npedrazzini/19thc_murder_suicide_news huggingface dataset:
Blandford, Wimborne and Poole Telegram. — 1875-12-17 (Blandford, Dorset, England)

DREADFUL SCENE AT X.N HOSPITAL.  On Monday morning a shocking occurrence took place at Norwich. Hobert Edwards, a labourer, aged 42, was on Saturday admitted an in-patient of the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital, suffering from dyspepsia. On Sunday he exhibited symptoms of nervous disorder, and was restless during the night. About five on Monday morning Nurse Nurclisse, in charge of the ward, missed him, and reported the circumstance to two nursea and Mr. Baumgartner, the house-surgeon. While searching for Edwards, they heard a noise below, and found a nurse talking with a boy, who said some one was killing boys in his ward. Mr. Baumgartner went into one portion of the ward, and saw Edwards, who had nothing on but Lis shirt and a small flannel cape. The man had a pair of tongs in his hand, with which he was striking repeated blows on a boy named Edward Lubbock, nine years of age, who wa;s lying in bed in a corner of the ward. Mr. Baumgartner went to the fire-place and took up a poker. Edwards came towards him and struck several blows at him, and Mr. Baumgartner struck several blows in return. Ultimately he struck Edwards :in the wrist, arm, or hind, Edwards dropped the tong* ia consequence, and Mr. Baumgartner then closed with hfm, 'seised him by the throat, and kept biru down until a porter came; another porter altar arrived, and Ed wards was then properly secured. There had been three buys in the room in which Mr. Baumgartner first saw Edwards; one of these was the lad who gave the alarm. As soon as Mr. Bunigartner had given Edwards up to the two porters, he went into the other boys' room, and he saw there four boys lying in bed with their heads smashed. The brut was named William Martin, aged 11. lie was then breathing, bet he died within an hour. The next was John Lacey, aged le ; he was quite dead, and his brains were Scattered on the pillows and walls. The next was Joseph Colman, aged 11; his head and Noe were smashed to pulp. The fourth was Alfred Clarke, ' aged ti; this lad had sustained a severe fracture of the skull, but he still lingered up till a late hour on Monday. Nurse Denmark, it should be added, had oharge t. 4 the two bop,' rooms. When Mr. Baumgartner examined the tongs dropped by Edwards, he found them covered with blood. Dr. F. Bateman, one of the hospital physicians stated he saw Edwards on Saturday, when he was admitted as an in-patient. Edwards then stated that he had been ill for eix months, and that he had suffered from flatulence. Dr. Bateman prescribed for Edwards accordingly; at this time he considered his manner that of a reasonable elm, but Dr. Bateman now added that symptoms such as those described by Edwards might coincide with insanity, The prisoner was remanded. Ills manner unmistakably indicated insanity, but he submitted quietly to be removed by two police-constables. The murderer threatened one of the nurses,, but she promptly bolted him out, and so escaped.  The Duke of Calnbridge bits Stated that the fil-ton gun cost £15,000, and that every shot will cost .06!
Blandford, Wimborne and Poole Telegram. — 1875-12-17 (Blandford, Dorset, England)

THE WHITECHAPEL TRAGEDY. A correspondent writes to the Globe that in the trial there was no adequate motive for the connuission of the crime, and suggests that it may be found in the fact that Henry Wainwright may have committed a ItigROIOUS marriage. Evidence was, he says, given before the magistrate that a paragraph appeared in a local paper of the marriage of Henry King—the name which Henry Wainwright assumed—and Ilarriet Louisa Lane , and it may have been a threat to expose this criminal proceeding which led to the murder of Harriet Lane, Respecting Harriet Lane's children the grandfather now offers to adopt and bring 'them up; but Miss Wilmot% who supportpd them while Harriet was mysteriously missing, durtng which time the Lane family refused assistance, dears more than ever to retain the little derelicts, as she says subscriptions are coming in from the public, and this is why the grandfather now asks to have the children transferred to him. Before Mrs. Wainwright, senior, saw her two sons, Henry and Thomas, on Wednesday, the prisoners were allowed to meet each other for a short time. Mr. Edmund Martin, corn merchant, of 78 and 109, New Road, Whitechapel /load, requests to be allowed to state that he paid Stokes the whole of his wages during that Bine the latter attended the police-court, the coroner's inquest, and the examination at the Treasury, At one o'clock on Friday Mr. William Wainwright saw his unhappy brother Henry, and remained in his cell for about an hour, the chief warder being present. Subsequently, at about three in the afternoon, Mrs. Wain wright, wife of the condemned man, also visited him, and the duration of the interview was the same as that of the former meeting between the brothers. While Mrs. Wainwright was with her husband Mr. Sidney Smith. the governor, sat in their company. What occurred is at present kept profoundly secret. Thomas Wainwright remains in Newgate picking oakum. The convict having seen his brother Williatn, as well as the condemned prisoner Henry Wainwright, will not he entitled to another interview with any of his friends till the lapse of six months. . .  A correspondent writes to complain indignantly that lord mayors, judges, and ladies are raising a fund for the support of persons connected with the criminal class, while there are widows and orphans by the hundred whose husbands and fathers have perished while engaged in honest labour, or io the defenoe of their country, for whom nothing is said and nothing done, He expects soon to see the hat sent round avowedly for "the poor and undeserving." "Surely," he exclaims, "we have had too much of such sensational charity." _ ... . _ _  Henry Wainwright has replied to a letter from Mr. Amos Roe. of Birmingham, asking permission to visit the condemned criminal- whom he has known for twenty-six years, and also offering to assist his wife, who is a Birmingham woman. Wainwright declines to receive the visit; but expresses a hope that Mr. Roe will be able to do something for his wife and children.
Blandford, Wimborne and Poole Telegram. — 1875-12-17 (Blandford, Dorset, England)

CLASS.—The discussion on Friday evening last was held in the reading room of the club, and VIM fairly attended. Mr. Rolls introduced the subject Is Capital Punishment justifiable?" in a lengthy and exhaustive speech, taking the affirmative view, as he considered the punishment of death for murder to be justified by the law of nature, as acknowledged by Cain, and confirmed to Noah and his children, when they came out of the Ark, also by the Mosaic law, and the laws of nations to the present tirae.—Mr. Lesrmouth opposed, urging the spirit of Jesus Christ as opposed to vengeance; he also said the death punishment was found to harden the spectators. If any murderer were hanged, all such should be ; but Mr. Watson and Constance Kent escaped. —Mr. Good supported M. Rolls's view.—Mr. Thiselton, took the side against the death punirliment, which he considered a reproach to the laws of England ; mercy like that o our Lord, should teach us to say "Go, and sin no no more." If capital punishment were abolished murders would not increase, for when death was the punishment for sheep-stealing and other smaller offences, those offences were far more rife than when smaller punishments were given He considered 20 years' imprisonment, with the punishment of an accusing, conscience, sufficient punishment for murcler.—Mr. W. T. Roberts denied that private executions have a hardening effect. As to the escape of Mr. Watson, that did not show all should escape. If one man drove his steam yacht at a dangerous speed and caused destruction and death, was that any reason why all steamers should be allowed to go at 17 miles an hour in crowded thoroughfares He agreed with the French statesman, who,when asked to abolish capital punishment, said "Let 'messieurs les Assassins' first begin." The unwisdom of abolishing death punishment was shown in the state of Brigandage in the Kingdom of Italy, and the weakness of the feeling against execution was shown in the absurd way in which French juries find "extenuating circumstances" in very vile crimes.—Mr. Gibbs agreed that 20 years years' imprisonment was too small a punishment for murder, as it would necessitate an entire alteration of our penal code. But he was against the death punishment, which he did not consider justified by the New• Testament, and suggested solitary confinement for long years, or for life.—After conversation, Mr. Rolls replied, and moved "That capital punishment is justified." '--The negative was moved as an amendment, and both sides were seconded. On division, the members by a large majority declared that it is justifiable to punish murder by death.—A vote of thanks to Mr. G. E. Eliot, who had kindly presided, was passed, and Mr. E. T. Taylor spiritedly undertook to introduce the next discussion subjept, "Is the Stage of value for education ? " This will be discussed, according to present arrangements, on January 7th. 55 soiree Pitrrr SESSIONS, Friday. -Before the Mayor (Mr Gi B Welstord), Dr. Drew, Mr H. Baggett, and ir G. tteynulds..  C111.1;)178 APPRRIiii:E
Blandford, Wimborne and Poole Telegram. — 1875-12-24 (Blandford, Dorset, England)

TIIE INQUEST.  Mr. Payne, the coroner who held the inquest on Harriet Lane, now officiated on the body of Henry Wainwright. The jury, who numbered more nearly a score than a I dozen, were assembled and siVorn in the Third Court. I Having promise/el that they woqld "well and truly try" the question how this man came by his death, they were taken to see Min dead. There was nohrace of agony in • the pitiable wretch's face. The large heavy eyelids were closed as in sleep: and, save that a discolouration surrounded the orbits, showing very noticeably on the waxen pallor of the skin, it Might, indeed, have been slumber which the jurymen looked up.m. The hands were not clutched as with pain, but were visibly swollen, though even this distorted appearance was diminished before burial. Mr. Sidney R. Smith, the governer of Newgate, deposed that the deceased was a prisoner in his gaol, and had been convicted of the murder of Harriet Lousia Lane, and sentenced to death by the Lord Chief Justice of England itt the November Sessions of the Central Criminal Court. The sentence was duly tarried into effect that morning within the walls of the gaol in his presence by hanging, and the body now lying dead was that of Henry Wainwright, who was so convicted and executed. His age was 37 years, and he was described as a brush manufacturer. Mr. John R. Gibson, surgeon, said he was present that morning when Henry Wainwright was executed. The cause of death was suffocation by hanging. The body remained hanging an hour after the event. The Coroner having pointed out that the abolishment of public executions gave occasion for the practice of holding an inquiry before a jury as representing the public, recapitulated the evidence. The jury returned the verdict "That the sentence of. death was properly and legally carried out." Immediately after the verdict Was declared the body of. the wretched man was divested of the whole of his clothing, in the presence of Mr. Mapperson, the principal warder, and theflovernor, and the shell was filled up with quick-lime, in which the body was completely enveloped. The lid was then screwed down, and Henry Wainwright was for ever removed from mortal eyes. The body was burred in the course of the afternoon in one of the gloomy passages of the gaol, by the side of the last convicted murderer, and in a row with the Flowery Land pirates and a number of other criminals. The effect of the quick, lime upon the naked corpse, it was stated, would be to entirely destroy it in the course of a very short space of time; and if the prisoner had used the same material at the time he buried the corpse of the unhappy girl, Harriet Louisa Lane, instead of chloride of lime, the effect would probably have been that his crime might never have been discovered. In order to avoid the possibility of any improper use being made of them, every vestige of the clothing of the prisoner was subsequently destroyed by fire.
Blandford, Wimborne and Poole Telegram. — 1875-10-08 (Blandford, Dorset, England)

ARREST OF WAINNVI9IIT'S.. BROTHER AS AN  ACCESSORY.  A singular event in connection with the Whitechapel murder is the apprehension of Thomas Creorge Wainwright —brother of the prisoner, Henry Wainwright—as an accessory to the crime after its commiasion. On §aturday last, when this person was taken before Mr. Hannay at the Clerkenwell Police-court, accused of deserting his wife —who is a lady-like young woman—and family, he was informed previous to being placed in the dock that if released from custody on this charge he would be Munediately re-taken on a more serious one—a fact with which he seemed to be fully acquainted. Upon the first charge he WAS released, but in less than five minutes afterwards he was faring towards Stones'-end Police-station, charged with being an accessory to the murder of Harriet Lane. It has been well-known for some days past to the police that he was the purchaser of the spade and hatchet; but for certain reasons they abstained from arresting him. It was also well known what amount he had paid for them, and it is believed that the mark 3s. 9d. on the spade was made by him. lie adiuitted having charged his brother 2s. more than he gave for these articles. A remarkable feature in the case will be the roof it it is asserted, of his having visited Harriet Lane as " Teddy Frieake," and the letter written in that name is said to be in his handwriting. Only about a week ago he boasted at a wellknown tavern in Whitechapel that "they always knew where to find him if wanted," and observed that he still had "the identical key belonging to the Hen and Chickens in the Borough ,;" in fact, producing it. Although he alleged that he was not able to maintain his wife, it is well-known that up to the time of his arrest he was cohabiting with another woman. He looks younger than Henry Wainvrright, and ist in frame, a man of altogether a different mould. Henry is a broad-chested man, with bushy moustache, beard, and whiskers, while Thomas is gather slight built, for a man of 30, and has a clean-shaven face, with the exception of a little thin whisker. Though so different in appearance, the features show them to be brothers, for the long and large nose, the retreating forehead, and the long face (concealed in Henry by the hair on his face) are common to both. _ _  The key of the padlock on the front door of the Hen and Chickens was, after the abandonment of the premises by Thomas Wainwright, left in keeping of Mr. Lewis, in the Southwark Bridge-road, and Thomas Wainwright obtained this key from a lad in the service of Mr. Lewis the day before the mutilated body was removed. The chopper is a very common one, of the kind chiefly used in chopping wood; and the shovel is likewise of rough and cheap manufacture, as may be imagined from the fact that, though Thomas Wainwright confessed he charged his brother five shillings for the two articles, he also states that he gave only three shillings to the tradesman from whom he made the 'purchase.
Blandford, Wimborne and Poole Telegram. — 1875-03-12 (Blandford, Dorset, England)

CONCEALMENT OF BIRTH.  Sarah Macey, 21, servant, was indicted for endeavouring to conceal the birth of her male child, at Fontmell Magna, on November 10th, 1874. Mr. Wang prosecuted; Mr. Castle defended. The prisoner was servant at Mrs. Miless, and Eliza Steele, wife of a labourer of Fontmell Ma4na, en 3lon4sy, 10th November, attended at the house, as hake was going  away. Witness slept with the prisoner, and went away next day. About two o'clock on the following day, she went to Mrs. Miles's again, and saw fresh bloodstains in a privy. The place was searched, and the body of a male child found on the soil. She ordered prisoner to bed: but she said there was nothing the matter ; however she went. The body was left in the place till P.C. Ridout came. He took it out, and it was put in a newspaper and taken care of till the doctor came. Mr. Wykes, burgeon of Shaftesbury, came in the evening, and the body was handed to him. Witness helped to take off prisoner's clothes, and found them stained. On the mornireg of the 12th she went to prisoner's box, and found some more clothes with blood on them. Cross-examined: Dr. Wykes told the prisoner she had been confined; but this she denied, she said she had no pain. P.C. Ridout found the child partly sunk in the soil, and saw the bloodstains in the place. When he charged her, she said she knew nothing about it, she had not seen it. Dr. Wykes found the prisoner on the bed, dressed, and directed she should be undressed; but she objected. She was undressed, and he found she had recently been confined. She denied this, saying she had no pain. something had passed from her: but she did not know what it was. He afterwards received the body of a seven or eight months' child, which had died before birth, and was in a state of decomposition. Found prisoner had been confined within 48 hours. Cross-examined: Prisoner might possibly not know it was a child. Could not say she was deprived of consciousness by the pain. Mr. Castle referred to the case of Reg. r. Turner, and said this case was even stronger, as the prisoner had done nothing in the way of disposal of the body. He urged there was no case to go te the jury. In the first case there was no evidence of any act of disposal, and in the second there was no evidence of any guilty knowledge. Mr. Warry having replied, did not press the matter. The jury found a verdict of "Not guilty," and the prisoner was discharged. Mary Mectden, 31, servant, pleaded guilty to concealing the birth of her child, at Tyneham, about August 31. She had been indicted for the wilful murder, but that count she was not tried on. _ _ _ . .  The Kdie-arcea-did not think there was any reason for believing she had dealt improperly with the child, and she had suffered six months' imprisonment already. She would therefore be sentenced to one day's inprisonwent, commencing from 8 o'clock yesterday, and would be discharged.
Blandford, Wimborne and Poole Telegram. — 1875-05-28 (Blandford, Dorset, England)

MRS. ROUSBY IN A DIFFICULTY. According to the Cincinnati Co»tinercial, Mrs. Roush,' has had an unpleasant experience in that city in consequence of the inability of the native artists to sustain her in "Twist Axe and Crown," at the Grand Opera House. We are told that on the opening night Miss Helen Matthews was unable to appear as Queen Mary—au important part—which one of the young ladies had to read. This way annoying. In the first act,and in the first, throne scene, Mrs. 'Rousby, during one of her waits on the stage, was having a little "stage talk" with Isabel alarkhani (Miss Mara Davenport) when the Spanish envoy, Simon Rinard, came on, reading his part from a book. Mr. W. A. Paul had taken Mr. J. C. Strong's part, and had to read it. This substitution appeared to strike Mrs. Rousby with surprise and anger. At the end of the first act Mrs. Rousby appeared before the curtain unattended. She was evidently labouring under great excitement, for her voice soon began to tremble, and her hands to work nervously. But what she said was distictly heard. It was this "Gentlemen and Ladies,—lt is a painful and uncommon duty to myself and to you that I have to perform. But I must say something in explanation of 'the disgraceful treatment I have experienced here. This piece has been miserably presented, and to-night one of the actors is drunk, and would not give up his part, and the result you have seen. Is that the way the public of Cincinnati is to be treated) I that the way they treat an English artist— s stranger here I This is a play I have played a thousand nights before English audiences, with eclat, and before New York audiences. I had wished to produce it here satisfactorily. [Here the fair speaker's voice commenced to quiver.) You must pardon me if I show spirit—[she was crying now]—but I can't help it. I have done all that I, could (immense applause). But this is simply sh-sh-sh-aineful '—(renewed applause). With this the lady retired. But the matter was not allowed to drop there. The audience, heartily in sympathy, devoted hands and feet to applause, untiL bathed in tears, she again appeared, wiping her eyes, and bowed her thanks for their sympathy. Between this and the rising of the certain again tHbre were sounds of a quarrel on the stage. Dalton's voice could be heard raised in anger. The wait between the acts was long, and it was thought at one tune that the curtain would not rise again. But it went un, and the second act went on. In the midst of this act, while Courtney was telling Elizabeth of the rising in her favour, there was a noise atthe back of them as of acenes being rudely jostled—quite an interruption, in fact. This led Mrs. Rousby to call "let down the curtain," which order was obeyed, cutting off the act in the first 4EO.  Charles Dentith, a railway servant at Crewe, is in custody there for the murder of his sister's infant child by stabbing it in the head with a knife. - The prisoner is said to have been suffering from religious mania.