npedrazzini/19thc_murder_suicide_news huggingface dataset:
The Sun. — 1846-12-11 (London, England)

SINGULAR DELUSION.—The following remarkable instance of delusion is related in a letter from Nogentle-Rotrou (Rum et-Loire): ---" The widow of a wealthy farmer near this place had a daughter, for whom she had great affection, and who would easily have obtained a rich husband, for she is very pretty and will have a good fortune, but she had fallen in love with a young man of the place, without fortune; and as she did not dare to avow her attachment to her mother, she gave way to melancholy. The mother, convinced that some secret grief was preying on her daughter's mind, endeavoured to ascertain the cause, and at length it was avowed. Anxious for her daughter's recovery, the mother consented to the union, and the lovers were married. The young man went to reside with his motherin-law, made an excellent husband, and succeeded in obtaining the mother's good graces. This went on for several months, when a fire occurred, and as it was supposed to be wilful, an investigation took place, which ended in the arrest of a young man of bad character. The day after the arrest an acquaintance of the prisoner's called on the mayor, to reveal the following extraordinary secret, which had been confided to him:— The prisoner had, he said, told him a few days before his arrest that he had been offered 1 OGO francs by the widow above spoken of if he would murder her son-in. law. He had consented, on condition of the money being paid beforehand, but this she had refused, and therefore the affair a as, for the moment, broken off. The widow was sent for by the mayor, and interrogated. She confessed the truth of the charge, and when asked whether she had any reason to be dissatisfied with the conduct of her son-in law, she said no, but that his good conduct and the happiness of her daughter were the effect of sorcery, and therefore she could not suffer him to exist. He possessed, she said, the secret of preparing three powders, which enabled him to make all persons happy in spite of themselves. This, theil' parish.his,she Thesaid,hadenhris eenhreeivnegalaend to her by the cure of enlightened man, the mayor dit question to him onthe subject, but, regarding to put any didnotthink it necessary the woman as insane, adviser!, the sou-in-law to keep a strict watch over her actions. nn rr od tsTh.e—GTl ehnee largestg nr portion belonging who have received two years' to her, were Em men nLOwRhEo SarEe oxnPEb London and suburbs, it a good opportunity of getting rid parishes thinking of Tthile d" d poor by such means ; and the serious allowance money paupers, tro mftrhteh ev aprnieopuossep parishes sehme gtrhartionugg,h throughout of their able-bodied re case of the confiscation of the vessel, question arises, tunf consentor t unfortunate a:oe receivepeop l e, them mi t °t' is supposed the parishess again, but will leave them to into the union house u h the country.—Post. starve, beg, or steal through HONOURABLE ACaUITTAL OF
The Sun. — 1846-12-11 (London, England)

THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 11, IXI6.  SUSPECTED MURDER OF A WIFE  BY HER HUSBAND.  At a late hour on Wednesday evening Mr. VT. Payne hold an inquest at the Three Tuns, Recicross•steet, Barbican, on the body df Eleanor Elizabeth Wright, aged 34 years, who died on the 3d of November last, and was buried in New Bunhill-ground, Golden-lane, and whose body was exhumed by order of the coroner, in consequence of in formation that deceased had been brutally ill-treated and poisoned by her husband. Ann Collett, of No. 10, Elliott's-court, Old Bailey, deposed that she was sister to the deceased, who, with her husband, a map mounter, resided at No. 11, in the same court. They had been married above seventeen years. The deceased had been ailing for the last nine months, from consumption. About twelve months since the husband formed an improper intimacy with a married woman named Tisdall, since which he had been in the habit of cruelly beating deceased. On one occasion, about two months since, he seized a stone pitcher and beat her about the head, until she fainted from loss of blood. On Sunday, Nov. 1, witness waa sent for, in consequence of the husband ill-using the deceased. She had been confined to her bed for three months previous. Witness found the husband using bad language towards her. Deceased was crying; he took up a chair and threat cued to throw it at her head. Deceased whispered to witness to remove the knives and forks from the table, lest he should stab her; he had done so on a former occasion, and there was the sear on one of her arms; there was also a scar on her nose. Re continued to abuse her, and rushing to the bed, he seized her pocket from under the pillow, and shook out the money it contained upon the floor. Deceased told witness that her husband had that day struck her upon the head and chest. In witness's opinion she was then dying. She told witness, that in case she died, to see that her body was opened. On Monday she got worse, and Dr. Lynch, of Farringdon-street, was sent for, who immediately on seeing her pronounced her case to be hopeless. The husband was addicted to drink. Several other witnesses gave evidence as to the habits of the husband in beating the deceased, and that the daughter had told them her father had poisoned her mother.  Ann Wright, the daughter, a girl of fifteen, was examined. She positively swore that her father was not in the habit of ill-using her mother; and added, that " She wished she might drop down dead if there was any truth in what the witnesses asserted that she had said.' The CoaortEß said he did not believe a word she had said, and she bad prevaricated so grossly that he thought he ought to commit her to Newgate for perjury. The inquiry was adjourned to have analysation of the contents of deceased's stomach.  - 1 THE MUiIDER AT—
The Sun. — 1846-09-09 (London, England)

MURDER BY A POACHER.  The neighbourhood of Newton Abbot (a town about sixteen miles from Exeter, on the Plymouth road) was on Saturday night the scene of one of those fatal con. flicts which have too often resulted from armed men being detected in an illegal act. We hope these lamentable consequence will arouse in Devonshire a crusade against the cause of such sad effects--protection to vermin—and may those traces, which game-laws have entailed upon the nation, be henceforth expunged and otliterated by wiser and more enlightened legislation. On the night of Saturday last, Festus Harris, the gamekeeper, and James Norman, the gardener, of Sir W. P. Carew, of Haccombe House (the High Sheriff), were on the watch, and ascertaining that poachers were on the.grounds, they called to their assistance six other persons, amongst whom were Mr. Robert Rendell, of Netherton, and William Setter, of Coombinteignhead. These parties met an a field called Blendlield, between eleven and twelve at night, and surrounded the place whore the poachers were. Mr. Rendell and Setter went to the gate of Kiln field, and:whilst, there heard the rest call out "gate"—a signal previously arranged. Theyperceived some one running towards them, with a gun in his hand, and on approaching within a few paces, discovered it was one Henry Warren. They ran into the field, and Warren raised his gun as if to fire. Mr. Rendell out, "You'd better not fire;" but immediately Warren fired at Setter, and without taking the gun from his shoulder discharged the other barrel at Mr. Rendell. The shot passed by the side of Mr. Rendell's head, but the aim at Setter was more deadly; he received the whole contents in his body, causing a wound two inches in length, from which the bowels protruded, and from the effects of which the unfortunate man liagered until a quarter past two on Sunday afternoon, when he expired, at the house of Mr. Elias Rendell, Buekland, where he had been taken immediately after the occurrenca.  On a post mortem examination a number of small size shot were found, lacerating most frightfully the liver, and injuring the bone. The surgeon also found a piece of deceased's watch chain, which had been carried into the wound. The prisoner was, after a scuffle, secured by Mr. Rendell, and the next day taken before 11. Cartwright, Esq., who, having taken the depositions of the various witnesses, and of the dying man, committed the prisoner to take his trial at the next assizes for wilful murder, and also for shooting at Mr. Rendell. Ile said to Mr. Rendell, when in custody, he was very sorry he had done it, and he wished his gun had broken in pieces when first he took it in his hand. The prisoner's mate, who was out with him, has been also committed to gaol, on the charge of poaching. There was some fear of a rescue by the navvies, but Mr. Flamank, the magistrate's clerk, very wisely kept the men at Newton until Monday morning, when they were sent off to Exeter, and there safely lodged in the county gaol.
The Sun. — 1846-08-15 (London, England)

INQUEST ON THE BODY, AND COMMITTAL OF  THE MURDERER.  Considerable consternation prevailed in the neighbourhood of Blanket-row at an early hour on Wednesday morning, in consequence of a rumour that Thomas Green, a mariner, had murdered his wife. Policeman Gm don entered Green's apartment, which is on the second floor of a house in Hatter's-square, Martin's-alley, where he fraud Green seated in a chair, with a handkerchief before his face, and apparently very melancholy. A short distance from him his wife was laid a corpse on the floor, heingeovered with a blanket. Gor don immediately sent for Inspector Dorsey, who was on duty at the Blanket-row station. and, ..n Green being a-ked if his wife was dead, he answered in the affirm ative, and, without any further interrogatories being put, entered into a staterneni of the circumstances connected with the dreadful tragedy. It seems that his wife was an habitual drunkard, and on that account hey frequently quarrelled. 011 Tuesday evening his brother called at his house, and invited him to accompany him to Drypool feast, to which he consented, but. previous to leaving home, he placed in the hands of his wife about 504. lie returned some about two o'clock next morning, and, in ascending the staircase, he stumbled over his wile, who was laid drunk, and unable to proceed any farther. Perceiving the state she was in he took the door-key from her pocket, and, having obtained admission to the room, he returned to the unfortunate woman, and then commenced a succession of acts of violence which rroduced death. The first inquiry of the husband was with respect to the money, but his wife was unable to answer him, from the combined effects of the drink she had partaken of, and the injury she had sustained, about two hours before the arrival of Green, by falling heavily down stairs. Her husband became enraged ; he dashed her head several times against the stairs, and then, seizing her by the hair of the head, dragged her into the room, where he searched for kis money, but did not succeed in finding it. He then left hold of her, and she fell on the floor. Whilst in that position the husband got into bed alongside his two sons, the eldest of whom is not more than 12 years of age; but after being there about half an hour, he darted out of bed, and again attacked his unfortunate victim, by jumping upon her body. He likewise struck and kicked her, and eventually knocked her head-foremost down stairs, where she lay moaning for a length of time, when the husband carried her up stairs, laid her on the floor, and then retired to rest. On rising shortly before six o'clock he was horror-struck on finding that his brutality had ended in the death of has wife, and his eldest boy called in a neighbour. He was soon afterwards taken into custody. An inquest was subsequently held, and the jury returned a verdict of " Wiltul Murder against Thomas Green."
The Sun. — 1846-10-13 (London, England)

POLICE INTELLIGENCE. TVORSHIP-STREET. THE ALLEGED MURDER IN SPITALFIELDS.—Ann Linner, alias Nance Ruffey, who had been remanded from last Monday upon a charge of stabbing a young Irishman, named Daniel Crawley, was placed at the bar before Mr. Broughton for re-examination, charged now with wilful murder, the man having died last Saturday in the London Hospital. The deceased, it may be remembered, stated in his dying deposition that, about one o'clock in the morning of Sunday se'rmight, he went into the prisoner's shop, in Spitaltields, to purchase some cooked meat, which was cut for him by an Irishman, a stranger to him, who was then with the prisoner. The latter told him the price of the meat was 22d., and he said he hai not enough by a farthing, but he would call as he passed by and pay the farthing. The prisoner, however, took the knife from the Irishman and thrust it into him, swing, " Take that you —." Ile declared that he had not uttered a word more to provoke her. Sergeant King now informed the magistrate that he had got the Irishman spoken of by the deceesA, end another man :Aso present as witnesses, but he was sorry to say that they were under the influence of liquor. George Brown, who seemed half stupified sit.li drink, was arm examined. He said he knew the prisoner, but could not now tell the name of the street in which she lived. On the Saturday evening before last Fe went into the shop between the hours of seven and eight, to get something to eat. and he remained about the shop until about half-past one. Ile was standing behind the counter with the prisoner, when the man now dead came in and ordered a quarter of a pound of meat, which the pt :loner asked witness to cut for him. He accordingly cat and weighed it, and the prisoner said the price of it was 22d. The deceased put only 21 into the hand of the wanes!, who placed the money on the counter, bat the nrisoner said that was not the price. The decealed said to witness, " It's all right, is it not ?" and leaning upon the counter endeavoured to persuade the prisoner that he had paid for it. She said that he had not, and should not have it till he paid 20. ; and patting her hand towards his face, called him a blackguard, and told him to be off, and that she did not went his custom. She afterwards took up the carving knife now produced, and cut a bit of the meat off, telling witness that he had cut too much, and he then saw he:. strike the deceased with the carving knife, saying, at the same time, " There's the ha'porth for you." The deceased clapped his hand to his breast, and the witness then saw the blood gush out between his fingers. In cross-examination he said that the deceased did use abusive language to the prisoner. The magistrate was informed that the surgeons were that day making their post merlon examination preparatory to the inquest being held, aid he remanded the prisoner for a week.
The Sun. — 1846-10-13 (London, England)

WORSHIP-STREET.  12,265  5,690  THE ALLEGED MURDER IN SPITALFIELDB.—Ann Linner, alias Nance Ruffey, who had been remanded from last Monday upon a charge of stabbing a young Irishman, named Daniel Crawley, was placed at the bar before Mr. Broughton for re-examination, charged now with wilful murder, the man having died last Saturday in the London Hospital. The deceased, it may be remembered, stated in his dying deposition that, about one o'clock in the morning of Sunday se'nnight, he went into the prisoner's shop, in Spitalfields, to purchase some cooked meat, which was cut for him by an Irishman, a stranger to him, who was then with the prisoner. The latter told him the price of the meat was 21d., and he said he had not enough by a farthing, but he would call as he passed by and pay the farthing. The prisoner, however, took the knife from the Irishman and thrust it into him, saying, "Take that you —." He declared that he had not uttered a word more to provoke her. Sergeant King now informed the magistrate that he had got the Irishman spoken of by the deceased, and another man also present as witnesses, but he was sorry to say that they were under the influence of liquor. George Brown, who seemed half stupified with drink, was then examined. lie said he knew the , prisoner but could not now tell the name of the street in which she lived. On the Saturday evening before last he went into the shop between the hours of seven and eight, to get something to eat, and he remained about the shop until about half-past one. He was standing behind the counter with the prisoner, when the man now dead came in and ordered a quarter of a pound of meat, which the prisoner asked witness to cut for him. He accordingly cat and weighed it, and the prisoner said the price of it was 2id. The deceased put only 2d. into the hand of the witness, who placed the money on the counter, but the prisoner said that was not the price. The deceased said 0 witness, "It's all right, is it not ?" and leaning upon the counter endeavoured to persuade the prisoner that he had paid for it. She said that he had not, and should not have it till he paid ?id. ; and putting her band towards his face, called him a blackguard, and told him to be off, and that she did not want his custom. She afterwards took up the carving knife now produced, and cut a bit of the meat off, telling witness that he had cut too much, and he then saw her strike the deceased with the carving knife, saying, at the same time, " There's the ha'porth for you." The deceased clapped his hand to his breast, and the witness then saw the blood gush out between his fingers. In cross-examination he said that the deceased did use abusive language to the prisoner. The magistrate was informed that the surgeons were that day making their post mortem examination preparatory to the inquest being held, and he remanded the prisoner fur a week.  9,717 29,550
The Sun. — 1846-11-18 (London, England)

POLICE INTELLIGENCE. (YESTERDAY.) MANSION-HOUSE.  Elizabeth Wood, the wife of Benjamin Wood, a City policeman, was brought before the Lord Mayor for final examination, upon the charge of having wounded her husband, with intent to kill and murder him. Benjamin Wood, who had been in St. Thomas's Hospital in consequence of a wound inflicted upon him upwards of a month ago, stated that on the 14th of October he was living with his wife in Talbot street, Gracechurch-street; that at a quarter past one o'clock he had his uniform on, and was ready to go on duty, and ho complained to his wife about his dinner not being ready. They had a few words about it, and he put on his hat to go out, and as he was going towards the door, sho threw a knife at him, which struck him in the throat, but he did not think she throw it at him intentionally to wound him. Ho then felt tho blood running down, and it was streaming about the floor ; and he ran down stairs to Dr. Smith's, and was taken to St. Thomas's Hospital, where he had been ever since. lle did not recollect that he had made use of any threat towards her. He thought she had sat down to her dinner, and he thought she had the knife in her hand at the time. He did not think she had picked it up purposely to throw at him. Lord, he took up his truncheon to truth. All the rest he has said is the, I never meant to . answer to a question from the The witness said, in nid not recollect whether or not he strike hempreiswointhert. hurt . s band at the time, unless he was had his truncheon in 1his pocket. in the act of putting it in assistant-surgeon at St. Thomas's Mr. F. L. Clarke, Lord Mayor, that hyerthh.l92. attended by Mr. Sony, brought into the hospital, ure the bleeding vessel, deavouring to sec who was en for that purpose. larged the wound having slightly en f sal from the wound, Which hospital, said that liwentwtaso Wood, who, upon being Wood was bleeding prohu y been severe , and • . carotid artery had bleeding, by pressing his finger seeded in repressing d tag the only alternative, Mr. Solley into the wound, an . n the carotid artery, and pass was on the left side of t e neck.d The mbrrancsoheisieoyfstulice. asked him to cut down upon could not have survived accomplished, the man effected that operation two or three minutes. Witness e a ligature round' it, as it was down the neck, and the by making a distinct *soundh t bleeding instantly ceased. had in a great measure closed, the had progressed favourably, but until the woundner. thannet g after Wood John Davis, a City policeman_, stated that who had been taken to the hospital, he saw the prisoner, stated to him, that while they were at dinner, they had a quarrel ; that he threatened to knock her down, and 1 that she threw a knife at hint which she had in her hand ; that as he was stooping down to pick it up, she saw the blood running from his neck, and she halloed out " Murder." The prisoner said—My PaStiiennctewsaintdimae the wound The
The Sun. — 1846-01-21 (London, England)

ASSISTANT-JUDGE, in passing sentence, said this boy bad neither father nor mother, nor any one to look after him or give him instruction. His father had been dead two years, and since then he had been going about the streets. What was he to do with him ? The state of the law was this—it put a certain definition upon cases of felony ; a child under eight years of age could not be guilty of felony, because he is not at an age to know right from wrong; but at the age of fourteen they were to be tried and punished as felons ; and there was no provision at all for children between the ages of seven and fourteen. There was one instance of a boy eleven years old having been hanged for murder ; but in that case it was shown that he knew he had done wrong as he had hid himself in a wood. The state of things that existed then did not exist now, the state of property was not the same, society and knowledge, were not as in the present day—yet the very same definition was put upon those cases, as in those barbarous ages. The effect was, that if a boy were convicted of an offence, he must either be convicted of a felony, and punished accordingly, or receive no punishment whatever under 14. No means were provided by the law for the reformation of juvenile offenders. The county of Middlesex had set an example to all the counties iu England, by the establishment of schools for children in the prisons. He considered such a subject should not be optional upon the magistracy, but imperative, and that the State itself should interfere, and see that proper places were provided' for the juvenile offenders of the country, for it was perfect nonsense to imagine that children ought to be punished as grown persons. He did want to see something done for these poor children. Within the last eighteen months he had seen no fewer than three hundred of these little creatures, between the ages fromba r withoutanyetion p; ri4n) v ifsaicotn, the whereby law of seven and fourteen, who had been placed at the criminal to which they could be sent. A short time since, a had sbepyr oeveiedledd be eo savedplace child of eight years old, who had been twice convicted previously, was brought before him for the third time; he was of course obliged to send him to prison, but he said to the Bench at the time that they were sending him to gaol to harden him. In the present case he should send the prisoner to Westminster Bridewell, where there was a good school, and where he would have the benefit of moral and religious instruction during his confinement. The sentence, therefore, was, that he be imprisoned for the term of six months, and kept to hard lahour. James Elliott, 16, was found Guilty of stealing seven linen shirts, and other articles, the property of John Taylor. The