npedrazzini/19thc_murder_suicide_news huggingface dataset:
Widnes Examiner. — 1884-08-30 (Widnes, Cheshire, England)

IRELAND.—The Duke of picnics against Mr, Gladattolle'a Reform Bill, it was not that Edinburgh, Vice-Admiral of the Channel Fleet, at present in they were not reformers. They Were lefOttllerS, they said. Lough Foyle, was on Saturday presented with addresses It had occurred to him that if the licensed victuallers and from the Corporation of Derry and Governors and members beersellers of a district were to form into an association and of visitation of the Irish Honourable Society, now on a call themselves the Sons of Temperance it would be about tour of inspection on their eststes in the North of Ireland. as reasonable as for the Tories to call themselves reformers. At the Dublin Police Court, on Wednesday, Anne Murray, (Laughter.) The previous Saturday W3B the anniversary a respectably-attired young woman, was charged on retested of a day when there met, he supposed, 100,000 people claim. with throwing vitriol on a married woman. The rtrosecu- ing reform. The Tories showed their interest in reform by trix now appeared in court wrapped in flannel. She was sending soldiers and Cheshire yeomanry to cut down the badly burned over the arms, shoulders, chest, and legs, and people by hundreds at Peterloo. With regard to the Tory has since been in hospital. The prisoner, who said the contention for redistribution with the franchise, the Liberals glair was an aecident, was committed for trial, were very much in favour of redistribution, but they TILE ROYAL COMMISSION which is to inquire into the wanted that great addition to the franchise first, for if it was subject of the merchant shipping is likely to be presided coupled with a Redistribution Bill there was a great chance over by Mr. Chambertein himself. It is expected that the of both being thrown out of the House of Commons. He investigation will be divided into four sections, and that the had no doubt if they got the Franchise Bill the RedistribuCommissioners will by a subdivision of labour be able to tion Bill would follow next year. In the present struggle proceed simultaneously with every branch of the inquiry. he believed it would come to this, that Mr. Gladstone would This is said to be the plan now under consideration. have to force the Lords to accept the Bill by a threat of Tensors TRAGEDY ter ScorLAND.—George Stewart, a making Liberal peers. But supposing they swallowed the man who was attacked on the public road, near Buxham, Bill, he hoped they would not forget that this House of Aberdeen, on Saturday night, and left lying with a knife Lords was a constant obstruction and mischief. sCheers.) sticking into one of his temples, died on Monday, never He did not know what right they had to be where they having regained consciousness. Six men are in custody, were. He had heard lately some noble lord who said that and it is supposed that the murder resulted from a drunken the House of Lords was the oldest institution in the country. fray. The deceased leaves a widow and six children. (A Voice: "And the worst.") Having at one time great
Widnes Examiner. — 1884-09-20 (Widnes, Cheshire, England)

CANNIBALISM AT SEA. —The following is the captain's version of the incident in connection with the wreck of the Mignonette, which has already been described in our columns :—We went on from the fifteenth to the twentieth day without any food at all or drink, and by that time we had begun to look each other in the face very black. The boy, who had drank some sea water at night, had said, "We shall all die," and I remarked, "We shall have to draw lots, boys." This was ignored by all, and they said. We had better die together," to which I replied, "So let it be, but it's hard for four to die, when perhaps one might save the rest." A day or two before I suggested we should try and make eome kind of sail, which we did with our shirts rigged on an oar for a mast, and a strand of the painter for shrouds and stays. Things now looked as bad as they could. On either the 19th or 20th day the boy was lying in the bottom of the boat, where he had been for two days, gasping for breath and nearly dead. At about three o'clock in the morning I said to the mate, " What is to be done? I believe the boy is dying. You have a wife and five children, and I have a wife and three children." I said that human flesh had been eaten before. Stephens replied, "See what daylight brings forth." Brooks took out his watch at six o'clock, and we made motions to each other. Brooks said he could not do it, and Stephens said he could not do it. I told Brooks to go forward, which he did. I 'then took hold of the shrouds, and had a last look round to see if anything was in sight, but there was nothing. I offered up a prayer most fervently that God above might forgive us for such an act, and then I knelt down by the boy and said, "Now, Dick, my boy, your time has come." He murmured, " What, me, sir ?" I put the penknife in his throat, and he was dead instantly.—The charge against Dudley, Stephens, and Brooks of having murdered Rickard Parker in a boat on the high seas was resumed on Thursday at Falmouth police court. As Brooks was neither actor nor participator in the crime be was discharged, and then examined. He related in detail the experiences of the survivors from the foundering of the yacht to the time of their rescue, stating how Captain Dudley first suggested the drawing lots when their situation seemed hopeless, and how the boy Parker was subsequently killed. Captain Dudley committed the deed, but they shared the blood, and for days lived on the body. This concluded the evidence for the prosecution, and, after a few remarks from the solicitor for the defence, the magistrates decided that the charge was too grave and important to be settled by them. The prisoners were accordingly committed for trial, but admitted to bail.
Widnes Examiner. — 1885-12-19 (Widnes, Cheshire, England)

BRIDGE. An outrage of a most dastardly character was perpetrated on Runcorn Bridge on Saturday night. The victim in Edward Hill, insurance agent and landlord of the Friendship Tavern, Fryer-street, Runcorn; and the circumstances show that the attack was pre. meditated, and possibly intended to have a fatal termination. About seven o'clock Hill was in the Central, Hotel, Widnes, where the recent Northwich election formed the subject of discussion between him self and Dr. O'Keeffe and a man named Campbell, who lives at 29, Milton-street, Widnes. Shortly afterwards he left, and walked through Widnes and on to the Bridge with John Jones newsagent, Ashbridge-street, whom he ha 4 overtaken on the way. Upon reaching the girder nearest the Cheshire side of 1 the river, they heard the footsteps of two men walking at a quick pace behind them. Jones stopped aside to permit them to pass, when one of the men struck Hill on the back of the he3d with some weapon he carried. Turning to face his assailants. Hill was then felled to the ground by a fearful blow on the forehead dealt by the second man, and a struggle ensued, during which the men kicked Hill and Jones cried "Murder, murder," in a voice that I was heard a considerable distance way. The men, I Jones alleges, attempted to throw Hill over the railings into the river beneath, but hearing the sound of advancing footsteps they ran off in the direction of Widnee. Hill, stunned and bleeding las he was managed to walk home with the aid of i Jones, and on the way lodged a complaint with Lambert, the ticket collector, and informed Sergeant Egerton of the brutal attack to Which he had been subject. He was shortly afterwards seen by Dr. Mangin, who found that he had astained a very serious contused wound on the right temple, and another on the back of the head, his condition from the shock and Iloss of blood giving grave Cause for alarm. He was c mfined to bed for several days. Jones states that the weapons used by the men ware iron bars' and that they had provided against identification by having their faces masked or blackened. It is conjectured that, this cowardly ou•rage is the sequence to Hill's action at the recent Northwich election. Hill is president of the local branch of the Irish National League, end as Mr. Parnell nor his lieutenants forwarded any specific instructions an to how their fellow-countryroeu were to vote in Runcorn and district. Hill decided, with the concurrence of the priest, the Rev. l'other renuelley, to follow his own political predilections. He gave his adhesion to Mr. Brunner's cause, and it is believed influencedmt least nine-tenths of hie compatricto to follow his lead. His action was , displeasing to some of his friends, in Runcorn. and in Widnes, where he made no secret of his opinion, he was regarded with considerable disfavour. Hence it is Hill's, and the generally accepted idea, that this brutal conduct is the result.
Widnes Examiner. — 1885-04-04 (Widnes, Cheshire, England)

HAPPY FAMILY" AT WIDNES.  At Widnes Petty Seseions on Wednesday Mary J Whelan was summoned for using defamatory language respecting Richard Johnson.—Mr J W Knowles, solicitor, defended. He said that the defendant bore the relations of sister-in-law and mother-in-law to the complainant, and he asked the Bench to ask the complainant to be good enough to withdraw the summons, as the matter was a family one.—The complainant said he wanted the CASe to go on, as the defendant had made use of the language too often.—Defendant expreesed a similar wish.— The complainant said the defendant was step-mother to his present wife, and sister-in-law to himself. On th 2Sth tilt defendant came to his house, and walked straight into the front place. His wife and he were getting realy to go out, and defendant said, in a loud voice, " Hallo ! Away you go, out of my mind." Defendant then asked complainant what she owed him, and she replied 2a91. She gave him the money, and after she had done so she called him some " awful names," and asked him for the money that be owed her. She then called him a murderer, and said he had poisoned her sister. She subsequently went Into the street, and called him " for everything but a gentleman." Cross-examined by Mr Knowles, the complainant admitted that he struck the defendant.— Thomas Wright said that be he4rd the defendant say that the complainant bad poisoned her sister.—The fatiker of the complainant said he heard the defendant sly that complainant has poisoned his wife. Mrs Johnson, wife of complainant, said the defendant was her father's third wife, and she (witness) was her husband's second wife.—Crossexamined by Mr Knowles : I have not gone to my father and tried to make up tales about the defendant. She took up a black sugar basin that! have had for seven years and threw it at my husband, and he then put her out of the house. He did not throw her or shove her out. She wag not knocked down on the floor or in the street by anyone. She lay down herself. —Mr Knowles said the defendent entirely denied having laid a finger on the complainant's wife. She went to the complainant's house for an account which had been owing for some years. He refused to pay her, and made use of bad language, mad then he struck her across the face and knocked her down. Defendant had told him (Mr Knowles) that she never did sky that complainant had poisoned his wife.—Defendant was then sworn. She said she went to the complainant's house, and he asked her for what he owed her, and she paid it. She then asked him for, what he owed her. She had reared him from the time he was a child. She had no with to say that he poisoned his wife, and she could not say that which she did not know. I The complainant was the means of parting her first husband and herself.—The Bench said they believed the defendant made use of the language imputed to her, and she would have to find sureties of peace for three months, or go to gaol for seven days. They would take her husband'a bail.
Widnes Examiner. — 1885-07-18 (Widnes, Cheshire, England)

CRIMINAL LAW IN IRELAND.—OR the motion to go into committee of supply, Mr. PARNELL called attention to the mal-adruinistration Of criminal law in Ireland, and more especially certain provisions of the Crimes Prevention Act during the viceroyalty of Earl Spencer, whereby persons bad, I been, in some cases, condemned to death and executed, and , in others sentenced to penal servitude for life, or for a long I I term co! years, which sentence was tow going on. He said the late Government upheld Earl Spencer as a kind of Pope, who could do no wrong, but since then a change of Administration had taken place, and he hoped the inquiry he now asked for would be granted, and the prison doors , opened to men who were suffering for crimes they had not ' committed, and of which they knew nothing. If the statements he made were denied, that could only be successfully accomplished by producing the dying declaration of the unfortunate men which the late Government refused to do. Having gone at length into the circumstances of each case, he moved that in the opinion of that House it was the duty I of the Government to institute strict iuquiry into the evidence aed convictions in the Maamstrasna, Barbervilla, , Cross Magian, and Castle Island casee. He looked hopefully to the new Government, and hoped his demand for 1 justice would not be refused.—The CHANCELLOR of the ExcnEctuEre said it would be for the convenience of the House if he at once stated the case Government would putsue. There was very much in the policy of the late Government for which he should be sorry to be responsible, but as regarded the accusation that had been made against Lord Spencer by others not certainly by the member for Cork, in the speech he had just made, he believed that nobleman quite incapable of the conduct imputed to him. On the contrary, he knew him to be an English nobleman and an honourable man, and in all he had elone—he might have made mistakes—he had done nothing hut that he believed his duty. With regard to the resolution of the hon. gentleman, such a proposal would be derogatory of the power and authority of the Lord-Lieutenant, and he must ask the House to resist it.—Sir. W. HARCOURT defended the action of the late Government, and said they were proud to be responsible for the action of Lard Spencer. He justified all that had been done, and denied that justice had b.SII ' unfairly administered.—Lord R. CHURCHILL justified his vote against the resolution of Mr. Parnell, and urged the withdrawal of the resolution.—Mr. PARNELL asked leave to withdraw his resolution.—Mr. Hartutenerox at great length I went through the whole circumstances of the Maamtrasna I murders, the trial of the prisoners, ant the procedure at the trial.—Mr. C. LEWIS could not help remarking the peculiarly peaceful language of Mr. Parnell in asking leave to withdraw his resolution. To his mind it sheered clearly that if there was not a treaty, there was an understanding between him and the Government.
Widnes Examiner. — 1896-01-04 (Widnes, Cheshire, England)

RUNCORN.  SMART CAPTURE.  At Runcorn Police Court, on Friday, before Messrs. F. J. Norman, chairman, and E. Imison, James ,Shaw, no fixed abode was charged with burglariously breaking and entering the dwelling-house of Joseph Wilding, on the night of the 26th December, with intent to steal. Joseph Wilding, a caretaker for Mr. Ashton, solicitor, said that early on the previous morning he awoke, and fancied he could smell wood burning. He lit a candle, came downstairs, and went into the magistrates' clerk's office, but saw nothing unusual. He then went into the lobby, and saw a light proceeding from the kitchen. He saw a man in a corner, and he was standing with his back towards another office door. Witness exclaimed " Oh," and prisoner replied " I have taken nothing." Witness then said" What are you doing here ? " and prisoner replied "It is all right," to which witness answered " It is not all right. What are you doing here ?' Witness said that the man had no boots nor coat on,and he could identify him in the dock as being the same person. Prisoner ran along the lobby through the kitchen into the yard, and out at the back. Witness shouted to his wife, and in consequence of what he said, the latter shouted through a window " Murder," and " Police." As a result, Dr. McDougall blew a policeman's whistle. Witness bolted the back door, and came to the front, where P.S. Brewster, in company with two other constables, met him. On examining the kitchen he found five drawers were ope.ned,as well as a cupboard.. Nothing was missing. When the sergeant came he found a hole in the roof of the storeroom. Two ladders were also found reared one against the scullery wall and the other against another wall. P.S. Brewster, in the course of his evidence, said the scullery window had been opened from the top. Underneath the window in the yard he found a nair of clogs (produced), which he identified as being the same as those prisoner was then wearing. In consequence of finding the clogs he suspected prisoner, and directed P.C.'s Wylie and Booth to search in the Camden soap works, at the rear of the premises. Prisoner was apprehended by P.C.Wylie. When charged with the offence he said, " I don't know how I got there, but I found myself there. I took nothing, only a small piece of meat on a plate." P.C. Wylie said he was in company with the last witness, and went with him to Mr. Ashton's office. By his direction lie went and searched in the Camden works, and found prisoner between two large soap boilers. He had the back of his coat turned over his head, endeavouring to hide himself.  Prisoner was now charged with burglariously entering and stealing from the dwelling-house, and he replied "I can only I was drunk,and I didn't know anything about it, until I found myself against the fire." In reply to the Magistrates' Clerk, P.S. Brewster said that prisoner was sober when brought to him at the offices.  The Chairman said that this was a mest serioug offence. Prisoner was an old offender, and would have to be sent to the Assizes for trial.
Widnes Examiner. — 1896-12-11 (Widnes, Cheshire, England)

FURTHER EFFORTS FOR A REPRIEVE.  As already intimated the Town Clerk on hearing privately what the decision of the Home Secretary was to be, prepared a special appeal for Bate's life to he spared. This wae signed by the Mayor, the Town Clerk, and Chief Constable, and forwarded on Friday night. This communication would of course cross that containing the unwelcome decision received on Saturday. A reply to this second appeal was received on Sunday morning by the Mayor, as follows :—" Whitehall, sth December, 1896. Sir,—l am directed by the Secretary of State to say that he has carefully considered the application signed by yourself, the Town Clerk and the Chief Constable on behalf of James Bate, who is now lying under sentence of death in Liverpool Prison, and lam to express to you his regret that he has been unable to discover any sufficient grounds to justify him in advising her Majesty to interfere with the due eouree of the law. —I am, sir, your obedient servant, Benelm E. Digby. The Mayor of Warrington." Mr. Robert Pierpoint, M.P., has greatly interested himself in the case, and interviewed the Home Secretary with the view of inducing him to reprieve the condemned man. On Sunday the Town Clerk received the following letter from him:—" 45, Glaetlious, -st.,l:egentst., London, W. December 5, 1896. My dear Sir,—l have just received the enclosed letter from the private secretary. I greatly regret his decision in the case of Bate, but I cannot see that anything more can be done, unless there can be produced some clear evidence showing that Bate was so much under the influence of drink when he killed his wife as not to know what he was doing. When I was at the Home Office to-day it was pointed out to me that after he had murdered his wife he said to his children "I have always been a good father to you, haven't I 2" or words to that effect. This is considered to show that he was not mad with drink. As to the offer of the Mayor, and Chief Constable, and yourself to come to town to wait on the Home Secretary, I was informed by him himself, when I saw him on Friday, and again by one of the permanent under secretaries to-day, that it is the absolute rule for the Home Secretary never to receive a deputation concerning a capital sentence.. You will see, therefore, that the Proposed coming would be unavailing. You will see that unless something new can be brought forward nothing can be done. If anything can be suggested to me I shall mest willingly even now communicate again with the Home Secretary. At the same time, I have no doubt whatever that he has given the matter his most careful attention, and that the judge has been asked for his opinion. He wrote to me on Friday. saying—' I am anxiously considering the case of James Bate, and how far is it possible to bring it within accepted principles which Justify remission of the capital sentence. I have, so far as I know, left nothing undone which might have been of use in the cause of the hoped-for remission. lam very sorry that it has been without success.—l am, yours faithfully,
Widnes Examiner. — 1896-08-15 (Widnes, Cheshire, England)

IMPOSSIBLE PERSONS: AND YET EVERYONE HAS MET WITH THEM.—The individual who sat down in his hat. The yokel who swallowed a story. The lady who laughed in her sleeve. The house. holder who "threw up" a window. The maiden ho melted into tears. The hasty man who tore up the street. The tailor who "cut out" his rival. The nobleman who stood on his dignity. The railway porter who was above his station. The shy little boy who could never find his tongue. The dog-stealer who caught a policeman's eye on him. The youth who split his sides with laughter. The lover who gave away his heart. " Docrolt, do you think he will recover?" The well-nigh distracted young wife wrung her hands in despair as shesspoke beseechingly to the eminent physician who had been called in a short time before,. In the room beyond lay the: prostrate form of her young husband, six feet tall, broad. shouldered, muscular, the pride of his football team in college, now lying, at six o'clock in the afternoon, on his bed, gibbering meaningless words, so weak in his half-delirium as scarely to be able to move. The sympathetic face of the great doctor assumed a graver aspect as he replied: "Madam, let us trust that with unremitting care and the utmost quiet your husband may in time assume his wonted physical tone. His long training and his iron constitution tell in his favour. 'Fre has, how. ever, been subjected to a severe mental and physical strain, winch for the time being has completely shattered his nervous system. His mind at present should be kept entirely free, and particularly any allusions-to the terrible ordeal through which he has passed should be carefully avoided. At present. I am unable to state positively that he will ever be the same man that he was this morning, but with careful nursing and the use of nourishing foods, let us trust that he may be fully restored." And the good doctor, with a few parting directions, left the house, and the grief-stricken wife, as the door closed behind him, buried her fac, in her hands. "Oh, why," she muttered frantically to herself, "(lid I go shopping this afternoon, and leave him to take care of the baby?"  _ ---TRIED AND PROVED! e Li Hong Chang paid a tribute on Saturday to the Sufferers from Or vii. Lumbago, Pike, pl, int, Pisear 3 a Kidneys memory of the late General Gordon, laying wreaths on Pain in the Pe.ck Dropsy. Wind Kid Water Con Pl' Stone. Sciatica. Ilheumatism and Gout will :nadnd Viceroy visited Hatfield, the Marquis of Salisbury giving a his Etitue and his tomb. In the afternoon the exB po,itiye ell'P in Holdroyd's Gravel Pille.Try a small bo it not satistie:i your money will be returned. Prices 182,f_A.d:, Of all Chemist 4. or r, it free for 12 sti,mpa, from HOLpHoi, D 8 a great garden party there in his honour. Medical Hall Chetkheaten, Yorks. Sold at 35, Bridge-st , intelligence has reached New Orleans that three Warringtc:i. Don't be put off, if you cannot get them Italians charged with murder were taken out of gaol *rite to 'Lei ii ititicil ii d aI () vi ill be teat next I,oat and lynched at Hahneville. Advt .