict establishment, he said, a prisoner who was a plain speaker never got on. Only those got on who allowed people to tread upon their necks. During the whole of his second term of imprisonment he was treated most cruelly by the chief warder, who was governor, deputy governor, doctor, clergyman, and everything else. The governor practically left his duty to the chief warder, and in all the convict prisons he had been he had never seen a governor give a chief warder so much power to Captain Everett gave to Chief Warder Hardy. He (Denny) was several times flogged, sometimes through his own fault, at others for nothing at all; and when he was discharged he told the governor that even if twenty years passed he should never for ..et that man Hardy. The presiding magistrate several times cautioned Denny to be careful what he was saying, but Denny replied that he was determined not to undergo penal servitude again, and he intended to speak his mind. He was treated worse than a dog while at Dartmoor, and, although since he left there he had been to America and the West Indies, the desire for revenge was always with him, and he was determined to have it. He eared nothing for the law. He should have no peace of mind until Hardy was in his grave, and he would mount the gallows with a contented mind if he could despatch the rogue before he went. If ever there was a hell, Dartmoor was a hell; and it was the governor's fault, because he did not look into matters properly.—The prisoner was committed for trial at the assizes, and as he left the court he looked straight at Chief Warder Hardy, and in the most vindictive tones twice exclaimed, "I shall remember you."
The Barrow Herald and Furness Advertiser. — 1881-04-19 (Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, England)

NOTES BY RAMBLER.  "There's a chiel amang ye takin' notes, and faith he'll print them," and so he did with a vengeance in the case of the Barrow deputation to London before Dr. Play fair. The doings of committees, like murder, will out ; but in this latest instance the gentlemen in question have been as much surprised as the public on reading this latest information respecting the character of Barrow. Was it a breach of confidence on the part of some reporter or literary scribbler, or was it done by an admirer of the port of Liverpool, whose ambition is to hold up tc ridicule the rival port of Barrow? Perhaps so; but it is hardly likely. Rambler heard from one that was present that the statement as regards the dogs was incorrect, and that the other portion of the report was highly coloured. I hope a.), and trust to see a flat contradiction in the Press from the gentlemen who it is reported are maligned One thing is evident to our local public men—that committee meetings in London are not similar to Barrow. Members of the Press do not require to "button hole" a member for news at a street corner.  Imagine a member of the Dalton Local Board stating that " Rambler " of the Herald seemed to know more about matters connected with the Board than he did himself. He was unaware of the fact that he was speaking in " Rambler's " presence, but seemed highly pleased with the information imparted in these notes respecting the duties of the Clerk to the Board, and the Attendance Officer as regards the prosecution of parents neglecting to send their children to school. The matter will be taken up at the meeting of the Board next Monday.  Who has lived in the Furness district two years and not spent Good Friday on Walney Island or at Furness Abbey? "Wind and weather permitting" is seldom taken into account on such occasions, but only those who had little regard for either had the courage to pay either place a visit on Friday last ; the weather did not permit. However, the sun danced on Easter Sunday and yesterday, and to a great extent made up for the disappointment so generally felt on Friday. Both Biggar Bank and the Abbey ruins were largely attended by all classes on both days.  Just now that the Corporation Bill of this "model town" is so much to the fore, I should like to say, that I live and trust it contains a clause to inflicit a penalty upon all the stupidly careless folk who so wantonly lay a trap for unwary feet, by scattering orange peel 60 profusely ou our footpaths and our thoroughfares Sure never was such a town as ours for this careless trick. More than one clumsy shop have I seen lately, and more than one narrow escape of an awkward tumble has occurred to my own knowledge through the thoughtless dropping of a " peel "on the flaggsd pavement. Surely a notice, as in other towns, calling upon the inhabitants to throw this refuse into the cart road, would nA be unwisely issued from the Town Hall?
The Barrow Herald and Furness Advertiser. — 1881-07-23 (Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, England)

MIMI. Two guineas paid as deposit will cover our charges. Any further commands ?" "None whatever. Good morning." "Good morning, marm." jerked Mr. Tes jellings, picking up his hat and returning the pocket book. "Ah ! that's a rum case in this morning's paper, ain't it, sir ?" he observed, standing with the door half open. "Haven't seen it, eh? Well, an old chap in Drookets Close, a bookseller, or something of that kind, found dead in his shop—head battered in, and his brains strewn all over the place. I'm told that the Government mean offering a reward. Good morning."  With's profound bow, Mr Jes Jellings left them 0000 more alone.  The Heavens lost their charm., mid very intently Mr. Ringwood regarded his wife. Her frame trembled and her face was bloodless. Still she met his eye without flinching. She arose slowly and approached him. He drew back slightly as she took his arm. " F red," she whispered hoarsely, "lam innocent of this thing. As there is a God above me, as there is a hell beneath, lam innocent. It is a fearful compli cation—suspicion must rest upon me, but I swear to you that this is strange to me. My hands are free from blood."  Fred looked scared. "We must leave here as quickly as possibly," he coldly replied. For a time there was silence. She moved about noiselessly. He eyed her askance. They avoided each other's gaze. Fred trembled visibly—he tore the morning's papers into fragments. "I feel such an irresistible desire to read it, and I know that I had better not." . _ _  " You don't think, Fred, that I murdered him ?" "No," he replied, with some hesitation, averting his face.  " No ; I don't think that." After an interval, during which Annis dressed for walking, she asked, "What did Ann Sloker know of you?" "She was very good to me once, and I promised to marry her, that is all !" That was all! Ho had promised to marry her! He wished now very much that he had married her. Very much did he wish that be had married her. Very ranch did he wish that the woman standing by his side 'till bore the name of Drum. „  "I see now," remarked "what my next card must be."  Fred simply said "Oh !" he's not thinking of twenty thousand a year, but of a dingy shop in Drookets Close, and the battered form of an old man, and the brains scattered upon the floor. "I shall," resumed Anuis, "run down to Draggers Court, and see this adventuress calling herself Miss Dennisthorne."  "What on earth can my old uncle Dennisthorne have to do with it ?" thought Fred. He knew nothing  about his uncle's will. His wife hail only told him that if his sisters remained single for two years he would come into money. Again he simply observed "Oh !" "You will go to Carlisle and wait for me ?"  "Be very cautious. Good-bye." This time he did not offer to kiss her. So they parted, little dreaming how long it would be ere they again met.
The Barrow Herald and Furness Advertiser. — 1881-01-29 (Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, England)

BARROW SCHOOL ATTENDANCE COMMITTEE'S REPORT.  Sir,—Your correspondent, "T. W. Bray," of St. James' Schools, might have saved himself a good deal a trouble andhumiliation if he had nut been so hasty in his calculations, and had not placed so much reliance upon his class of girls. He should remember that abuse proves nothing, and is always degrading to him who uses so unworthy a weapon, even though "righteous indignation" call it forth. But what of him who abuses not only without cause but for an error that lay wholly with himself? How unfortunate to have no local Punch. T. W. Bray might figure in a life-size cartoon asking a class of girls to spell " Tremenj us." To accuse a committee of gentlemen of a" mistake verging on crime," and of an "unblushing attempt at something more than justification," is harsh and unbecoming language towards those who voluntarily give their time and talents to the public service, and whose only object can be the promotion of good in our town. The former of these quotations from your correspondent's letter reads, in a legal point of view, much like "homicide," and the latter in popular slang is uncommonly like a " lie " —harsh expressions, however translated. T. W. Bray is evidently guilty of the fault he imputes to others—a great want of reflection. A moment's reflection of his girls is not sufficient; but, slate and pencil in hand, let us proceed to the source of his error. He argues that during the year 1880 there has been an increase in the average attendance in voluntary schools, and that this increase is more than five per cent. Thus : • Number Average In the year on register. attendance. 1879 2891 2030 1880 3114 2139  Increase lO9 That this increase of 109 is an increase of more than 5 per cent, in the " Average Attendance." The figuring so far is quite correct, and the girls deserve credit. Again: .  Number  In the year. on register. 1879 2891 1830 3114  Average attendance. 2030 2139  Increase 223 Your correspondent, "T. W. Bray," ignores the existence of this increase of 223 in the "Number on Register," which is an increase of 7 per cent. Ergo, if the number of scholars on the register has increased 7 per cent., and the average attendance only 5 per cent., there must be a falling off in the average attendance of 2 per cent. They should have increased LO the same proportion. This, sir, is the so-called "Barrow School Board joke," the "mistake verging on crime," the "unblushing attempt at something more than justification." It is really too bad to shower round such indiscriminate abuse. The biter I may be bit. Ah ! but what matters! There's sym' lathy in a class of girls.  Mit /ed use le' the the  the ,gere ated  tbo Fern' AO" 6006 mple *Da  a 80/ athli flt 0" plaiu  h. ttendaticea " ot ht rolls' Ineff 7 f a, quote GI hool 3,42 P 1 1 frt. obeervea eredit the ar With (lettuce mh Mr.
Alston Herald, and East Cumberland Advertiser. — 1879-06-14 (Alston, Cumbria, England)

THE EXETER MYSTERY.  The police have arrested Diary Hoskins, the mother of the infant whose mutilated body was three weeks since found in the mill leat, and on Saturday she was brought before the Exeter magistrates. The approaches t 3 the court were crowded long before the case came on, the horrible mutilation of the body having excited much public feeling. The day after the trunk was found the head and other limbs were discovered, and for the purpose of identification parts were put together, and the child photographed. Several false clues were followed up, but it was only a few days since that the first information was received of the circumstances that led to the arrest of the mother. She is unmarried. She is twenty—five years of age, and her friends belong to the middle class, and reside at Cauaborne in Cornwall. The prisoner came to Exeter at the end of last June, took lodgings there, and stated that she was the wife of an Indian officer. She gave birth to a male child in October, and, at the beginning of December. placed it in charge of a widow named Tooke. The preliminary arrangements with the widow were made by the prisoner's brother and sister; and when they had got rid of the baby the whole party disappeared. Ou first being seen Tooke wanted to be paid six shillings a week for the child. Next she agreed to take a lump sum of 1:20, but afterwards she accepted , .£l2. She says that a further payment was promised her. looke, however, did not take the precaution to obtain the name of the mother, nor did she ask for the name of the child. ' She, however, was in correspondence with a person who first communicated with her on the subject, and as at the beginning of last month she had not received any further advance, she informed her correspondent, unless more money was forthcoming, the child would be put in the workhouse, and the police communicated with. A day or two after this a woman, whom Tooke says she does not know, came and stated that the mother had sent her for the child, and he was accordingly handed over to her without inquiry. This was on the 12th of May, and on the same day this strange woman was seen with another female, said to be the mother, and the child was then alive and well. On the 18th its body was found in the mill lent. The identity has been clearly established, the women Tooke positively swearing to the photograph of the mutilated remains. On the police going to Camborne the prisoner left the house at which she had been staying, and went to a farmhouse three miles distant. As the police entered the front door to arrest her she attempted to escape by the back door. The prisoner admits that the child is hers, but denies that she knows anything of the murder, and before the magistrates on Saturday she questioned Tooke as to why she parted with the child. A remand was applied for, but the prisoner objected to this, saying that .she did not wish to be kept there a week, and she was quite ready to answer any questions.—The Bench remanded her until Friday next.