npedrazzini/19thc_murder_suicide_news huggingface dataset:
The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — 1841-10-26 (Liverpool, Merseyside, England)

THE MURDER AT RINGMER.—A young man, named Steadman, has been apprehended at Watford, charged with the murder of Fianna(' Devonshire, which happened so far back as the year 1838—viz., three years ago, the particulars of which have appeared in our journal, The circumstances are as follows :—Stephen Steadman has been working for a Mr. Rogers, a highly-respectable tradesman in the town of Watford, in the ironmongery trade, &c., in whose service he lived as a smith, and had been in that capacity, for nearly a year and a half. He was taken into custody by Superintendent Fagan, of the London police, and Inspector Pye, of the Watford division of Hertfordshire rural police, and from Watford was conveyed to Lewes, a spot adjacent to the scene of the murder. It also appears that, upon being taken into custody by the superintendent, &c., that he confessed that bad company had brought him into it, and added that he would make a full confession before the magistrates. His conduct ever since he has been engaged in the service of Mr. Rodgers has been that of a very steady man. He was advised, when taken into custody, to say nothing relating to the case to the policeman. His employer said to him, at the same time, " Prove yourself-innocent, and I will immediately take you back into my service." On Sunday last, an account which appeared in the morning papers of Saturday last relative to the transaction was read to him when he was observed immediately to leave the room. He was in a short period to have been married to a highly-respectable girl residing in the neighbourhood of Watford. It would appear from what was stated by the prisoner after his apprehension, that the affair originated in a drunken frolic, but whether such is the case, or no remains to be elicited by the magistrates of Lewes, before whom he has shortly to appear. The canvass preparatory to the election of Town-councillors on the first of November is going on admirably. Day after day have we increased reason to hope that the approaching struggle will put the finishing stroke to the radical dynasty in the borough of Cambridge. No more snug "family parties—no more town-clerkships for one hungry liberal, clerkships of the peace for a second, and coronerships for a third —no more " loaves and fishes" to partake of with as appetite voracious and indiscrininating—no more piquant quarrels with a tory university—ten days hence, we do most heartily believe, the last lingering hopes of a return of blessings so dearly cherished, yet so scandalously abused, will have quitted the liberals for ever. Their doom is sealed. For five years were they rampant in their monopoly of power and profit, and then who strutted with so insolent an air—who so grand in his own conceit, so ready with pledges, so free from factious motives, and so careful of the public money, (teste the townclerk job,) as your liberal town-councillor; Last year the tide was at full ; but 'ere another fortnight shall have joined the past we predict the current will have changed its course and b e flowing ly tism.—Cambridge Chronicle.
The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — 1841-12-31 (Liverpool, Merseyside, England)

DARING BURGLARY.—The house of Robert Hughes,_ a  small farmer living at a place called Glascoed fach, on the borders of this county, about four miles from Oswestry, but in the parish of Llansilin, Denbighshire, was entered by a band of ruffians about two o'clock in the morning of Friday last. The burglars must evidently have been acquainted with particulars as to the circumstances of Hughes and his family, for the first thing they enquired after was " the money for the cow," he having sold one at the last fair held in this town. Being a careful man he had deposited the proceeds in a bank, and of which they were disappointed. It appears there were four of them in the gang, two of which entered the house, the others remaining outside. With these two the poor fellow and his wife had a severe encounter, and whom it would appear they successfully resisted. The ruffians were disguised, and armed with strong crowbars, one of great length, and similar to those used in the limestone quarries of the adjoining neighbourhood. Hughes was most dreadfully abused about the head, and, from the nature of the wounds, being inflicted by such murderous weapons, must have had a miraculous escape. His aged wife did her utmost to assist him, and in return received some very serious contusions from blows, kicks, &c. Finding themselves nearly worsted they made a signal for another of the party to come to their assistance, and the poor helpless man and his wife were overcome. The villains had their faces blacked, and were otherwise disguised, one of them having his shirt over what other garments he may have worn at the time. Disappointed, no doubt, at not finding the money poor Hughes had received for his cow, they dealt out their murderous vengeance with a heavy hand, and he survives only by a miracle. His courageous partner fared no better than himself, both, when first seen in the morning, presenting frightful spectacles. The robbers took away with them wearing apparel, eight pennyworth of copper, a few pounds of butter, some bacon and salted pork, and other trifling articles. A pretty accurate description of the burglars is given ; and, although on Tuesday morning no tidings had been received of their being taken, strong hopes are entertained of a clue to their detection. In addition to Hughes and his wife, there was a young girl in the house, who fortunately escaped the notice of the robbers. Having had their wounds dressed and promptly attended to by Mr. E. D. Bennion, surgeon, Hughes and his wife are likely to get the better of the dreadful outrage ; yet, from the last accounts we have received, the woman is in a very languishing condition. A reward has been offered for the discovery and apprehension of the parties, and the most praiseworthy exertions were being made by the surrounding neighbourhood to bring them to justice. The crow-bars are supposed to have been stolen from the Treflach lime-stone quarries.—Salopian Journal.
The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — 1841-12-31 (Liverpool, Merseyside, England)

DARING BURGLARY.--The house of Robert Hughes, a  small farmer living at a place called Glascoed fach, on the borders of this county, about four miles from Oswestry, but in the parish of Llansilin, Denbighshire, was entered by a band of ruffians about two o'clock in the morning of Friday last. The burglars must evidently have been acquainted with particulars as to the circumstances of Hughes and his family, for the first thing they enquired after was " the money for the cow," he having sold one at the last fair held in this town. Being a careful man he had deposited the proceeds in a bank, and of which they were disappointed. It appears there were four of them in the gang, two of which entered the house, the others remaining outside. Witb these two the poor fellow and his wife had a severe encounter, and whom it would appear they successfully resisted. The ruffians were disguised, and armed with strong crowbars, one of great length, and similar to those used in the limestone quarries of the adjoining neighbourhood. Hughes was most dreadfully abused about the head, and, from the nature of the wounds, being inflicted by such murderous weapons, must have had a miraculous escape. His aged wife did her utmost to assist him, and in return received some very serious contusions from blows, kicks, &c. Finding themselves nearly worsted they made a signal for another of the party to come to their assistance, and the poor helpless man and his wife were overcome. The villains had their faces blacked, and were otherwise disguised, one of them having his shirt over what other garments he may have worn at the time. Disappointed, no doubt, at not finding the money poor Hughes had received for his cow, they dealt out their murderous vengeance with a heavy hand, and he survives only by a miracle. His courageous partner fared no better than himself, both, when first seen in the morning, presenting fright. ful spectacles. The robbers took away with them wearing apparel, eight pennyworth of copper, a few pounds of butter, some bacon and salted pork, and other trifling articles. A pretty accurate description of the burglars is given ; and, although on Tuesday morning no tidings had been received of their being taken, strong hopes are entertained of a clue to their detection. In addition to Hughes and his wife, there was a young girl in the house, who fortunately escaped the notice of the robbers. Having had their wounds dressed and promptly attended to by Mr. E. D. Bennion, surgeon, Hughes and his wife are likely to get the better of the dreadful outrage ; yet, from the last accounts we have received, the woman is in a very languishing condition. Areward has been offered for the discovery and apprehension of the parties, and the most praiseworthy exertions were being made by the surrounding neighbourhood to bring them to justice. The crow-bars are supposed to have been stolen from the Treflach lime-stone quarries.—Salopian Journal.
The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — 1841-08-24 (Liverpool, Merseyside, England)

STABBING A FEMALE WITH INTENT TO MURDER HER. James Frazer, stood charged with having, at Liverpool, stabbed and cut Catherine English, with intent to murder her. The case was fully reported when it was investigated before the stipendiary magistrate. It appeared that the prisoner had committed the offence under circutnstances of great provocation. The jury found the prisoner guilty of a common assault.  His LORDSHIP regretted the presence of the knife, but admitted the provocation. As lie (prisoner) had already suffered imprisonment for a considerable time, he would now sentence him to be further imprisoned for seven days.  SHOOTING AT A POLICEMAN  John Murray, 41, was charged with having shot at John Nicholson, with intent to maim, disable, and disfigure him, or to do him some grievous bodily harm.  The case has already been fully before the public. The prisoner carried on the busiuess of a publican in Athertonstreet. On the night of the day after the election, the 31st July, there were several disturbances in the streets, arising out of the popular excitement. A body of police, in the execution of their duty, were patrolling the street about ten o'clock, and, on going up Atherton-street, several of them heard a report of a pistol, from whic'h one of them was slightly wounded in the leg. A pistol was afterwards found in the prisoner's hand.  Thejury acquitted the prisoner. MALICIOUSLY SHOOTING  John Lovett, 27, was charged with having, at Manchester, discharged a loaded pistol at William Newsham, with intent to murder him. There was another count, charging him with intent to disable ; and another, charging him with intent to do some grievous bodily harm.  It appeared from the evidence, that the prosecutor and his sons reside in Manchester, and are in the same employ. On the 23d June prosecutor and prisoner went together to the White Hart public-house, in Manchester, and they left it together at twelve o'clock at night. The prosecutor took with him a pint of ale. When they had proceeded about twenty yards, the prosecutor heard the report of a gun or pistol, and immediately found himself wounded behind the ear. He fell to the ground insensible, and was taken by some bystanders to the Infirmary. Prosecutor had not had any quarrel with the prisoner. The case against the prisoner was fully proved. A number of witnesses spoke in the highest terms of the prisoner, as an exceedingly industrious and well-behaved young man.  The jury found the prisoner guilty on the last count only  Mr. WILKINS, in extenuation of the priscner's offence, said that he (the prisoner) had expressed himself utterly amazed at his conduct. He had never entertained the slightest animosity towarLis the prosecutor, and he must have been incited to fire in a moment of temporary insanity, caused by having some time before been attacked by robbers, from which time he had always carried a pistol with him. The JUDGE said, that the case was altogether of so unprecedented a nature, that he should take time to consider before he passed sentence.
The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — 1841-09-14 (Liverpool, Merseyside, England)

POWEI FOR THE MURDER OF JOHN PETERS.  (Front-the Tipperary Constitution.)  On• Saturday last these unfortunate men underwent the extreme penalty of the law in front of our county gaol. We have seldom seen such anxiety evinced on any previous occasion to witness an execution, as was manifested in this instance, which was chiefly attributed to the melancholy circumstance of the hapless convicts being brothers, as also to a widely circulated report that-they were guiltless of the crime for which they were about to suffer. Su early as ten o'clock, large groups of persons, the greater portion of which were females, stationed themselves in convenient pF commanding a view of the fatal drop, and by twelve k an immense concourse of people 'was congregated. ' guard was composed of a strong force of cavalry.-infantry, and police, who were drawn up in line, and occupied the space in front of the prison. At a quarter-past one, the wretched men were seen slowly- moving from the press-room towards the scaffold, attended by the Rev. Messrs. Mullins, De Bourke, and Prendergast, with whom they appeared fervently engaged in prayer. Shortly after, the taller of them (James Power, we believe.) walked out with a firm step and somewhat hurried pace, to the front of the drop. His face was rather flushed than otherwise, and his resolution and strength of nerve was extraordinary. He addressed thespectators with a strong and distinct voice, and said—" I am now about to appear in the presence of my God, andll solemnly declare that I had neither hand, act, or part in themurder for which I am going to die, or any other murder. I: forgive my prosecutors, and every one who was connected with my prosecution, and I hope God will forgive me. I hope ye will pray for me, and beg of God to grant me a favourable judgment." The other brother then came out, also exhibiting very great resolution, but quite wan and pale. He then said, in a very audible voice—" A report has been circulated in the town that one of us was guilty of the crime for which we are going to die ; but I can declare in the presence of my God, who will soon judge me, that I had neither hand, act, or part in that or any other murder. I knew nothing whatever about it until it was publicly known in the neighbourhood, and I was first told of it by my sister. Perhaps the persons who committed that murder are among the crowd before me. I forgive my prosecutors from the bottom of my heart, and I die in peace with the world ; I hope ye will pray to God to have mercy on my soul." After the executioner had performed his awful task, they took each other's hands, and continued to shake them with a firm grasp until the fatal bolt was withdrawn, when they were launched into eternity after a few short, convulsive struggles. After the bodies had remained suspended for the usual time they were conveyed into the gaol for interment.
The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — 1841-09-14 (Liverpool, Merseyside, England)

EXECUTION OF JOHN AND JAMES POWER FOR THE MURDER OF JOHN PETERS.  (From the Tipperary Constitution.) On Saturday last these unfortunate men underwent the extreme penalty of the.law in front of our county gaol. We have seldohr ren such anxiety evinced on any previous occasion to witnes* an execution, as was manifested in this in-. stance, which was chiefly attributed to the melancholy circumstance Of the hapless convicts being brothers, as also to a widely circulated report that they were guiltless of the crime for which they were about to suffer. So early as ten o'clock, large groups of persons, the greater portion of which were females, stationed themselves in convenient places commanding a view of the fatal drop, and by twelve o'clock an immense concourse of people was congregated. The guard was composed of a-strong force of cavalry, infantry, and police, who were drawn up in line, and occupied the space in front of .the prison. At• a,quarter-past one, the wretcJed men were seen slowly moving from the press-room towards the scaffold, attended by the Rev. Messrs. Mullins, De Bourke, and Prendergast, with whom they appeared fervently engaged in prayer. Shortly after, the taller of them (James Power, we believe) walked out with a firm Step and somewhat hurried pace, to the front "pf the drop. His face was rather flushed than otherwise, and' his resolution and strength of nerve was extraordinary. He addressed the spectators with a strong and distinct voice, and said—" I am now about to appear in the presence of my God, andll solemnly declare that I had neither hand, act, 'or part in the murder for which I am going to die, or any "tither murder. I forgive my prosecutors, and every one who was connected with my prosecution, and I hope God will forgive me. I hope ye will pray for me, and beg of God to grant me a far. vourable judgment." The other brother then came out, also exhibiting very great resolution, but quite wan and pale. He then said, in a very audible voice—" A report has ,been circulated in the town that one of us was guilty of the'crime for which we are going to die ; but I can declare in the presence of my God, who will soon judge me, that I had neither hand, act, or part in that or any other murder. I knew nothing whatever about it until it was publicly known in the neighbourhood, and I was first told of it by my sister. Perhaps the persons who committed that murder are among the crowd before me. I forgive my prosecutors from the bottom of my heart, and I die in peace with the world ; I hope ye will pray to God to have mercy on my soul." After the executioner had performed his awful task, they took each other's hands, and continued to shake them with a firm grasp until the fatal bolt was withdrawn, when they were launched into eternity after a few short, convulsive struggles. After the bodies had remained suspended for the usual time they were conveyed into the gaol for interment.
The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — 1841-02-26 (Liverpool, Merseyside, England)

BARBAROUS  MURDER.—On Tuesday evening last, King, a carrier between Barnstaple and Okehampton, put a female down at the place called Five Oaks, between Okehampton and Hatherl2igh, handing her a bundle and bandbox from the cart. She got over a stile to proceed across some fields to her home, and King went on his journey ; he had not gone far before he heard cries of murder, and returning to the spot where he left his passenger, met a man coming over the stile with a box and bundle, of the description of those he had delivered to the woman. He asked the man where he got the articles, and received for a reply, `• What odds is it to you," upon this he seized the man by the collar, charging him with robbery, when he received a cut across the fingers from a large knife. A scuffle ensued, when King threw the other man, and broke his leg. He subsequently found the unfortunate woman two fields off,, with her head nearly severed from her body. The murderer was handed over to the proper __.7 ~- .... •  -On Monday night, between 12 and 1 o'clock, the following alarming occurrence took place at the residence of Mr. Charles Hammersley, 25, Park-crescent, Regent's-park. At the period in question, Mr. Hammersley, who was in bed, was awakened by a loud noise, resembling the firing of a large piece of ordnance, and, putting on his clothes, he hastened below, when he met at the bottom of the stairs the butler, who was trembling with fright, and both of them proceeded into the area, on entering which they found that five large panes of glass in the pantry, and one in the housekeeper's room, were shattered to pieces. There was a strong sulphuric smell, and, on making a further examination, it was discovered that some of the area steps were, dislodged from their proper position. In the morning, about nine o'clock, information of the mysterious circumstance was communicated at the station-house in Marylebone-lane, and Inspector Tedman, of the D division, at once repaired to the mansion, when he carefully examined the steps, and at length found upon one of them a small portion of what he imagined to be rosin. He repaired with it to' the Polytechnic Institution, and exhibited it to Mr. Thompson, who, upon hearing the whole of the circumstances, gave it as his decided opinion that the explosion was from a maroon, which had been thrown down'the area, and that a fusee being attached to it, the mischievous author of the " joke" had had plenty of time to get away previous to the explosion taking place. The rosin found by the inspector had dropped from the case, and it was no uncommon thing for maroons. after being fired, to leave no vestige of paper or anything else appertaining to them behind. It subsequently turned out that the kitchen-maid had, in the early part of the morning, swept a quantity of rosin off the steps. It is worthy of remark, that about a fortnight ago a similar dangerous and mischievous prank was played off in the vicinity of Brentford.