npedrazzini/19thc_murder_suicide_news huggingface dataset:
The Sun. — 1867-09-09 (London, England)

KIRK. In one story he said that LIVINGSTONE was killed by the blow of a hatchet; in the other, that he was shot with arrows. This is certainly a very singular variation, since there could not have been much doubt as to the manner of his death. MousA's returning to bury the body is regarded by many as apocryphal, inasmuch as it is quite inconsistent with his avowed cowardice. It is worth notice that the story of the murder is told by MOUSA alone, none of the other Johanna men having been present. At any rate there is sufficient uncertainty about the story to make it very desirable to ascertain the actual truth, and it is highly satisfactory to know that the appeal of Sir R. MuncursoN, as President of the Royal Geographical Society, was promptly and cordially responded to by the Government. Mr. YOUNG, a warrant officer, who spent two years on the Zambesi River with LIVINGSTONE, has been chosen as the leader, and it is encouraging to know that he also entertains hopes that the illustrious traveller is alive. The old spirit of adventure and enterprise is not yet chilled in our race, for although only three Europeans have been chosen fur the expedition there have been more than 50 volunteers. The plan of the expedition is to sail up the Zambesi, thence up the Scheri, carrying their steel boat, which can be taken to pieces, past the Murchison falls. After passing these falls they will launch it again, and reach Lake Nyassa, exploring the eastern side of the lake, as LIVINGSTONE has done the west. It is confidently believed that the expedition will be certain, if LIVINGSTONE is dead, to find traces of him, his apparatus, his clothes, and papers being certain to come down the lake in the course of native trading. To written documents the natives attach great importance, and Sir R. MURCHISON mentioned in his speech that every article belonging to the German traveller; RocnEß, who was killed in a quarrel with the natives, had been subsequently recovered. The journey will take, it is believed, till the end of November, and by Christmas it is hoped the result will be known in England. News of the safety of our distinguished countryman would indeed be a welcome Christmas gift to many a household, but while we cling to the possibility we must be prepared for less cheerful tidings. At any rate, the search is an imperative duty, and while it will set the minds of LIVINGSTONE'S friends at rest from their anxiety, it will, we may hope, afford a moral protection to all future travellers from the cruelty or the cupidity of the natives.  In the Phoenix Park, on Friday, a ceremony of great interest took place, for the officers and men of the Irish constabulary were presented with testimonials of approval, in recognition of their spirited conduct during the recent outbreaks and disturbances in that country. The services which they rendered at that critical time are well known to have have been mainly instrumental in Isuppressing the
The Sun. — 1867-02-08 (London, England)

THE JAMAICA INSURRECEION.  BOW-STREET-THIS DAY. F.XAMINATION OF LIEUTENANT BRAND, R.N.  This afternoon Lieutenant Herbert Charles Alexander Brand, R.N., was placed before Sir Thomas Henry, charged with the wilful murder of George William Gordon on tho 23d of Oct., 1865.  The warrant for the defendant's apprehension was placed in the hands of Constable Taylor, who, on proceeding to Lane's Hotel, found that the lieutenant had removed from there last evening to lodgings in a private house a short distance therefrom. Accordingly the warrant officer was in waiting for the lieutenant, and this day, about one o'clock, he succeeded in taking him into custody, and at once conveyed him to Bow-street Policestation, and from thence to the magistrate's court. Lieutenant Brand on entering the court, and having taking his place at the bar, • Mr. Burnaby, the chief clerk, said —ls your name Herbert Charles Alexander Brand? Defendant—lt is.  Sir T. Henry—Lieutenant Brand, I wish to explain the exact nature of the charge against you devoid of all technicalities of language. The charge against you is, that you, as president of a court-martial at Morant Bay, signed a sentence of death against George William Gordon without lawful authority, and that therefore his execution, the prosecutor alleges, was unjustifiable. That is the charge against you. Your are not called upon to say anything on the present occasion ; but you will have to meet the charge made against you. Mr. Sheen, for the prosecution, said he did not proposo on that occasion to do more than read the depositions of Dr. Fiddes and ono other witness, given on the occasion of the granting of the warrants, and upon that be!ng done ho should ask for the remand of the defendant until an early day next week-. The depositions having been read, Sir T. Henry, addressing the defendant—Havo you no professional adviser present ?  Defendant— I don't know. Sir T. Henry—lt will be advisable for you to have ono . Have you any friends ? Defendant—Certainly not. I have no friends; I'm a lieutenant in the navy. Sir T. Henry—lt becomes my duty to remand you until Tuesday next, when I am informed other persons will attend at this Court to answer for the conduct they pursued on the occasion. I suppose, Mr. Shean, as lam about to admit the defendant to bail, his own recognisances to appear here again on Tuesday next will be sufficient ? Mr. Shean—Well, no, Sir Thomas; I don't think that I should feel inclined to assent to such an arrangement as that. I think that as there was some little difficulty in apprehending the defendant some snbstantial guarantee for his appearance ought to be taken. Sir Thomas Henry—Then it becomes my duty to call upon you, Lieutenant Brand; to find two sureties in the sum of £2OO each, and also to enter into your own recognisances in the sum of £5OO for your appearance at this Court on Tuesday next. The defendant was without a single friend in court, consequently, the required sureties were not in attendance, so ho was removed in custody. General Nelson intimated that he will attend at the proper time and surrender to the warrant of the Chief Magisrate.
The Sun. — 1863-02-02 (London, England)

REPORTED DEATH OF MR. PETHERICK.  Travellers (writes an officer of the 2d Life Guards, in the Field of Saturday), sportsmen, naturalists, geographers, all know the name of John Petherick, a kind-hearted, plucky, powerfUlly built specimen of a true John Ball, who both in his private and in his official capacity as her Majesty's Consul at Khartum, White Nile, has rendered much good service and protection to British interests in this out-of-way and distant region of Upper Egypt. His contributions to the natural history of the rude and savage men, and of , the wild beasts among which they live, are well knbwn through the medium of the book (" Egypt, Soudan, and Central Africa") Mr. Petherick has himself published, and also through the columns of ' the Field.  Not many days ago the news appeared, by telegram, in the London papers, that Mr. Petherick and his wife were drowned in the White Nile. Of course we were all very grieved to hear this, and we anxiously wait further particulars. I have, however, just received a letter from my friend Dr. Genezik, who lived for many years next door to Petherick, at Khartum, and held the appointment of physician and sanitary inspector at this town under the Egyptian Government, and who knows the White Nile and the rude inhabitants of these districts from long practical experience. He writes from Prague, in Bohemia, to me thus :—" I see, from the newspapers, that Petherick, with all his family, wife, and servants, have been drowned on the White Nile. I don't believe this version ; he was murdered, with all his party, either by the negroes or by his own people, and the news of his having been drowned spread by them. I know the White Nile, its visitors, its ivory and ebony borders, better than anybody else." Immediately I received)this, I took the liberty of submitting it to Sir Roderick Murchison, President of the Royal Geographical Society, as I had read a report of a meeting of the society, where Petherick's death was officially announced. I have done this in the hope that the circumstances under hw job our good friend met his death may be immediately fully inquired into by the authorities. If the poor fellow t murdered quietly byd any own lady (to whom he was really dgreowvangsedb,oirlidos harm. inquiry ; but if he, with his good and dck was th among whom he was trail the reader will look at Petherick's of the savage have power over them, to strietean book he will see what style of come account fine ;obf and ratthe ee th savages they are—it knockedonly becauseon the hpeeatdhae and accept for the truth is not ivse 01 travelling—and nr the news of I h • been drowned, Ewing was married just before he badeus farewell) was murderers, or those who fellow we all knew him to be, but 9 because he was the emissary of the British Government, as consul at Khartum, as well as the commander of an expedition to render a • ssistance to Captains .Grant and Speke in th • eir arduous, dangerous, but important exploration gd—utabynuadtstEo negallilshtmh:bnotelytos
The Sun. — 1863-02-02 (London, England)

REPORTED DEATH OF MR. PETHERICK.  Travellers (writes an officer of the 2d Life Guards, in the _Field of Saturday), sportsmen, naturalists, geographers, all know the name of John Petherick, a kind-hearted, plucky, powerfully built specimen of a true John Bull, who both in his private and in his official capacity as her Majesty's Consul at Khartum, White Nile, has rendered much good service and protection to British interests in this out-of-way and distant region of Upper Egypt. His contributions to the natural history of the rude and savage men, and of the wild beasts among which they live, are well known through the medium of the book (" Egypt, Soudan, and Central Africa") Mr. Petherick has himself published, and also through the columns of the Field.  Not many days ago the news appeared, by telegram, in the London papers, that Mr. Petherick and his wife were drowned in the White Nile. Of course we were all very grieved to hear this, and we anxiously wait further particulars. I have, however, just received a letter from my friend Dr. Genezik, who lived for many years next door to Petherick, at Khartum, and held the appointment of physician and sanitary inspector at this town under the Egyptian Government, and who knows the White Nile and the rude inhabitants of these districts from long practical experience. He writes from Prague, in Bohemia, to me thus :—" I see, from the newspapers, that Petherick, with all his family, wife, and servants, have been drowned on the White Nile. I don't believe this version ; he was murdered, with all his party, either by the negroes or by his own people, and the news of his having been drowned spread by them. I know the White Nile, its visitors, its ivory and ebony borders, better than anybody else." Immediately I received this, I took the liberty of submitting it to Sir Roderick Murchison, President of the Royal Geographical Society, as I had read a report of a meeting of the society, wherePetherick's death was officially announced. I have done this in the hope that the circumstances under which our good friend met his death may be immediately ft lly inquired into by the authorities. If the poor fellow was really drowned, no harm can cone of the inquiry ; but if he, with his good lady (to whom he was trawas married just before he bade us farewell) was knocked on the bead and basely murdered by any samwoilniglowohkoaelt he was of the savage vagabond velling—and if the reader , book be wilesee what style of savages quietly down they are it is our duty Englishmen not to sit and accept for the truth the news of his having been drowned, but to call the murderers, er those who have power over them, to strict account; and this not only because Petheriek was because efine brave fellow we all knew him to he, but he was the emissary of the . Briti' Khartum, as well a - Government, as consul at to rendert 1,11 4e commander of an expeditionassistance to Captains Grant and Speke in their arduous, dangerous, but important explorations.
The Sun. — 1863-11-28 (London, England)

THAMES.  MURDEROUS ASSAULT BY A HUSBAND ON HIS WIFE.— Thomas Haddin, a morose and determined looking fellow, aged 46 years, was brought before Mr. Woolrych charged with assaulting his wife Henrietta. _ _  The complainant's face was terribly disfigured, and her eyes ware swollen and blackened. This was one of the most aggravated cases in the annals of wife-beating. The unhappy couple have been married 24 years, and have been lately dwelling at No. 2, Thomas-street, Commercial-road East. The prisoner is a tobacco pipe maker. He has been frequently charged with assaulting his wife, and punished for so doing. On one occasion ho was sentenced to three months' imprisonment for a violent assault upon her. Repeated punishments had no effect in checking his brutality. This morning at one o'clock he came home intoxicated, bringing with him a disreputable strumpet, and on the door being opened ho turned his wile out of the house, and told her he had brought home her mistress. The wife forced her way into the house again, on which the prisoner beat her in a savage manner over the head and face with his clenched fist. Blow after blow succeeded each other, and the unfortunate creature bled profusely from the nose and mouth. Sho was covered with blood.  George Vincent, of Plaistow-marsh, Essex, said—l was passing the end of the court named Thomas-street this morning, and heard cries of "Murder," and "Police." The prisoner opened the street door of his dwelling, and struck his wife on the mouth, and again on the nose and head, and also kicked her. The wife forced her way into the house again, and directly afterwards I heard the noise of a most tremendous blow, When the wife came out of the house again she was a frightful sight. She was covered with blood and sould not see out of her eyes. I heard the prisoner say, " You go out, I have brought home my mistress, and don't want you."  Samuel Rawlings, a police-constable, No. 116 A, said he found the complainant on the ground exh.,usted and bleeding from the nose and mouth. She was carried to the station house, and was very weak and exhausted. The prisoner was taken into custody and said he had had three months' imprisonment, and did not care if ho had eighteen months.  The prisoner, in defence, said his wife was a drunkard, and he could not live with her.  The wife admitted that she had taken to drinking too much at times. Her husband had driven her to drown her sorrows in intemperance.  Mr. Woolrych said the prisoner was a savage ruffian, and ought to be the last man to complain of any intemperance on the part of his wretched mad ill-used wile. The prisoner was a drunkard and a savage, and had the audacity to bring home an abandoned woman as well as himself, and turn his own wife out of doors. He never met with a more unmitigated ruffian. He sentenced the prisoner to six months' imprisonment and hard labour.
The Sun. — 1863-04-14 (London, England)

TRIAL FOR INCITING TO MURDER.  "There is no person for it now but you and I. You can go down to Newry in the evening, and return in the morning. It will blow over, and you will have £5O for your trouble." I said T was the last person in the world that ho Should make such a proposition to—not exactly angry at him, for it was as a friend he asked me. Heard him propose it to Smith. Prisoner stated that he had been rather intimate with Mr. Dickinson's wife.  Cross-examined by Mr. Curran—l lived in Newry for some years. I was master of the workhouse there, but left it because I had too much to do. There was an investigation into certain charges, at which I was honourably acquitted. An old man named Wm. Mullin was sworn, and examined by Mr, Barry, Q.C.—He said—Well, my lord, I wish to inform you lam a little forgetful. For instance, if, before my breakfast, I said my morning prayers, and I was asked whether I did or not through the day, I might not just remember whether or not. I just wish to say that. (Laughter.) He deposed—l live near Newry, and follow the chimney-sweep business. I am a dealer in marine stores and a farmer. I know the prisoner. I saw him about a week before he was arrested. He said, "Did you not hear of this thing that has happened between Mr. Dickinson and his servant maid ?" He told me a story of something that occurred there, and I said Mr. Dickinson had no business acting in that way. Harcourt said that Mr. Dickinson should be put out of the way. He said he could get him put out of the way for a few pounds, and that he would give me LW if I would get it done for him. Witness was proceeding with a rambling statement, when Mr. Baron Hughes said—Are you aware that if you do not conduct yourself properly you are liable to be sent to prison ?  Witness—l would be glad to be put in prison, my lord, if I did not do right. Any man who does not do right deserves to be put there. (Laughter.) Examination continued—l told him I was independent and did not want his money. I did not think he was in earnest. He was not all right, for he came in just like a man playing a tune on a fiddle. He said if I would do the  job he could be popped through the window. My little girl was present when he said this. He had a revolver with him with one barrel and six chambers. He also said he had poison with him.  Cross-examined by Mr. Sidney—My memory is very bad. Harcourt spoke in the presence of ray child. I did not mind what he said, and the reason of that is, that I think he " wanted a slate on his upper story." (Laughter.) Acting Inspector Smith, of the G division, proved having arrested tho prisoner, in company with Acting Inspector Daley. They found in the apartment a bottle labelled " Prussic Acid—poison," Also a dagger and a pistol, capped and loaded.
The Sun. — 1863-04-10 (London, England)

ATROCIOUS MURDER IN ST. GILES'S.  Some time yesterday, probably midday, a murder of the most atrocious character was perpetrated in George-street, St. Giles, one of the worst neighbourhoods in the metropolis. It became familiar to the public about 18 months ago, in consequence of an attempt by a cabman to get a young woman, who had been drugged, and who had been his fare, into one of the brothels there, whom he afterwards robbed of her clothes and all the little articles of property she had about her. In consequence of the resistance offered by the person who was in charge of the house the cabman was prevented from carrying out the worst part of his design, and the disturbance occasioned the capture of the fellow, who was afterwards punished for his brutal conduct. The circumstances connected with the murder which took place in the same wretched locality are not at the time we write this morning very fully developed, but it seems that at about 7 o'clock yesterday morning a man and a young woman, whose name was Emma Jackson, whose friends are reported to reside in the neighbourhood of Berwick-street, Soho, went to No. 4, George-street, the  door of which was opened by a servant whom their knock ing had aroused from her sleep. The girl, half asleep, did not take particular notice of the two people, and on the man asking for a bedroom, they were shown up to the back room on the first floor. As there was perfect quietness in the room during the day no suspicion of any kind was aroused, but at about hall-past 5 last evening the servant girl went up stairs, and finding the door unfastened went in. On the bed she found lying the woman she had let in the same morning, he throat frightfully cut, the bed all over saturated with blJod, and the walls spattered with gore in all directions. She immediately ran down and gave an alarm to the police, and a medical man was instantly sent for. On examination he found, in addition to the frightful wound in the throat, which had nearly severed the head from the body, a wound in the front of the throat which bad severed the windpipe, and was sufficient to cause death, another on the side of the neck which had severed the carotid artery, and on the back of the neck two other large stabs running obliquely towards each other. All these had been inflicted with great force, and it is very certain the girl had struggled desperately for her life. No noise, however, was heard, a circumstance which is all the more singular on account of their being little coach traffic in the street. Moreover, the landlord, whose practice it is to sit up all night, was sleeping all day in the back parlour immediately under the room in which the murder took place.  The man escaped, but by what means, or when, nobody knows, but when the body of the murdered woman was discovered life had become extinct, in, the opinion of the surgeon, for six or seven hours at least. No instrument has been found in the room, the man prior to his departure collecting everything belonging to him so as to destroy all
The Sun. — 1863-03-24 (London, England)

PRIVATE BILL LEGISLATION.—This Committee met again yesterday, and have requested that Earl Grey end Lord Redesdale may be examined on the subject.  The Confession of the Convict Austin.  On Wednesday last Noah Austin, the criminal in the condemned cell at Oxford Castle, made a voluntary confession in presence of the Rev. Philip Wynter, D.D., the visiting justice. He said,—" I did not buy the pistol with the intention of shooting Mr. Allen. On Wednesday, the 11th of February, Mr. Allen had behaved ill to his daughter, by turning her out of doors. She sent for me on the following morning, and after telling me of his treatment, said she wished some accident would happen to him. I said, I will see, but we shall be found out.' She said, ' Oh, no, we shall not ; be sure you some down in the evening, and we will arrange it.' My impression was that she wished her father to be got rid of. I went to the mill again on the Thursday evening and saw Miss Allen ; she again said she wished that something would happen to her father. Mere words passed between us, but I do not remember exactly what they were. Her father then came in tipsy, and I felt anxious to avoid a quarrel, as when he was in that state he could not say anything against me bad enough. I felt sure that Miss Allen wished me to get rid of her father, and I left the mill with the intention of carrying out what I believed to be her wish ; but I do not think she knew that I should do so the next day, though I am sure she thought I should do so at some time. I then determined to go to Bicester next day with my father for the purpose. I carried the pistol in my pocket. I could not have done it unless I had had some drink. I went to a strange place in Bicester that I might not be known, either the Nag's Head or the King's Head, and had about two glasses of strong beer. I then returned with Nlr. Allen, as stated iu the evidence, and when sitting by his side raised the pistol to his cheek and fired the first shot, which caused him at once to fall over the off side of the cart. While he was falling I fired the other shot, and when he was lying on the ground I took the purse ont of his pocket. Thero were only a few shillings in it. I knew he had the £5-note in his breast pocket and the cheque, but I did not want his money. I took the purse to make it appear that he had been robbed as well as murdered. I tied the horse to the gig, as stated in the evidence, and on the way to the mill I placed the pistol in my father's gig, and then went to my sister's room and put the purse in the desk where it was found by the police. I make this statement to ease the mind of my poor afflicted father, to whom I have caused so much sorrow, and believing there was no hope of forgiveness From God without confessing to man that I so grievously injured.', Since this confession was signed, in the presence of Dr. Wynter, the prisoner has appealed more composed. He attends with apparent interest to the ministrations of the chaplain, and the exhortations of a Wesleyan minister. The execution was fixed for eight o'clock this morning.