npedrazzini/19thc_murder_suicide_news huggingface dataset:
The Sun. — 1854-03-29 (London, England)

ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE IN IRELAND. The Earl of CLANCARTY moved tor a return of the indictment and conviction, &c., in the case of two men named John and Hugh Murphy, who were tried at the Armagh Assizes for the murder of James Wilson. It appeared that in consequence of some compromise on the part of the crown prosecutors, one of the men was acquitted, and the other, on pleading guilty of manslaughter, was sentenced only to 6 months' imprisonment. The noble earl entered into a statement of the circumstances connected with the murder and the trial, and described the latter as a miscarriage of justice. The LORD CHANCELLOR said there would be no objection to the return, with the exception of the judges' notes, which it had never been the practice to produce. He believed this was the first time such a request had been made, and for the very good reason that a judge might not take any note of a trial. He believed that Lord Lyndhurst hardly ever took a note of a case, and a note might be so short that it would not be of use to any one. In the present case there was no such note. The day after the noble earl gave notice of his motion, he (the Lord Chancellor) put himself in communication with the Chief Secretary for Ireland, and who immediately obtained all the information he could upon the subject ; but it was only that day, and shortly before he came down to the house, that he had come into possession of any of the facts. There could be no doubt that the judge looked at the depositions before he took the course which he had taken, and came to the conclusion that a charge of murder could not be sustained ; so that the same result was arrived at as would have reached through the process of a long inquiry, though it would have been better if the case had been tried out. With respect to the sentence, that depended entirely upon all the circumstances of the case, which might aggravate or mitigate its character. It seemed a lenient one, but it was difficult for any person to deal with that question except those who heard the evidence or read the depositions. The case would not be. one of murder under the circumstances unless the blow was such as must have been calculated to cause death.  Lord MONTEAGLE bore testimony to the judicial character of Mr. Serjeant Howley, the judge who had tried the case, than whom there was no judicial officer who had in a greater degree won the respect of persons of all classes and creeds, or who was less likely to act from factious, sectarian, or party feelings. The Earl of EGLINTON also bore testimony to the professional abilities and high character of Mr. Serjeant Howley. After a few remarks from the Earl of EGLINTON, and the Earl of DONOUGIIMORE, the motion was withdrawn. Their lordships then adjourned.
The Sun. — 1854-07-06 (London, England)

BRUTAL MURDER OF A CHILD. -21 retry Anne Alice Stage, 30, was indicted for the wilful in 9'. der of William Seago. Mr. Payne conducted the prosecution. The prisoner V ,vas defended by Mr. Parry. The circumstances of this case were of a very distressing character. It appeared that the prisoner had been married to her present husband about twelve months, and that the unfortunate deceased was a child five years old, the son of the husband by a former wife. It would seem that the prisoner and her husband were in the habit of getting drunk, and that they frequently quarrelled, and lived very unhappily together. On Sunday, the 21st of May, the prisoner and her hustrand had been out together, and the former came home 'about four o'clock, and she commenced preparing tea for herself and family. While she was so engaged, one of the children, named Thomas, told the pi isoner that his broater Billy had got him into "such a row," and that ' his fattier bad struck him. Immediately upon this it appearQA that the prisoner seized the poor little child, and thre wit with great violence upon the floor, and then ;p'at him into a tub of water. At this moment the witusband of the prisoner came in, and when she saw him she made use of a filthy expression towards him, th.-t effect of which was that he said he would not stop in the house any longer, and as be was going out the prisoner exclaimed 'to him, " Go, you -, and take your -- children with you." The moment the husband was gone the prisoner commenced another most brutal attack upon the child, said continued to beat it and ill-use it until it ac-. Wally died under her hands. When the child was seen to be motionless and speechless, one of the other children called out to the prisoner, "Oh mother, you have killed Billy, and you will be hung." The prisoner upon this told the child not to say anything of what had happened, or else she should be hung. She then sent out for some brandy and tried to administer it to the deceased child, but she found he was unable to swallow, and she then wrapped him up in a cloth and carri.-d him to the London Hospital, where he was found to be quite dead. When the prisoner overheard that the child was dead, she expressed great sorrow for what she had done, and said that she had loved the child. Upon her being taken into custody, she again expressed her regret for what had happened, but said that the occurrence was the result of accident, and that the child fell forward while she was washing it, and that its head struck against a tin box that was in the room.  Mr. Parry made a most earnest and feeling address to the jury on behalf of the prisoner, and after observing that it was clear she had caused the death of this poor child, he submitted that they might, under the circumstances, come to the charitable conclusion that she was not actuated by malice aforethought, and that she might, therefore, be convicted f the offence of manslaughter only. The Learned Judge having summoned up, the jury, after a short deliberation, found the prisoner guilty of manslaughter, and she was sentenced to be transported for life.
The Sun. — 1854-09-23 (London, England)

THE ATTEMPT TO MURDER MR,  GIFFARD.  This day (Saturday) the Rev. Hugh Pollard Willoughby was brought up for examination at Guildhall, before Mr. Alderman Carden, charged with having fired a loaded pistol at Mr. Hardinge Stanley Giffard, with intent to murder him. Upon the rev. gentleman beingplaced before the magistrate, it became painfully evident that he was insane, for no sooner had Mr. Pearson begun to state the case against him than he stopped the proceedings, by stating that, as Mr. Clarkson bad said, he could not assist him, and that as he had said that he (prisoner) was labouring under a delusion, he did not wish him to appear before him ; Mr. Clarkson, then, had better withdraw. Prisoner, in continuation—Besides Mr. Clarkson advised me to have Mr. Humphrys as my solicitor, and be is Mr. Harding Giffard's father-in-law.—Mr. Clarkson : I did nothing of the kind.—Alderman Carden I think Mr. Clarkson had better remain. The prisoner (who bad a large envelope, in which were some papers), said—Shall I be allowed to ask any Iquestions ?  93 - 100 98 - 100  138 - 140  ii 7-- 30  100 -- 102 50 -- 51 25 -25 i 12i -- 134 23 -- 24 lla -- 11,1  2i -- 2ixd  92 - 94  Alderman Carden—Certainly. Mr. Giffard was then sworn, and about to give his evieence, when the prisoner again interrupted and said that he would not be quiet, as money would carry the day against him, but he would unburthea his thoughts, and let the British public know them. After some further interruption, and prisoner again complaining and protesting against Mr. Clarkson appearing for him, Mr. Gifford repeated the evidence which he gave upon the occasion of the first examination at the Central Criminal Court.  5S - 60  136 - 139  ii = fid  30 - 31 91 - 96  The prisoner asked Mr. Gifford whether he did now recollect, upon being at Cardiff, making some offensive allusion to him about a charge which bad been preferred against him (prisoner) in 1843 and 1849 ? Mr. Giffard said, he had not any recollection of having ever seen him until the present occasion, and had most certainly never made any allusion to him.—The prisoner then went into a long rambling statement, and kept asking Mr. Giffard if he had not made insulting gestures towards him before Justice Williams, at Cardiff.—The other evidence, which has already appeared, was then gone into ; and in the course of it it was stated that the prisoner said that he had intended to use it upon somebody else if ,the first failed in its effect, and also that he intended the second pistol for Mr. Giffard.  The evidence having been completed, Mr. Clarkson said he appeared upon the part of the friend of the unhappy gentleman, and should reserve what he had to say•for the time of trial. Prisoner—Do not laugh, Mr. Clarkson ; it is not a laughing matter. It is a very serious charge —it is 4 very serious matter to be in Newgate. Mr. Clarkson then applied that every indulgence should be allowed to the unhappy gentleman during his incarceration in Newgate.  Mr. Alderman Carden—Most certainly. The prisoner was fully committed for trial.
The Sun. — 1854-09-23 (London, England)

THE ATTEMPT TO MURDER.' MR.  GIFFARD.  This day (Satuday) the Rev. Hugh P. ell ard Willoughby was brought up for examination at: +Guildhall, before Mr. Alderman Carden, charged with bta ving fired a loaded pistol at Mr. Ilardinge Stanley Giffard, with intent to murder him. Upon the rev. gentlemanbe ingplaced before the magistrate, it became painfully evildent that he was insane, for no sooner had. Mr. Pearson. begun to state the case against him than he stopped. the proceedings, by stating that, as Mr. Clarkson had said, he could not assist him, and that as he had said that he (prisoner) was labouring under a delusion, he) did not wish him to appear before him ; Mr. Clarks on, then, had better withdraw.  Prisoner, in continuation—Besides Mr. Cltirkson advised me to bairn Mr. Humphrys as my solicitor, and he is Mr. Harding Giffard's father-in-law.—Mr. Clarkson : I did nothing of the kind.—.iilderinn Carde a ; I think Mr. Clarkson had better remain':  The prisoner (who had a large envelope,, in which were some papers), said—Shall I be allowed to ask any  questions'?  Alderman Carden—Certainly. • Mr. Giffard was then sworn, and about to give his evieenco, when the prisoner again interrupted and said that he would not be quiet, as money would carry the day against him, but he would unburthen his thoughts, and let the British public know them. After• some further interruption, and prisoner again complaining and protesting against Mr. Clarkson appearing for him,  Mr. Gifford repeated the evidence which he gave upon the occasion of the first examination at th/a Central Criminal Court.  The prisoner asked, Mr. Gifford whether hit did now recollect, upon being at Cardiff, making some offensive allusion to him about a charge which had been preferred against him (prisoner) in 1843 and 1849 1  Mr. Giffard said, he had not any recollection of having ever seen him until the present occasion., and had most certainly never made any allusion to him.—The prisoner then went into a long rambling statement, and kept asking Mr. Giffard if he hid not mv,de insulting gestures towards him before Justice Williams, at Cardiff.—The other evidence, which has already appeared, was then gone into ; and in the course of it it was stated that the prisoner said that he had intended to use it upon somebody else if ,the first faVed in its effect, and also that he intended the second pistol for Mr. Giffard.  The evidence having been completed, Mr.. Clarkson said he appeared upon the part of the friend ,pf the unhappy gentleman, and should reserve what lie had to say for the time of trial.  Prisoner—Do not laugh, Mr. Clarkson ; it. is not a laughing matter. It is a very serious charge—it is a very serious matter to be in Newgate.  Mr. Clarkson then applied that every indulgence should be allowed to the unhappy gentleman during his incarceration in Newgate.  Mr. Alderman Carden—Most certainly. The prisoner was fully committed for trial.
The Sun. — 1854-07-14 (London, England)

ROYAL FREE HOSPITAL.-(THIS DAY.  This morning the inquiry was resumed for the eighth time, at the Sheriff's Court, Red Lion Square, before Mr:Baker, the Coroner.  The Jury having assembled, Mr. Metcalfe, the barrister, said he appeared upon the part of the Committee of the Hospital. It was not their intention to intervene between the public and the medical anthorities of the Hospital. They courted the fullest inquiry, but at the same time he was instructed to lay before the jury evidence to contradict the whole of the statements of the house committee as to their agreeing to a reference. They, the committee, had never been consulted at all, and the first they knew of that part of the matter was by seeing it in the newspapers. He also was authorised to state that the whole of the statements made by Mrs. Rosser were untrue. The nurse who had been so charged was a woman of good character and kindness, and he. should can her, and could also call numerous witnesses to give testimony to her kindness. Mr. Bodkin said he was glad that the house committee had taken such a step. Mr. 'Metcalfe then called Ann Faulkner, bead-nurse in the ward into which the child was taken upon the day of the operation. She took the child into the operating room about ten minutes to two, and brought it back again into her ward, and sat by the fire with it. At the time she took it into the operating-room first, Mr. Wakley and his two students were there ; she took the child back again about half-past two, and then the operation took place. She did not tear the clothes off the child ; it was prepared ten minutes before two. She never dashed the child down, and called it a dirty little wretch, and wished it dead, or said she would jump down its throat. She was not accustomed to use such language, and had given the child castor oil the day before, and it had operated. She had since left the hospital, and obtained a situation in St. George's Hospital as a nurse, but had been dismissed in consequence of what had been stated about her during these proceedings. By Mr. Clarkson—The child's bowels were properly opened, and the woman Rosser knew that Mr. Cooke and Dr. Scobell saw the child after the operation in the ward, and Mr. Cooke came in at 12 that night to see the child, and saw it again twice upon the next day, Friday. Cross-examined by Mr. Ballantine—l did not look at the child as I cannot bear to see an operation performed. I cannot say how long the child was under operation. Ido not think it was more than one hour. I have not said that it was a shucking operation, that it made n,e sick, or that it was butchery and a murderous operation. Mary R,osser.—l was examined upon a former occasion. I made a mistake about the doctors : they did not go round and see the child ,morning and night. She then repeated the charge she had made against the woman Faulkner. I have seen Bridger the Beadle, and told him I was sorry I had taken a false oath, and made a mistake about the doctors, but I did not tell him that what I said about the nurse was untrue. The inquest, It 'was expeCted, would again be adjourned.
The Sun. — 1854-04-18 (London, England)

THAMES.—knit ilf`Caray, an elderly Irishwoman, of No. 5, Glasshouse.yard, Rosemary-lane, was charged with stealing 3/. 13s. 6d., a hat, handkerchief, and other property, from the person of Lewis Morris, joiner, of 72, Great College-street, Camden-town. The prosecutor, whose manner created great merriment in a crowded court, said he was passing over Tower-hill late on 'Saturday night, when he fell down and took a nap on the stones. (Laughter.) Mr. Yardley—lt was very cold, was it not ? Witness—Well, I did not feel it so, because I had something warm within me. (Laughter.) Well, sir, I had a bit of a dream, and while I was dreaming I thought that some one was pulling at the guard chain of my watob. I woke up in a fright, and lo and behold there were two women had hold of me, and stripping me. My hat and handkerchief was gone, my coat was half off, all the money I had, 3/. 13s. 6d. was taken out of my waistcoat pocket, and my watch guard was cut. Mr. Yardley—You did not lose your watch, I hope, Mr. Morris ?  Witness—No, sir ; but. there were no thanks to the ladies. My waistcoat was rent to pieces, and my fob was cut. I grasped and held them both, and sung out, " Murder !—police !" as loud as I could ; and when a police constable came up, I said, " Take these women in charge for robbing me." Ile said, •' No, I will uot." I said, " You shall, for they have robbed me.", " Will you swear it ? " says he, " To be sure I will," said I ; " is not my waistcoat rent open ?" but he would not take them in charge.—l told him I should turn them over to another officer, and he took one woman and let the other go. It was the most complicated affair I ever knew. Mr. Yardley—So it appears ; did you find your money ? Witness—No. I want to know what became of my hat, sir ?  1;i r. Yardley—That is a question I can't answer. Most likely the person who took the money took your hat. You lost 1/. 13s. 6d.  Witness (staring)-11. 13s. 6d. I Why it was 3/. 13s. dd. They did not leave me enough for a pot of beer. (Loud laughter.) Mr. Yardley—Only lt. 134. 6d, is entered on the police-sheet. .  Witness—lt is a mistake in the entry. At the sta.  tion•house I saw strange things, and the inspector made use of very obscene language, quite derogatory to human nature.  Mr. Yardley7-Well, what did he say ? Witness—He said, "So help me God, you know a great deal too much, old fellow."  Mr. Yardley— I very much doubt the correctness of the inspector's observation, but do not see any obscenity in it. Now go on. Witness—There ends my catechism. (More laughter.) Police constable Bailey, No. 107 H, said that he heard the prosecutor calling out " Police," and on going up to the spot he found hun without his hat struggling with the prisoner, whom ho charged with robbery. There was no other woman near him.  Morris can you stand there and tell such A. lie ? I had hold of both. Bailey—I only ,aw one. Mr. Yardley—And you only found ls. Cd, upon the prisoner. Discharge her.
The Sun. — 1854-07-10 (London, England)

LEOPARD, GULF OF BOTHNIA, MAY 19. As yet we done nothing in the fighting line ; we parted from the Commissioner-in-Chief at Gotsk about a fortnight since, and have ever since been cruising in the Gulf of Bothnia, in the hope of taking prizes, but in vain ; I suspect they have all gone into neutral ports. We lay three days and nights at a place called Grisselholm, in Sweden, as there was a Russian brig at anchor there, in the hope that she would come out, so as we could catch her ; and we sent away our boats armed every evening ; two nights the brig came out, but seeing our boats (fur it is daylight hero all night) she put back again, so we gave up all hopes of getting her and left the port. We stood away to the northward and at' tempted, in company with the Valorous, the Vulture, and the Odin, to get to a Russian fortified town called Boomer to attack, but not having pilots, and all the buoys of the channel baring been removed, the Valorous, at eleven o'clock in the morning got aground about twelve miles below Boomar ; we were front eleven till four trying to get her off. Fortunately it did not blow, and at 4 pen. we towed her off, and in doing so strut* heavily ourselves on a rock !—there was a fix, a heavy frigate of 1,500 tons stuck on a rock ! Well, we got hawsers out of two of the steamers to tug away at us • hammocks were never piped down, and not a man in the ship went to bed that night, and good cause they had to stay up and work—there we were, four ships embayed in rocks, afratd to stir—one of them on tho ground ; all this about a mile from the shore, and we momentarily expected during the night to 'see 50 gun boats come down from Boomer, and if they had they would Lave murdered us to a man, crippled and disabled as we were, and the poor old Leopard, over on her bilge, could not have fought her maindeck-guns ; fortunately the gun boats did not come off, and at four o'clock the Leopard floated once more. I never saw men work so well as our fellows did ; it was a great escape both of wrecking the ship and of not being taken prisoners or slaughtered. Strange them, buteat t° say, we have not made a drop of water since, though she must have been wounded sorely. We thence steered to the northward, and for the last two days have been o s with he got cutting and tearing through the ice. We passed fields of ice five or six miles in length ; we intended going on to a place called Dgouberg, that mounts twenty guns and has forty gun-boats. The captain then ordered the boats againa as tthheey " May 20.—We are at anchor offi ca meditatedbafi ied ues oarnmdi ng provedtli too thick to force hde boats through. e place t to , called Gallen, rePr Swedish i land i highry up in the Gulf of Bothnia. We came here to try to into a get pilots to take nsßussian port called Vasa or Vesel, but when we asked them they guessed our intention (that ofattacking it), and they refused to go. It is wonderful the fear the Swedes
The Sun. — 1854-05-11 (London, England)

CRIMINAL COURT.-(THIS DAY).  OLD COURT. (Before Mr. Justice Cresswell.)  henry Fricks, 24, a German, described as a tobacconist, was indicted for uttering a forged 101. Bank of England note, with intent to defraud.  Mr. Clarkson and Mr. Bayley prosecuted. The prisoner had no counsel.  By the request of the prisoner, this trial took place before a jury composed one half of foreigners. It appeared that, on the 19th April, the prisoner went to the Abbey Arms Tavern, St. John's Wood, and had some refreshment, for which he tendered in payment a forged 101. note. The fraudulent character of the instrument was discovered, and a policeman was sent for, who asked the prisoner where he got the note from, and he at first said he had received it at the hotel where he was staying, but he afterwards altered his tale, and asserted that he had received the forged note in payment for cigars from a person who was a stranger. There was no proof of any other uttering of forged notes, as is usual in cases of this description, but in addition to the contradictory statements made by the prisoner, was it proved that while the officer was conveying him to the police station, he jerked himself from him and ran off and attempted to make his escape.  The jury, after a short deliberation, returned a verdict of guilty.  kr. Justice Cresswell said he quite concurred in the verdict, and there was no doubt from what had occurred on the previous day, that the prisoner h3.d not only been guilty of this offence himself, but that he had induced an innocent young woman to leave her friends in the first plane to associate with him as his mistress, and that he had afterwards made use of her for the purpose of carrying on this nefarious traffic. He then sentenced the prisoner to be transported for fifteen years. Eleanor Baker, who was convicted yeste7day of a similar offence was brought up for judgment, and sentenced to be imprisoned for twelve mouths. Turner, who had pleaded guilty to the indictment of the same kind was also brought up, and he was sentenced to one months' implisoutnent for the first offence, and to be transported for 15 years for the second. Rebece2Turton, 32, was placed at the bar to plead to an indictment, charging her with the wilful murder of her husband, Thomas Turton.  Mr. Sleigh, who appeared for the prisoner, suggested that the prisoner was not in a condition of mind to take her trial, or to understand what was going on, and he called Mr. M'Murdo, the surgeon of Newgate, and his assistant, Mr. Wilders, both of whom stated that the pi'lsoner was now, insane, and laboured under various delusions.  . . The jury returned a verdict to the effect that the prisoner was not in a fit state of mind to take her trial, and she was ordered to be detained in safe custody during her Majesty's pleasure.