npedrazzini/19thc_murder_suicide_news huggingface dataset:
The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — 1853-02-22 (Liverpool, Merseyside, England)

ARCHITECT IN SYDNEY.—The following extract from a letter dated Sydney, Sept. 14, 1852, will interest some of our readers. "The Solicitor-General introduced me to Mr. Mort, the auctioneer, the George Robins of Sydney. I had a long interview with this gentleman, who said his office was more than full, or he would willingly engage me. He then asked me to walk out with him to Mr. Hilley, the architect, from whom I have since received the greatest kindness. Mr. Hilley offered me a berth to superintend some extensive buildings at Port Philip and Moreton Bay ; to be a fortnight at each place, and to call at Sydney always on my road, the steamer always stopping there. I was to receive £7 per week, and all my travelling expenses. I, of course, accepted his offer, and was approved of by the directors ; but with all our united efforts, neither architect, builder, nor clerk of works can get men to work, now the golddiggings are at hand. Ask a man to work at Os. per day, he will laugh at you ; consequently the works are postponed, and I have turned my attention to something else • I am now embarking in partnership with one of our curdy passengers in a store at the Bingera gold-diggings, and intend working a claim. From what I hear from all quarters, Bingera will turn out as lucrative as Mount Alexander. At present, the roads up the country are impassable, from the overflowing of the rivers. It is the general opinion that gold is more or less dispersed in quartz, or in the white clay soil, all over Australia. It is no uncommon thing to see some of the lowest blackguards walking the streets of Sydney soon after their arrival from the diggings with massive gold pins, the heads of quartz stuck in their shirts, and massive gold rings upon their fingers. In very few instances does the gold do the fortunate diggers any good. The greater part of them take to drinking and gambling, and soon become ruined, and off they start again. At Port Philip things are frightful. People are knocked down and robbed with perfect impunity in broad daylight, and not a few are murdered and shot. These occurrences are very seldom put in the public papers. People, however, have in a great measure to thank themselves for imprudence in drinking, or want of proper caution. Fire-arms are fetching an immense price : revolving pistols, which in London sell for two guineas, are fetching £lO : Colt's revolvers fetch £3O, and new are not to be obtained. Boots are also very dear. Beef sells for 3d. per lb. ; mutton 11d. per lb. Sydney, indeed, is a singular place : by far the greater part of the population are rogues and swindlers, and carry the very villain in their countenance ; not all the water of Port Jackson can wash away the mark of Cain stamped on their foreheads. In Pitt-street stands a dashing chemist's shop, a few years since kept by Ta. well, the Quaker, who was transported, made his fortune, returned to England, and was Wined at Aylesbury for , murder."—Thr Builder.
The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — 1853-02-22 (Liverpool, Merseyside, England)

SYJINSIG.—The, following extract from a• letter dated Sydney, Sept. 14. 11352, will interest some of our readers. "The Solicitor-General introduced me to Mr. Mort, the auctioneer, the George Robins of Sydney. I had a long interview with this gentleman, who said his office was more than full, or he would willingly engage me. He then asked me to walk out with him to Mr. Hilley, the architect, from whom I have since received the greatest kindness. Mr. Hilley offered me a berth to superintend some extensive buildings at Port Philip and Moreton Bay ; to be a fortnight at each place, and to call at Sydney always on my road, the steamer always stopping there. I was to receive £7 per week, and all my travelling expenses. I, of course, accepted his offer, and was approved of by the directors ; but with all our united efforts, neither architect, builder, nor clerk of works can get men to work, now the golddiggings are at hand. Ask a man to work at 9s. per day, he will laugh at you ; consequently the works are postponed, and I have turned my attention to something else ; I am now embarking in partnership with one of our cuddy passengers in a store at the Bingera gold-diggings, and intend working a claim. From what I hear from all quarters, Bingera will turn out as lucrative as Mount Alexander. At present, the roads up the country are impassable, from the overflowing of the rivers. It is the general opinion that gold is more or less dispersed in quarts, or in the white clay soil, all over Australia. It is no uncommon thing to see some of the lowest blackguards walking the streets of Sydney soon after their arrival from the diggings with massive gold pins, the heads of quartz stuck in their shirts, and massive gold rings upon their fingers. In very few instances does the gold do the fortunate diggers any good. The greater part of them take to drinking and gambling, and soon become ruined, and off they start again. At Port Philip things are frightful. People are knocked down and robbed with perfect impunity in broad daylight, and not a few are murdered and shot. These occurrences are very seldom put in the public papers. People, however, have in a great measure to thank themselves for imprudence in drinking, or want of proper caution. Fire-arms are fetching an immense price : revolving pistols, which in London sell for two guineas, are fetching £lO : Colt's revolvers fetch £3O, and now are not to be obtained. Boots are also very dear. Beef sells for 3d. per lb. ; mutton lid. per lb. Sydney, indeed, is a singular place : by far the greater part of the population are rogues and swindlers, and carry the very villain in their countenance ; not all the water of Port Jackson can wash away the mark of Cain stamped on their foreheads. In Pitt-street stands a dashing chemist's shop, a few years since kept by Tawell, the Quaker, who was transported, made his fortune, returned to England, and was hanged lit Aylesbury for aurder."—The Bwilder.
The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — 1853-07-05 (Liverpool, Merseyside, England)

NEW ZEALAND.—The Bishop of New Zealand returned in good health to St. John's College, in his diocese, on the 19th of October, after a voyage of about four months among the Solomon Islands and the New llebrides. He was received exerywhere gladly, and treated with the utmost kindness. He has brought home with him to St. John's College, for education, twenty-two boys and two girls, and might have brought hundreds, if he bad had the means of conveyance. The door seems to be opening more widely every year to the reception of Christianity by the South Sea Islanders, through the judicious means adopted by Bishop Selwyn.  INDlA.—Advices have been received from Madras to the 21st and from Calcutta to the 16th of May. There is no intelligence from Bombay, nor any definite news from Rangoon, but it was confidently hoped, at the departure of the mail, that the next steamer would bring the treaty, duly signed, and that peace would be again established in British India. The entire Aeng Pass was in our possession and the Burmese had withdrawn altogether from its vicinity. The Arracan battalion had returned to Sandoway, leaving a sufficient force for the protection of the pass during the coming rains. Sickness is greatly on the increase. Severe cases of fever were principally confined to those men who had been absent in detachments. An epidemic diease, resembling the plague in its symptoms, first made its appearance in the Eusofzye country, and appears to be spreading along the north-western frontier. The frontier tribes are at present tranquil.  CHlNA.—Advices are to the 12th of April. A report was current at Hongkong that an overland express had arrived at Canton, stating that the insurgents had defeated the imperial troops, and were proceeding northwards towards Pekin. Confirmation or denial of this rumour was hourly expected. Another act of piracy and murder, arising out of the Coolie traffic, was committed on the 7th of April, on board the Rosa Elias, from Canton for South America and the Havanas. The ship sailed under Peruvian colours, but was officered, and in great part manned, by Englishmen. Most of the Coolies on board had been entrapped by false statements, or violently kidnapped ; many being boys under twelve years of age. A sudden attack on the officers and crew was made by a strong party of these Coolies, and the captain with the chief mate retiring to their cabins, were ejected by the assailants pouring in boiling water. The wretched men escaped through the ports into the sea, where they were followed in boats and mercilessly butchered. The carpenter succeeded in swimming ashore to Batavia, a distance of three or four miles. The Coolies compelled one of the crew to steer, as they wished, to China, but the man navigated the vessel to Singapore. It being then dreaded by the crew that the Coolies, on discovering the deception, would murder them, tbey escaped during the night. Most of the Coolies abandoned the ship, but ten of the ringleaders are in custody, and awaiting orders from the Peruvian consul at Canton.
The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — 1853-07-05 (Liverpool, Merseyside, England)

LAND.—The Bishop of New Zealand returned in good health to S. John's College, in his diocese, on the 19th of October, after a voyage of about four months among the Solomon Islands and the New Hebrides. He was received exerywhere gladly, and. treated with the utmost kindness. He has brought home with him to St. John's College, for education, twenty-two boys and two girls, and might have brought hundreds, if he bad had the means. of conveyance. The deo: seems to be opening more widely every year to the reception of Christianity by the South Sea Islanders, through the judicious means adopted by Bishop Selwyn..  INDlA.—Advices have been received from Madras to the 21st and from Calcutta to the 16th of May. There is no, intelligence from Bombay, nor any definite news from Rangoon, but it was confidently hoped,, at the departure of the mail, that the next steamer would, bring the treaty, duly signed, and that peace would be again established in British India. The entire Aeng Pass was.in our possession and the Burmese had withdrawn altogether from its, vicinity. The- Arracan battalion had returned to Sandoway, leaving a sufficient force for the protection of the pass during the coming rains. Sickness is greatly on the increase. Severe cases of fever were principally confined to those men who had been absent in detachments. An epidemic diease, resembling the plague in its symp, toms, first made its appearance in the Eusofzye country,. and appears to be spreading along the north-western frontier. The frontier tribes are at present tranquil.  CHlNA.—Advices are to the 12th of April. . report was current at Hongkong that an overland express had arrived at Canton, stating that the insurgents had defeated. the imperial troops, and were proceeding northwards towards Pekin. Confirmation or denial of this rumour was hourly expected.  Another act of piracy and murder, arising out of the Coolie traffic, was committed on the 7th of April, on board the Rosa lElias from Canton for South America and the Havanas. The ship sailed under Peruvian colours, but was officered, and in great part manned, by Englishmen. Most of the Coolies on board had been entrapped by false statements, or violently kidnapped ; many being boys under twelve years- of age. A sudden attack on the officers and crew was made by a strong party of these Coolies, and the captain with the chief mate retiring to their cabins, were ejected by the assailants pouring in boiling water. The wretched men escaped through the ports into the sea,, where they were followed in boats and mercilessly butchered. The carpenter succeeded in swimming ashore to Batavia, a distance of three or four miles. The Coolies compelled one of the crew to steer, as they wished, to China, but the man navigated the vessel to Singapore. It being then dreaded by the crew that the Coolies, an discovering the deception, would murder them, they escaped during the night. Most of the Coolies abandoned the ship. but ten of the ringleaders are in custody, and awaiting orders from the Pertaian consul at Canton.
The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — 1853-02-15 (Liverpool, Merseyside, England)

CONSCIFNCE- STRICKEN THIEF, who twenty-seven years ago stole a trifling article from Mrs. Catlow, toydealer, Blackburn, has sent half-a-crown to Mrs. C. as " restitution."  AT THE EIGHTH ORDINARY MEETING of the Literary and Philosophical Society yesterday evening week, the Atev- Arthur Ramsay, M. A., read a very learned paper, on the practical application of comparative philology." JAMES MYERSCOUGH was committed for trial at the Liverpool assizes, on Friday last, at Rochdale, charged with the manslaughter of Isaac Lowe, herb dealer, his father-in-lav;r.  Iliadc has advanced to ls. 4d. per gallon in the neighbourhood of some of the woollen cloth mills in Lancashire, in consequence of a recent discovery that milk mixed with oil answers the purpose of the more expensive olive oil. ANN O'NEILL was sentenced to eighteen months' imPrisonment, at the Quarter Sessions, on Tuesday, for stealing £lO5 from James Arbuthnot, a baker, of 76. Arley street, whilst labouring under the influence of gingerette, on the 17th December last.  A. PERSON NAMED JANES, a coal-trimr, belonging to the Pacific, fell into the Huskisson Lomck,e on Saturday night, while loading coals on board said ship, and received such injuries that he died on Tuesday morning, at the Northern Hospital. JOAN COLLING of Bacup labourer, aged .60 years, was on Sunday morning last found burned- to death on the tlfioor of his dwelling He had fallen on the bars of the e-grate, in the absence of his wife, while getting out of bed,  THE SCOTCH papers assert that 30 years ago a vessel nam the " Highland Lad" was fitted up by Messrs. Claud d, Girswood and Co., of Glasgow, with a caloric engine, the invention of the Rev. Mr., now Dr., Stirling, of Galston, in Ayrshire. n MARY ROLUINSON, a fine young girl, aged 16, 3 Court awke-street, went to assist an old woman in attending on her husband on Monday night; her dress accidentally 'caught fire, and she was conveyed to the Royal Infirmary, where she presents a frightful spectacle, her neck, chest, arms, hands, 'Ste., being quite divested of flesh. AT THE COUNTY COURT, the other day, it was contended that a ring, sold by Messrs. Cohan, the pawnbrokers, of South Castle-street, was a " gold" ring, though they could not swear that a hundredth part of it was composed of the precious metal. lir. Rime, solicitor for Messrs.`Cohan, said that in 999 cases out of a thousand that was what was sold for a " gold" ring.  SERGEANT HEAP, of the county police, Blackburn, in complying with the request of a letter recently received 'through the post, has ascertained that twenty-five years ago one of a gang of robbers had confessed to a woman with whom he cohabited, that he robbed, and then murdered, a travelling Scotchman named David Hevon, who travelled in Todmorden, Bacup, and Burnley. The body of the deceased was found in the Rochdale canal, near 'Gariehohne, at the time, when the coroner's jury gave a -verdict of " Found drowned."  A
The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — 1839-07-23 (Liverpool, Merseyside, England)

MASSENA AT ASPERN.—If, however, the assault was impetuous, the defence was not less heroic ; and never had the experienced skill and invincible tenacity of Marshal Massena been so conspicuously displayed. Stationed in the cemetery of Aspern, under the boughs of the great trees which overshadow the church, he calmly awaited the result, directing the movements of his troops, and giving his orders to support the points which most required it, with the coolness and precipitation of veteran courage ; while the crash of the boughs above his head, and the incessant clatter of grape-shot on the steeple, told how near the enemy's batteries had approached. Both parties were aware, that the fate of the day mainly depended on the possession of this important point, and incredible efforts were made on either si 1e to attain it. For several hours the murderous conflict continued ; fresh troops were brought up on both parts to supply the place of those who had fallen, or were exhausted in the strife ; the Austrian infantry, the Hungarian grenadiers, the volunteers of Vienna, rivalled each other in courage and perseverance in the assault ; while the different divisions of Massena's corps nobly in succession sustained the defence. Every street, every house, every garden of the village, became the theatre of mortal combat. The shouts of transient success, the cri,s of despair, were heard alternately from both parties ; an incessant shower' of bombs and cannon-balls from the concentric batteries of the Imperialists spread death on all sides, alike among friend and foe ; while great part of the village took fire, and the flames of the burning houses afforded, as night approached, a ghastly light wherewith to continue the work of destruction, and illuminated the whole field of battle. A desperate conflict at the same time contined in the marshy plain between Aspern and the river, where the wet ditches leading to the Danube, athwart their front, and the thickets of alder bushes, gave the French the advantages of a natural fortification. For long the superior numbers of the Austrians impeded each other, as the position of the French centre prevented them from attacking the village on more sides than one ; but at length, at eleven at night their line having gained ground in that quarter, a combined attack was made by Hillier, in front, and Vacquent, commanding part of Bellegardc's corps, which had just repulsed a formidable charge of cavalry, in flank ; and in spite of the most heroic efforts on the part of Massena, Molitor, and his officers, the village was carried, amidst deafening shouts which were distinctly heard above the roar of the artillery along the whole line. The French marshal made a gallant effort to regain his ground, and succeeded with Le Grand's division, which had succeeded Molitor's in their tremendous strife, in wresting some of the houses from the enemy ; but the churchyard and the greater part of this blood-stained village remained through the night in the hands of the Imperialists.—Aiison's History of Europe.
The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — 1839-11-29 (Liverpool, Merseyside, England)

THE KEIGHLEY MURDER.—III our last week's paper we gave such particulars as had transpired relative to this horrid occurrence. At the inquest, a verdict of Wilful Murder was given, and the unhappy maniac, for such he must be considered, is now waiting the resul, of a solemn trial at the next assizes. Confession :---He said it first came into his mind on Sunday morning to kill his sister, and he then determined to do it on the Saturday night following, when he would have his razors out to shave with. His father was going out on Wednesday evening, he thought he would never have a better opportunity : he therefore called her up stairs, crying out, " Betty, there are some bugs above't bed." Betty ran up with a light, and pulling off her shoes, got on the bed and began to search. He then leaped on her with a knife, and knocked the candlestick out of her hand, threw her on the bed, and then tried to cut her throat. She struggled dreadfully, and screamed, which frightened him so much that she escaped from his grasp to the floor. In this struggle he had lost his knife, but snatching another from his father's seat, he, after a desperate resistance, accomplished his purpose. He did not know what to do, but resolving to go out and hanga himself, he went down stairs and opened the door ; there w opposite, so he shut it again, but knowing that it would om not do to stop there, he rushed out of the house and sawoman leaped over the wall into a field. He went up the field to a gate in the middle of the same side, and there attempted to hang himself by the top rail with his handkerchief, but the rail was too low. He then proceeded to a lonely ash tree, at the top of the next field, and there tried again, when his handkerchief broke, and he came to the ground.' He now piled up some stones, knotted his handkerchief, and made another attempt. The knot slipped and he fell into the next field. He was stunned at first, but recollecting that he had a penknife in his pocket, he opened it while on the ground. He felt the edge and found that it was too blunt. He then got up and returned to the middle of the Knowe (the name of the field he had crossed in going to the ash tree) ; here he lay down on his belly, but after laying some time, he thought he would go back, and either cut his throat with the knife he had killed his sister with, or give himself up. When he got near the wall he was seized by Joseph Hird and Thomas Greenwood. Being asked what could induce to murder a sister who loved him so much, he said, " He did not know, but she was ready for heaven, and he was fit for t'other place." He said her last words were, " Lord, help me," and " Oh, Charles, spare my life." After this he would answer no more questions.—Preston Chronicle.  Einporto.