npedrazzini/19thc_murder_suicide_news huggingface dataset:
The Sun. — 1827-09-03 (London, England)

VAUGHAN--I hope this will be a warning to you, not to buy any more sheep that way in future.  George Allum, who was convicted at the last Assizes for the county of Oxford, of robbing and attempting to murder William Piggott, a driver of one of Tanner and Bayliss's waggons, on Gangsden-hill, on the road between Oxford and London, about two o'clock on the morning of Easter Tuesday last, was recently executed at Oxford, pursuant to his sentence. He made a full confession of his guilt, adding, that he had no intention of murdering Piggott, as he only struck him one blow with the hammer, which felled him so close to the horses, that if he had not seized him by the legs and pulled him out of the way, the waggon-wheels must have gone over him. The case excited an extraordinary degree of interest, as the evidence was entirely circumstantial, Piggott having lost all recollection from the moment he received the blow till he found himself in the public-house at the top of the hill, and he had only obtained a very indistinct view of Allum previously, as he dodged him up the bill. No place could have been better chosen for the commission of such a crime than Gangsden-hill, which is a long steep hill on the London side of Dorchester, the road lying between two high banks. On the left hand side of the ascent there is a deep wood, and at the bottom and top of the hill there are stiles across two paths leading through the wood, to Huntercombe End, a small hamlet, the birth-place and residence of Allum. Between Huntercombe End and Gangsdenhill there is a cottage inhabited by a labourer, named Russell, where Ann Richardson, Allum's sweetheart, lodged, and where he spent the evening before he attempted the murder. The siile at the bottom of the hill is where Allum is supposed to have waited for his victim, and that at the top of the hill the one on which he sat down after the robbery, and where, according to his confession, on reflecting on the crime he had committed, he felt that he would have given the whole world to have restored Piggot (whom he thought dead) to life again, and to have returned him his money. Allum, although only 22 years of age, acknowledged having been guilty of several petty thefts, and attributed all his misconduct to poaching, which had led him step by step to the crime for which he suffered. He warned his fellow-prisoners on the Sunday before his execution to avoid a similar fate by abstaining from poaching, and seemed most thankful for the reliligious instructions he had received during his confinement. By his desire Ann Richardson came to take leave of him, as well as his father, mother, brother, and sister. His poor mother was deeply affected at the trial. According to his previous determination, he refrained from saying any thing at the place of execution. From the appearance of Allum at the trial, it was evident he had been in a very destitute condition previous to the robbery, and his anxiety to obtain better clothes to gain favour in the eyes of his sweetheart was certainly one inducement to the commission of the offence of which he was convicted.
The Sun. — 1827-09-05 (London, England)

BARBAROUS MURDER AT PRESTON.  (FROM OUR OIVII REPORTER.)  The dreadful sensation that was produced in this town by the inhuman murder of Scott and his wife, by their own daughter, had no sooner subsided, than the inhabitants were again thrown into the greatest consternation by the_ perpetration of another diabolical murder, on Saturday night or early on Sunday morning last, not half a dozen doors from the house where the ill-fated pair resided. A poor old man, named Edward Gregson, who kept a small chandler's-shop,in Bridge-street, some few weeks back took compassion upon a youth whom chance threw in his way, who was in the most abject distress, and the old ►nan permitted bins to come backwards and forwards to the house, and his table was always at his service—and it is believed he is the fiend beneath whose hand his benefactor has fallen a victim. Late on Saturday night last, the old man's brother, his son, two other friends, and the suspected person, were at his house, and drank two quarts of ale, and about 11 o'clock they went "away, the stranger going out first, not stopping for the rest. The old man said he should go to bed directly, and desired his son to call for him next morning, to go to the Roman Catholic Chapel. The son then went home, and heard his father fasten his door. Next morning (Sunday) about 11 o'clock, he called, and found the door open : be called his father several times, and not receiving any answer, he went up stairs, when to his horror, he beheld the mangled body of his aged parent stretched across the bed, dead and cold. The affrighted youth ran into the street, calling "murder, murder !" as ?food as he was able; and it being church time, vast crowds of persons flocked to the dreadful spot. The constables of the town soon came, and Thomas Miller, Esq., the Mayor, was instantly made acquainted with the sanguinary deed. The Mayor directed that instant inquiry should be made about the town, as to what strangers were about, and whether any persons were seen about the house during the night, or early on Sunday morning ; but we regret to say, all efforts to trace the assassin have as yet proved fruitless. The murdered man, when discovered by his son, was deluged in blood : be was partly dressed in his Sunday clothes, so it would appear the horrid act was committed •not many hours, when young Gregson went to the . house. There were two dreadful wounds in the throat, and the poor old man's hands were nearly cut to pieces, as if done by his grasping the instrument with which the murder was effected.  It was always thought Gregeon had a horde of money, and it is, therefore, believed that that was the object the villain had in view, in taking the old man's life, as all the drawers and other places, have been ransacked. Search has been made every where for the youth who was fostered by the deceased while living, and nothing whatever can be heard of him.
The Sun. — 1812-02-27 (London, England)

IRELAND.  DUBLIN, Fn. 2.1.—1 n the late trial of the two draymen at the Commission, who were charged with having murdered a poor woman near the Col.lege, by driving furiously over her body, one witness only was produced on the part of the prosecution, who barely stated, that paising after the melancholy accident, he saw the body of the deceased lying at the corner of College-street, and the traversers at a considerable distance driving off, but neither heard nor saw any thing that could tend to conviaion against them. The prisoners were in consequence acqirtted ; bat Baron MTLELAND animadverted with marked reprobation on the want of exertion manifested on the Inquest, and by the Police 5 observing, that it Was lamentable that only so defe6tive an evidence was produced in an affair which occurred in one of the fullest thoroughfares in the city, where hundreds must have been present at the moment. The Hon. Baron intimated that, in order to serve as a check for such neglea in (Mute, the usual acknowledgment from the Grand Jury to the Coroner must in propriety be withheld on this occasion. Alderman CASH immediately came forward to defend himself from any imputation of negle6t in the exercise of his duty as Coroner. He. had used every exertion to obtain evidence on the day of the Inquest, but in vain ; and he would have still continued these exertions if he had not been superseded by the Police Magistrates, who repaired to the place, and took upon themselves the task of procuring evidence fur the prosecution, which they had detetmined to institute at their own expence. Mr. Gut Nc.SS, the Magistrate, also came forward and addressed the Cour, humbly requesting to be allowed to acquaint the Court with the efforts made by the Magistrates of the distrie,t, for tiie detection and punishment of the offender—he stated that the Magistrate, Mr. Magrath, instantly repaired to the piace—gase orders to take every possible care of the body, and made every inquiry to obtain evidence ; two soldiers on guard at the Bank, whose posts were within a few yards of the place where the woman was killed, were compelled to attend the Police Office in Duke•street, and were severally examined on oath—but all they could or would depose was, that the woman was killed, but as to the manner by which she came to her death, they declared their utter ignorance—the Magistrate further stated that the drivers of the dray were prosecuted at the expence of the Police Establishment, and the Court were pleased to declare their entire sati,fatiion at the defence and explanation—but added, that an advertisement should have been inserted in the Papers for the purpose of oblaining the evidence of any casual bye-standers, and the Magistrates regretted that this measure had not been adopted—but would observe-it as a salutary caution, should any similar case ever occur.—(The Patriot.)  The Barony claimed by Sir G. J ERNI NGHAM, and which claim is now in course of diseussi. n before the 1-I,,use of Lords, is the Barony of Stalford, and ❑ot Stratford, as stated in some of the newspapers.
The Sun. — 1812-04-06 (London, England)

APRIL 3.—Arrived the brig Three Friends, belonging to London, Wnreee, Master, from Villa Nova and Gibraltar,with a cargo consisting of wine, col k, and trots ; the .Nyaden, FASMER, from Naples, Cagliari, and Gibraltar, with a cargo consisting of brandy and cream tartar ; and the Vine, THOMPSON, from Gibraltar, with a cargo of brandy, all bound to this port, for orders, and areunderquarantine: the Nyaden and Three Friends sailed with the fleet, under convoy of the York man of war, several of which were dispersed, on the passage during bad weather : the latter parted company with them ,five days 'since off the north-west coast of Ireland ; the Pine sailed on the 13th March, and came a running ship; those that have arrived here have encountered several very heavy gales, in which they were dainaged.- The Three Friends has sprung her main-mast, and is in want of provisions, the sails of the Nyaden are split, and she is also in want of provisions, and the Vine has shifted her cargo. Arrived the sloop Paragon, belonging to and for Hull, DANIEL AUBONE, master, from Malta and Gibraltar, with a cargo consisting of oil, lemons, and cork, for dunnage, bound to this port, for orders, and is in distiess, having, during very bad Weather, split her sails, lost her boat, and sprung her boom; she was also much in want of provisions, having had a very long passage : she sailed from Malta on the Ist January, and from Gibraltar on the 29111 February, in company with the fleet bound - to England, under convoy of the York man of war, from which she parted fifteen days since. Captain AUBONE slates, that it is very probable pact of the fleet have put into Bantry Bay. The Paragon is under quarantine, the crew of which saw six-sail of merchantweh captu►ed in the Mediterranean by a French privateer, and we understand others were captured by that vessel, the names of which could not be discovered, but they belonged to a fleet that sailed from Malta with the Paragon, under convoy of a store-ship.— The Paragon brought froni Gibraltar one passenger, which was Captain SMITH of the schooner Sarah and Mary, belonging to Hull, which vessel, on her passage from Messina to London, was wrecked, during a storm, on the African coast, the day after her departure from the former place (Ist January last), but the crew were providentially preserved, and, after enduring the greatest hardship, reached Gibraltar, having been obliged to travel for many days, almost without food, on the shores of Africa, when they reached Algiers, from whence, we understand, they embarked for Gibraltar ; two of them came passengers in one of the vessels that arrived here yesterday from the Straits ; the remainder have embarked in other vessels. Captain SMITH states, that a few days after 'be was cast away, and when he was travellitrg along the coast, he discovered the bodies of nine person's, who had been most inhumanly murdered, it is supposed by the natives : their throats were cut from ear to ear, and the remains of those unfortunates exhibited marks of the most brutal violence, and it is with • the deepest regret we elate they were English per.
The Sun. — 1818-06-24 (London, England)

ATTEMPT AT MURDER.  k is with strong feelings of pain and indigna'tion that we have to record acts which are a dishonour to Westminster, and make us ashamed to think that such atrocious and cowardly deeds could have either been perpetrated, or have been countenanced and excited by those bearing the name of Englishmen. Sir MURRAY MAXWELL, yesterday afternoon, in retiring from the Hastings, was attacked by a horrid rabble, evidently hired and made drunk for the purpose; andunot withstanding the efforts of his friends immediately around ' him, was cruelly assaulted the most savage manner. Near the door of Richardson's Coffeehouse he received a-severe blow on the temple, whiek deprived him for a time of sensation, and he was carried in /hat state to his bed-room, by his friends who were near him. He had received a severe contusion on his breast froth a stone, but the injury on the temple appeared to be of the most serious ❑ature, symptoms of concussion of the brain having bccurred. He was attended by Mr. M'Leon, who happened to be with him at the time ;. Sir G. .I.ll,Anta was also sent for, and Mr. M‘DoNi4eL, of Gerrard-street, and every assistance was promptly: afforded which the case required.  • The base and inhuman line of conduct pursued by the mos; unprincipled of mankind, by a rabble which is a reproach to our city, loudly. calls upon every truly independent Elector, upon every respectable man in Westminster, to come boldly forward and rescue himself from the oppression and tyranny of . a lawless mob ; and to prove that the friends of constitutional liberty and the freedom of Election are fully able to put down the ruffians who endi•avonr to trample upon social order, and overwhelm, in one common confusion, the best rights and privileges of Britons. The manly character of Sir M. MAXWFLL, his services to his country, his mild and benevolent disposition in every situation in which he has appeared (even since the commencement of this contest) ought to have secured him a very different treatment even from the bitterest of his 'opponents.  An expression of this truly brave and excellent man deserves to he recorded, and ought tostimulate our citizens to come forth and support him. On recovering himself a little after this. outrage, he was recOmwended by a Gentleman not to think of again exposing himself to such brutal fury by re-appearing on the Hustings :—" Not return," said he, " they may kill me, hut it never shall he said that I was intimidated by a rabble ; their feelings are not those of the Electors of Westminster !"---We are happy to state, that the most vigorous measures have been resorted to by the Magistrates to prevent the recurrence of such disgraceful scenes ; and have much pleasure in stating to our IteHers, that the poll was going on this day in the most orderly manner. The judicious arrangements which have been entered into, and the multiplication of the peace-officers from all quarters, are now fully equal to time preservation of tranquillity, mn't the protection of the Electors.
The Sun. — 1818-09-11 (London, England)

STATE.  FOR THE SUN.  [Continued.]  A genuine spirit of religion, let the form of it be what it may, makes us just to mankind, and confines' us from doing wrong ; makes us avoid  vice, and adhere to trotb ; to. forbear with patience, and fly from.unlawful commerce. Whoso doeth these things shall sit upon an holy hill as a good Citizen, and .be convinced that his obedience to  the laws of God will strengthen it to the laws of man, and that they are never so well fulfilled as when they are respectively subservient to each other.  The leading points of religion, among the people of Pegu, are not to commit murder, or to steal ; nor to hurt their neighbour, but to _do him all the good in their power. With these they think themselves worthy subjects, under their Government, and that they shall be acceptable in any religion whatever. •  The philosophy of the ancients was a species of religion, and it was directed to their universal welfare. • Never were any principles more hoy nourable to human nature, or tended more to form good men, Citizens and Subjects, than those of the Stoics, the destruction of whom, as a sect of Zeno, was a misfortune, only redressed by Christianity. It was this philosophy, not withstanding its excess, that made great Emperors, and, by opening the mind, a great people, wbo obeyed the laws as a duty, and reyeredibeir Prince and his Government.  Religion and laws make a people moral and respectful, but when either wanders from its destined purpose, the other should be strengthened. Of harmony a due proportion should subsist between both. When it absolves the mind from all human actions, of what class they may be, it loses its greatest influence, and little then does  it signify whether a people be virtuous or not. In hoping tor rewards hereafter, without the fear of punishment here, tfie laws lose their effect, and asstrred of one, they are superior to the other; and looking on death with contempt, they act without restraint ; because the greatest penalty the laws can inflict will cease in a moment, and commence their happiness. Yet religion may support a State, when laws will not ; as when it is agitated by civil war, and forcing a part of 'the people to remain quiet. The most holy religion may occasion the worst of consequences, when not associated with the principles of society, as the' most false may the best, when associated with them. True religion should not only establish a doctrine. It should direct its influence. This the Christian doctrine  cloth most admirably. It induces a hope for that state which is the object of belief, and not for a state we have already experienced. It makes us in love with a free, not a constrained, submission to the powers that be, without slavery ; a love of each other without adulation ; and above all, a love of the Almighty, and the Government of our Country.  hiA :NIA RD,
The Sun. — 1840-08-26 (London, England)

MURDERERS OF SHADRACII LEWIS.—The unhappy men who were, at the last Pembrokeshire Assizes, convicted and condemned to die, for the murder of Shadrach Lewis, hail been respited until further signification of her Majesty's pleasure. On Saturday last an order arrived from the Home Secretary's office, commuting their punishment to transportation for life. The accounts received yesterday give favourable reports of the corn crops. The fine weather of the last few days appears to have been general throughout the country, and there is, we are glad to see, a fair prospect of its continuance. The only drawback we hare to notice is, that the account of the hops in the various districts of Kent is very unfavourable. The Maidstone Gazette gives the apportionment of the duty throughout the kingdom as follows, on the authority of a correspondent to be relied upon :—The Rochester district, 15,000/. ; Canterbury, 4.000/. ; Sussex, 2,000/. ; Farnham, 700/. ; Worcester, 4001. ; the kingdom, 2001. ; a total of 99,300/, WHO ARE THE MURDERERS ?--If there be, its any country, law by which a portion of its inhabitants are deprived of food which they might otherwise procure, and then, under the influence of want, commit ravages upon the property of others, then are the makers and upholders of such a law deeply criminal, and morally, though not legally, responsible for the offences thus committed. But if, in addition to this, the same law is so constructed as not only to deprive men of food, by limiting the supply, but further to decrease their means of obtainirg it, by shutting them out of certain markets for their labour —then is the guilt and responsibility of such legislators doubled, and they deserve, more than the criminal, the penalty to which he may become exposed. Hundreds arc brought to an untimely grave by gradual starvation. On the heads of the Corn-law faction rests the dreadful guilt of being immediately accessory to their death. There is no escaping from this fearful truth. " Who are the murderers ?" We solemnly and deliberately aEsert--the authors and supporters of the diabolical Corn-law !___ Leicestershire Mercury. A woman at Ponte Ferreira, up the Douro, was so anxious to get rid of her husband, in order to marry her paramour, that she actually murdered the unsuspecting victim, and pretending to him that her husband had gone from home for two or three days, she invited the paramour to come and sup with her. He did so, and after supper the monster in woman's clothes asked him how he liked the ' pointing food he had partaken of, and on his replying very ouwell, y wart, and you must she said, s, 13, e T , h teoroek h teolaytbs—e husband's have been eating his I him by the hand into another murdered body,where myr dear,nr, irunning u marryo tof me. the" house, he The fellow was Si horrorstruck that,w, uwent to the magistrate's house and gave information. The woman was taken into custody.—Lishon Paper.
The Sun. — 1840-03-17 (London, England)

TRIALS AT THE ASSIZES.  (From the Spectator.) We seldom read accounts of criminal trials without disgust. Na doubt it is often curious to note the elaborate process by which conviction is brought home to the guilty, and sometimes a successful attempt of the innocent to baffle a malicious prosecutor inspires .a pleasurable feeling. But for the most part, proceedings in the Crown Courts consist of minute records of crime, painful though instructive subjects of study to the philanthropist, the statesman, and the social Reformer. The " gaol deliveries' now going on in the provinces have presented few remarkable incidents ; but to one trial we must request particular attention. The proceedings alluded to took place at 'Maidstone, Mr. Justice Littleclale on the Bench ; and as the report is short, we quweit.  [The case of Henry James is then quoted.—See The Sun of Wednesday.] It will be observed that Sir Herbert Jenner himself directed the prisoner to be charged with a felony for pilfering a pennyworth of twigs. That learned person ought to be deeply ashamed of the figure he makes in this report. 'What a merciless proceeding to send a human being to gaol, bring him into Court as a felon, with aching heart and blasted character, for an offence which, as it turned out, could not be legally established, and for which a cut across the shoulders with one of the switches would have been a sufficient punishment. It is not stated that Justice Littledale reproved the prosecutor ; but we hope the charge to the Jury contained some notice of his most reprehensible behaviour. And what should we think of the Magistrate who committed the prisoner on such an accusation ? Had the sticks belonged to a poor neighbour, would the Justice have taxed the county with the cost of supporting the culprit in gaol for six weeks ? It is not credible ; but we know, and have heard enough of country Magistrates to believe, that to oblige a personage of importance like Sir Herbert Jenner, very few would hesitate to follow the example of the Kent Justice, who incarcerated the twigstealer among the felons at Maidstone. At the same Assizes, another specimen of the Kent Justices' qualification for the performance of their functions was exhibited. Judge Littledale found in the calendar no fewer than three persons committed for murder. On perusing the depositions, he came to the conclusion that the charge could not be substantiated ; and " he had ascertained upon inquiry that the prisoners had been committed for murder by mistake," and that " manslaughter was the proper form of charge." We observe that the criminal calendar in somecounties is unusually heavy. In Kent the number of prisoners was 116 ; of whom a few could read and write, and only five had obtained anything like a decent education. At Stafford 90 prisoners were to be tried, and most of them for serious offences. Vine were charged with murder—we hope, however, by tnistake.