npedrazzini/19thc_murder_suicide_news huggingface dataset:
The Pontypridd District Herald and Rhondda Valley, Llantrisant, Caerphilly, and Mountain Ash News. — 1893-06-24 (Pontypridd, Mid Glamorgan, Wales)

MURDER AT SOFIA.  On Saturday the " Svolioda," of Sofia, published the account of & sensational tragedy which took place a little more than three weeks ago. The dramatis personas were a sergeant-major of the cavalry regiment stationed there, his wife, and sister; • masseur in the public baths and his sister; two gendarmes; a Turk; and several gypsies. It seems that some months ago the sergeant-major borrowed 2,000 francs of the masseur, for which he gave him a " bon ' For some time back the lender had been demanding his money, and at last one day the sergeant-major, ceding to his importunities, told him to come to his house next day with his sister to dinner, and they would settle the matter. The offer was accepted, and the next day, got up in their holiday attire, the masseur and his sister started for the house of the sergeant-major. On the way they met the Turk, who lodged in their house, who asked where they were going. The man replied that they were going to the sergeant•major to get their money. They did not return that night nor during the two days following, whereupon the Turk gave information to the police, who set a watch on the sergeant-major' 4, hope and that of the masseur. At last, after fl inquiries, they arrested the sergeant-major's tumily, and full confession was made by the wtt The story is that after their meal the sergean *jar, assisted by two gendarmes, one of whom was the lover of his sister, murdered the masseur and his sister, and after stripping them of all their valuables, including the " bon" for the 2,000 francs, buried them in a deep hole in the house, whi..h had been dug some days before by two gypsies. The hole was then ut ref oily concealed by boarding and other means. All the parties to this terrible tragedy are now under examination, and what renders the subject oue of particular interest is that one of the gendarmes was the one who was escorting M. Stambuluff and M. Bdtcheff at the montent the latter was fired at by the assassin who escaped. The sister of the sergeant-major was for a number of years a servant at the palace, but was discharged on suspicion of having stolen a number of articles that had been missed from time to time. When the arrest was made a watch which had belonged to one of the Princess Ferdinand's Ladies of Honour, was discovered in her box. The sergeantmajor had a banking account of 3,600 francs, and has been, so it appears, suspected of having murdered two of his own relatives who died under mysterious circumstances. While all Sofia was excitedly discussing this tragedy on Monday a drama of another character was being enacted in a higher circle of society. • high military officer returning unexpectedly to his house discovered his wife with her lover in fiagrante delicto. Carried away by his rage he killed them both with his sword which he was wearing at the moinent. These two events have naturally created intense excitement.
The Pontypridd District Herald and Rhondda Valley, Llantrisant, Caerphilly, and Mountain Ash News. — 1893-08-05 (Pontypridd, Mid Glamorgan, Wales)

THE MURDER OF A POLICE,  SIIRGEANT IN ESSEX.  At the Essex Assises, at Cosluisford, before Mr. Justice Mathew, the trial commenced of John Davis, 36, labourer; Richard Davis, 29, labourer ; Charles Sales, 47, labourer; and James Rtansey, Ben., 38, engine-driver, who are indicted for the wilful murder of Police-sergeant Adam John Eves, at Hazeleigh, near Maldon, on April 15th. The court was crowded, and the trial excited the greatest interest. The case for the prosecution is supported almost entirely by circumstantial evidence. It appeared that on the afternoon of the lath of April the dead body of the murdered dicer was found in a ditch at Hazeleigh, with the head fractured, the face covered with bruises, and three large gashes in the throat. In a pond near by bags of corn were found, and it was clear, from the peculltrly mixed character of the corn, that it had been stolen from a barn at Hazeleigh Hall farm. Toe theory therefore was that the police-sergeant came upon a gang of men who were engaged in a corn robbery, and that upon his interfering he was set upon and murdered by them and his body thrown into the ditch. The police, upon making inquiries, ascertained various facts which seemed to connect the four men in custody with the corn robbery, and they were arrested. Blood, too, was found on the clothes of the Devises. In the case of Ramsey it was stated that he had threshed the corn at Hazeleigh Hall Farm on the day of the murder, and had given such a return of the amount threshed as showed that he must have foreseen the probability of the corn robbery. Numerous witnetutes were called during the day, and in the end the trial was adjourned. Immediately after Mr. Justice Mathew took his seat on the second day, Mr. Crump, Q.C., for the prosecution, said he did not wish to press the charge against Charles Sales.—The Judge said he quite concurred in this course, as there was no evidence upon which it was reasonable to ant against Sales. The proper oourse was that he should be relieved from further anxiety, and be acquitted. —The jury thereupon found a verdict of not guilty, and Sales was discharged to his evident relief.— Later in the day, after medical evidence had been given showing how the deceased sergeant's body had been mutilated, Mr. Crump applied to his Lordship for the adjournment of the trial. The application was considered in priva.e, and the Judge afterwards announced in open court that he deemed it in the interests of justice that there should be an adjournmont till 6 o'clock, to enable the Crown to call a witness whose evidence was most material. At 6 o'clock the court re assembled, and as the witness in question, who was coming from Middlesborough, had not arrived, the trial was again adjourned. On Saturday, John Davis and Richard Davis were found guilty of the murder, and were sentenced to death. The third prisoner, James Ramsey, was acquitted. Wednesday, August 16, has been fixed as the date for the execution of John and Richard Davis. Biliington will be the executioner.
The Pontypridd District Herald and Rhondda Valley, Llantrisant, Caerphilly, and Mountain Ash News. — 1893-08-05 (Pontypridd, Mid Glamorgan, Wales)

THE CHARGE. His Lordship, in the course of his charge to the Grand Jury, said he was sorry to say there were to fewer than three charges of murder. The first one on the calendar was Edwin  Thomas Phillips. Duty called upon them to return a true bill in that case, The next murder case was that in which a man named Thomas Collins, stabbed a woman with whom he lived, apparently with great ferocity. There were some dozen wounds spoken to, one of which penetrated to the heart, thereby causing the death of the poor creature. As far as their functions were concerned, they would probably have no doubt about returning a true bill for murder. There were questions obviously raised, and some additional evidence had been placed before him whieh had been taken since the committal of the prisoner, showing that there would be a question raised as to his state of mind. The only remark he wished to make on that matter was one he wished to make now or perhaps it would be too late afterwards, and that was that the medical gentleman who had been instructed by the H erne Office to inquire into the state of mind of the prisoner would give evidence, (according to the statement supplied the court) that the man made certain statements to him, and he believes from inquiries he has made they wt.° delusions. He therefore formed his opinion largely on the circumstances. What he wanted to point out was that of course it would not do to have any material facts attempted to be proved in that fashion. If the inquiries which t it gentlemen made wire proper icqoiries—and he had no doubt they were—the persons, who made the statements which he related must be brotulit there in the ordinary way. The prisoner could uct be convicted on the worst type of hearsay evidence. He pointed this out in order to give plenty of time for those who instructed the Treasury in the ease to bring any evidence there, which would be material to the point. There was a growing tendency to set up this sort of evidenee when a medical man would make independent ioquiries of his own, and he only whin.d to mention that, to set matters right. Whether tuese things suggtsted as delusions were delusions or nct was a question for the jurors to consider. In the ordina^y pages of the calendar there were few cases which needed any remarks from him. depositions in the county had been taken with remarkable care, and were most truthful and accurate of the proceedilgs in the police court. It was an important matter which himself and a great many other judges were also anxious to bring about, a alauge to ensure that all depositions should have a caption setting form when, where. and the date they were taken. He hoped where , that was not the practice they would follow the example of Pontypridd and Cardiff in that respect• It it very important indeed•
The Pontypridd District Herald and Rhondda Valley, Llantrisant, Caerphilly, and Mountain Ash News. — 1894-03-31 (Pontypridd, Mid Glamorgan, Wales)

TRAGIC DEATH OF AN EXPLORER.  A terrible accident on Monday bole! Captain Lovett Cameron, the well-known African explorer, who was thrown from his horse after a day's hunting, and succumbed to the injuries received. Captain Cameron, who has of late been busily engaged upon work in this country and upon the Continent in connection with the Congo State, was in the habit of spending the end of each week at his country house, The Lodge, Soulbury, near Leighton Buzzard, and generally ran down from Loudon in company with Mrs. Cameron, oa Friday nights, returning on Monday. Owing to the holidays, however, he had this time been making a longer visit than usual. On Monday morning, about 11 o'clock, Captain Cameron left home, riding a chestnut mare, for the purpose of having a run with Lord Rothschild'e staghounds. Nothing more was heard of him till about 5 o'clnok at night when the mare Came galloping rilerleee into the stable yard. Directions were given foii a horse and cart to be got ready, and Mr. Goodson, who married a sister of Mrs. Cameron, was on a visit to the house, and he and the coachman at once set out in search of the captain. About half a mile along the Stnkeley-road they found him lying quite unconscious, with a small group of men beside him, some of whom were sprinkling water upon his face. Across the forehead there was a large bruise, showing that the head had come into violent contact with some hard substance. As soon as the unfortunate gentleman had been lifted into the cart he was driven home, when he was attended by a local practitioner (Dr. Pratt). Everything that medical skill could do was done, but in about an hour's time the patient died from concussion of the brain.  Captain Cameron was the eon of the late Rev. Jonathan Henry Lovett Cameron, and was a native of Radipole, Weymouth. He was in his 50th year. He married, in 1885, a daughter of Mr. W. B. Morrie, formerly of Kingston, Jamaica, and leaves no children. Captain Cameron was one of the most noted of modern African explorers. Eighteen years have passed since Commander Cameron, as he then was, returned from his great exploit—that of being the first white man that had ever crossed the whole width of Africa in ite equatorial regions—but, like moat other African pioneers, he never ceased hie interest in the civilieftdon of the Dark Continent. He was employed up to the last upon work in connection with the development of the Congo State, and, like Livingstone, Gerald Portal, and others innumerable, he has died practically still engaged on his uncompleted mission.  The Italian distriot of Masoari has been the scene of a terrible murder. The well-known brigand chief Delogu killed his young wife and a man with whom he suspected she had been unfaithful.  A Sheffield house-painter met a fearful death on Tuesday through the breaking of • high ladder on which he was working.
The Pontypridd District Herald and Rhondda Valley, Llantrisant, Caerphilly, and Mountain Ash News. — 1894-01-20 (Pontypridd, Mid Glamorgan, Wales)

THE COLCHESTER MYSTERY.  INQUEST AND VERDICT.  The inquest ea the body of Alfred Welch, the clothier, who is believed to have been murdered in his shop, whici woe afterwards set fire to, was resumed at Colchester. It may be remembered that on the night of the fire a man who had worked for Mr. Welch, named Blotch, was to call at the shop of his late master. The police traced the man to lodgings in London, whence he disappeared. Chief-Constsble Coombe said he entered the house on the night of the fire, and w-it to the first floor, where the body was afterwards found. The deedbox, from which money was afterwards missed, was then looked. There was at first no evidence which would have justified the police in arresting Blatch. There was not enough to obtain a worrant.—lnspeotor Summons said that on searching the rains he found Welch's keys near the body, and one fitted the deed-box. Witness further stated that he visited 94, Great Titchfieldstreet, on December 15, when the landlady told him Blatoh left on November 4. Afterwards she made quite a different statement, and he went to 80, Harrow-road, and found a girl named Rash there, and also a cap and photograph, cigars an overcoat, a basket, and a camera tripod (produced). Witness had seen Blotch wear the coat, and the cigars were the same as those found at Mr. Welch's house. Rash told him that Blatoti gave them to her.—Josiah Nunn, a porter at Welch's, identified the cap found in Rash's lodgings as his property. On the night of the fire he left this cap in the shop at closing time. He could swear to the cap—a black and white checked one. His uncle ode it for him.—Geor.e Robgent said he saw Blotch at Witham on November 11. He said he was going to Coloheater to get money. He had received a letter from Blotch addressed from 94, Great Titchfield-street.— The testimony of other witnesses was to the effect that Blotch was seen near Welch's shop on the night of the fire. The officials at Witham Station spoke to his arriving too late for the mail train on the morning of Dec. 9. He then possessed a quantity of sovereigns. His landlady in London stated thht he returned to her house, after a month's absence, on Dec. 9. He paid seven weeks' arrears of rent, and &shied her to tell callers that he had left a month ago, as his friends wanted to pat him in an asylum.—Blirabeth Rash, who lived with Blotch, stated that he returned in new clothes, and when she asked him if he had bought them at Welch's, in Colchester, he turned pale and sat down on the bed. His shirt had the wristbands torn off, and he burned it. He had £BO in his possession.—ln summing up, the coroner said the chain of circumstances against Blotch was complete in every detail.—After a consultation of l 5 minutes the jury returned a verdict of wilful murder againsa Japtain dzele  Bigawah:
The Pontypridd District Herald and Rhondda Valley, Llantrisant, Caerphilly, and Mountain Ash News. — 1880-11-20 (Pontypridd, Mid Glamorgan, Wales)

THERE WERE PORTY-FOUR British and foreign wrecks reported during the past week, raising the total for the present year to 1356, which, compared with the corresponding period of last year. shows a decrease of 51. The approximate value of property lost wei £2 000,000, including British £99C,000. Thirteen vessels were abandoned at sea; ten were lost off the Th itish coasts.  A DRINKING BOPT in Liverpool, in which three young men were concerned, had a terrible end. A publican in Grayson-street, near the Wept>Mg Dock, had refused to serve two of the three, and in an alter. cation which afterwards took place in the street, the third man, Stephen Burns. was stabbed so severily by one of his companions, William Spears, that death resulted in a few minutes. Spearsi. in custody. Twig AVERAGE PRiCE OF Wi• ,A 7 last week was 434. 3d. per quarter, or 4s. 48. por qoarter lower teen during the corresponding week of toe nreceding year. Troi uyerage price of barley last week was 348. 78. pet quart,r, or ss. 68. per quarter cheaper than during the corresponding week last year. The average price of oats last week was 21e. 5d., or about the same al during the corresponding week last year. MR. BRIDGE, At the Southwark Police-court, bas been again warning the police as to the treatment of drunken persons. Their duty is simply to take charge of such individuals until they are sober, when they must be liberated on giving their names and addresses. They may thereafter be summoned in the usual way; but to accept bail from a person in an ince pablo condition is an illegal act, and in the event of no .appearance the recognisances could not be eib trto, rm.  THEE NORFOLK AND NORWICH twentieth Triennial Musical Festival will be held during the week commencing Monday, October 10, 1881. Signor Randegger has been appointed conductor. Tim DEATH is announced of Lady Hope, at Brighton, in the 91st year of her age. Her ladyship was Jane Hester, daughter of the late Mr. John Mae dougall, of Ardinative, N.B. She was born in the year 1790, and married, first, in 1814 (as his second wife) General Sir John Hope, G.0.H., who died in 1836. She married, secondly, in 1856, the Rev. William Knight, rector of Steventon, Hampshire. AN INQUIRY WAS HELD into the circumstances attending the de,th of Mrs. Sarah Walker, aged 62, lately residing in Tiverton-street, Borough-road, who, it, was alleged, was beaten to death by her hus,,and, recently remanded at the Southwark Police-court on the capital charge, pending the result of the inquest. number of witnesses having been examined, the hwy, after a brief consultation, returned a verdict of "Wilful murder" against John James Walker, who was committed for trial at ths Central Criminal Court. _  AT THE MIDDLESEX SESSIONS a ruffian, axed 18, named Charlton, who knozked a ram setteeless to the ground because be said he was glad a fight had been stopped, and who had been three times previously imprisoned for assaults on the police, was sentenced to four months' imprisonment-, only. TFIR Cinquitouri
The Pontypridd District Herald and Rhondda Valley, Llantrisant, Caerphilly, and Mountain Ash News. — 1880-01-10 (Pontypridd, Mid Glamorgan, Wales)

AMONG OFFICERS. •Ang to the Ottsswele, the View,'" 29th Deeembm my.: "Report, dated 21st inst., total has up to that date 10 officers, 79 men killed or died of wound,; 1$ officers 195 men wounded." It canaet fad to have struck all readers of the aborethat the officers have suffered, in proportion to their numbers, far more heavily than the men. Wood, during the last few years the rate of muskies among officers has been s:eadily increasing. We may calculate roughly that, taking native and European regiment' together, and including such staff and general officers as were under fire, the number of officers per 1000 men actually in the ranks has been in Afghanistan of late 25. This, indeed, is a liberal allowance; but, granting that the estimate is correct, the number of officers killed and wounded ought to have been 615, or say nearly 7, whereas we find that it was actually 23, or more than three times that number. What is the explanation? Our officers are easily distinguishable from their men at a great distance owing to the dress of the former, and, when the enemy is armed with rifles, individuals can be picked off with tolerable certainty. The sash is the chief indicator, and, worn over the shoulder, not only discloses the rank of the wearer, but is absolutely useless; fastened round the waist it would conduce to health, and would serve to mark the rank in an unobtrusive way. On gala occasions there is no objection to making a conspicuous difference in dress.. but in the field it is an act of murderous folly. An officer ought to be so dressed that, while easily recognisable as such by his own men at a short distance, the enemy should, at my 100 yards or even lees, find it difficult to ascertain who holds a commission and who does not. The officers of native regiments are, in addition to their uniform, which is even more conspicuous than that of those of like rank in European oorps, remarkable by their complexion and general appearance. In European infantry corps, again, the field officers and the adjutant are all mounted, while in a native intently regiment all the seven (AMPS are mounted. A curious prejudice has hitherto prevented the issue of an order that mounted officers should dismount when under close infantry fire. Without a positive order no mounted officer would dream of dismounting, yet in the saddle he is nothing better than a target specially indicated to the enemy. It is possible also that some of our young British soldiers need more leading than did their predecessors of the Crimean and Indian Mutiny campaigns. Even, however, if such should turn out not to have been the case, there are quite sufficient causes for the alarmingly high rate of casualties among the officers during the recent operations near °abut. As these causes are for the most part removable, we earnestly trust that they will be removed forthwith, for a regiment soon becomes demoralised by the loss of it leader*.  t•''.=  L•r