npedrazzini/19thc_murder_suicide_news huggingface dataset:
The Sun. — 1844-08-06 (London, England)

MURDER OF A POLICE OFFICER. IPSWICH, SATURDAY.-This county has of late acquired an unenviable notoriety from a succession of incendiary outrages. It has this week been stained by the still more hateful crime of murder. Committed, too, under circumstances of extreme daring and deliberate purpose. It is worthy of remark that the day on which this fatal event occurred was that on which the judges of assize had taken their departure from this town. The facts are as follows :—lt appears that in consequence of frequent robberies of farm-yards, the police had received strict orders to direct their utmost vigilance to the movements of stranger; trampers, or other suspicious characters, with the twofold view of securing agricultural property from incendiaries and thieves. On Sunday, the 28th ult., soon after midnight, a constable of the rural police, named James M‘Faddon, who was stationed at Kessinglands, a secluded hamlet in this district, when going round his beat, perceived a party of men, five in number, approaching a farm in the occupation of Mrs. Button, the stable-yard of which stands close to the road. From the silence of the men, and their stealthy motion, both of which are unusual with labourers returning from the beer-shops, the constables con • eluded that they were bent on mischief of some sort. Determined to watch their proceedings, he crouched down close to the fence. The party, after looking round, proceeded to Mrs. Button's farm-yard, and went direct to the barn-door, the fastenings of which they forced off. One remained outside, to give notice to his associates in case any one approached. The four who entered speedily returned, laden with sacks of corn, with which they were preparing to decamp, when the policeman thought it time to interfere. Being then only a few paces distant, and supposing them to be unprovided with fire-arms, he resolved to capture at least one of the gang. Having first challenged them to surrender, he was advancing, when one of the party who bad mounted a lain hedge, raised a gun to his shoulder, and fired with deliberate aim at his victim, who received the greater part of the charge in his thigh. The policeman dropped into a dry ditch, and the gang ran off rapidly in different directions, concluding that the report of the i shot would alarm the inmates of the farm-house. p addon, though suffering excessive pain, managed to crawl to the house and aroused the servants, who rendered the poor fellow such assistance as they could command at that late hour. A messenger was dispatched to the superintendent of the force, and the wounded man was provided with the best medical aid. On the following morning, the symptoms assumed a character so decidedly serious, that the district Magistrate deemed it advisable to take the man's deposition, which was signed and properly attested. Although rapidly sinking, be was quite conscious ; he described distinctly the circumstances already narrated, and declared that the man who fired the shot was William Howell, whom he had previously known, and whose person he recognised when he presented the gun.
The Sun. — 1844-08-06 (London, England)

GREENWOOD—The children under Miss Roberts's care were four, five, and six years of age. Her salary was 20/. a year. She was not nursery maid. I had a nursery-maid besides in my establishment. I had another governess for my eldest daughter, who is fourteen years old. On the voyage home the defendant made no secret of his affairs. He said he was captain of a merchant vessel, that was wrecked on the coast of China, and the greater part of the crew were murdered, and he himself was taken up the country and tortured, and con fined for eight months. He also said that he and six others were liberated upon the conclusion of the war with China. He used to relate the history of his sufferings, and I have no doubt the children and the governesses listened to him. I knew that his sister was at Southampton, but, as Miss Roberts did not appear to desire an introduction to her, I did not interfere. The defendant said if the introduction took place his sister would ery, and there would be a scene which he did not wish to see. We all lived in the same house at this time. 1 told the defendant that I thought such unequal marriages were unwise, and that it might produce unhappiness if the lady were not received in his family. He told me that he had been seventeen years absent from England. Captain Evans examined—l have been for many years commander of a vessel belonging to the Government. I did not become acquainted with the defendant until his arrival at Southampton, when he told me that he expected to get 6,0001. compensation for opium that had been seized by the Chinese. He also said he had a few thousands besides, and consulted me as to the best mode to employ it ; and he likewise told me that he had freigi-;ted a ship, which he expected home very shortly. I did not come home from Malta ; but my wife introduced the Captain to me. I observed that ho paid Miss Roberts such attentions as are usually paid laymen to a wpman, witll whom they are on the eve of marriage. .eoltedunroemrstcoohdins h. e ws Cross-examine&—llp (lid not tell me lie was in debt when he went to London, and that he was going to get wale money., Captain Denham going to nieet dined the ..e ~y,,. s,s Southampton with his sister, ',lsintiff was  VOSSei .....  with me several timb4 but Miss Roberts did not dine with us. about fourteen years old when she first came into our eryice ; but she never acted as a nursemaid. lier  father was suddenly killed by an accident, and chiefly out of charity I took her into my establishment, where she behaved so well, and her conduct was so excellent in my establishment, that she was eventually trusted with the care of everything in the house. Re-examined—Miss Roberts dined with the children.  By Mr.
The Sun. — 1827-01-04 (London, England)

DEC. 22.—An extraordinary trial for murder took place here two days ago. A gamekeeper, named Baruarvon, was found on the 16th of August, wounded in the most shocking manner; the unfortunate man had received eight stabs in different parts of the body and a violent blow on the bead, which h. 4 fractured his skull : he was carried to his dwelling, and, in the presence of his wife and children, made the following statement : " Two neighbours called upon me, for the purpose of obtaining my assistance in preventing a miller named Andrea from turning the course of a stream which belonged to them : after settling this business, I returned homewards, when, passing near a narrow moad, Audran sprang from behind a hedge, anti felled me to the earth with a bludgeon ; while lying senseless upon the ground, the murderer took out his knife and stabbed me in the bosom ; the pain caused by the second blow brought me to a sense of my dreadful situation, and rising on my knees, I said, Audran, take pity on my poor family, and do not kill me !" My prayer was unheeded ; he inflicted several stabs, and left me in the state in which I was found." Audran was of course arrested, and brought into • the presence of the dying man, who gave the F above evidence. " But where did I commit the crime ?" said Audran. " Near the wall of a garden belonging to Mr. Louis," was the reply. Immediately after uttering these words the wounded man expired. The police repaired to the place that was mentioned; no marks or the smallest traces of blood were to he found; but the confusion of Barnarvon, added to the circumstances of a coat which Audran wore on the day of the murder not being discovered, was deemed sufficient evidence ; the Jury found the prisoner guilty, and he was sentenced to death. Although the prisoner had denied most solemnly knowing any thing about the crime, when brought back to the condemned cell, he stated, that he killed Barnarvon, not on the spot indicated by the latter, but in his (Audran's) own garden, where a quantity of blood would he seen ; this proved to be the fact ; he added; that Barnarvon entered the garden for the purpose of committing robbery, that a struggle took place between them, and Barnrayon, who was a powerful man, fought in so determined a manner, that, notwithstanding the different stabs inflicted, had net the blow upon the bead being given with a heavy piece of wood, which happened to be near the place of combat, he, the prisoner, would have been murdered. This statement reaching the Jury, on the following day, and they requested the Judge who had passed the sentence of death, to recall several witnesses ; they were re-examined bythe Jury, and the account given by the prisoner proved to be a fact. However, the trial was over, and the unfortunate man, who would have been acquitted, still remains in prison, under sentence of death ; he is, of course, recommended to the King's mercy, and there can be but little doubt that in a few days he will be liberated from confinement.
The Sun. — 1827-08-31 (London, England)

THE PRIG AND HIS PALS—F. Pitt, a notorious cracksman, who returned a short time ago from transportation, was brought before Sir. HALLS, charged by Elizabeth Townshend with committing a violent assault upon her person. It appeared that Townshend had lived with Pitt, but he had left her, and was now cohabiting with a female named Margaret Reynolds ; and the latter, who is one of the most desperate of her sex-a perfect virago, as the sequel will show, came forward to give evidence for Pitt. Pitt, it appeared, had seduced Townshend from the protection of her father, who is a respectable tradesman ; and a few days ago, wishing to house,itt mcsahee in as beat her severely, w u about to remove her goret sn into a her cart,father's 1 n p e and locked 'up the apartments.—The Magistrate ordered Pitt to find bail, and Ford, the officer, Cainea up to him to remove him to the lock-up room. At that moment Reynolds clenched her fist, and sprang towards Townshend with the fury of a tigress, and said, " Curse you, if he is sent down, we will both go down together, and she struck Townsheml a tremendous blow under the eye, and drove her head within a short distance of the face of the Magistrate.— Mr. HALLS ordered the " fury" to be placed immediately at the bar, and Townshend having given evidence of the assault, Mr. Halls ordered Reynolds to be locked up till she found bail to answer the charge at the Sessions.— As she was leaving the office, she turned round, and said to Townshend, " By heavens I'll do for you; if I don't stab you, and run a knife into your heart's blood, may I be struck dead'." She was dragged to the lock-up room, cursing and swearing. She , had not been locked up many minutes, before a tall gaunt-looking woman, named Isabella Harwood, was conveyed into the same cell, on a charge of assault, and soon afterwards the office was again thrown into confusion by loud cries of " Murder !" Ford, the gaoler, instantly proceeded to learn the cause, and lie found Harwood bleeding very profusely from her eyes and cheeks ; and she said that she had been used in that dreadful manner by Margaret Reynolds.— The face of the poor wretched woman was in a most deplorable state, and Reynolds avowed that she had done it because Harwood had abused her. Mr. HALLS told Ford that lie ought not to .have put the woman in the same room with Reynolds ; but the officer said that Harwood was very desponding, and had threatened to hang herself, and he thought it prudent to put her in a room where there was another prisoner, to prevent her putting her threat into execution.—Reynolds was hand. cuffed, by order of the Magistrate, and placed at  the bar; she was committed upon this charge also, and ordered to find bail, herself in 1001. and two sureties in 50/. and to give 48 hours' notice of the bail.—This infamous woman has had three of her " fancy men" banged, and several have been transported.—The prisoner, Pitt, is the husband of the woman who, it will be recollected, was some years ago charged with murdering a sailor, by throwing him out of her bed-room window.
The Sun. — 1827-08-01 (London, England)

TAYLOR—Witness does not know on what charge he has been committed ; believes it is for stealing a pig : was once before in gaol for burglary : was convicted, and sentence of death recorded upon him : he broke prison after : can't tell the persons who were in company with Slade when witness met him ; they. were not iellow-labourers of witness's ; the place where they wer.! standing was 50 yards from the Bell, where the inquest was held, The LORD CHIEF BARON then charged the Jury. His Lordship said he had the misfortune to address the jury in one of the most extraordinary cases which had ever come under his consideration. The ease entirely, or mainly rested upon the testimony of William Heddings. Without his evidence, the case. would have consisted entirely of circumstances so slight and hanging so loose!:' together, that without the evidence of that person, they never would be considered by an English jury as a sufficient ground on which to deprive a fellow-creature of his life. His Lordship then proceeded to recapitulate the evidence ; upon coming to the testimony of Eeddings, his Lordship paused, and said, that he was anxious to point out to the jury a fact which he had observed in the progress of the cause, and which had produced a powerful effect upon his mind. It appeared that Heddings was on the 16th of July before the magistrates giving evidence upon the subject of this murder, and it was a most extraordinary circumstance that the evidence which he gave then not only corresponded in substance with that which he had delivered to day in the box, but was delivered in the same order, and, with a slight exception, in the identical words which he had made use of days ago. There was not a word, not a pause different in the two accounts, except the omission of a very short passage. His Lordship said that he had received from this coincidence a strong impression that the witness had made up the whole story, awl committed it to memory. His Lordship concluded a long and ehtborzte. charge about half-past six o'clock, when the jury requested permission to withdraw; and after having consulted together for ten minutes, returned a vet diet of Guilty. The prisoner is an ugly, but not what is usually i,alled an ill-looking man. His eye-brows, which ire arched and quite black, meet at the nose; hia cheek-bones are very high; his nose puggish, as it had been described by one of the witnesses; his mouth small, and his lips thick and prominent. He became somewhat paler upon hearing the sentence :If guilty pronounced, but was not otherwise discomposed. The LORD CHIEF BARON having pronounced the awful sentence of the law, and left the convict for .xecution on Thursday, lie was removed ironi the ,lock, and in the pasage met Heddings, with whom' he shook hands, expressing a desire to die in peace with all the world. The verdict was in opposition to the charge of the Learned Judge, and seemed to hare excited great astonishment in Court.
The Sun. — 1827-05-19 (London, England)

HOUSE OF COMMONS, FRIDAY, MAY 15.  The SPEAKER took the Chair this evening, precisely at Four o'clock.  Mr. PORTMAN presented a petition from Blandford, for the repeal of the Test and Corporation Acts. Mr. SYKES presented a petition from the Seamen of Hull, against the system of impressing men to serve in his Majesty's Navy. The Honourable Gentleman said that he had resided for many years in the neighbourhood of a sea-port town, which was a constant scene of riot, in consequence of affrays between the press gangs and the seamen in the merchant service. When persons were attacked as the petitioners constantly were, they were likely, of course, to resist, and the consequence was constant riots and even murders. The petitioners took occasion to express their gratification on the appointment of a Prince of the Blood to the command of the Navy, and as he was  Di that the persons, . _mg to extend the relief for which they prayed to all classes of Dissenting Christians. Having said so much, he thought it his duty to add, that he did not conceive that the claims of the petitioners were so urgent as those of other classes who felt their disqualification more deeply.—(Hear, hear.) Sir E. KNATCHBULL presented a petition from two places in Kent, against the Alehouse Licensing Bill. He also presented a petition from the wool-growers of Kent, complaining of the depression in the wool trade. The Hon. Baronet said, that as notice bad been given of a discussion on this subject, he would reserve any observations he intended to make, but he hoped the President of the Board of Trade had determined on proposing some alteration in the duty on foreign wool. Mr. HUSICISSON said that he knew the situation of the wool-growers was very distressing, in consequence of the low price of wool, but he could not pledge hiinself to propose any alteration in the duty on foreign wool. Sir C. BURRELL did not ]mow that the low price of wool had done good to any class of the community. Wool was now selling for 9d., which had sold for avarying price of from Is. 9d. to 2s. per lb. With such a depression, how could the wool-growers pay- their rents ? In his opinion there should be some additional tax on foreign wool.  Mr. HUME wished to know whether the Hon. Bart. Sir C. Bu►rell, could ensure the manufacturer that he could sell his cloth if the duty on wool was increased (Hear, hear. )  Sir T. LETHBRIDGE did not see the policy of the manufacturer being employed in working up foreign wool, when the wool grown at home was lying in granaries unsold and unsaleable at any thing like a remunerating price. After a few words from Mr. WARBURTON, Sir E. KNArcusuLL, and Mr. MABERLY, the petition was received and ordered to be printed.  Lord STANLEY presented aßetition from certain labourers, complaining of tie practice of paying in goods instead of money. Mr. Alderman THOAIPSON moved for a return of 'the number of chaldrons of coal imported into the Port of London since the year 1800, specifying the quantity in each year.—Ordered.
The Sun. — 1827-04-14 (London, England)

BLACK.. BURNL—Had a son of the name of Chas. M'Carthy; he is dead ; remembers the fair of Kilfeacle ; was at the fair, and sow her n.— It was after the shots were fired she left the fair with nhersen ; she walked about two fields from the fair; was going home at the time ; Michael Hogan and his Vat! came up to him in the field ; they came across the field to her; knew Michael Hogan before ; knew:Matthew Hogan, Edmund Hogan and John Hogan, and many more of thetn--the Hogan. struck M'Carthy with stones, and Michael Hogan, caught him by the leg, and knocked him down for the rest of his party to heat him ; when M'Carthy was down, be begged his life of Michael Hogan, who said, " this is the way that I will give you your life," stabbing him with a bayonet: the bayonet was on a stick; he stabbed him in the side; saw Matthevi Hogan with a pin in his hand ; litatthew Hogan fired at her son, but he did not receive the shot, and Hogan then leaped three times on his body; don't know where the Hogans went; she was taking care of her son ; did not see them after that; sonic of them brought him away, and when others saw he was able to stir, they wanted to kill him on the spot; they brought him to a house; her son lived for 24 hours after, and died the 25th in the infirmary.—(Witness here identified' all the prisoners, and struck Michael a very hard blow on the head with the crier's rod.) The Hogans lived at Greenane and she in Dundrum.  The Jury having retired for about half an hour, returned with a verdict of Not Guilty of murder ; but Guilty of manslaughter. Judge Btrwrow then addressed the prisoners, and told them, that they had been indicted for perpetrating the crime of murder. Under the circumstances of the lie was bound, as their crime was one of a most aes" ggravated nature, to Sentence each and every one of them to trans portation for life. SATURDAY, MARC and James H 7. Timothy Ryan, Darby Ryan, jun. wet.* indicted for hurglariously entering the house of John Hayes, and for the abduction of his daughter, Mary  Ilayet.—James Moluny, set. acquitted; the other three persons were found guilty.,-Death., Alice Kennedy (better known by the appellation of "The free-stone girl") was capitally indicted for the nazi-, der of a child of ten years of age, named Johanna Quinn, ' by strangulation ; and, on a second indictment, for the murder of the said Johanna Quinn,. by giving her a blow-of & stone, of which she instantly died. The details of this case are quite shocking ; the bodi of the deceased, when found, was in a state of putrefaction, and had one of the legs pulled off from the knee. From the chain of circumstantial evidence being broken by the absence of a policeman at the executions, the prisoner was acquitted.
The Sun. — 1827-12-13 (London, England)

INHUMAN MURDER OF A FEMALE AT  OXFORD.  OXFORD, LAST NIGHT, TWELVE O'CLOCK.  EXCLUSIVE.  During the present week this City has been kept in the greatest excitation, produced by th' perpetration of one of the foulest murders that have, perhaps, ever been registered in the annals of crime, and we regret to state that up to the hour, last night, that our Reporter left the City, the monster, whose hand inflicted the inhuman deed, had not been apprehended, nor to our knowledge has any clue been obtained that will ultimately trace out the demon, notwithstanding the City has offered a reward of one hundred guineas for his detection, in addition to which the University has offered another hundred, making two hundred guineas for the apprehension of the murderer.  The unfortunate woman who has been so inhumanly murdered was about 23 years of age, and of great personal beauty. The name by which she was known in Oxford was Ann Crutchley, but it is believed her real name is Preece or Price : she was a native of Herefordshire, and her family are in a respectable station of life in that part. She had not been many months in the city, whither she was brought by a young gentleman who had seduced her from her parental roof, and then abandoned her to the world. Thus situated, without a friend to assist her, she became, a prey to prostitution, but was remarkable for the mildness of her manners ; and she was far beyond the class of such unfortunate outcasts, and her fate appeared to excite great commiseration. The unfortunate girl was particularly noticed by the gentlemen collegians, who would frequently induce her to think liquors through the bars of their windows, in consequence of which, she sometimes became intoxicated. Unfortunately she was passing Brazenose College on Thursday evening last, and some of thegentlemen called her to the window and made her drink a quantity of brandy out of a teapot, the spout of which they put through the bars, the poor girl became insensible from the effects of the spirits, and at a late hour she was found in a dying state upon some straw, in a passage in Blue Boar lane, near' the Racket-ground, with her dress muoli disordered, her petticoats above her knees, and the lower part of her person soaked in blood. The poor creature was conveyed home in a barrow, and on examination taking place there could be no doubt but she had been violated, and her person most inhumanly injured. The poor creature lingered till the following morning, when she expressed her knowledge of her approaching dissolution, and said that a man whom she did not know had ill-used her (describing the manner), shortly after which she expired. The body of the poor girl, has, since death, undergone a minute surgical investigation, and such were the dreadful injuries she had sustained by some sharp-edged instrument, that they arc beyond parallel ; the -description of them, however,-will be found in the sequel, as developed by the two surgeons (Messrs. Dickerson and Paxton,) on the