npedrazzini/19thc_murder_suicide_news huggingface dataset:
The Sun. — 1849-10-10 (London, England)

LAMBETH.  Stephen Alfred Jordan alias Dowland, who has been i❑ custody since the 19th of last month on a charge of attempting to murder. Sarah Frances Ewings in Dulwich-wood, by cutting her throat and beating her on the head and face with the butt-end of a pistol, was placed at the bar before Mr. Elliott for final examination.  The first witness called was the young woman Swings, who had been brought from Guy's Hospital in a cab, and who is still in an exceedingly weak state, and still bears on the left side of her face the marks of the prisoner's murderous attack. She deposed as follows :—I have known the prisoner for more than a year and a half, and kept company with him for that time, and am at present in the family way by him. In the month of July last I went to live in Francis-street, Newington, and the prisoner came there several times to see me. On Wednesday, the 19th of last month, I received a letter from the prisoner through the post, desiring me to meet him at eight o'clock at Brixton Church. I went to Brixton Church at that time, and there I met the prisoner. He asked me how I was. I had not seen him for a fortnight before. He told me had taken a lodging, at Croydon, that he had got three months' work there, and that he was going to take me with him. He told me to write a note to my landlady, to say she would hear of me in a day or two. He had got paper and a pen and ink, and I stood under a lamp-post at Brixton Church while I wrote a note to my landlady, as he desired, on the cover of a book which he also had with him. I addressed the note to the landlady and gave it to him to put in the post. He asked me also to write a note addressed to him, that he might show it, as he said, to my friends if they asked him about me, and he told me to write in it that he would hear from me in a day or two. I wrote that letter as he requested, and gave him the letter with the other to put in the post. I consented to go with him to Croydon, but before doing so I said " How can I go without clothes ?" and he said " Never mind them, you can go without them for a day or two, nobody will see you, and I will come up with you to fetch them." I then consented to go, and asked him which way he was going? He replied that he was going ng to Penge-common, to take the train from t h ereto Croydon ; he said the lodging was a quarter ofamile from the station at Croydon. We walked together for about an hour, and I did not know what way we were going, but he told me we were going to Dulwich-wood. We walked along by the side of the wood for some time, and we then got over a stile. He said that was the way. Then we got amongst the bushes. There was a narrow path with bushes on each side. We went a little way along that path. I walked first for a little way, but then I told him to go first as he knew the way better than I did. He
The Sun. — 1859-04-28 (London, England)

MURDEROUS ASSAULT IN THE QUEEN'S PRISON.  Yesterday afternoon Mr. Combo, one of the magistrates of the Southwark Police Court, with Mr. Nokes, the second clerk, attended the Queen's Prison, at the request of Captain Hudson, the governor, to investigate a serious charge of assault committed by Mr. Francis George Hare, commonly called Captain Hare, an inmate, on Mr. Henry Augustus Prince, also an inmate, confined in the first-class portion of the prison for debt. The inquiry took place in the governor's room, in the presence of Lieutenant Evison, the deputy-governor, and Mr. Charles Colwell, the chief gaoler. The complainant, whose face was much disfigured, and who appeared to have been much injured, said that he was a gentleman, and at present confined in that prison for debt. About eight o'clock on Tuesday evening he was in Mr. Pitcher's room, No. 6 by 3, when he heard a Mr. Gray call out " Prince, Prince !" Witness went down stairs to him and met the defendant, who is called Captain Hare. He said, " Prince, I want you in my room." Witness told him he hoped it was not for a row. He answered, " No, I have a little business with you, that is all." Witness went to his room, and as soon as he was seated the defendant handed him a paper, requeiting him to sign it. On looking at it, and perceiving that it was for an indefinite amount, he refused to have anything to do with it. The defendant said that it was only for £6, when witness altered it to that extent, and was about to sign it, when the prisoner said he had spoiled it, and demanded him to fill up another, and sign his name to it. Witness refused to do so, when the prisoner hit him on the side of the head, and knocked him off on the floor. While on the floor he felt a pressure below his face, and, extricating himself, he jumped at the door, which he found locked, and the key out. While he was at the door he was pulled back by the prisoner, and thrown on the floor, when the blows were repeated, and feeling faint, he called out for protection. The prisoner said, " Oh, - you," and kicked him on the hips so violently that he thought he had broken his legs. He told the prisoner so, but instead of desisting he struck him on the eye, when it bled profusely. He and his companion then lifted him up, and after assisting him to wash the blood off they left the room. As soon after as possible he communicated with the governor. Mr. Combe asked the prisoner whether he wished to cross-examine the complainant, or ask him any questions ? He replied that he was called upon so suddenly that he did not know what to ask. He should like to consult his solicitor before he did so, if his worship would adjourn the case. Mr. Combe told him that it was a serious charge, and required thorough investigation. He should therefore adjourn the hearing until a future day, to enable Captain Hare to have the assistance of his legal adviser. The parties were then escorted to their respective rooms in the prison.
The Sun. — 1859-04-28 (London, England)

MURDEROUS ASSAULT IN THE QUEEN'S PRISON.  Yesterday afternoon Mr. Combe, one of the magistrates of the Southwark Police Court, with Mr. Nokes, the second clerk, attended the Queen's Prison, at the request of Captain Hudson, the governor, to investigate a serious charge of assault committed by Mr. Francis George Hare, commonly called Captain Hare, an inmate, on Mr. Henry Augustus Prince, also an inmate, confined in the first-class portion of the prison for debt. The inquiry took place in the governor's room, in the presence of Lieutenant Evison, the deputy-governor, and Mr. Charles Colwell, the chief gaolor. The complainant, whose face was much disfigured, and who appeared to have been much injured, said that he was a gentleman, and at present confined in that prison for debt. About eight o'clock on Tuesday evening he was in Mr. Pitcher's room, No. 6 by 3, when he heard a Mr. Gray call out " Prince, Prince !" Witness went down stairs to him and met the defendant, who is called Captain Hare. He said, " Prince, I want you in my room." Witness told him he hoped it was not for a row. He answered, " No, I have a little business with you, that is all." Witness went to his room, and as soon as he was seated the defendant handed him a paper, requesting him to sign it. On looking at it, and perceiving that it was for an indefinite amount, he refused to have anything to do with it. The defendant said that it was only for £6, when witness altered it to that extent, and was about to sign it, when the prisoner said he had spoiled it, and demanded him to fill up another, and sign his name to it. Witness refused to do so, when the prisoner hit him on the side of the head, and knocked him off on the floor. While on the floor he felt a pressure below his face, and, extricating himself, he jumped at the door, which he found locked, and the key out. While he was at the door he was pulled back by the prisoner, and thrown on the floor, when the blows were repeated, and feeling faint, he called out for protection. The prisoner said, " Oh, - you," and kicked him on the hips so violently that he thought he had broken his legs. He told the prisoner so, but instead of desisting he struck him on the eye, when it bled profusely. He and his companion then lifted him up, and after assisting him to wash the blood off they left the room. As soon after as possible he communicated with the governor. Mr. Combe asked the prisoner whether he wished to cross-examine the complainant, or ask him any questions ? He replied that he was called upon so suddenly that he did not know what to ask. He should like to consult his solicitor before he did so, if his worship would adjourn the case. Mr. Combe told him that it was a serious charge, and required thorough investigation. He should therefore adjourn the hearing until a future day, to enable Captain Hare to have the assistance of his legal adviser. The parties were then escorted to their respective rooms in the prison.
The Sun. — 1859-05-07 (London, England)

MARLBOROUGH-STREET. THE LATE ATTEMPT TO MURDER A HUSBAND.— Mary Ann Pocher was brought before Mr. Bingham for final examination, charged with stabbing William Pocher, her husband, with a sharp-pointed table-knife, with intent to kill or do some grievous bodly harm. The evidence on the previous examination was the testimony of another lodger in the same house (Frederick Burn, 32, Silver-street, Golden-square), who, coming home at a quarter past one-a.m., let the husband in, when each wont to his respective room. In two minutes after, hearing angry words overhead, he went to his own door, and then, from the upstairs landing, heard loud cries of " Help ! police I I'm stabbed !" Taking his light, he proceeded to the spot, and there saw the husband in a crouching position at the open door, his hands to his head, and his face deluged with blood. The prisoner stood within the apartment, offering no sort of help ; and the wounded bleedm ato n death.waa can `Fitness wounded man telling him he had been stabbed three times by the prisoner, desired she should be given ftl charge, andss expressed a policeman,fea r that he I theie should procuring a the hospital, the prisoner apprehended, and a searchvey e made. 3 Near where the latter stood, the knife, marked with of the blood was found, and a largo portion covered with blood, near which a man's hat lay crushed. The prisoner to seemed feel her position t acu ely, and was allowed a seat in the dock. The husband, whose head and • right eye were bandaged over, and who was evidently suffering from illness and debility, said he had been married to the prisonery eight ye arse they had lived an unhappy life toars, together. e had been for some • time a messenger at Verey's. She had stabbed him once before, but he foro-ave her. (He here corroborated the statement of the witness Burn.) On going into his room he found his wife on the bed. There was no light except a reflection from a gas-light in the street opposite. The prisoner began to upbraid him for being out so late, and said it was four o'clock. Addressing her by her Christian name, he told her it was only one. She had risen, and he then received a blow on the head which knocked him on to the bed. This was quickly followed up by a second blow on the face, and he directly felt the blood trickling down, when he rushed to the door and called for assistance. He was soon after taken to the hospital, where he had been Over since. On the night in question ho had been having a glass or so, but knew well what ho was about. Mr. James Colton Arnold, house-surgeon at Charingcross Hospital, described the wound, which was directly above the right eyeball, was three-quarters of an inch in length and the eighth of an inch in depth, and could have been inflicted from such an instrument as the knife produced. There was profuse hemorrhage. Rough, 178 C, said the prisoner remarked when taken into custody that she was sorry she had not done for him. She was quite sober. The prisoner, who is about 40 years of age, when asked, after the usual caution, if she wished to say anything, burst
The Sun. — 1859-05-07 (London, England)

MARLBOROUGH-STREET.  TILE LATE ATTEMPT TO MURDER A HUSBAND. Mary Ann Pocher was brought before Mr. Bingham for final examination, charged with stabbing William Pother, her husband, with a sharp-pointed table-knife, with intent to kill or do some grievous bodly harm. The evidence on the previous examination was the tes timony of another lodgOr in the same house (Frederick Burn, 32, Silver-street, Golden-square), who, coming home at a quarter past one a.m., let the husband in, when each went to his respective room. In two minutes after, hearing angry words overhead, he went to his own door, and then, from the upstairs landing, heard loud cries of Help! police ! I'm stabbed !" Taking his light, he proceeded to the spot, and there saw the husband in a crouching position at the open door, his hands to his head, and his face deluged with blood. The prisoner stood within the apartment, offering no sort of help ; and the wounded man telling him he had been stabbed three times by the prisoner, desired she should be given in charge, and expressed a fear that he should bleed to death. Witness procuring a policeman, the wounded man was conveyed to oa rd wwahse rfeo nt hde, al ant dt era taorocrde, p tohr tet n o the hospital, the prisoner apprehended, and a search made. bNlee knife,fthine ahredke-dcloNtNhitchs covered with blood, near which a man's hat lay crushed. The prisoner seemed to feel her position acutely, and was allowed a seat in the dock. Tho husband, whose head and right eye were bandaged over, and who was evidently suffering from illness and debility, said he had been married to the prisoner eight years, and they, had lived an unhappy life together. He had been for some time a messenger at Verey's. She had stabbed him once before, but he forgave her. (He here corroborated the statement of the witness Burn.) On going into his room he found his wife on the bed. There was no light except a reflection from a gas-light in the street opposite. The prisoner began to upbraid him for being out so late, and said it was four o'clock. Addressing her by her Christian name, he told her it was only one. She had risen, and he then received a blow on the head which knocked him on to the bed. This was quickly followed up by a second blow on the face, and he directly felt the blood trickling down, when he rushed to the door and called for assistance. He was soon after taken to the hospital, where he had been ever since. On the night in question he had been having a glass or so, but knew well what he was about. Mr. James Colton Arnold house-surgeon at Charingcross Hospital, described the wound, which directly above was above the right eyeball, was three-quarters of an inch in length and the eighth of an inch in depth, and could have been inflicted from such an instrument as the knife produced. There was profuse hemorrhage. Rough, 178 C, said the prisoner remarked when taken into custody that she was sorry she had not done for him. She was- quite sober. The prisoner, who is about 40 years of age, when asked, after the usual caution, if she wished to say anything, burst
The Sun. — 1859-02-02 (London, England)

COURT.-(THIS DAY.)  OLD COURT. (Before Mr. Baron Martin and Justice Byles.)  John Williams and Robert Frost were indicted for a burglary, Ind also with cutting and wounding Eversted, a police officer, while in the execution of his duty. Mr. Cooper conducted the prosecution, and Mr. Ribton defended the prisoners.  From the statement of the learned counsel, it appeared that the offence for which the prisoners were charged was one of a very serious character, and the police officer was most cruelly ill-treated. The prosecutor was a lady residing in Devonshire-place, Victoria-park, and early on the morning of the 30th of Nov. last was awoke by hearing cries of " murder" and " stop thief," and upon looking into the garden she saw the constable in the act of pursuing two men, who jumped upon the garden wall, and shortly afterwards constable Eversted came to her covered with blood, and produced the decanter stand that had been stolen from a cheffioner on the ground floor. The constable said, while on duty he was passing the house of the prose; cutrix, when he saw a light, upon which he went to the back of the premises and saw the prisoner Williams coming down stairs with a lighted candle in his hand. He got in at the back door and seized Williams, who immediately threw the candle down, and then the prisoner Frost came up, but on seeing the policeman he threw away a quantity of plate which he had in his possession, and endeavoured to rush past him. Eversted knocked him down, and both prisoners then made a most desperate attack upon him, and struck him several times with a "jemmy," which inflicted very severe wounds. He, however, continued to retain his hold for some time, but loss of blood rendered him faint, and eventually both men got away. He pursued them as long as he was able, and during the pursuit Williams dropped the decanter, which was identified by the prosecutrix as her property. The prisoners were not apprehended until the 4th of December, when both men, although differently dressed, were at once identified by Eversted as the men who assaulted him.  At the termination of the evidence, which clearly brought home the offences charged,  Mr. Ribton addressed the jury for the prisoners, and the learned judge having summed up the evidence, the jury, without hesitation, found both prisoners guilty of the capital offence.  A former conviction was then proved against both prisoners.  Baron Watson, in passing sentence, highly eulogised the conduct of the police constable, and ordered sentence of death to bo recorded against each prisoner, but the punishment the prisoners would have to undergo would be ten years' penal servitude.  Mr. Cooper drew the attention of the learned judge to the power he possessed of rewarding the conduct of the policeconstable.  Baron*Watson said, in rewarding the meritorious conduct of the officer he felt the greatest pleasure, in which he felt assured every person in court participated. He had shown great courage, and had acted with such credit that he should order that a gratuity of £2O be paid to him• The announcement caused the greatest satisfaction.
The Sun. — 1859-02-02 (London, England)

CRI3IINAL COUR T.- ( THIS DAY.)  OLD COURT. (Before Mr. Baron Martin and Justice Byles.)  John Williams and Robert Frost were indicted for a burglary, and also with cutting and wounding Eversted, a police officer, while in the execution of his duty.  Mr. Cooper conducted the prosecution, and Mr. itibton defended the prisoners.  From the statement of the learned counsel, it appeared that the offence for which the prisoners were charged was one of a very serious character, and the police officer was most cruelly ill-treated. The prosecutor was a lady residing in Devonshire place, Victoria-park, and early on the morning of the 30th of Nov. last was awoke by hearing cries of " murder" and " stop thief," and upon looking into the garden she saw the constable in the act of pursuing two men, who jumped upon the garden wall, and shortly afterwards constable Eversted came to her covered with blood, and produced the decanter stand that had been stolen from a cheffioner on the ground floor. The constable said, while on duty he was passing the house of the prosecutrix, when he saw a light, upon which he went to the back of the premises and saw the prisoner Williams coming down stairs with a lighted candle in his hand. He got in at the back door and seized Williams, who immediately threw the candle down, and then the prisoner Frost came up, but on seeing the policeman he threw away a quantity of plate which he had in his possession, and endeavoured to rush past him. Eversted knocked him down, and both prisoners then made a moat desperate attack upon him, and struck him several times with a "jemmy," which inflicted very severe wounds. He, however, continued to retain his hold for some time, but loss of blood rendered him faint, and eventually both men got away. He pursued them as long as he was able, and during the pursuit Williams dropped the decanter, which was identified by the prosecutriz as her property. The prisoners were not apprehended until the 4th of December, when both men, although differently dressed, were at once identified by Eversted as the men who assaulted him.  At the termination of the evidence, which clearly brought home the offences charged,  Mr. Ribton addressed the jury for the prisoners, and the learned judge having summed up the evidence, the jury, without hesitation, found both prisoners guilty of the capital  offence.  A former conviction was then proved against both pri soners.  Baron Watson, in passing sentence, highly eulogised the conduct of the police constable, and then ordered sentence of death to be recorded against each prisoner, but the punishment the prisoners would have to undergo world, be ten years' penal servitude. Mr. Cooper drew the attention of the learned jndge to the power he possessed of rewardi-ig the conduct of the policeconstable.  Baron`Watson said, in rewarding the meritorious conduct of the officer he felt the greatest pleasure, in which he felt assured every person in court participated. He had shown great courage, and had acted with such credit that he should order that a gratuity of £2O bo paid to him. The announcement caused the greatest satisfaction.