npedrazzini/19thc_murder_suicide_news huggingface dataset:
Blandford, Wimborne and Poole Telegram. — 1876-05-19 (Blandford, Dorset, England)

THE LAND OF THE FREE.  A couple of cases which came before the justices of Yeovil. last week, county and borough, illustrate tle somewhat varied notions which people entertain as lo what a man has the right to do with his own and what he has not. Poor John Childs happens t o find his position in life to be that of a pauper, and he is an inmate of the 'Union. The other o lay he asked for "a day out," which was refused him. He had the coasummate audacity to take it, was captured, aid locked up in a pleasant little apartment, attached to the workhouse, known as the refractory ward. From this he escaped, he was again taken, and this time handed over to the care of the police. As this was actually the second occasion upon which he had attempted to take French-leave the " worthy " Mayor, Mr. J. Hill, sent him to gaol for six weeks' hard labour. This ought to have a salutory etftoct upon John Childs, but, we are afraid it won't. In all probability John will think that of the two the gaol is rather nicer than the union. Now, if we turn to the ruling of the County justices we find another idea existent as to the liberty a man may be allowed to enjoy in pleasing himself. Mr. J. Rendell, is a lively blacksmith, hailing from East Coker. Amongst his imssessi ons is a wife which he regards as a domestic anvil and beats accordingly. The day previous to the case quoted above he was charged with assaulting her, and this is what she spoke to : On the 6th of May, between 10 and 11 at night, her husband came home tipsy. She asked him for some money for housekeeping, and he then threw a dish at her and went to bed. She soon followed, and when 'fully undressed he jumped out of bed and abused and beat her with his fist on the eves, lips, and head, and then, with a portion of abedstead, struck her on the shoulders and swore he would kill her. She shouted "murder," and he then went back to bed and she lay down upon another bell in the sonic mom. His son was in the room at the time but so tipsy that he knew nothing of what passed, and next morning asked what was the matter. Harriet Morris, wife of Charles Morris, living next door, said that the partition between the houses is very thin. She saw Rendell throw a dish at his wife last Saturday night after abusing her. She ran into her house with blood running from her arm, and walked up and down outside for in me than a hour. When in her bedroom witness heard blmi.s in their room, and complainant was crying and groaning and begging him not to strike her. Heard prisorer sav —"Now the doer is locked no one can get in, and I'll niurder you." He was using very bad language and the tioi•e <vent on till nearly one o'clock. On Sunday he appeared to have been dreadfully beaten. She was not It all drunk and did net abuse her husband. Prisoner's defence was that his wife came home drunk and began the r..w. Bound over in his own recognisance to keep the heare for six months! The next woman beater will probably receive something from the poor box, as an encouragement.
Blandford, Wimborne and Poole Telegram. — 1876-12-01 (Blandford, Dorset, England)

MURDER OF A POLICILCONSTABLE. EXAMINATION OF ONE OF THE AILIRDE tE US.  (Proat our area CorreBPond. itt.)  When it was ascertained that the fourth man concerned in the murder of the per fellow Cox would be brought up on remand again on Friday morning, a motley group of excited individuals gathered before the polim-station, in Union-street, Yeovil, to try and and get is peep at the accused as he was being removed, as it was rumoured that he would undergo an examination at the Town-hall. Amongst the crowd were the wife of Baker and several female friends, who pathetically appealed to officials connected with the court to be allowed to see the prisoner ; but their sobs and tears were of no avail, and the crowd, too, were disappointed, for Baker was not, as I had anticipated, removed to the hall, but charged in a private room in the superintendent's house. The prisoner was, however, placed with his back to a window facing the street where the crowd were, and hal it not been for a timely warning of " Move on there !" emanating from a gentleuml in blue, some of the people would, I believe, have stood on one another's shoulders to get a sight of even the mau's back.  The prisoner was arraigned before the chairman of the Yeovil borough inagistraLes, and again forinally remanded until Monday. Dr. Garhuars certificite states that the man Stacey, under his care at the Yeovil Hospital, continues to improve. and hopes are entertained that he will, in about another week or ten days, be able to see the man Baker, and say whether he is the man that accompanied the arrant villains on that memorable night when poor Cox wos so cowardly and brutally murdered.  ...... I have conversed with several persons from the neighbourhood of Coker, and they say they cannot be persuaded that Raker is guilty of co-operating in the clmmission of the crime laid to his charge ; if so, they nNue, why had he not have endeavoured to escape with his men? & this as it may, the fact that Baker asserts positively, as he did again when he was remanded on Friday, that he was home from his woi'k poly on tha% particular '1 bursday evening, and never went out again until next morning, does not eiactly coincide with a statement his wife is reported to have made—that her husband was not home at all that Thursday night It i; a matter of no small comment in the neighbour hood that the public should offer £5O reward for the discovery and apprehension of the do;g-poisoner, and the pace officials should offer only £3O for information th,t will lead to the capture uf the three Hutchinses, who aye charged with the commission of .one of the most dastardly murders that has ever been recorded in the history ot crime. It seems to point to the conclusion that they regard the brute creation more than the lives of human beings.
Blandford, Wimborne and Poole Telegram. — 1876-02-04 (Blandford, Dorset, England)

WIFE MURDER.—A shocking wife murder has been committed at Dunstahle, Bedfordshire, by a man named David Dumpleton, employed as a groom in that town. Diunpleton, who has been married about ten years, had of late lived unhappily with his wife, who had given him cause for jealousy. About eleven o'clock on Monday night the neighbours heard shrieks. A constable was called, and on his arrival at the house he found Mrs. Dumpleton lying on the floor in a pool of blood. The husband was standing by, and in the coolest way said, in reply to the officer, that if he had not killed his wife she would have killed hint, and he took the first chance. He was immediately taken into custody. The prisoner, who was perfectly sober, is stated to have been a steady, hardworking man. There is a grim interest in the returns of the number of deaths which result from drunkenness. The RegistrarGeneral's annual report, recently issued, shows that the registers of deaths in England, and of their causes, indicate a substantial decrease in the last few years in the number of persons killed by intemperance. In 1830 the number was 863, there being 540 deaths front delirium tremens and 323 from less aggravated intemperance ; in 1873, the latest year for which such returns have been issued, the total was but 777, the deaths from delirium frowno have fallen to 363, the other deaths from intemperance having risen to 412. In the intervening years there were great titian:awns in the numbers. In 1861 the total had fallen to 637; in 1861, and again in 1863, they exceeded 1,000, and then they declined again untit in IS7O reached the exceptionally low number of 645, rising afterwards to 740 in 1871, 713 in 1872,777 in 1873. Some mild satisfaction may be found in the fact that the matter is one in which the nation isnot actually growing worse, though our position is still not one respecting which there is room a for much congratulation. PRESERVED MEAT IN TiNs.—This mode of preserving meat, so extensively practised at the present time, has been in use for a longer period than may be generally supposed. From the Sanitary Review we learn that in 1824, Messrs. Donkin and Gamble supplied tins of preserved mutton to the exploring ship Fury. In the following year this vessel was lost in Prince Regent's Inlet, and the cases of meat were landed and left on the beach. In August, 1833, Sir John ROSS found that the meat was as god and fresh as ever. In a letter he wrote to Mr. Gamble he mentioned that 'the provisions were still in a perfect state of preservation, although annually , exposed to a temperature of 92. F. below and 230? F. above I Zero." Sixteen years later Captain Sir James Ross, of I the Investigator, stopped at the Same place. He found I that " the provisions were still in excellent condition. I after having been upon the lagich, exposed to the action of the sun and all kinds of weather for a period of nearly a quarter of a century."
Blandford, Wimborne and Poole Telegram. — 1876-04-07 (Blandford, Dorset, England)

LOTIIARIO IN TROUBLE. . . . .  At the Bristol Assizes last week, before the Lord Chief Baron, Charles Field was indicted for stealing two beds, about 30 cotton sheets, seven or eight pairs of blankets, six pictures, and other articles, the property of Ebenezer Stiller, at Bedminster, on the 29th of Match, 1575. The prosecutor stated that he lived at Totterdown, near Bristol, the name of his house being Anger-cottage, Totter— down. There logded with him the prisoner, George Middleton, and John Sturge. He had two children, one, Henry, ten years of age, and another an infant, six weeks lie had noticed the conduct of his wife and the prisoner on different occasions, and once caught the prisoner in his wife's bedroom. He cautioned her as to her behaviour. On Easter Sunday last year, he went for a walk and found on his return that the prisoner and his wife were in the kitchen and it was dark. The prisoner, when he saw him, went out and did not speak a word. On the next day the prosecutor had occasion to go with his master's cart to Seend, in Wiltshire, leaving his wife and mother in his house. His furniture was all safe when he left. Lid not return home till one o'clock on Wednesday night, when he found all the furniture in the parlour carried off ; all the small things were missing, and upstairs a feather bed was gone. Altogether between .00 and .£441 worth of property had been taken. On Thursday morning he telegraphed to Birmingham to see if the goods were there. He went to Alfred-street, Sparkbrook, Birmingham. in January of this year, and saw his wife and son Henry, and the baby was upstairs. Afterwards went to a pawnbroker's shop kept by Mr. Davis, and indentitied a gold chain as his. On the 24th January went to Walsall, with Sergt. Black, and saw the prisoner working at a baker's. Prisoner came out and said to him, "Well, Ben. " The prisoner was apprehended aml taken to Birmingham. Mary Maria Stiller, the prosecutor's wife, was called by the prisoner. In answer to his questions, she said, he had nothing to do in packing the things. Out the 29th to March last he was leaving Bristol for employment elsewhere, and she asked him if she should go with him for protection. She told him that she had been so ill-treated by her husband, who threatened to murder her many times, that she was in danger of her life. The prosecutor, re-called, said the statement of his wife that he had ! inflicted personal violence on her was untrue. The prisoner, when told he could address the jury said. To the judge. "She said she would follow me, and what was Ito do, your hononr?" (laughter). His Lordship, in suming up to the jury, said this was a very serious case indeed. as the prisoner was charged with felony under the most aggravated circumstances it wes possible to imagine. It was impossible for thorn to find any other verdict than one of guilty. Prisoner was sentenced to two years imprisonment with hard labour.
Blandford, Wimborne and Poole Telegram. — 1876-02-25 (Blandford, Dorset, England)

STILL TONGUE, &C." An old man, who said he was 78— Ilenry Clare—was charged with using abusive language to Mr. homer, of Martinstown. The defendant in reply to the Bench said he did not deny it, but what he had said lie would answer for. He had not said half what Mr. Homer did to him •, and he should have both sides heard or else there would be law but not justice. The ,oinplainant stated that on the 12th he was near the Market-house in Dorchester when he heal-4 the defendant making use of disgusting language and asking "who timed the women out of doors." Ile took no notice of it, and the defendant, after making use of some more nice expressions, called out at the top of his voice "Jack Homer, of Martinstown, is the damnedest scamp in England." And he then commenced abusing hint Upon that he (the complainant) called the constable, who ordered the defendant out of the market. After the complainant had gi von his evidence, defendant was asked if he bad any question to put, he said he had, bat instead of putting them he began to enter upon a history of what had taken place some six months ago. He was reminded by the town clerk he .could not make a speech at that stage of the proceedings. As he still persisted he wits told to hold his tongue. Defendant : Hold His tongoe ; what far ? Ain't a poor Susan a right to be 'erd ru ou he as good a character as ever he 'ad in his life. Sergt. Pomeroy, corroborated Mr. limner as to the language used, and stated a great number of people were collected there at the time. Defendant then made his speech, which lie told the 'Bench they were ;Naiad to hear. Ile stated the complainant had accused him of buying hares, and had called him darned idd rogue, but if he was as big a rogue as Mr. Homer, he'd be hanged before he went out of I)erehe3ter. lie hail also knocked off 141 a week off his parislepay, and hail threatened to give him many a drubbmg if he had not been two or three years older than he was. The Town clerk said all this did not take place on the day in question. Defendant : No odds about that, then I s'pose if a man murdered anybody a year ago he isn't to be hung for it now. Mr. Symonds : UMfortnnately we have a record that you had been here before for the same sort of thing. Defendant : And now you be bringing that up; then why not I. The Bench told him there were three previous convictdmi against him one of which was for stealing. He wculd have to pay :103.—0r go to prison for 14 days. Defendant said he hadn't gut a farden if they gie'd a guniea for it. Mr. Symonds said then unfortunately he would have to pay in person. Defendant: Oh dear, why donCee hang me at once. Ultimately he was allowed a week to pay in.
Blandford, Wimborne and Poole Telegram. — 1876-03-10 (Blandford, Dorset, England)

REMARKABLE MURDER. TRIAL.  A remarkable trial for murder has just taken place at Nenagh. The accused, Michtel Burke, was tried twice before, in conjunction with his father Martin Burke, the victim of the outrage being Stephen Scanlan, the sun-inlaw of Martin Burke, and, of course, the brother-in-law of Michael. Since the last trial, at the Summer Assizes of 1875, Martin Burke, died of disease of the heart. The old man, Martin Burke, resided at Killenaule, county Tipperary, and had for many years occupied a farm of 53 acres under Lord Bosse. Finding himself in embarrassed circumstances in 1873, Martin Burke entered into an agreement with Stephen Scanlan, by which it was agreed that Scanlan should marry Burke's daughter, and that the land should be assigned to Scanlan, he agreeing to pay Martin Burke's debts, to drain the land, and execute . certain other improvements ; the oh l nian and his wife to be supported on the farm during their life. The niarriage took place, and Scanlan paid the debts of Burke„ who, however, evinced a strung disinclination to execute the assignment of the farm, lie appears to have been instigated to this course by his son Michael, the prisoner in the present case, with whom he had been for some years on unfriendly terms, a state of feeling however, which ceased to exist shortly before the murder. Young Burke was also heard to use threats towards Scanlan, and on one occasion he assaulted him violently, adding that what lie had given him was tout a foretaste of what he intended to give him hereafter. On Sunday, Sept. 13, 1875, Seattle . and his wife returned from chapel about six o'clock in the evening. They drove up to the door, and Mrs. Scanlan had just alighted and entered the house, her husband re mauling behind with the horse and car, when a shot was tired, and Scanlan fell dead. The old man, who was in the house at the time and who had heard the shot, evinced no anxiety on the !natter, and refused to go down stairs to see what had occured. It was proved that he had been seen that day taking out a gun on the pretence of fowling. This gun was not in the house at the time the shot was tired but was found shortly afterwards in a ditch close to the spot from which the shot must have proceeded.. It was also proved that he had been seen the previous night in friendly conversation with the prisoner in a public-house. The prisoner himself was seen furtively leaving the immediate neighbourhood of Scanlan's house a few minutes after the shot was tired, and he was arrested early next morning in bed in a house at Thtirles. The boots which he wore corresponded exactly with footprints found close to the spot from which the shot was uliseluarged. At the two previous trials the jury disagreed. This was the case lig:1.111.n Friday, and they were discharged utter seven hours' deliberation.
Blandford, Wimborne and Poole Telegram. — 1879-04-11 (Blandford, Dorset, England)

INTERESTING TRAVELLER.  A correspondent writes—We rub our shoulders against strange people in railway carriages, and last Saturday I met a curious customer in my journey from Bridport to London. At Maiden Newton I found myself seated next to a decently-dressed man, whom I should have taken for a sailor bound for home, after a long vce age. How often we are deceived by appearances I "Excuse me making free, sir," said my fellow traveller, "but this is the happiest day I've hail for many years" I am glad to hear you say you are happy; but what makes you tinusually so to-day l" I replied. " Because lam a gentleman," he added, " I shall have a better dinner to-morrow than I've had for five long years awl a half. It is not many can tell what they're had for dinner every SurOay for such a time as that, but I can; I never had anything else on Sundays but bread and cheese, it never altered for a single Sunday, always the same," My traveller told me a long story how he was sentenced to seven years at Portland and lie had suffered for another man. He informed me that he was fond of a " little drop," and that he was a smith and lived at Leeds. A man had stolen some iron and they arrested him, and found him guilty. Put he protested his innocence, his conscience he said 'was clear, and he was going back to his friends at Leeds, who knew him to be innocent. During the time be had been at Portland his conduct had been good, and he had one year and seven months of his sentence remitted. The authorities had given him £6 instead of £3, the usual amount, and they had given him a suit of clothes of the beat material they used for prisoners who had conducted themselves well. There were many villains yonder, this man said, but there were one or two who he firmly believed were suffering for others. When we think of llabron, who vvoold never have been ieleased had it not been for the arrest of the villainous murderer Peace, how do we know that the words of this traveller may not be too true ? Ile was greatly surprised at the change which had taken place in the iron trade. He knew comparatively nothing of what had gone on during the time of his imprisonment, and the little knowledge he had of things which have recently taken place was very CUT iOM to those who heard him. Ile seemed very crest-fallen when he heard of the depression in the iron trade, with which he had been connected, lie spoke of the time when he earned high wages, and had a splendid dog weighing 19 lbs., who would tackle any badger, and which was altogether as good a creature as ever" ran before his tail." This strange companion assured me he should never indulge in badger-hunting, pigeon-flying or the like again. Although he had suffere I for anoPher man, his imprisonment had taught him to lead a different life to that of former years. —Sherborne Joura .1.
Blandford, Wimborne and Poole Telegram. — 1875-08-20 (Blandford, Dorset, England)

SINGITLAR ROBBERIES AT RAILWAY STATIONS. .  Detectives have for some time been employed to trace the many robberries of portmanteaus &c., on the London and Brighton Railway. On Saturday two well-dressed men were seen at Victoria station, carrying portmanteaus of identical size and shape. At Norwood they tOok tickets for Brighton. A good deal of baggage was on the platform. The men refused the aid of porters, and placed their portmanteaus amongst the other baggage. When the train came up a young lady missed her travelling bag and a small box. Nothing could be seen of it. These men were called from a first class carriage, and, after a display of indignation, went with the police to the office, where the portmanteaus were examined, and found to have false bottoms, and the interiors to be fitted with an ingenious contrivance of springs for clutching, without exciting observation, anything over which they might be placed. The missing articles were found within them, and the two men were at once handed over to the police. On Tuesday the company's solicitor attended Croyden police court to prosecute, when the prisoners, who refused their names and addresses, were formally charged with stealing a travelling bag and a box, containing various articles value at RSO, belonging to Miss Eleanor Custance, of 266, Regent-street, forewoman of Madame Louise. They were remanded that the police might make inquires.  An Irishman named Reilly, (-7ii—hii—wai-hOine from a wedding near Enniskillen, has been found dead in a pool of blood. A detective policman has, it is said, proceeded to Spain, where it is thought Alexander Collie may have taken refuge. Over 200 pigs have died in the Charville district, near Dublin, from a disease which has broken out during the the last few days. At Wolverhampton Workhouse on Monday night a pauper luntic named Cartwright. in a fit of passion, threw down a male warder and bit of a piece of his ear. Several children at Bristol who had eaten laburnum seeds showed symptoms of poisoning, and had to be taken to the hospital. At Stockport a man named Wilson was sentenced to a month's imprisonment for kissing a young lady he met in the street. John Armstrong, chief mate of the hulk Kent, was sentenced to twenty years penal servitude at Liverpool Assizes for the manslaughter of Ids captain, by throwing him overboard while the ship was at Bonny. The Bishop of Manchester speaking at Over Damen. an the occasion of the laying of a foundation-stone of a new church, condemned the flimsy style of ecclesiastical architecture somewhat too prevalent in this age. At the Liverpool Align% before Mr. Justice Archibald, William Baker. aged 35, was convicted of the wilful murder of Charles Langan, by shooting him with a revolver during an altercation, and sentenced to death. Both were betting men. It is said that the cost of preparing the Seraphs for the voyage to India with the Prince of Wales is estimated at .£5,000, and the expenses of removing all temporary fittings so as to render her again an Indian trooper according to pattern will exceed .0,000.