npedrazzini/19thc_murder_suicide_news huggingface dataset:
The Sun. — 1865-05-13 (London, England)

THE ROAD MURDER. The Marquis of WESTMEATH inquired if the conduct of Mr. Wagner had been reproved in respect to his refusal to answer the questions put to him at the trial of Constance Kent, on the ground that he would be betraying the secrets of the confessional. The LORD CHANCELLOR said the law did not permit even Roman Catholic priests to refuse to answer a question in a court of law. There was no doubt Mr. Wagner was bound to answer the questions put to him if he had been pressed by the magistrate to do so. Most likely the matter was not deemed sufficiently important by the magistrate to induce him to visit Mr. Wagner with any of those serious consequences his refusal laid him open to.  Lord CHELMSFORD remarked that there was some doubt as to the power of the magistrates to compel an answer in this particular instance. Under the Justice of the Peace Act, if a witness were summoned or brought before the magistrates on a warrant, and refused either to be sworn, or to affirm, or to answer any question put to him, they might commit him for seven days to prison. But as Mr. Wagner voluntarily attended, he apprehended that the magistrates would have no power to compel him to answer the questions put to him. The LORD CHANCELLOR observed that Mr. Wagner had stated, in a letter to the daily papers, that he had attended on subpoena. The Marquis of WESTMEATH inquired whether Ministers contemplated any legislation to relieve the Church of England, and protect it from the insults which it was at present sustaining, to the grief and injury of her Majesty's Protestant subjects, in having no power to control and punish the apostacy of various officiating clergymen in the Establishment. He complained that some of the clergy were in the habit of departing from the ritual authorised by the Book of Common Prayer, and instanced the cases of St. Albans, Holborn, St. John's Mission, St. George's-in-the-East, St. Paul's, Walworth, Holy Trinity, Vauxhall, St. Matthias, Stoke Newington, Christ Church, Clapham, and other metropolitan churches. Most of the services on Good Friday and Easter Sunday were copied from the Romish Church, and were not sanctioned by the Church of England. Earl GRANVILLE was not prepared to deny the facts stated by the noble marquis, nor was he in a position to confirm them. At present the Government had no measure under their consideration for dealing with tho subject.  The Bishop of LONDON said if he were acquainted with any distinct violation of the law in his diocese he should not be deterred by the expense, however ruinous it might be, from punishing the offender. There was, however, great difficulty in ascertaining exactly what the law was, and the rule he had laid down was not to interfere unless he was quite sure that he had the law on his side.  The Record of Titles Bill, the Sheep and Cattle Bill, and the Union Officers'(lreland) Superannuation Bill, were read a third time and passed.  The Isle of Man Diiafforestation Compensation Bill and the Metropolitan Homeless Poor Bill were read a second time.  Their lordships then adjourned.
The Sun. — 1865-05-13 (London, England)

THE ROAD MURDER.  The Marquis of WESTMEATH inquired if the conduct of Mr. Wagner had been reproved in respect to his refusal to answer the questions put to him at the trial of Constance Kent, on the ground that he would be betraying the secrets of the confessional. The LORD CHANCELLOR said the law did not permit even Roman Catholic priests to refuse to answer a question in a court of law. There was no doubt Mr. Wagner was bound to answer the questions put to him if he had been pressed by the magistrate to do so. Most likely the matter was not deemed sufficiently important by the magistrate to induce him to visit Mr. Wagner with any of those serious consequences his refusal laid him open to. Lord CHELMSFORD remarked that there was some doubt as to the power of the magistrates to compel an answer in this particular instance. Under the Justice of the Peace Act, if a witness were summoned or brought before the magistrates on a warrant, and refused either to be sworn, or to affirm, or to answer any question put to him, they might commit him for seven days to prison. But as Mr. Wagner voluntarily attended, he apprehended that the magistrates would have no power to compel him to answer the questions put to him. The LORD CHANCELLOR observed that Mr. Wagner had stated, in a letter to the daily papers, that he had attended on subpoena. The Marquis of WESTMEATH inquired whether Ministers contemplated any legislation to relieve the Church of England, and protect it from the insults which it was at present sustaining, to the grief and injury of her Majesty's Protestant subject; in having no power to control and punish the apostacy of various officiating clergymen in the Establishment. He complained that some of the clergy were in the habit of departing from the ritual authorised by the Book of Common Prayer, and instanced the cases of St. Albans, Holborn, St. John's Mission, St. George's-in-the-East, St. Paul's, Walworth, Holy Trinity, Vauxhall, St. Matthias, Stoke Newington, Christ Church, Clapham, and other metropolitan churches. Most of the services on Good Friday and Easter Sunday were copied from the Romish Church, and were not sanctioned by the Church of England. Earl GRANVILLE was not prepared to deny the facts stated by the noble marquis, nor was he in a position to confirm them. At present the Government had no measure under their consideration for dealing with the subject.  The Bishop of LONDON said if he were acquainted with any distinct violation of the law in his diocese he should not be deterred by the expense, however ruinous it might be, from punishing the offender. There was, however, great difficulty in ascertaining exactly what the law was, and the rule he had laid down was not to interfere unless he was quite sure that he had the law on his side. The Record of Titles Bill, the Sheep and Cattle Bill, and the Union Officers'(lreland) Superannuation Bill, were read a third time and passed. The Isle of Man Disafforestation Compensation Bill and the Metropolitan Houseless Poor Bill were read a second time. Their lordships then adjourned.
The Sun. — 1865-04-18 (London, England)

MISTRESS CHARGED WITH ASSAULTING HER SERVANT. —Augusta Martin, who described herself as the keeper of a "lodging house," at No. 12, Hampstead-street, Fitzroysquare, was charged before Mr. Tyrwhitt with assaulting Ann Purcell, a young woman, her servant. Mr. E. Dillon Lewis, of Great Marlborough-street, appeared for the prisoner. The prosecutrix said she lived as servant with the prisoner, who kept a " gaming-house " at No. 12, Hampsteadstreet. Yesterday evening she wanted to leave, having given the.prisoner notice, when she refused to let her do so, and flew at her, tore her hair out, bit both her hands, and then blackened her eye. There were three or four persons attacking her at one time, including the gentleman who visited the prisoner. She became insensible, and when she recovered found herself locked in the back kitchen• She afterwards gave the prisoner into custody. In answer to Mr. Tyrwhitt, the young woman said the house was a brothel.  In reply to Mr. Lewis, the prosecutrix said her sister and brother called for her yesterday, and she could not get out of the house. She was not intoxicated yesterday, although she had a little gin. The prisoner sold bottled ale, spirits, &c., as she kept a public-house in King-street, Regentstreet. She knew Amy Stanley, one of the "lady" lodgers. She told the constable the prisoner had assaulted her. I refused to let her have her things. Henry Green, a young man, proved hearing cries of "murder" from No. 12, and carrying the prosecutor in an exhausted condition out of the house, having seen the prisoner and three or four others pulling her about. In answer to Mr. Tyrwhitt, the witness said the parties in the house appeared to be preventing the prosecutrix leaving. He thought the prosecutrix was sober. Margaret Purcell, prosecutrix's sister, said she saw her sister covered with blood, and she saw somebody had struck her. Her sister was then lying in the back kitchen. Afterwards, on getting into the passage, three of them seized her sister, and the prisoner had her hand in her sister's hair, and in getting her away, she (witness) had her clothes torn.  In answer to Mr. Lewis, the witness said that she could not say whether her sister had been drinking or not, but she was very excited.  Stephen Lock, 43 E, proved being called to the house and taking the prisoner into custody, the prosecutrix showing him marks on her arms, where she said her mistress had bitten her. The prosecutrix had been drinking, but was not drunk.  Mr. Lewis addressed the magistrate on the prisoner's behalf, and said that he could not deny that an assault had been committed, but not to the extent the prosecutrix, —who, he was instructed, was intoxicated and attacked her mistress—had stated.  Amy Stanley was then called, and she said that the pro. secutrix attacked Mrs. Martin first.  Mr. Tyrwhitt said he had no doubt there was a grand shindy, and that the prosecutrix received her injuries at her mistress's hands. There had been a great deal of violenco and cruel indifference, just such as ono might expect from the landlady of such a house.
The Sun. — 1865-12-12 (London, England)

USED. Robert Mothersole' a middle-aged man, of 17, Salem-gardens, Moscow-road, Paddington, boot and shoemaker, was brought up for re-examination, charged with attempting to murder Mary Anne Mothersole, his wife. Mr. Pain, of Marylebone-road, solicitor, appeared to watch the case on behalf of the prisoner. The wife, a respectable-looking woman, and apparently very weak from loss of blood, was led into court, having just been brought from St. Mary's Hospital. She said on Friday night my husband came home and was cross with me. I was not angry. He was the worse for drink. Whilst he was at supper lie got into a passion because I had refused to drink with him the previous night in a had treated people him withpucbolinct-ehmoupst and e.Hine who kept a public-house and others would cry shame upon me. I made him no answer. He came up suslateidd him, an to me with a plate in one hand and a tableknife in the other, and cut my throat. My neck was bare, and the blood came profusely. I went into the next room, and after I had been in there some time, and when he had finished the supper, be came into me. I said to him " 0 dear, you have cut my throat, surely you did not mean to do it." He replied, " Didn't he, and if it was not for the law he would stab me." I cried, and lie said, " Get out of my sight." When he cut my throat I thought he was not going to do it. He went into bed and I was anxious to have something done, and not liking to awake the landlady, I went into the street and saw a policeman, who took me to the station-house, where my wound was dressed. The officer was taking me home when the wound burst out bleeding again, and I was taken to the hospital. I said I would charge my husband. Doctor Beale, Porteous Road, said—l was called to the woman, who was bleeding most profusely from a wound in the neck. There was a cut near upon three inches in length upon the back of her neck. It was a clean cut wound, cutting through one of the arteries that supplies the back of the neck with blood. She had lost a quantity of blood. John Jeffrey, 171 X—After taking her to the station-house, I went and took the prisoner into custody. He was in bed, sound asleep. After waking him, he wanted to know what he had done. I said, " Don't you know ?" He said, " No." I told him he had cut his wife's throat. I then locked him up. Prisoner—l went home, and my wife asked me to have supper, and we were talking very civilly about family affairs. She said we would go to bed, and I said I would in a minute. If I hurt my child lam as innocent as a child unborn. If I stabbed her I did not know it. I believe I was going to kiss her, as we were on very good terms. Mr. Yardley fully committed the prisoner for trial.
The Sun. — 1865-12-12 (London, England)

SED.— Robert Mothersole, a middle-aged man, of 17, Salem-gardens, Moscow-road, Paddington, boot and shoemaker, was brought up for re-examination, charged with attempting to murder Mary Anne Mothersole, his wife. Mr. Pain, of Marylebone-road, solicitor, appeared to watch the case on behalf of the prisoner. The wife, a respectable-looking woman, and apparently very weak from loss of blood, was led into court, having just been brought from St. Mary's Hospital. She said on Friday night my husband came home and was cross with me. I was not angry. He was the worse for drink. Whilst he was at supper he got into• a passion because I had refused to drink with him the previous night in a public-house. Ho said I had treated him with contempt and insulted him, and the people who kept a public-house and others would cry shame upon me. I made him- no answer. He came up to me with a plate in one hand and a tableknife in the other, and cut my throat. My neck was bare, and the blood came profusely. I went into the next room, and after I had been in there some time, and when he had finished the supper, he came into me. I said to him " 0 dear, you have cut my throat, surely you did not mean to do it." He replied, " Didn't he, and if it was not for the law he would stab me." I cried, and he said, " Get out of my sight." When he cut my throat I thought he was not going to do it. He went into bed and I was anxious to have something done, and not liking to awake the landlady, I went into the street and saw a policeman, who took me to the station-house, where my wound was dressed. The officer was taking me home when the wound burst out bleeding again, and I was taken to the hospital. I said I would charge my husband. Doctor Beale, Porteous Road, said—l was called to the woman, who was bleeding most profusely from a wound in the neck. There was a cut near upon three inches in length upon the back of her neck. It was a clean cut wound, cutting through one of the arteries that supplies the back of the neck with blood. She had lost a quantity of blood. John Jeffrey, 171 X—After taking her to the station-house, I went and took the prisoner into custody. He was in bed, sound asleep. After waking him, he wanted to know what he had done. I said, " Don't you know ?" He said, 4, No." I told him he had cut his wife's throat. I then locked him up. Prisoner—l went home, and my wife asked me to have supper, and we were talking very civilly about family affairs. She said we would go to bed, and I said I would in a minute. If I hurt my child lam as innocent as a child unborn. If I stabbed her I did not know it. I believe I was going to kiss her, as we were on very good terms. Mr. Yardley fully committed the prisoner for trial.
The Sun. — 1865-04-06 (London, England)

COAL MARKET. Price per ton at the dose of the market.  - s. d. s. d. Lambert's W. Hartley 16 8 South Keno() Carway and Duffryn Heugh Hall l9 0 Malting 22 0 Cassop Walls End Haswell... 20 0 Hetton 2O 0 South Hetton Tunstall Tanfiold Moor Butes 13 6 Eden Main East Hartlepool Hartlepool  Ships at market, 95 sold, 73,  Mr. Henry Hoare was rather better yesterday morning, and although his medical attendants cannot say he is out of danger, they have hopes of his recovery. Lady Mary Hoare is staying with, her husband,  The prosecutrix, a very well-conducted girl, is a tailoress, and living with her mother, at No. 1, Ashley-place, Stepney-causeway. Yesterday evening she was in the Commercial-road with her married sister, Julia Purdy, who is also living with her sister at No. 1, Ashley-place. They were about to buy some needles at a shop in the road, when the prisoner trod on the complainant's boot lace, which was hanging duwn. She prevented him breaking it, and the sisters passed on. The prisoner then came up to thein, looked in their faces, and said very saucily, ",You will jump the pavement in." The complainant said, "You had better go on, sir." He stood before her, laughed in her face derisively, and gave utterance to some very bad language. Mrs. Purdy indignantly ordered the prisoner to leave her and her sister alone. Ho made no answer, and caught Miss Lee by the shoulders and repeated the bad expressions. The sisters were walking on as fast as they were able, and the prisoner continued to annoy them for 1 some time. They called aloud for help, and the prisoner ran down Ratcliff-square. The females pursued him, and he pulled off a belt he had on, and said he would murder them. He then concealed himself behind a lot of empty carriages at Mr. Gecrge Ellis's livery stables at the corner of Ratc]iff-square. Ho was routed from his place of concealment and ran away again. The females pursued him for a mile and a half, and met with a police-constable named James Sharp, No. 306 S, who took him into custody. He seemed to be a little in liquor, and when charged at the station-house with acting indecently to the females he said he had not done so, but he might have used some expressions. The evidence of both sisters went to shoW that the prisoner had grossly insulted them by his filthy language and gestures, but that the only assault he had committed was laying his hands on Sarah Lee's shoulders.  Mr. Partridge said the charge of indecently assaulting the complainant was not made out; if it had been he should have committed the prisoner for trial. But an assault had been committed, and it was accompanied with language unbecoming, improper, and indecent. It was monstrous that respectable females could not pass along the streets without being insulted by blackguards. He fined the prisoner £3, or, in default of paymefit, six weeks' imprisonment.
The Sun. — 1865-01-24 (London, England)

MARLBOROUGH-STREET.  MURDEROUS ASSAULT ON A MOTHER.—William Fitzgerald, a young man described as a tailor, was charged before Mr. Tyrwhitt with violently assaulting his mother, Hannah Fitzgerald, by striking her on the head with a pan. He was also charged with assaulting his father and brother.  The prisoner was brought before Mr. Tyrwhitt about a fortnight ago, but in consequence of the injuries his mother had received she was unable to attend. She now attended and gave her evidence seated. Her head was enveloped in surgical bandages. She said—l reside in Tudor-place, Tottenham-court-road. The prisoner is my son, but does not reside with me. This day fortnight, at two o'clock in the morning, the prisoner came to my place, having quarrelled with his wife. He was very excited, and jumped out of a second floor window. He was then taken to the hospital. 1 came back to see the doctor, who gave him some medicine, and told me to watch him. He laid on the bed and became quiet, but cried a good deal, and was under the delusion that he was to be buried alive, and that the coffin was at the door, and he asked me to pray for him. About 6 o'clock he said he would go down stairs and get some water, but fearing he might do some mischief, I said I would go. I then sat by the room door on a chair with the view of preventing him from going. I fell asleep. I then felt a violent blow on my head from a -pan, I believe, and fell. I received another blow on my shoulder. Ido not know who gave meths blows, as I had a cloak over my head at the time. A cab was brought to take me to the hospital, but feeling very faint and sinking, and thinking I was dying, I asked them to let me die at home. I have been at home ever since and attended by the parish doctor. Mr. Tyrwhitt—Did he ever quarrel with you before? Prosecutrix—Oh, no. He has always been very respectful to me, sir. Prisoner—There has not been a more dutiful son than I have been. I've no recollection of striking my mother. I had been drinking hard, and must have got the delirium tremens.  Patrick Fitzgerald, father of the prisoner, said—l was awoke by hearing a blow and my wife moaning. The prisoner had a poker in his hand, and said "I won't hurt you, father," but directly after grasped me tightly by the throat and nearly strangled me— Mr. Tyrwhitt—Had he been drinking ? The Father—l believe so, but I had not seen him since the previous Tuesday. He jumped out of a window a second time on to some water closets, and then got on the top of the houses, but was afterwards taken by the police. Rogers, 87 E—On going to the house I found the mother, father, and brother all bleeding from injuries caused by the prisoner, who was given into custody by the father. Prisoner (crying)—lt was the delirium tremens. Mr. Tyrwhitt—The prisoner had been drinking, and the  effect of is that he commits a series of assaults on his mother, father, and brother. He must find one bail in £lO to keep the peace for six months.  A
The Sun. — 1865-01-24 (London, England)

MARLBOROUGH-STREET.  MURDEROUS ASSAULT ON A MOTHER.—William Fitzgerald, a young man described as a tailor, was charged before Mr. Tyrwhitt with violently assaulting his mother, Hannah Fitzgerald, by striking her on the head with a pan. He was also charged with assaulting his father and brother.  The prisoner was brought before Mr. Tyrwhitt about a fortnight ago, but in consequence of the injuries his mother had received she was unable to attend. She now attended and gave her evidence seated. Her head was enveloped in surgical bandages. She said—l reside in Tudor-place, Tottenham-court-road. The prisoner is my son, but does not reside with me. This day fortnight, at two o'clock in the morning, the prisoner came to my place, having quarrelled with his wife. He was very excited, and jumped out of a second floor window. He was then taken to the hospital. 1 came back to see the doctor, who gave him some medicine, and told me to watch him. He laid on the bed and became quiet, but cried a good deal, and was under the delusion that he was to be buried alive, and that the coffin was at the door, and he asked me to pray for him. About 6 o'clock he said he would go down stairs and get some water, but fearing he might do some mischief, I said I would go. I then sat by the room door on a chair with the view of preventing him from going. I fell asleep. I then felt a violent blow on my head from a pan, I believe, and fell. I received another blow on my shoulder. Ido not know who gave me the blows, as I had a cloak over my head at the time. A cab was brought to take me to the hospital, but feeling very faint and sinking, and thinking I was dying, I asked them to let me die at home. I have been at home ever since and attended by the parish doctor. Mr. Tyrwhitt—Did he ever quarrel with you before ? Prosecutrix—Oh, no. He has always been very respect ful to me, sir. Prisoner—There has not been a more dutiful son than I have been. I've no recollection of striking my mother. I had been drinking hard, and must have got the delirium tremens.  Patrick Fitzgerald, father of the prisoner, said—l was awoke by hearing a blow and my wife moaning. The prisoner had a poker in his hand, and said " I won't hurt you, father," but directly after grasped me tightly by the throat and nearly strangled me—  Mr. Tyrwhitt—Had he been drinking ? The Father—l believe so, but I had not seen him since the previous Tuesday. He jumped out of a window a second time on to some water closets, and then got on the top of the houseS, but was afterwards taken by the police. Rogers, 87 E—On going to the house I found the mother, father, and brother.all bleeding from injuries caused by the prisoner, who was given into custody by the father. Prisoner (crying)—lt was the delirium tremens. Mr. Tyrwhitt—The prisoner had been drinking, and the effect of it is that he commits a series of assaults on his mother, father, and brother. He must find one bail in £lO to keep the peace for six months. A