npedrazzini/19thc_murder_suicide_news huggingface dataset:
The Halifax Comet. — 1894-05-05 (Halifax, West Yorkshire, England)

THE COM.E.T.  MR. MONTGOMERY BAILEY. \ BAlLzv—james Montgomery Bailey was his ' full name. He was born in Albany in 1841, fought through the war in a Connecticut regiment, and afterward made himself famous writing for the Danbury News. ' Mr. Bailey's wit has a delicious mental flavour. In fact it is always the shrewd, thoughtful man that enjoys it. It is not in long, inane dialogues, but a flash of thought. The humourist says a poor man came to him with tears in his eyes one day, asking for help ,for his destitute and starving children. "What do you need most 9" asked Mr. Bailey. "Well, we need bread, but if I can't have that I'll take tobacco." One day a solemn and religious Danbury man hailed a charcoal peddlar with the query: "Have you got charcoal in your wagon?" "Yes, sir," said the expectant driver, stopping  his horses. "That's right," observed-the religious man, with an approving nod, "always tell the truth and people .will respect you." And then he closed the dr just in time to escape a brick hurled by the wicked pedlar. One day I asked Mr. Bailey if they had lazy men in Connecticut. "Lazy men 1" he exclaimed. "Why, we have a man in Danbury so lazy that instead of shoveling a path to the front gate he pinches the baby's ear-with the nippers till the neighbours come rushing in to tread down the snow." Mr. McAlisters was buying a home of Mr. Bailey, and asked him if the house was cold in the winter. , "Cold 7" said Bailey, cautiously. say as to that. It stands outdoors." Speaking of the Indian raids, says Bailey: "The Modocs have made another raid on our people and murdered them. If ever our government gets hold of these savages, gets them right where they cannot escape, gets them wholly into its clutches, some contractor will make money."  "I can't  CAN INSECTS TALK BEES and other insects are provided, as everybody knows, with feelers or antennme. These are, in fact most delicate organs of touch, giving warning of dangers, and enabling their owners to hold a sort of conversation with each other, and thereby to communicate their wants  and desires. A strong hive of bees is said sometimes to contain no less than 36,000 workers. Each of these, in order to be assured of the presence of their. queen, touches her every day with its antennme. Should the queen die or be removed, the whole colony disperse themselves, quitting all the store of now useless honey which they had laboured so industriously to collect for the use of themselves and their larvw. On the contrary, should the queen be put into a small wire cage, placed'at the bottom of the hive, so that her subjects can touch and feel her, they are contented, and the business of the hive proceeds as usual. This antennal power of communication is not confined to bees. Wasps and ants, and probably other insects, exercise it.
The Halifax Comet. — 1894-05-05 (Halifax, West Yorkshire, England)

THE COMET.  panion, nor saw ought of the country around. Robert gathered from the other's taciturnity a desire for silence, and volunteered few remarks.  • "Isn't there a wonderful bell or something belonging to St. Winifred's Church ? " he asked, as they neared the village. "The belfry, you mean," replied the other moodily; "it's riddled with owls' nests; when the bell is tolled they fly out and hoot. I should very much like to see theni, only there's an old fool of a verger who wouldn't ring the bell to save his life if he thought you wanted him" to, nor let you lay a finger on the rope. We must get rid of him and ring it for ourselves this evening. Don't say so before him, for he's as proud of his charge as if he kept the Crown jewels." "He might make no end of a row when he returns."  'Not he, a shilling,, or two will square his tongue. Here's the gate, we must first go in search of his grand daughter to show us the  way." They met the old man Petering about his garden. He shifted his eyes uneasily when he recognised Hugh, but became obsequious at once, going in search of the belfry key faster than his gouty legs had moved for years. "You see I've brought a friend to be shown the mysteries of the belfry tOwer." "Aye, what ? " he questioned uneasily. "Only the bell, he has heard all about it, so there's no need for a long speech."  "Very good, sir." They followed their guide up the winding steps, and seated themselves on the beam beneath the bell-rope. The old man looked distrustfully on.  "The walk and the steps have made me thirsty," said Hugh, huskily, and with the downward look he had worn all day:  "Aye, sir, it's warmish to-day." "Don't you think you might send your granddaughter up with a drink ? " "They all be at Rumney Market to-day, sir, but I don't mind sendin' my old 'oman." He turned rather unwillingly away and slowly descended the step,- the sound echoing in Hugh's ear like the death bell to a condemned criminal. He rose and shivered, impelled by that invisible presence that had overshadowed him so long. He grasped the beam for support. Now was his time.  "I say, old man, you do look seedy," said Robert, "why on earth didn't you think of a drink as we came along." _ _ _  "Because I wanted- to gat rid of the old beggar," he returned irritably. Unnoticed by Robert an ashey pallor crept over his face in the twilight. "I'll stand at one of the loop-holes and watch  for the birds, while you ring. Catch hold of the rope and hang on, it needs a good tug at first."  Robert rose slowly and moved towards the rope. Hugh turned aside, clasping the rude stonework with his shivering hands. "Say when," called Robert. "Now."  _ For an instant his soul hung on the breathless stillness of the evening, the next the iron tongue awoke a wild alarum in the murderer's heart. Without a backward glance he sped down the winding steps, the fear of detection controlling
The Halifax Comet. — 1894-05-05 (Halifax, West Yorkshire, England)

THE COMET.  you should torment me in this way. Tell me, Senor, in God's name, where is my husband?" "Alas, Senora, I would to heaven that it were nothing more than a joke," replied the director. "It is unfortunately too true."  " Dead ! Dead! Then he has been murdered ! " she cried. "It was never his own fault that he was killed. My Manuel was no drunkard, no reckless fool. Show me the murderer that I may call for vengeance upon him !" "My poor girl, there is no murderer," said the director, soothingly. There was carelessness, but no crime."  "I'll not believe it !" she screamed, the hot Creole blood flushing in her cheeks, and her eyes flashing fire. "My Manuel was no sot, no madman to throw away his life like Juan Valdez. If he is dead I accuse Miguel Gomez of his murder." Here she pointed at the overseer, who cowered beneath her glance. "Look at the villain, look in his face and judge. It was but a year ago that he offered the curgador Pedraza the position of captain of the gallery if he would come behind Manuel and push him over the Rinconada. Speak, Juan Pedraza, as you shall answer to the great God for it, is it not se ?"  Juan Pedraza, a wretched looking creature with haggard face and bleary eyes, croaked out a trembling answer in the affirmative. Then ensued a painful silence, which was presently broken by Don Jayme.  "Gomez," he said, "this is a serious charge. It is not for me to judge, but I feel it my duty to place you under arrest. Here, Perez, and you, Francisco, take charge of the accused and see that he does not escape."  The growing' anxiety which had been depicted on the face of the overseer now culminated in an expression of fierce determination. "Stand back, you dogs !" he yelled, drawing his knife as they approached him. "I am innocent of this man's death, but I'll not remain to have my life sworn away by mad and drunken scoundrels.. Out of the way, both of you! Back I say ! "  Before a hand could be laid upon him he darted through the door and fled swiftly down the mountain. On he sped, ever and anon half turning his head to see if he was pursued. This he was doing when he neared the Rinconada, and from around the corner ahead came the exhausted matchlighter toiling wearily up toward the mine.  The sight of Gomez approaching at full speed with drawn knife brought Manuel to a sudden stop, so that when the guilty wretch turned his eyes full ahead he saw the bedraggled, motionless form of his victim, with pale face and torn and bleeding hands, standing right in his path and staring at him with an expression of ghastly intensity.  For an instant the wretched Gomez stood gazing at the sight before him, then with a terrible shriek he flew at the edge of the precipice and dashed headlong into the awful abyss.  THE longest span of wire in the world is used for a telegraph in India, over the River Ristuah. It:is over 6,000 ft., and is stretched between two hills 1,200 ft. high.  Do you know anyone who doesn't—  ' 1
The Halifax Comet. — 1904-01-30 (Halifax, West Yorkshire, England)

CHAPTER XII. The preliminary investigation before the magisrate calls for but little comment. The evidence was, with but few exceptions, that which had been given before the coroner on the Monday and Wednesday preceding. If it was remarkable for anything it was for the number of spectators in the court. If the building, in which the coroner's inquiry had been conducted, had been crowded, the policecourt was packed, not with the poorly-clad spectators which one usually meets and associates with that miserable place, but by well-dressed and even aristocratic members of society. When Godfrey recovered from his first feeling of shame at finding himself in such a place and in such a position, and looked about him, he recognised several people whom he had once accounted his friends, but who had now schemed and contrived by every means in their power, to obtain permission to watch what they thought would amount to his degradation and final extinction. Pulling himself together he looked his accusers boldly in the face, and more than one person there told himself that a man who could look at one like that could never be guilty of such a crime as murder. Mr. Rolland, the counsel who had been retained by Codey for the defence, was a tall, handsome man, and of little above middle-age. He was the possessor of a bland, suave manner which had the faculty of extracting information from the most unwilling and reluctant witnesses. Near him sat Mr. Codey himself, keen-eyed and on the alert for anything that might tend to his client's advantage. The curiosity of the visitors was not destined, however, to be gratified, for, when certain of the witnesses had been examined, the case was adjourned for a week, and Godfrey returned to Holloway by the way he had come. Hew he passed the next week, he could scarcely tell you now. Had it not been that every day brought him a certain letter, he doubts whether he could have got through it at all. Moreover, he received repeated visits from Sir Vivian, who informed him that Burrell, the detective, was working night and day upon the case. "He will tell us nothing of the success he is meeting with, however," said the baronet; "but I fancy he is satisfied, for every time I see him he rubs his hands, chuckles, and seems so well pleased with himself and his conduct of the affair that I cannot help thinking that , heh replied s but you." "God bless her!" said Godfrey. "I shall dissicrovverivedian. "Shesomething tohfiinnktsporotfannceot.h"ing "I trust it may prove to be true," said Godfrey. "This waiting is terrible work." Sir Vivian noticed that the young man had grown decidedly thinner since his incarceration, while there was a tired look in his eyes that spoke of the strain that was being placed upon his nerves. "And how is Molly ? " he asked at last. "Tell me of her." "She is bearing up as bravely as possible," ' never be able to repay her for her wonderful 1 belief in me." i "Oh, yes, you will," Sir Vivian. answered, confidently. 'The mere fact of having you veith her once again will be a sufficient reward for all she has gone through."
The Halifax Comet. — 1904-06-18 (Halifax, West Yorkshire, England)

THOS. GAINES 8c SON, JOINERS, BTJILDERS, AND UNDERTAKERS,  perfea order. His will was a model 01 clearness, everything being left, to his daughten unreservedly; but for all • that there ,wero numberless questions which Eleanor bad to ponder over and answer for herself. She was now the head of the house—the last of the Tremaines. A singular, an indescribable feeling, more of terror, perhaps, than anything &se, came over her when she thought of it. But she resolutely fought against her vague fears, and only when depressed and in solitude did they attain anything like mastery over her. As may be gathered from Mrs. Jackson's remark, Frank Holt had been taken into custody and charged with complicity in the crime. The police made up their minds from the first that though not the actual murderer he had something to do with it, and thinning to gratify Eleanor, the inspector in charge of the ease laid his theories before her, and dealt emphatically upon certain suspicious circumstances which he thought bore upon the prisoner's knowledge of the murder. He looked for acquicscence from the young lady, but to his surprise he received an unmistfikable rebuff.  "Do not say another word to me about your suspicions," she exclaimed, angrily. "I am perfectly certain Mr. Holt is innocent. I am convinced you are wasting your time in making inquiries about what -7ou call his antecedents."  "Very good, miss," said the official, stiffly. "You must leave the police to take their own course."  The inquest was soon over, for the jury were never in doubt as to the cause of death. Wilful murder against some person or persona unknown, was the verdict. (2'o be cojinued.)  "What is your rule of business—your maxim ? " the Stock Exchange baron was asked. Very simple," he answt red. " I pay for something that I can't get with money that I haven't got, and then sell what I never had for more than it ever cost."  * *  "I am selling a new cycloptedia," began the well dressed man who had been ushered into the reception room on the strength of his make-up. " Would you care to look at it ? " "Taint no use," replied Mrs. Neurich : " I'd break my neck if I ever attempted to ride one of them fool things." ' *  The class was having lessons in natural history, and the teacher asked: "Now is there any boy here can tell me what a zebra is? " Tommy: "Yes, sir, I can." Teacher: "Well, Tommy, what is a zebra ? " Tommy: " Please, sir, a zebra is a donkey with a football suit on."  Housekeeper:• "You promised that if I'd give you a good meal and a suit of 'old clothes you'd tell me how to keep the premises from tramps." Tramp : Yes, .mum, an' I'm a man o' my word, mum."  t! Well, what am I do?" Never give 'em anything, mum. Good morning, „muin.,!' •
The Haslingden Gazette. — 1903-08-22 (Haslingden, Lancashire, England)

TUE TH.AGLIAGF  A bird of quite another plumage was poor W—, then undergoing 18 months' immasonment for Illegally pawning articles of furniture obtained on the hire purchase system. Educated at Cambridge, W— subsequently became an Army Tutor, married, and set up house at Barnes. Here his health failed, his professional practice fell away, and, to make both ends meet, his wife took to nursing illegitimate children. Two dead infants were found in the Thames near Putney, one day ; and the police believed that they had sufficient evidence to show n connecting link between the dead bodies and Mrs. W— against whom a warrant was issued. Further inquirie resulted in the arrest of W— himself, and both prisoners were subseqnently committed to and indicted at the Old Bailey on the charge of'' wilful murder." Serena comments and criticisms on this case appeared in a London weekly which devoted mull of its space to criminal matter. W—, and others, maintain that, owing to such comments, an element of prejudice was created against the accused, and that a mi,earsinge of justice was the result. I have nothing to de with opinions in this series of articles. My business, as an historian, is with facts, and I regret to say that Mrs. W— was found guilty and sentenced to death. W— was himself acquitted by the jury of any complicity in the crime for which his wife was sent to the scaffold, and should have been, then and there, released. It transpired during the trial, however, that he had disposed of the furniture obtained snider a hire•purcbase agreement, and on leaving the dock at the Old Bailey he was re-arrested by the police on this charge, and subsequently sentenced to IS months' imprisonment. One has evidence to prove that, had he been liberated on his ti“plittal by the Old Bailey jury. he might have been able to satisfy the Home Secretary as to the innocence of his wife, and thus have saved her from being " hung by the neck until she was dead." Being himself is prisoner—though on a miner charge—this could not be done, and poor W—„ having served his 18 months at " the Scrubs," Inow walks about Loudon, in a half -dazed condition, vainly trying to establish his wife's innocence ! Having worked out 10 months and 2 weeks at the mat-making business, without anything more sensational than a slight collision with " the powers that be " at the Scrubs A which, more anon, I was released on the morningot the :nd of August. When leaving. I was handed, along with some letters said money tvliich had been sent to the Governor by may frienda a printed " eertip cats," granted by " section 8 " of the Nffw Prison Act, to all prisoners of good character whilst under sentence. In addition to this official "document " VAS given Ins. the masimum 11111oUllt allowed to any prisoner in a Iccal gaol—and a printed " railway ticket," which would have passed me, flee of charge, from the prison to Hishop's Hood Station (a penny fore l I need scarcely say that I did not avail myself of the liberality of the Prison Authorities, but paid my fare and kept the ticket.  Fat : " ralsoNnie 'Woo Ilk's Manz Tnysfßxvnts."
The Haslingden Gazette. — 1903-08-08 (Haslingden, Lancashire, England)

XMIDEBOI79 ATTACKS ON WARDERS.  It is very rare indeed to find the governor of a prison actually murdered as was Captain Price. But attacks on prison warden, are of frequent occurrence, and I have seen no less than five killed outright in my time, whilst the number of those who have been maimed and injured for life at Chatham, Dartmoor and Portland dulln. the past 20 years is very large indeed. I was In the quarries at Portland one afternoon when Werder L— was suddenly attacked from behind by two prisoners twhom he had " reported " for some breach of discipline a few days previously) and nearly murdered. We had just returned to labour at 1 15 p.m. when suddenly a loud " Oh !" was heard consing from the direction of the crane, and, on looking round, I saw the two prisoners who had, that afternoon, rejoined their party, standing over the prostrate form of the warder. Ile had been struck down by a blow on the head ; and, jut as I caught sight of the group, one of the prisenem was again about to strike the unfortunate officer with a small " pick," which he held aloft in both hands. had the blow descended, there 'would have been an end to Warder L--'s existence. But the " crane-man" seized the uplifted weapon ; inlet, three other prisoners rushing upon the assailant, he was pt once thrown to the ground, and the pick wrested from his grasp. One old convict drew out the small nickelplated whistle which every prison warder is provided with, for the purpose of summoning assistance whenever needful, and, blowing away with might and main, soon brought a number of officials to the spot. A convict " gang " deprived of its leader is apt to become disorganised, and things looked very ugly indeed before the arrival of the relief officers. Order was, however, soon restored, and the whole gang, surrounded by warders and " civil guards," was marched back to prison, awl placed under lock and key. Warder L— eventually recovered and is. I believe, still in the prison service, but he had a "narrow squeak " and the brutal ruffians who attacked him were properly punished by a liberal application of " the cat ' and a long additional term of imprisonment. I happened to be in Parkhurst prison a short time ago when a deliberate attempt to murder one ot the most fatherly warders in that large establishment was made by a convict undergoing 1) years' penal servitude for an assault upon his superior officer in the army. This mall had some grudge against Warder M—, who was in charge of the " Cleaners' party ; and, as the gang was at work on one of the top landings of the prison, he suddeely -eized the officer endeavoured tiNfling him over the rails. Ilad he succeeded ill doing so, poor M-- might have been killed, but some fellow Prisoners came to the warder's axsistauce
The Haslingden Gazette. — 1903-08-15 (Haslingden, Lancashire, England)

DEVON. For Fame fire years Lebraud enacted the part of a luitatic at Portland prison, but though he may ice bun " mad " at the time, the ditthora,,s Iclieved that there wai saili " method" in his madness that they kept him  in irons. An amiable man in every other respe, t, he was a veritable demon in the matter in ins tripes, plots, mid conspiracies and, even after his removal (on medical grounds) to Parkhurst, he showed the cloven-foot whenever he had an opportunity of doing so. Employed in the kitchen he, one day, made hint-if CO objectionable to his fellow-prisoners that they all, with one accord, rose up azaiust him. There happened to be a low-sized, Jewish pickpocket in the kitchen at the time and although Lebraud was big enongh to crush him he pitched upon the " little Jew," and, seizing a knife, rushed at him. As I was passing by the kitchen door on that even:ful morning, I caught sight of the giant (Lebrand is nearly 11 feet high) chasing the pigmy around the table, with knife in hand, and on •. murderous thoughts intent." Luckily he was soon overrowered, and safely lodged in " Choke° "—the prison punishment cells. An accomplished linguist, Lebrand was once attached to the Danish, or Swedish embassy ; but, owing to some embroglio be left his country —possibly for his country's good—and gut a commission in the Ottoman army, doting the Russo-Turkish war. After the fall of Crevna, he was arrested as a spy, but succeeded in " breaking prison" and escaping to this country, where, after some fishy transactions, he sat up as a " private detective." The facilities possessed by this elms of mortals for " legitimate enquiry " put him in possession of certain facts connected wlth a large number of the nobility and gentry ; and, after a futile expedition to Ireland, on some " commission," said to be entrusted to him by a leading London solicitor, Ifid relating to the Parnell Commission he selected as his intended victim, the noble lady above referred to. This lady, however, was " one too much " for the " accomplished linguist," and after a protracted trial at the Old Bailey, he was sentenced by the present Lord Brampton (then Mr. Juttieu Hawkins) to 20 years penal servitude. In no public department are the two sides of a picture (the obverse and the reverse) so frequently seen as in the prison department. But for some reason or another it is the "seamy  eye smer side " of that picture that generally excites mot curimity and interesst. It is well, however, to be reminded that there ore tiro sides to every picture, and that in laying too much stress eilson one side we are apt to get but a distorted view of the whole representation. I am an optimist in most things, and am always willing to put the very best construction upon whatever comes along. But it is as difficult as it is impolitic to close one's eyes to facts, and, therefore, before I relate one or two instances of great fortitude and honesty under the " Broad Arrow," let me refer to an incident which lately, came to my knowledge, and which reflects but little credit upon the wirepullers at Whitehall.