npedrazzini/19thc_murder_suicide_news huggingface dataset:
The Herald of Wales. — 1887-07-30 (Swansea, West Glamorgan, Wales)

BIRTH.  BMINARD —July 26th, at 34, Walter Road, Swansea, the wife of Arthur Chiehestsr Buruard, of a daughter.  Alfred Walfe, an elderly man, WllB charged, on Monday, before the St. Helens magistrates, with attempting to murder Joseph Weldon, a watchmaker. On Saturday night Weldon heard Mrs. Waite screaming "Murder," and found her lying on the floor, her clothes all torn, and blood coursing down her face and neck. When prisoner REM him, he rushed at him and thrust his nails into his cheeks and endeavoured to throw him. Prosecutor fell uppermost, and when he released Walfe, he ran into the house. and re-appearing with a revolver, aimed it at him and tired. The bullet whizzed over his head, and then, seeing that he had missed him, prisoner fired three more shots in succession. Prisoner was committed for trial at the assizes.  The hot weather in the United States has produced something more startling even than sunstrokes. At Ladianopolis a consignment of eggs WU lying in a warehouse. In the course of two or three weeks a faint sound was heard from one nf the boxes, and presently all the eggs were spontaneously hatched, and the chicks walked out of their shells. We cannet afford to be beaten in this manner; and, therefore, we pr sent our American cousins with the following truthful story: A few days ago a boy was eating cherries in Leadenhall-street. lie hap pened to throw one of the stones into a heap of road sweeping, By the next day a good sized cherry tree had allot up like Jonah's gourd; and yesterday the weary and heated citizens of London were regaling themselves with the ripe cherriesfrom thatwonderful tree. If any citizen of the U-ui-ted States does not believe this tale, he can come over and see with his own eyes whether it be true or not. The law which the Americans have enacted against the holding of real estate by aliens is as stringent as the most patriotic citizen of the Republic could desire. All men are free and independent and equal, says the Constitution of the United States; but as men in those days did not include slaves, so now "men" is not to include foreigners. But no one will be surprised at this legislation. In our own country aliens have only been relieved from this die. ability in the present century. In the 'United States it has been found that capitalists came awl buy up millions of acres purely as is opoeulation, aaa for the purpose of re-selling at a profit when the industry of others has cloolopcd the resources of the dis:rict. This is not what the Americans want. Any one who will cultivate the soil is welcome among them to a gr of almost any amount of land at a very levy price. But they do not eheh tbo for,t.mer step in and make a profit out of industry. The millionaires cd we presume, make the same pr lit : henceforth will not allow it to  tit: I:  6868, and that jaw seems to be iV. • enactment in the interests of the Am_ .1-1.
The Blackpool Herald. — 1893-12-15 (Blackpool, Lancashire, England)

BLACKPOOL, FRIDAY, DEC.  Lord Derby was better yesterday. but is still confined to his room. Dr. Troßope, the Bishop (Suffragan) of Nottingham, died on Sunday evening. Jewellery of the value of £5,000 was stolen from a shop at Tunbridge Wells on Tuesday evening.  A Plymouth accountant was on Wednesday mulcted in COO damages for breach of promise of marriage._ - •  The libel acton of Zierenberg v. Labouchere came to a termination,on Wednesday, ending in a verdict for the defendant. Sir Joseph West Ridgeway, the new Governor of the Isle of Man, was sworn in on Wednesday, in due form at Castle Rushen. The remains of Professor Tyndall were interred on Saturday at Haslemere, in the presence of many men eminent in science and art.  There are 117,000 unemployed in Chicago. A committee of 100 members has been appointed to raise a charity fund of a million dollars.  Mr. J. E. Redmond, M.P., in a letter to a correspondent, says that he greatly fears the Home Rule Bill will not be heard of again in this Parliament. Mr. Gladstone has informed the ViceChancellor of Oxford University that a Royal Commission on Secondary Education is to be appointed. The Scotch coal strike has collapsed. The miners, on Saturday, agreed to resume work at the old rate of wages, which will rule till the let of February.  There will be no contest in Brighton. Sir W. Marriott will be sucoeeded in the representation by Mr. Bruce Wentworth, whose return will not be opposed. London has" got it" badly. Last week the deaths directly due to influenza in the Metropolis rose to 127, as against 74 in the preceding week. H smallpox had done this there would be a national panic. Yet where smallpox has killed its tens in recent years, influenza has claimed its hundreds—indirectly, its thousands.  The outbreak of iutinenza at Sandringham House is said to bethe cause of the absence of the Princess of Wales and the Princesses  Victoria and Maud from the ceremony at Frogmore yesterday.  Several very interesting cases from the Lytham aud St. Annea.district were heard _  ya.sterday before Judge Coventry at the Kirkham County Court, reports of which appear in our news columns.  At the London Bankruptcy Court on Wednesday, a receiving order was made against Captain W. H. O'Shea described as of 124, Victoria-street, Westminster, and Chichester Terrace, Brighton. The grand council of the Primrose League have sustained a great loss by the death from influenza of Lieutenant-colonel Ford  (provincial secretary fOITI-h-;1-1OM-e--c-ou—n-tieswho died in London on Sunday.  Sydney Smith, recently a clerk in a Sheffield branch of the London and Yorkshire Bank, hrs been arrested at Naples. It is alleged that he forged cheques to the amount of nearly ke3oo, and absconded.  A young man named William Harris was, at Warwick Assizes on Wednesday, found guilty of the murder at Aston, near Birmingham, of a girl named Clifford, who had lived with him. He was sentenced to death in the
The Blackpool Herald. — 1876-03-03 (Blackpool, Lancashire, England)

DEFICICJEB OF MALTA.—During the present year considerable alterations are tobe made to the land fronts of the fortifications, to adapt them to mount rifled ordnance. This is in addition to dockyard defences, upon wkich £83,000 has already been spent, and will require about £lOO,OOO to complete.  Among the loth"" for a forthcoming auction in London is one described as "extraordinary relics connected with the celebrated Joanna Southcote, comprising a patchwork coverlet worked and marked by her, together with pieces of baby linen made aid presented to her for the ex-pecteci Shiloh in 1814."  Dr. 171lathorne, Roman Catholic Bishop of Birmingham, has issued a pastoral regarding the " persecution" of the Church in Germany. He accuses Prince Bismarck of having deliberately resolved to destroy the Church, and of being prepared to use instruments human and material to effect his purpose. Rear-Admiral Worden, of the United States frigate Franklin, now in Southampton waters awaiting contributions to the Philadelphia exhibition, has declined an invitation to himself, the captain, and °dicers to a municipal banquet by the Mayor, in consequence of leaving immediately.  The Jersey States have resolved upon a sensible reform in abolishing the present absurd and puzzling copper coinage of thirteen pence to the shilling, and substituting a fresh issue based on the English system. It is intended to retain the present style of coin, bearing the Jersey arms on one side and the image of her Majesty on the other.  TOIVEOARD OF TRADE AIM UPSZAWORTHY At the Liverpool County Police-court, on Tuesday, Septimus Howell, of Begin, Flintshire, was charged under the Merchant Shipping Act of 1875 with sending the schooner Leader to tea in such a condition as to endanger the lives of those on board. The case had already occupied one day, and on Tuesday the magistrates decided that a prima facie case had been made out, and sent the defendant for trial at the 8113i10s, admitting him to bail. A verdict of "excusable homicide" was returned on Monday by a Salford coroner's jury who had inquired into the death of a publican named Thomas Clowes. The deceased received a blow on the nose from a person whom he was endeavouring to eject from the vault; and the hemorrhage which followed caused his death. He was very drunk at the time of the occurrence. The man who struck the deceased was called, and he stated that he had acted in self-defence, whereur - the jury returned a verdict in the terms above  LarNo7l OF TO& INFLExIBLE.—The total amount Of weight which had been worked into the Inflexible at Portsmouth up to the end of last week amounted to 3270 tons. The launching weight will be about 3600, or about 1000 tons less than the weight.of the Thunderer when launched at. Pembroke, and the average daily amount of weight added is five tons. The Duchess of Edinburgh will leave town for St. Petersburg on the 6th of March, but will return in time for the laune of the Inflexible on the 27th of April. Great progress has been made in the fixing of the launching gear. Critic:MS
The Blackpool Herald. — 1879-08-01 (Blackpool, Lancashire, England)

EXECUTION OF KATE WEBSTER. CONFESSION OF HER GUILT.  At nine o'clock on Tuesday morning Kate Webster was executed in Wandsworth Gaol for the murder of Mrs Thomas, at Richmond. The proceedings were strictly private, owing to the decision of the county not to admit representatives of the press. Webster, after making a short confession late on Monday night to the effect that she, and she alone, committed the deed, told Father M Tnnery, the Roman Catholic chaplain, that she felt relieved at having unburdened her conscience, and that she would sleep more calmly on that, her , last night on earth, than she had done since her condemnation. She retired to rest soon aften ten, and slept fairly well. She arose soon after five next morning, and was at once visited by the governor of the prison, Captain Colville, whose kindness to her since she has been under his care the convict has spoke highly of. At 730 Father M'Ennery had arrived, and he was followed quickly by the surgeon of the gaoL Mar wood had slept on the premises, and was up betimes, making all the final preparations for carrying out the sentence of the law. At half-past eight the Under Sheriff for Surrey, Mr. Abbott, arrived, and soon after the process of pinioning was gone through, and just before nine the procession started for the scaffold. Webster left the condembed cell leaning on the rev, father's arm, and he assisted her down the steps until she reached the place where Marwood was waiting to perform the pinioning process. She was afterwards led to the scaffold supported by a turnkey on each side, Marwood walking immediately behind her, the clergyman in front. The Roman Catholic litany for the dying was read. During the reading Marwood quickly completed his final arrangements, pulling down the cap and adjusting the fatal noose. When the worde "Jean,, the good shepherd," were reached by the priest, Catherine Webster responded in a firm voice' "Lord, have mercy upon me." Marwood touched the lever, and the drop fell. She died without a struggle. On Monday night the culprit made a third and'final confession, in which she admitted the justice of her sentence. She said that she alone was the perpetrator of the murder. Mrs. Thomas, she said, had "aggravated her," and she pushed her down stairs. In the fall Mrs. Thomaa'rl neck was broken, and Webster then conceived the idea of disposing of the body and appropriating the property of the deceased te her own use. The explanation is a very probable one, and if it had been given when Webster was arrested might have saved her from the scaffold.  WATSON'S " TAPXWORM SPBCIFIC," the only safe, certain, and permanent cure for tapeworms. Prices, 130. 2s. 9d., and ss. Watson's "Specific Powders," the only effectual remedy for threadworm and roundworm. No. 1, adults; No. 2, children. Prices, 70., 1151., and 28. 91., of J. H. WArso.Y, Shipley, and most medicine vendors.-4Anvr.l Avviexpo Morena' !—Are you broken m your rest r, a sick child autferLug with the pain of cutting !eeth I Go at once lc a, chemist and get a bottle of Mrs.
The Blackpool Herald. — 1879-05-16 (Blackpool, Lancashire, England)

SHOCKING DISCOVERY OF MUTILATED REMAINS.  • • •  A shocking discovery was made on Friday morning, in Burton Square, London. A boy named &roman, in the employment of Mr. Bartondorff, a German, residing at No. 4, was clearing out the coal cellar, when he discovered in one of the corners the leg of a human being. He reported the oircum• stanoe to his master, and on further search being made the body of a female was brought to light, but in a very mutilated condition. Communication was made to the police, and the place was thoroughly examined. The body was found to have been 'towed away in a hole in the cellar. Medical men examined the remains, and there is a difference of opinion as to whether death occurred two years ago or as recent as six months ago; quicklime haying been used, identification of the remains will be very difficult, and the few scraps of clothing in the cellar are mere rags. The hands and feet are detached from the trunk, and the stump of the right arm is turned toward the chin. A little hair remains attached to the scalp, but the skull is almost bare. Strangely enough, there is no unpleasant °deur in the cellar. From the fact that a piece of clothealine is tightly knotted round the neck of the corpse, it is assumed that a murder has been done. It is reported in the neighbourhood that a servant at the house has been missing since November last, and that she was a dressy, tall, well-shaped woman of about 30, with light auburn hair. No satisfactory account of the whereabouts of this woman has been given. Her name was Hannah Dodd, and her parents, it is stated, resided at Lynton, near Ilfracombe, in Devonshire. The police are now trying to find Hannah Dodd. The doctors who have examined the remains are very reticent as to the conclusions they have arrived at. It is said they pronounce the hair grey, but an independent examination of a portion of the hair leads to the conclusion that it is fair hair, or a light warm brown. The body seems to be that of a well-nourished woman. The whole of the flesh in eaten off the face, the head, and hands by the action of the lime, but where the body was protected by the clothes the flesh is fairly well preserved, and is apparently that of a robust person with good muscular development. It is thought that the body has not been dead a year. There is some curvature of the spine in the eorpee, but it is pointed out that this curvature may not have existed in life, but be an effect of the way the body was thrown down after the murder' for murder the crime in all probability was. The clothes are those of a lady, and include a black silk dress, black lace shawl, and waterproof with silk hood. The underclothing, though rotten, is yet sufficiently preserved to enable its good quality to jba recognised. The remains were further examined 9IS jamdkw, and the opinion was expressed that the 6/00, I* Ast of a comparatively young woman.
The Blackpool Herald. — 1879-01-10 (Blackpool, Lancashire, England)

INDECENTLY ASSAULTING A LADY AT KIRKUAM. —James Simpson, a lad about 17 years of age, was charged with indecently Assaulting Jane Wray, at Kirkham, on the 3rd inst. Jane Wray said she was a school-mistress at Fleetwood. When the assault was committed she was living with her parents in Church-street, Kirkham. Her father, Wm. George Wray, was a stone mason at Kirkham. On the 3rd inst., she was in company with her sister, Emma Wray, and they had been on an errand to Town End. They were returning along Marsdenstreet to her father's house, and when at the end of Clegg-street, witness saw the prisoner James Simpson, who was standing against a lamp post. Before getting up to prisoner witness and her sister stood talking with some friends. They afterwards continued their journey down Marsden-street. When opposite Thomas Singleton's yard prisoner jumped on her back, and threw his  arms round her neck. She then became unconscious. When she came to her senses she heard her sister calling out " Murder." She did not remeinber any more. She hal never spoken to the prisoner. —Emma Wray, sister of the complainant, said she was a dressmaker, living with her parents at Kirkham. On the 3rd instant she and her sister (prosecutrix) left home about half past ten, on purpose to go an errand to Town End. On returning, at the end of Clegg-street, they ra,t their aunt Mary Brown, and stood talking with her for a short time. When going along again about opposite Thomas Singleton's yard she saw prisoner jump on her sister's back. He threw his arms round her neck and then threw her down in the street. She (witness) called out " Murder." She saw prisoner get hold of her sister's leg, and put his hand up her clothes. He tried to turn her on her back. Wit ness pulled him off and struck and scratched him. He then attempted to trip witness up. Prisoner then ran away. She then removed her sister to a house near. P. C. Sayers in about five minutes brought prisoner to the house and she instantly recognised him as the person who had committed the assault —P. C. Sayers said on 3rd instant, about half past eleven, he was on duty in Poulton-street, Kirkham, when he heard cries of Murder," and saw prisoner running down Clegg. street. He tried to conceal himself near Whalley's. He caught him and took him to where the twolast witnesses were. Emma Wray said, in the prisoner's presence, that he had knocked down her s.ster, and indecently assaulted her. The officer then charged him with indecently assaulting Jane Wray. He replied "It was not me, but I'll be hung before I tell who it was." lie was sober for anything he could see.—Miss Wray intimated to the Bench that she did not wish to press the case.—The prisoner had nothing to say in dcfence.—The Superintendent said they had had two charges of felony against the lad.—The magistrates retired to consider the case, and upon returning, the Chairman raid they wished, in compliance with Miss Wray's request, to be merciful to the prisoner. He would, therefore, only be committed to the House of Correction for two calendar months.
The Blackpool Herald. — 1883-12-07 (Blackpool, Lancashire, England)

EXECUTION AT LIVERPOOL.  TERRIBLE SCENE ON THE SCAFFOLD.  The execution of Henry Dutton for the murder of hie wife's grandmother, at Liverpool, took place at Kirkdale Gaol, Liverpool, on Monday, under painful circumstances. Binns was the executioner, and arrived at the entranze of the prison at a quarter-past seven on Monday morning, accompanied by a young man' whom he described to the goaler as his assistant, but who was refused admission.  The ascent to the scaffold, up a flight of steep stone steps, always a trying one to the condemned man, was accomplished without any display of weakn,ss on the part of Dutton, who, the moment he appeared on the drop, heaved a sigh of relief, and cast a calm glance on the little group of persons assembled below, whose paintul duty it was to behold the dreadful spectacle. While the chaplain was reciting prayers in a loud voice, and the low funeral notes of the bell from " St. Sepulchre's Tower" were tolling "a living man's knell," the executioner very quickly completed the last duty of strapping tne legs of the culprit, drawing over his face the white cap, and adjusting the rope round his neck. The convict, as soon as he saw that the end was coming, began to repeat the prayers,which the minister whispered in his ear, in a voice which was still unquivering and quite distinct. " Lord Jesus receive my soul, he cried; and hardly had the words escaped his lips when Binns withdrew a step as if to draw the fatal bolt. But he stayed his hand, came forward again, and hesitated, looking anxiously at the man who ought by this time to have been put out of suspense. The spectators in the courtyard were at a loss to account for this delay, but it was afterwards explained that Binns had to wait about eight seconds until the clock struck eight. The executioner, the instant he heard the hour chimed out, then tone hed the apparatus, the drop fell, and the man was dangling at the end of the rope in mid-air. The body turned round several times, and it was with evident disgust at Binns that the doctor observed "This is poor work. He is not dead at all." I The fact was that the remains were seen to move I convulsively for two minutes, and it afterwards turned out that the convict's pulse did not cease to beat till actually eight minutes after the drop, which RIM 7ft. siin. The rope was nearly as thick as a ship's hawser, although Dutton was only a little man of sft. 2in., and 9st. 91b. in weight. It was the opinion of the doctor that the rope was far too thick, the result being that the culprit died from simple strangulation instead of from fracture of the spinal cord. It may be stated that on this occasion the executioner placed the eyelet of the rope under the chin, instead of as heretofore at the back of the head. An interview was held with Binns after he left the goal, and he attributed the want of proper action of the rope to the newness, and not in any way to its thickness.