npedrazzini/19thc_murder_suicide_news huggingface dataset:
The Sun. — 1859-10-11 (London, England)

THE MURDER AT PARMA.  The Piedmontese journals of the Bth, which have come to hand this morning, contain full details of the murder of Col. Anviti on the sth at Parma. The Piedmontese Gazette quotes the following without comment from the Parma Gazette of the 6th :  " The people of Parma, who, by their late revolution, had merited the esteem of all Europe for the admirable order, calmness, and generous sentiments with which they had ever met those even who had left nothing undone to torture, oppress, and brutalise them, allowed themselves last night to b© fatally carried away by an irrepressible paroxysm of hatred, suspicion, and vengeance which drove them involuntarily to commit an act which the pen recoils from recording. One Anviti, whose name excited execration in the hearts of all, a man who was the incarnation of all that is odious, tyrannical, and shameful in the many persecutions of the late Bourbon Government, was yesterday seen and recognised in this city after a mysterious absence of several months. His appearance at this moment, undoubtedly connected with traitorous intrigues and a desire to create disorder, excited a furious suspicion in the minds of some who, vainly admonished by some citizens, gave the signal for an act which led to sudden and deplorable consequences. Blinded with rage, to rush to the place where he was confined, to break it open, to seize the unhappy man and to expose him to the insults of a crowd maddened by passion, was the work of an instant. A few minutes later he was a corpse. The rapidity with which the crime was committed did not allow the Government time to foresee, or the public force to prevent, or the majority of the inhabitants to oppose it. There now remains in us but a painful recollection of the act—repentance, too late, alas ! in those who committed it—and perhaps a pretext for our enemies to interpret it and comment on it in a manner prejudicial to us and to all Italy.—This morn• ing the following proclamation was issued : Citizens !—Last night your city was saddened by an event which can never be sufficiently deplored. A villain appeared among the people whom he had cruelly offended. The fever of vengeance seized upon some unhappy men, blinded and maddened them, and made them dye their hands in blood. [lad he been the most perverse of men, it was for the law alone to punish him. While the Government is taking measures to uphold the majesty of the law, it feels that this is the moment for invoking the co-operation of all good citizens in the name of patriotism. You who understand liberty, tell your fellow-citizens that freedom cannot live without respect for the laws. You who desire the redemption of your country, tell them that we must hope for it by maintaining order and tranquillity. Tell them that by avenging the insults of tyranny through the means used yesterday they will instead prepare the way for its return, they will afford it an opportunity of inflicting revenge a hundredfold upon the people. Tell them that all Italy weeps over the crime of yesterday—that her enemies only laugh. " The Intendant-General,
The Sun. — 1859-11-07 (London, England)

THE MURDER ON TRE HIGH SEAS.  The unfortunate Portuguese seaman • Pietro Francisco Guimarieno who was convicted of the murder of the captain of a British vessel, under very peculiar circumstances, at the last session of the Central Criminal Court, still remains in Newgate under sentence of death, the day of execution being fixed for Monday, the 14th inst. The representatives of the Portuguese government in this country, under whose protection the prisoner placed himself immediately after his committal, have used every exertion to obtain a commutation of the capital punishment. and the Portuguese ambassador has himself been in communication with the Home Secretary, with the object of inducing him to consent to spare the life of the prisoner, on the ground that at the time when the act was committed he was not in such a state of mind as to be responsible criminally for his actions, and that the government would be justified therefore in remitting the capital sentence. The general impression at the trial was that the prisoner would have been acquitted on the ground of insanity, and it may be stated that the counsel for the prosecution entertained an opinion that this would have been the conclusion arrived at by the jury. It will be remembered that the trial of the prisoner was postponed from the September to the October session to afford an opportunity for the officials connected with the Portuguese Embassy to procure evidence that the prisoner had been confined as a lunatic in the hospital of Lisbon, and also at Rio do Janeiro; and although it would seem that no such evidence was obtained, there are good grounds for supposing, from what has since been ascertained, that this arose from the inquiry not lasting over a sufficient period of time, and that the fact really was that in the year 1857 the prisoner had a severe attack of yellow- fever, and that his mind subsequently was seriously effected, and he was treated as a lunatic. The prisoner is visited almost daily by the Rev. Mr. Stanton, a Roman Catholic priest, who converses with him in the Portuguese language. lie appears to be a very mild, inoffensive man, and he all along has disclaimed any intention of doing injury to the deceased, and he states that on the day of the fatal affray he had drunk a little extra rum, and that it affected his brain, and he knew nothing of what had happened until the following day, when his senses returned, and he for the first time became aware of the dreadful deed he had committed. The prisoner himself, it is said, has written a petition to the Government, praying that his life may be spared ; but no answer has yet been returned either to this petition or to the representations of the Portuguese authorities, but an impression appears to prevail that the prisoner's life may be spared, and that the capital sentence will be commuted to one of penal servitude for life.
The Sun. — 1859-11-07 (London, England)

TILE MURDER ON THE HIGH SEAS.  The unfortunate Portuguese seaman Pietro Francisco Guimarieno, who was convicted of the murder of the captain of a British vessel, under very peculiar circumstances, at the last session of the Central Criminal Court, still remains in Newgate under sentence of death, the day of execution being fixed for Monday, the 14th inst. The representatives of the Portuguese government in this country, under whose protection the prisoner placed himself immediately after his committal, have used every exertion to obtain a commutation of the capital punishment, and the Portuguese ambassador has himself been in communication with the Home Secretary, with the object of inducing him to consent to spare the life of the prisoner, on the ground that at the time when the act was committed he was not in such a state of mind as to be responsible criminally for his actions, and that the government would be justified therefore in remitting the capital sentence. The general impression at the trial was that the prisoner would have been acquitted on the ground of insanity, and it may be stated that the counsel for the prosecution entertained an opinion that this would have been the conclusion arrived at by the jury. It will be remembered that the trial of the prisoner was postponed from the September to the October session to afford an opportunity for the officials connected with the Portuguese Embassy to procure evidence that the prisoner had been confined as a lunatic in the hospital of Lisbon, and also at Rio de Janeiro; and although it would seem that no such evidence was obtained, there are good grounds for supposing, from what has since been ascertained, that this arose from the inquiry not lasting over a sufficient period of time, and that the fact really was that in the year 1857 the prisoner had a severe attack of yellow fever, and that his mind subsequently was seriously effected, and he was treated as a lunatic. The prisoner is visited almost daily by the Rev. Mr. Stanton, a Roman Catholic priest, who converses with him in the Portuguese language, lie appears to be a very mild, inoffensive man, and he all along has disclaimed any intention of doing injury to the deceased, and he states that on the day of the fatal affray he had drunk a little extra rum, and that it affected his brain, and he knew nothing of what had happened until the following day, when his senses returned, and he for the first time became aware of the dreadful deed he had committed. The prisoner himself, it is said, has written a petition to the Government, praying that his life may be spared ; but no answer has yet been returned either to this petition or to the representations of the Portuguese authorities, but an impression appears to prevail that the prisoner's life may be spared, and that the capital sentence will be commuted to one of penal oeryitude for life.
The Sun. — 1859-04-07 (London, England)

THE CONVICT MARY JONES.  This unfortunate young woman, it will be recollected, was convicted at the present assizes for'the county of Surrey, of the crime of infanticide, and was sentenced to be executed by Mr. Baron Martin, who tried the case. The circumstances were of a very painful character. The prisoner was only 19 years old, and she had been seduced, and was delivered of the child in question at the house of a person where she was staying temporarily, and there was no doubt that, whatever was the character of the act she committed, it took place during the agony of a first confinement, aggravated by the misery and distress of the position in which she was placed, and there was nothing whatever to show that she had any deliberate intention to destroy the life of her unhappy offspring. There was this great peculiarity also in the trial, that no counsel were retained either for the piosecution or the defence, and the only answer to the charge made by the wretched prisoner when she was called upon for her defence, was, that she was in such agony and distress of mind at the time of the occurrence, that she was not aware of what she did. Baron Martin summed up very strongly in favour of a conviction for concealing the birth, but the jury returned a verdict, declaring, the prisoner guilty of the crime of wilful murder, and the learned judge, upon this finding, had. no alternative but to pass sentence of death upon the wretched young ,woman, who was taken from the bar insensible when the sentence was pron ounced.  The learned judge evidently did not anticipate such a result, but it appears that he immediately addressed a communication to the Home Secretary, in which he expressed his opinion with regard to the case, and that it was not one that at all required the last penalty of the law to be inflicted. In the course of a day or two an• answer to this communication was received, to the effect that the sentence, would not be carried out ; and a respite has since been sent to Mr. Keene, the, governor of Horsemonger-lane Gaol, under which the execution of the sentence is postponed during her Majesty's pleasure. Ever since her conviction the wretched young woman has been in a most miserable condition both bodily and mental, and she has been placed in the infirmary of the prison. The statement of the respite was made to her by the Rev. Mr. Rowe, the chaplain of the gaol, but she was in so weak a condition that she appeared hardly to understand the effect of the communication ; but she became a good deal agitated when she was told that the result would be that her life would undoubtedly be spared. It will now rest entirely with the Home Secretary, after having communicated with the learned judge who tried the prisoner, what punishment shall be inflicted in commutation of the 'original sentence.
The Sun. — 1859-04-07 (London, England)

THE CONVICT MARY JONES.  This unfortunate young woman, it will be recollected, was convicted at the, present assizes for the county of Surrey, of the crime of infanticide, and was sentenced to be executed by Mr. Baron Martin, who tried the case. The circumstances were of a very painful character. The prisoner was only 19 years old, and she had been seduced, and was delivered of the child in question at the house of a person where she was staying temporarily, and there was no doubt that, whatever was the character of the act she committed, it took place during the agony of a first confinement, aggravated by the misery and distress of the position in which she was placed, and there was nothing whatever to show that she had any deliberate intention to destroy the life of her unhappy offspring. There was this great peculiarity also in the trial, that no counsel were retained either for the prosecution or the defence, and the only answer to the charge made by the wretched prisoner when she was called upon for her defence, was, that she was in such agony and distress of mind at the time of the occurrence, that she was not aware of what she did. Baron Martin summed up very strongly in favour of a conviction for concealing the birth, but the jury returned a verdict, declaring the prisoner guilty of the crime of wilful murder, and the learned judge, upon this finding, had no alternative but to pass sentence of death upon the wretched young woman, who was taken from tb e bar insensible when the sentence was pronounced.  The learned judge evidently did not anticipate such a result, but it appears that he immediately addressed a communication to the Home Secretary, ,-4 in which he expressed his opinion with regard to .. , the case, and that it was not one that at all required the list penalty of the law to be inflicted. In the course of a day or two an answer to this communi~ cation was received, to the effect that the sentence would not be . carried out; and a respite has since been sent to Mr. Keene, the governor of Horse- I monger-lane Gaol, under which the execution of the sentence is postponed during her Majesty's pleasure. Ever since her conviction the wretched i young woman has been in a most miserable condition both bodily and mental, and she has been placed in the infirmary of the prison. The statement of the respite was made to her by the Rev. .•, Mr. Rowe, the chaplain of the gaol, but she was • in so weak a condition that she appeared hardly to '` .• understand the effect of the communication ; but she became a good deal agitated when she was . told that the result would be that her life would ; undoubtedly be spared. It will now rest entirely with the Home Secretary, after having communicated with the learned judge who tried 'the pri- 1 soner, what punishment shall be inflicted in corn.4 mutation of the original sentence. -1
The Sun. — 1859-12-26 (London, England)

ASSIZE INTELLIGENOE.  SOUTH WALES CIRCUIT—CARDIFF, Dec. 24. Upon this and the preceding day no less than three indictments for murder were tried before Mr. Baron Channell. Henry O'Connell, 23, mariner, one of the class known in Welsh seaports as " Irish Yankees," was indicted for the wilful murder of Antonio Tesmecher, a Bremen seaman, at Cardiff, on the 21st of November. Mr. T. Allen and Mr. Williams conducted the prosecution. The prisoner was defended by Mr. Giffard and Mr. Rees. The facts appeared to be as follows :—The prisoner and a mess-mate, named Rickards, lodged in a low and vicious locality in Frances-street, at the back of Bute-road, and were in the habit of frequenting a brothel in Frederica-street. On the night named Rickards sought admission into the house, and on being denied kicked the panels of the door in. The prisoner then came out, and the two men began scuffling, though whether in joke or not is not exactly apparent. One of a number of prostitutes attracted to the spot, upon laughing at the men, was threatened by the prisoner, and the quarrel was then taken up by several bullies, by one of whom Rickards was knocked down senseless. The deceased was stated to be a mere spectator, standing by with his hands in his pockets, though others said he was fighting. He was, however, rushed upon by the prisoner with a knife, and received a stab in the left side, which penetrated to the heart, and also a wound in the left shoulder. They fell together, the deceased crying, " The knife ! the knife !" A bystander attempted to drag the prisoner away, but was near being stabbed in so doing. Ultimately the prisoner and the deceased rose together. The latter staggered a few yards and fell dead. The jury returned a verdict of manslaughter, and the prisoner was sentenced to 15 years penal servitude. Elizabeth Davies, 34 years of age, a married woman, was charged with murdering her own child at Neath on the 21st of August. For the prosecution Messrs. Giffard and Hughes appeared. Prisoner was not defended by counsel. The prisoner was a most drunken character. On the night of the 24th of August she was seen by a policeman quite drunk with a baby in her arms. Attempting to enter a publichouse she fell upon the pavement, and the constable conveyed her home. A boy took the child home also. Next day the body of the child was brought to the station-house, having been found in a privy. A certificate by the surgeon of Swansea House of Correction declaring that the prisoner was paralyzed in the tongue, and unable to speak in consequence, was placed before the Court. The Judge said he should proceed with the trial, and represent the case to the Home Secretary. Mr. French, surgeon, said that the appearance of the corpse indicated that the child had been suffocated by feculent matter. The Jury returned a verdict of manslaughter against the prisoner, who was sentenced to 12 months' imprisonment. This closed the business.
The Sun. — 1859-12-26 (London, England)

ASSIZE INTELLIGENOE.  SOUTH WALES CIRCUIT—CARDIFF, Dec. 24. Upon this and the preceding day no less than three indictments for murder were tried before Mr. Baron Chann ell. Henry O'Connell, 23, mariner, one of the class known in Welsh seaports as " Irish Yankees," was indicted for the wilful murder of Antonio Tesmecher, a Bremen seaman, at Cardiff, on the 21st of November. Mr. T. Allen and Mr. Williams conducted the prosecution. The prisoner was defended by Mr. Giffard and Mr. Rees. The facts appeared to be as follows :—The prisoner and a mess-mate, named Rickards, lodged in a low and vicious locality in Frances-street, at the back of Bute-road, and were in the habit of frequenting a brothel in Frederica-street. On the night named Rickardi sought admission into the house, and on being denied kicked the panels of the door in. The prisoner then came out, and the two men jsgan scuffling, though whether in joke or not is not e2<actly apparent. One of a number of prostitutes attracted to the spot, upon laughing at the men, was threatened by the prisoner, and the 'quarrel was then taken up by several bullies, by one of whom Rickards was knocked down senseless. The deceased was stated to be a mere spectator, standing by with his hands in his pockets, though others said he was fighting. He was, however, rushed upon by the prisoner with a knife, and received a stab in the left side, which penetrated to the heart, and also a wound in the left shoulder. They fell together, the deceased crying, " The knife ! the knife !" A bystander attempted to drag the prisoner away, but was near being stabbed in so doing. Ultimately the prisoner and the deceased rose together. The latter staggered a few yards and fell dead. The jury returned a verdict of manslaughter, and the prisoner was sentenced to 15 years penal servitude. Elizabeth Davies, 34 years of age, a married woman, was charged with murdering her own child at Neath on the 21st of August. For the prosecution Messrs. Giffard and Hughes appeared. Prisoner was not defended by counsel. The prisoner was a most drunken character. On the night of the 24th of August she was seen by a policeman quite drunk with a baby in her arms. Attempting to enter a publichouse she fell upon the pavement, and the constable conveyed her home. A boy took the child home also. Next day the body of the child was brought to the station-house, having been found in a privy. A certificate by the surgeon of Swansea House of Correction declaring that the prisoner was paralyzed in the tongue, and unable to speak in consequence, was placed before the Court. 'The Judge said he should proceed with the trial, and represent the case to the Home Secretary. Mr. French, surgeon, said that the appearance of the corpse indicated that the child had been suffocated by feculent matter. The Jury returned a verdict of manslaughter against the prisoner, who was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment. This cloaed the business.
The Sun. — 1859-11-18 (London, England)

DORSET.  APPREHENSION OF THE MURDERER.  The public will, we are satisfied, feel greatly relieved at knowing that there is at last in custody a man at whose hands there is every reason to believe Anastasia Trowbridge mct her death, as reported in our last number. He is supposed to be a Spaniard, gives his name as Serafin Manzano, is about 29 years of age, and is about 5 feet 7 inches in height. He was apprehended under the following circumstances :—On Friday morning, Sergeant Cook, of the Hampshire police, saw the prisoner on board a steamboat lying at her moorings, at Hythe, and went over with him in the boat to Southampton. Observing that his clothes answered the description of those stolen from the house of the murdered woman, the sergeant accosted him on leaving the boat, and asked him whence he came. He replied, " From Boulogne," and on being asked the day, took out a book and pointed to the figure four. This did not satisfy the sergeant, who at once took him into custody, and the police at Ilindon being communicated with, it was soon ascertained that the hat, coat, boots, and gaiters he was wearing at the time were undoubtedly the property of the husband of the murdered woman. Another coat and an umbrella were also found in his possession, but Trowbridge, although he has little doubt about it, is yet unable to ideatify the former, owing to the removal of the buttons. Traces of blood were found on his trowsers, and stains were also observed on his shirt, but from its having been recently washed, it is difficult to say if they were produced by blood. There is likewise a slight wound on the middle finger of the prisoner's right hand, which appears to have been not long  inflicted. Since the prisoner's apprehension it has been ascertained that he sold one of the missing waistcoats at Cerne, on the day after the murder, and another waistcoat and handkerchief near Wareham on the following Monday. These, with the articles found in his possession, constitute the whole of the missing property. The prisoner is a tramp, and it is supposed that since the murder he has generally secreted himself by day and travelled only by night; it is otherwise difficult to account for his having got so far without falling into the hands of the police, The murderer was in the Isle of Purbeck on Tuesday week last, and lodged on the Monday evening at a temporary stable, built with sods (or turfs). The next day he called on the men employed at the clay works of Messrs. Hatherly and Co., and sold a waistcoat to a person named John Jeffries, saying he was hard up. The man appeared to be a foreigner, speaking broken English, and offered to sell a coat for 205., which afterwards he offered to part with for 10e. • he had on two pairs of trousers, a white hat, and carried an umbrella. He was ordered off the clay works on the Tuesday evening, and went his way towards Wareham. On the news being received through the police everyexertion was used to detect him.