npedrazzini/19thc_murder_suicide_news huggingface dataset:
The Sun. — 1850-03-20 (London, England)

TITS.  HALIFAX, MARC [I 19.—The beautiful and secluded  . . ttle village of Clayton was on Saturday the scene of a dreadful tragedy, in consequence of a young man recently married having shot his wife through the left breast and blown out his own brains. Tne subjects of the present tragical occurrence are two young people, named Abraham and Elizabeth Jessop, each about 25 years of age, and the cause of it an unhappy and ill-assorted marriage, leading to a separation, which the wife's friends had unwisely attempted to render permatient, instead of seeking a reconciliation. The main supporta of the village are some extensive stone quarries in the neighbourhood ; and Jessop, who had come to reside therefrom Brighouse, was a smith, and was principally employed in sharpening the delvers' tools. He had paid his addresses to the girl for some twelve or eighteen months, and about three months ago they were married. Jessop had not a cottage furnished to take his wife to, and they took up their residence along with the wife's mother and sister. Almost immediately afterwards quarrels with his wife and her friends led to his being turned out of the mother's house, and a consequent separation. He had attempted in vain a reconciliation ; and the unhappy man seems to have sought an interview on S3turday evening last, with a view to putting a period to ail future stri'e and heartburning about the matter by murdering his wife, and afterwards destroying himself. After fortifying himself by taking several glasses of ardent spirits, he entered the house where she resided about half-past three o'clock on Saturday afternoon, and found her in the presence of her mother and sister. He asked her to accompany him to the door for the purpose of a private conversation, but she declined, observing that she had no secrets which her mother might not hear. Ha then attempted to induce his wife to give him an audience in another room, telling her she might relate what passed afterwards to her mother if she thought fit. This she also raused, and he then took from one of his coat pockets a pistol, and hastily advancing towards her, discharged it with the muzzle almost close to her person. The ball took effect in the left breast, but missed the heart, piercing the breast in the direction of the left arm, and emerging immediately under the arm. Before any attempt at interference could be made, he then drew a second pistol, and placing it under his right ear, discharged the contents through his bead. The unfortunate wife ran to the door and sank upon the causeway, in a state of insensibility. She was afterwards carried to bed by her mother and some neighbours who lent assistance, and surgical aid being procured and. the wounds stanched, she still survives. It is feared, however, that the ball has passed through a portion of the lungs, and that she cannot ultimately recover. The wound which Jessop inflicted on himself was of a more immediately mortal character. He fell at once upon the floor, and expired in a pool of blood—his skull being fearfully shattered. The body was removed to the Black Horse publit-hkse in Clayton.
The Sun. — 1850-10-28 (London, England)

OCT. 26.—We regret to announce that another emigrant ship has been totally wrecked on the Gunfleet Sands. The particulars are as follows : On Sunday last the barque Johana Friedrich, of 400 tons, Captain Whieting, left Bremen, with 140 emigrants and a crew of 16 bands. She was bound fir Charleston, South Cirolina, and besides her passengers had a general cargo valued at 2 000 dollars. All went on well until the evaning of Thusday last, when the Gunfleet lights were sighted, and, by a fatal error, were supposed to be the South Foreland lights. The ship's course was steered under this impression, when, at nine o'clock, the night b>ing dark and rainy, the vessel struck heavily on what proved to be the Gunfleet Sands. In an instant consternation spread throughout the ship, and every passenger, including many women and children, hurried to the deck. The masts were speedily cut away, and other efforts made to lessen the heaving of the ship, and to get her off, but all with no avail, as on the pump being sounded there was found six feet of water in her hold, besides other indications that the vessel was hopelessly lost. The captain, who throughout behaved admirably, had a number of ropes passed across the ship, which the passengers grasped in order to maintain their footing. In this way a weary and wretched night was passed, all of them expecting that the vessel would every moment go to pieces. At eight the next morning (Friday) they were descried by the crews of several smacks, who immediately went to their assistance. The tide had left the vessel with but little water round her, so that the smacks' boats could not get alongside. The women and children were first lowered from the ship's side, and, aided by several men, waded through the water to the boats, by which they were conveyed to the smacks. In this way all were safely taken from the vessel, and 140 of them were ultimately landed at Harwich, the last number of them landing as late as one o'clock on Saturday morning; the remaining passengers were landed at either Colchester or Brightlingsea. The captain and two mates remained on board the barque until four o'clock on Friday afternoon, hoping that the vessel might yet be saved, but as the sea rose she rapidly broke up, and became a total wreck. Messrs. Billingsley and Co., the Bremen vice-consuls at Harwich, paid every attention to the emigrants, Mr. Williams, one of the firm, particularly exerting himself. The passengers glrtateisfuslufpoprotshede wtahyatinthwelyiich eywtilhlreamreabineinign barque belonged to Messrs. Glogstein and Son, taHrresearytweedirc3:h until another ship is provided for them. The Bremen, and was not insured.  (Elizibeth Jones) for the wilful murder of her motherin-law, Ann Jones. She was forthwith taken into custody, and conveyed to Aberystwith station-house, until the following Monday, when the case was entered into b'-fore the county magistrates assembled for that purnoFe, at Pontrhydfendiged (Ford of the Blessed Bridge). Several witnesqes were examined, mostly the servants of Bronberllan.
The Sun. — 1850-08-01 (London, England)

CONFESSION OF BENNISON. The man Bennison, who was found guilty at the High Court of Justiciary, on Friday last, of the double crimes of bigamy and mur ter, and sentenced to be executed here on the 16th of August, has made a confession of his guilt. At the conclusion of the trial on Friday, he solemnly " declared before God, and before all present, that of the murder of his I wife he was innocent ;" and that if the witnesses had spoken the truth, " he would not have been a guilty man before their Lordships that day." Notwithstanding of these solemn asseverations, he, in a conversation with his pastor, the Rev. Mr. Hay, of the Methodist:Church, Leith—who has been most unremitting in his attention to the culprit sines his condemnation—confessed on Monday that he had poisoned his wife on the Friday evening that she was alleged to have become ill. The confession is not, in the meantime, in such a complete state as would juitif.y., its publication ; but we believe that a copy of /m it has been transmittede boepSairrtmGe.n. Bim Grey,t etheisSoene, retary of State fur theever declared, has exhibited the but's although he has unbosomtd deepestsire contritionsentence  his mind of the principal portion of the guilt charged against him in the trial, he is a person of such a peculiar disf o,ition, and so extremely suspicious of all who come in contact with him, that it is most difficult to get an explanation from him of certain pointr, necessary to throw ligbt on the case. Mr. Hay could not venture to avail himself of writing materials during the time that Bennison was relating the particulars of the poisoning. Ho was, therefore, obliged simply to listen to the harrowing narrative of the culprit's guilt; and to trust to his memory for the writing out of the details of the confession when he went home. Mr. Hay read a copy of what he had written to Bennison yesterday, when he adhered to it all—making only some very slight alterations upon it. A copy of the confession so amended was subsequently lodged with the Sheriff; and it was afterwards, as we hare already mentioned, forwarded to Sir George Grey.  Bennison states that, on the Friday evening in question, he made the porridge, and put a quantity of arsenic i❑ them. His child having previously gone to bed, and Bennison having, thti score of illness excused himself from rating anything that night, his wife was the only one that partook of the porridge, and to that her death is to be ascribed. He states that the girl Robertson had not the moat remote idea that he had any interest in her except that of a religious kind, and that he never spoke to her unless in respect to her spiritual welfare. Hs has made no confession with regard to the first wife's suric7en death at Airdrie; but as it is strongly suspected that he also ndminis:ered poison to get quit of her, it is not improbable that we may have a further confession from him to that effect.—Scotsman.
The Sun. — 1850-08-02 (London, England)

CONFESSION OF BENNISON.  The man Bennison, who was found guilty at the High Court of Justiciary, on Friday last, of the double crimes of bigamy and murder, and sentenced to be executed here on the 16th of August, has made a confession of his guilt. At the conclusion of the trial on Friday, he solemnly " declared before God, end before all present, that of the murder of his wife he was innocent ;" and that if the witnesses had spoken the truth, " he would not have been a guilty man before their Lordships that day." Notwithstanding of these solemn asseverations, he, in a conversation with his pastor, the Rev. Mr. Hay, of the Methodist Church, Leith—who has been most unremitting in his attention to the culprit since his condemnation—confessed on Monday that he had poisoned his wi'e on the Friday evening that she was alleged to have become ill. The confession is not, in the meantime, in such a complete state as would unify its publication ; but we believe that a copy of it has been transmitted to Sir G. Grey, the Secretary of State for the Home Department. Bennison, ever since the sentence was declared, has exhibited the deepest contrition ; but although he has unbosom( d his mind of the principal portion of the guilt charged against hire in the trial, he is a person of such a peculiar disposition, and so extremely suspicious of all who come in contact with him, that it is most difficult t 9 get an explanation from him of certain points necessary to throw light on the case. Mr. Hay could not venture to avail himself of writing materials during the time that Bennison was relating the particulars of the poisoning. He was, therefore, obliged simply to listen to the harrowing narrative of the culprit's guilt; and to trust to his memory for the writing out of the details of the confession when he went home. Mr. Hay read a copy of what ho had written to Bennison, when he adhered to it all—making only some very slight alter:), tions upon it. A copy of the confession so amendeu was subsequently lodged with the Sheriff; and it was afterwards, as we have already mentioned, forwarded to Sir George Grey. _ _ _  Bennison states that, on the Friday evening in question, he made the porridge, and put a quantity of arsenic in them. His child having previously gone to bed, and BQnniion having, on thu score of illness excused himself from eating anything that night, his wife was the only one that partook of the porridge, and to that her death is to be ascribed.  He states that the girl Robertson had not the most remote ides, that he had any interest in her except that of a religious kind, and that he never spoke to her unless in respect to her spiritual welfare. Ile has made no confession with regard to the first wifa's sudden death at Airdrie; but as it is strongly suspected that he also administered poison to get quit of her, it is not improbable that we may have a further confession from him to that effect.—Scotsman.
The Sun. — 1850-08-02 (London, England)

CONFESSION OF BENNISON.  The man Bennison, who was found guilty at the High Court of Justiciary, on Friday last, of the double crimes of bigamy and murler, and sentenced to be executed here on the 16th of August, has made a confession of his guilt. At tha conclusion of the trial on Friday, he solemnly " declared before God, and before all present, that of the murder of his wife he was innocent ;" and that if the witnesses had spoken the truth, " he would not have been a guilty man before their Lordships that day." Notwithstanding of these solemn asseverations, he, in a conversation with his pastor, the Rev. Mr. Hay, of the Methodist Church, Leith—who has been most unremitting in his attention to the culprit since his condemnation—confessed on Monday that he had poisoned his wife on the Friday evening that she was alleged to have become ill. The confession is not, in the meantime, is such a complete state as would justify its publication ; but we believe that a copy of it has been transmitte to Sir G. Grey, the Secretary of State for the Home Department. Bennison, ever since the sentence was declared, has exhibited the deepest contrition ; but although he has unbosomed his mind of the principal portion of the guilt charged against him in the trial, he is a person of such a peculiar disposition, and so extremely suspicious of all who come in contact with him, that it is most dia. cult to get an explanation from him of certain points necessary to throw light on the case. Mr. Hay could not• venture to avail himself of writing materials during the time that Bennison was relating the particulars of the poisoning. He was, therefore, obliged simply to listen to the harrowing narrative of the culprit's guilt; and to trust to his memory for the writing out of the details of the confession when he went home. Mr. Hay read a copy of what he had written to Bennison, when ho adhered to it 2'l—making only some very slight alterr,, lions upon it. A copy of the confession so amendeu was subsequently lodged with the Sheriff; and it was afterwards, as we have already mentioned, forwarded to Sir George Grey.  Bennison states that, on the Friday evening in question, he made the porridge, and put a quantity of arsenic in theta. His child having previously gone to bed, and Bennison having, on tha score of illness excused himself from eating anything that night, his wife was the only one that partook of the porridge, and to that her death is to be ascribed.  He states that the girl Robertson had not the most remote idea that he bad any interest in her except that of a religious kind, and that lie never spoke to her unless in respect to her spiritual welfare. He has made no confession with regard to the first wife's sudden death as Airdrie; but as it is strongly suspected that he also) administered poison to get quit of her, it is not improbable that we may have a further confession from him to that effect.—Scotsman.
The Sun. — 1850-07-12 (London, England)

JAMES'S MAGAZINE. Edited by J.  Bernard Burke.  of James s arrte,adoifn g Clanthe asctceowuanrtt, oof f tAhepptiori,ailo the year 1752, at Inverary, for the murder of Colin Campbell, of Glencow, which appears in the present number of St. James's, we were much struck with the description and the cause of the murder as detailed in the following evidence— " Mungo Campbell, writer in Edinburgh, deposed that he set out from Edinburgh on the 7th of May last, in company with the deceased, Mr. Campbell, of Glenure, to assist him in ejecting some of the tenants upon the forfeited estates of Ardshiel and Lochiel, over which the deceased was factor; which tenants, it was apprehended, would not remove till legally ejected; that they went to Fort William, and, in their return, they arrived on Thursday, the 14th of May, at the ferry of Balleehelish, proposing next day to eject some of the tenants of Ardshiel. The deceased, after waiting about an hour, and communing with some of the tenants, crossed the ferry between four and five in the afternoon. Glenure and the deponent entered the wood of Lettermore, and coming to a part where the wood was pretty thick upon both sides, se that the murderer could have easily concealed himself in the bushes, and where the road was so rough and narrow that they could not ride conveniently two horses abreast; the deponent went foremost, and might have been about twice the length of the court-room before the deceased, when be heard a shot behind him, and heard Glenure repeatedly cry out, Oh! lam dead.' The deponent immediately returned to Glenure, alighted from his horse, and also took the deceased off his horse; then run up the bill from the road to see who had shot him. Ile saw, at some distance, a man with a short dark coloured coat, and a gun in his hand, going away from him; and there was so great a distance between them, that the deponent thinks he could not have known him although he had seen his face. As the dvponeLt came nearer he mended his pace, and disappeared by high grounds being interjected between them." Substitute the name of Mauleverer for that of Campbell and the account would read as that of the most recent Irish murder. In 1750 Scotland was in the same unsatisfactory social state that Ireland is in 1850, and the necessary conclusion is, that if in 1850 we adopt precisely similar measures with regard to Ireland, which in 1750 we adopted with regard to the Highlands of Scotland, we shall have Ireland in the same orderly, happy, industrious, and prosperous condition as Scotland. We commend the attentive study of the measures, so successfully adopted for the regeneration of Scotland a century since, to our legislators. The series of the " Heroines of the Peerage" is continued, and the Countess of Salisbury, in honour of whom Edward 111. instituted the Order of the Garter, is the heroine of this month. Among the miscellaneous contents of the St. James's Magazine of July, we should select as worthy of especial commendation "The White Knight's Vow, a Tale of the Desmond Wars."
The Sun. — 1850-07-12 (London, England)

JAMES'S MAGAZINE. Edited by J.  Bernard Burke.  In reading the account cf the trial of James Ste%art, of Clan S:ewart, of Appin, in the year 1752, at Inverary, for the murder of Colin Campbell, of Glencow, which appears in the present number of St. James's, we were much struck with the description and the cause of the murder as detailed in the following evidence—  " Mango Campbell, writer in Edinburgh, deposed that he set out from Edinburgh on the 7th cf May last, in company with the deceased, Mr. Campbell, of Glenure. t) as,ist him in ejecting some of the tenants upon the forfeited estates of Ard.hiel aad Lochiel, over which tie deceased was factor; which tenants, it was apprehended, would not remove legally ejected; that they went to Fort William, and, in their return, they arrived on Thursday, the 14th of May, at the ferry of Ballachelish, proposing next day to eject some of the tenants of Ardshiel. The deceased, after waiting about an hour, and communing with some of the tenants, crossed the ferry between four and five in the afternoon. Glenure and the deponent entered the wood of Lettermore, and coming to a part where the woad was pretty thick upon both sides, that the murderer could have easily concealed himself in the bushes, and where the road was so rough and narrow that they could not ride conveniently two horses abreact; the deponent went foremost, and might have been about twice the length of the court room before the deceased, when he heard a shot behind him, and heard Glonuro repeatedly cry out, Oh! lam dead.' The deponent immediately returned to Glenure, alighted from his horse, and also took the deceased eff his horse; then run up the hill from the road to see who had shot him. He saw, at some distance, a man with a short dark coloured coat, and a gun in his hand, going away from him; and there was so great a distance between them, that the deponent think: he could not have known him although he had seen his Lea. As the deponeat came nearer he mended his pace, and disappeared by high grounds being interjected between them."  Substitute the name of Mauleverur for that of Campbell and the account would read as that of the moat recent Irish murder. Ia 1750 Scotl ind was in the slme unsatisfactory social state that Ireland is in  1850, and the necessary conclusion is, that if in 1850 we adopt precisely similar measures with regard to Ireland, which in 1750 .ve adopted with regard to the Highlands of Scotland, we shall have Ireland in the same orderly, happy, inclustriouF, and prosperous condition as Scotland. We commend the attentive study of the measures, so successfully adopted for the regeneration of Scotland a century since, to our legislators. The series of the " Heroines of the Peerage" is continued, and the Countess of Salisbury, in honour of whom Edward 111. instituted the Order of the Garter, is the heroine of this month. Among the miscellaneous contents of the St. James's Magazine of July, we should select us worthy of especial commendation " The White Knight's Vow, a Tale of the Desmond Wars."  --