npedrazzini/19thc_murder_suicide_news huggingface dataset:
Glasgow Courier. — 1845-02-27 (Glasgow, Strathclyde, Scotland)

HORRIBLE MURDER AND HIGHWAY ROBBERY OF  A GENTLEMAN AT HAMPSTEAD.  Throughout Saturday the usually quiet and most respectable suburban hamlet of Hampstead was thrown into a state of the most painful and intense /excitement by the discovery of a murder end highway robber"! in its immediate vicinity, which, for cold-blooded atrocity and brntali*, has not for many years been equalled. It appeen that, about 20 minutes past seven o'clock on Friday evening, Mr. Hilton, baker, of West. End, was proceeding along the Finchley-road, in the direction of the Swiss Cottage, in his cart, when his attention was suddenly attracted by hearing screams of distress and distinct cries of 'murder" proceeding from the direction of the pathway leading towards BellsizePark. At this moment he observed a gentleman, who turned out to be Mr. Hilburn, jun., the son of a gentleman residing in Haverstock-terrace, Haverstockhill, coming from the direction of the Swiss Cottage, and about to take the path from the road in the direction from whence the sounds had proceeded. Mr. Hilton at once told him what he had beard, and added to Mr. Kilburn, "If you see about it, I will at once drive to the Swiss Cottage and follow you." Mr. Hilburn proceeded io the direction of the stile above referred to, which was his direct road to his own residence, and on reaching it was horrorstricken at seeing the body of a man lying on the ground on the other side. His cries reached the can of Sergeant Fletcher, of the S diviLion, who was oo duty near Haverstock Terrace, and who, accompanied by police constable Abbott, hastened in the direction of the cries, and shortly after were joined by several other persons from the Swiss Cottage. The body of a man was then discovered about three yards on the Hampstead side of the stile, lying on his face In a pool of blood. He was quite dead, but still warm, and the blood was pouring from a frightful gash inflicted by some sharp instrument over the right eye and temple and from the back of the skull, which was literally dashed in, and caused the brain to protrude. The pockets of the deceased were some of them turned inside out, and it was evident from the appearance of the waistcoat left-hand pocket that deceased had been in the habit of wearing a watch, which was gone. Nothing whatever was found on his person with the exception of an envelope, with the superscription "1. Cooper, Esq., Hampstead-road." In consequence of the solidity of the ground occasioned by the intense frost no traces:of footsteps or of struggling were discernible, but the deceased had evidently died very hard, and had fallen once or twice before he fell on the spot where he was found. Every means has been used by Hunt, the summoning officer, to lead to the murdered gentleman's identity, but opts ten o'clock last night wholly without success, for he had not then been owned. In the meanwhile the coroner has ordered • post stork= examination of the body to take place—Sunday Observer.
Glasgow Courier. — 1845-02-11 (Glasgow, Strathclyde, Scotland)

THEATRICAL CRIMPING.  Nearly a oentnry after this period (1663), David Garrick purchased a share of the property (Drury Lane Theatre). He discovered that the company required considerable recruiting in the very lowest rank of actors; and in the choice of these, be employed a whimsical fellow about the theatre—his name was Stone. He was a sort of theatrical crimp; he had much humour, but never conld be prevailed upon to open his mouth on the stage. Whenever this caterer brought a person who was permitted to make an essay, whether soomisaful or not, be had a certain sum given for his trouble, and, for some years, this man (who had acquired the name of Garrick's crimp serjeant) made, in this kind of service, a tolerable subsistence. A variety of letters passed between Garrick and Stone during the course of their professional negotiations; some of which letters are extant, and in the heeds of the curious collectors of such literature. Amongst them are the following, which we have seen, written in 1748:—" Thursday, noon.—Sir, Mr. Lacy turned me out of the lobby, and behaved very ill to me. I only axed for my two guineas for the last bishop, and he swore , I shouldn't haves farthing. I can't live upon the air. I have a few cupids you may have cheap as they belong to a poor journeyman shoemaker, whom I drink with now and then.-1 am your humble servant, W. Stone." The following is the answer in Garrick's well-known band:—" Friday, noon—Stone, you are the best fellow in the world. Bring the cupids to the theatre to-morrow. If they are under six and not bandy-legged,. you Abell have a guineas piece for them. Mr. Lacy will pay you himself for the bishop. He is very penitent for what he has done. If you can get me two murderers, I will pay you handsomely, particularly the spouting fellow who keeps the apple stall on Tower Hill, the cut across the face is quite the thing we want. Pick span alderman or two for' Richard the Third' if you can, and I have DO objection to treat with you about a lord mayor, in case Dunstan should be absent without leave. The barber will not do for dumb Brntus, although I shall make useof him,, ' Crook-Soger'd Jack.' —David Garrick."—There is another of Mr. Crimp Serjeant Stone's letters, to the following effect:—" Sir: The Bishop of Winchester is getting drunk at the Bear, and swears he'll not disgrace his family by going on the stage with you to-night. l'as yours, W. Stone." To which Garrick sent. the following very laconic reply :—" Stone, the bishop may go to the devil; I don't know a grouter rascal—except yourself." The person alluded to as the bishop was procured by Stone, and had rehearsed the part of the Bishop of Winchester, in the play of " Henry the Eighth," to the satisfaction of the fastidious Garrick; the fellow, however, never played the part, for the reason assigned in the laconic epletle.—Aneedoter of Actressu.  E
Glasgow Courier. — 1845-09-23 (Glasgow, Strathclyde, Scotland)

DREADFUL MURDERS AT BUENOS AYRES.  The Buenos Ayrean papers received by the Sultana bring accounts of several atrocious murders committed in or near that blood-stained city, and amongst them of the butchery of all the, members of a Scottish family named Kidd, who were slaughtered in their own house, in the country, in the district of San Vicente, not far from General Rosati' country Beat. This family consisted of not less than nine persons, including several young children; but neither childhood nor innocence is any protection in a country in which murder has been reduced to a system and made a common instrument of governing. It is impossible to tell, from the few particulars given in the Buenos Ayrean papers, whether thie. atrocity was perpetrated by ordinary villains for the purpose of' plunder, or whether it was perpetrated by the cut-throats laths payment of the vilest Government on the face of the au* M. terrify Europeans resident in the Republic. The following an all the particulars which we can gather from the Buenos Area papers : " A most horrible murder of a whole Scottish family (oaaloii. Kidd) of nine persons, adults and children, lies bemapscrieraM, in the district of San Vicente. The Jades of Paw se the P trict immediately advised the Chief of Police of tin event, on the same day (276),forwarded &note to the Judge in min; cases, and informed the Governor. His Excellency ordered, on the same day, that the Justice of Peace should continue the diligent researches which he had no doubt the Justice had hitherto made to discover and apprehend the barbarous wretches, holding him seriously responsible for the least neglect; that circulars should be forwarded to all the Justices of the Peace of the country districts, besides those which had been sent by that of San Vioente; and that the chief of police should redouble his investigations and researches for the discovery and apprehension of the ferocious murderers. On the some day (27th), an individual was apprehended on suspicion in the city, and placed in the public jail, at the disposal of the judge in criminal cases, who will occupy himself in this matter in preference to every thing. We know that the greatest activity and zeal prevail in order to arrive at the discovery and exemplary punishment of the authors and perpetrators of this atrocious crime, to the end that justice and public security may be satisfied." Since the above article was in type, we have seen a gentleman who learned all the particulars of this monstrous crime from one of the first persons who entered the house after it was committed. He informs us that Mr. and Mrs. Kidd were found in bed with their throats cut from ear to ear; that the nurse, a young woman of was found dead on the floor, also with her throat 'ant child which had been mara little boy about four years of ' d to escape, was found behind the I from his body, and that everyothalr butchered in the same manna. "el belief was that this eared and was the result oft' Roam has t•  twenty, ”I clinging  infant  attempte v severed t  been  _ universal
Glasgow Courier. — 1845-12-02 (Glasgow, Strathclyde, Scotland)

POSSESSION OF BORNEO.  We believe, on good authority, that the British Government has determined to establish a military and naval station on the island of Borneo. This, of course, is a prelude to the sovereignty being claimed; and, indeed, the only wonder is that Britaii: should have so long been indifferent to a possession which of all others connected with its trade to the East is the most important. The latest Singapore journals state that her Majesty's steamer Driver had departed for Borneo, having on board as passengers Capt. Bethune and Mr. Henry Wise, charged by the English Government with a special mission, the object of which was unknown. The steamer was to touch successively at three points of the coast; first, at Sarawak; then at Borneo Proper, where the commander had orders to confer with the Sultan of the country; lastly, at Polo Subuwau, where there is an intention to establish a depot of coal for the steam-boats which work between Ceylon and China; and we find in a late number of the Afaurieien some further remarks, which we consider of sufficient interest to translate and publish:—" The island of Borneo cannot much longer resist the power of civilisation. The rapid developmefo. the commerce of the straits since the events of f"-'  clevelopmenf Of • Cluna,_aley, I  , still more, the insecurity of the navigation in sight of the °oasts of Borneo, where, from time immemorial, the population has exercised no other employment than piracy, have directed the attention of the English and Dutch Governments towards this island, which, from its vast extent, may almost be called a continent. Its riches, its resources, and the fertility of its soil, were already vaguely known, and are becoming daily more so by the expeditions in pursuit of the pirates, with whom for the last three years a severe struggle has been maintained, though as yet with very uncertain advantage. However, the coasts and rivers, of which there was but an imperfect knowledge, are thus explored and developed; and thence to the occupation and colonization of part of the island of Borneo the distance is not far. The most insignificant occurrence may furnish the pretext and the opportunity. Great Britain will doubtless be the first to profit by it, notwithstanding the pretensions of Holland to the sovereignty of a part of Borneo. She has enforced respect to her flay, carrying fire and sword into the retreats of the Malay pirates, or taking vengeance for the murder of the Hon. Erskine Murray, committed by the of the Sultan of Poti. Two of our ships, the frigate and the steam-vessel Phlegethon, are cruising -.I on the coasts of Borneo, less for hydrographic purposes than to open a relation with the Rajahs, who, divided among themselves, are ready to sell themselves to the strongest. The first steps towards the establishment of a foreign colony are generally founded on the divisions of the natives. From the last Singapore journals we see that the commanders of the Samarang and Phlegethon are already making the first advances, having succeeded in commutn. . • . _ Borneo; they have - bi.vows"'
Glasgow Courier. — 1853-12-10 (Glasgow, Strathclyde, Scotland)

NORTHERN CIRCUIT.  Livr.loooL, Dec. 7.—Nicholas Jackson Nattross, aged 32, was charged with having, on the high seas, and within the jurisdiction M the Admiralty of England, unlawfully and feloniously shot at George 'Wake, with intent to kill and murder him. Mr. Monk and Mr. Aspinal appeared for the prosecution; and Mr. Dighy Seymour defended the prisoner. The prisoner was the captain of a merchant vessel called the 3fatanza, and the prosecutor was a seaman on board that ship  The prosecutor, George Wake, stated that he was a seaman belonging to Sunderland, and that in March last he engaged as a seaman on board the Matanzas, bound for Rio. All the crew quitted at that port except an apprentice and a man named Macdonald. They got a , fresh crew, and sailed from Rio to Bahia, and running short of water they put back to Rio. Having got water they sailed again, and shortly after got on a reef in a fog, and a dispute took place between the prisoner and the apprentice. In 20 days they got to Bahia, where they took on board a cargo, and more quarrels taking place, the apprentice and the crew applied to the consul, who discharged the apprentice. After that a quarrel took place, and when they were loaded, they went to a place where ships lay to clear out. There was motor stowed in the prisoner's cabin, and the eheio eala. ;., Om, berths, in consequence of which two of the men refused to work, and went down below. On Sunday the 26th of June last, he sent to the prisoner ant asked if he was going to sea, and if he was going to get men in the place of those who were off duty, as they said that they would rather suffer death than go to sea, and that he (witness) would not go to sea himself. Two other men were got. The prisoner said that he would make them work when he got them to sea; and the witness replied, ' I know how you will make them work.' The witness then went down to breakfast, and shortly after he was sent for by the prisoner, upon which he went up, and the, prisoner asking him to weigh the anchor, lie replied that he would not until they got the complement of hands. The prisoner I then said, Will you weigh anchor for my sake, George? The witness said 'No; and the same question and answer were repeated. Upon which the prisoner pulled out a pistol, and said, 'Then take that,' and fired, and the ball entered his (witness's) shoulder. The prisoner and the witness were about three yards off, and the latter had slewed round, or he would have received it In his heat. The prisoner then took out two more pistols and presented them at the other two nice, who then said that they were willing to weigh the anchor. The witness then asked for the boat, which the prisoner refused; but subsequently the chief mate allowed hint the boat, and he was taken ashore. The Jury returned with a verdict of guilty with intent I to do grievous bodily harm. His Lordship then sentenced the prisoner to eighteen months imprisonment with hard labour,  lying
Glasgow Courier. — 1853-01-04 (Glasgow, Strathclyde, Scotland)

MURDER.  At the York assizes lint week James Barbour was sentenced to death for the murder of Alexander Robinson, a travelling draper and a comrade of the murderer's. Since his trial Barbour has made a statement denyinig any participation in the crime, or any knowledge of until three day' after the murder was committed. The statement was made on Tuesday, the day after the trials in presence of the Rev. Thomas Sutton, the chaplain of York Castle, and Mr. Dixon of Bury, a friend of Barbourn brother, who, on his behalf, had been present at the trial. It was taken down in writing by the chaplain, and was read over to Barbour and signed by him, but it is said to be open to so many contradictions that It is utterly Impossible to reconcile it with the facts of the case. The gist of the whole story is, that he was no party to the murder, and knew nothing of it until M'Cormeek showed him the pistol, and told him that was the weapon that had done for Robinson, and at the same time swore him to secrecy. He attempts to explain away that portion of the evidence which told with such dawning effect against hi nself on the trial—thafrof being seen in possession of the deceased's pack within half anliour, and his watch withiu an hour and a half of the time that the murder was committed —hy the story that he was walking on Suffolk road, when he met M'Cormack, who gave him the pack, and told him to leave it at the Royal Standard till called for, and afterwards when they met at the Rein Deer, he also gave him the watch. Barbour drew a plan of the locality where the pistol was secreted,' copy of which was forwarded to Mr. Raynor, chief constable of Sheffield, together with a brief' statement of the purport of the pretended confession made by Barbour. Mr. Raynor received this commanication on the morning of Christmas day, and proceeded himself personally to examine the lo- • cality described by, Barbour. So accurate was the description of the place, that Mr. Raynor in a few minutes discovered the stone which covered the hole in which the pistol was secreted. On removing the stone he diecoverei a parcel, Which, on opening, he found to contain a single-barrelled pistol, a paper containing gunpowder, and another paper containing a quantity of shot, of the some size (No. 4) as those found in the brain of the de , re and Robinson. This pistol was apparently a new one, of a common description, but from exposure for nearly four months to the ram, was covered with rust. It was unloaded. It is said that the only material portion of the statement to which any credence can be given is that disclosing the hiding-place of the pistol • but this only tends to confirm the correctness of the vrdict, by show. ing from his own admission that at least he knew of the murder, and was privy to secreting the deadly weapon with which it had been committed. The execution, will take place at noon on Batatday, the Bth of Januar,:
Glasgow Courier. — 1853-03-19 (Glasgow, Strathclyde, Scotland)

PARTY RIOT AT CASTLEDANSON. The sanguinary party riot that took place at Castledamson, in the county Derry, on Christmas-day last, was made the subject of three trials at the assizes in Londonderry on Saturday. In the first, eight Roman Catholics were arraigned for riot and grievous assault. Counsel for the prosecutors proposed to let the prosecution drop, as it was an unpremeditated party riot, for which all concerned were. sorry. They had no real animosity  _ towards each other. The Crown refused to entertain this proposition, and the trial proceeded. It appeared from the evidence that one of the Protestant party, named Rook, on Christmas evening, was returning home through Castledewaon with his gull, having been out shooting; that he was assailed by a number of persona who attempted to wrest the gun from him. A conflict thereupon ensued, at which the parties on both sides assembled in large numbers. The riot assumed a very miens aspect; swum were thrown, and subsequently shots tired, by whieh two of the Protestadt party and three of the Roman Catholics were seriously wounded. A number of witnesses were examined, and four of the prisoners were found guilty. The Protestant party, James Hewaton, and four others, were then placed at the bar, and smeral witnesses examined. I. he prisoners were acquitted. William Hewston (one of the pridaners of the Protestant party), who was acquitted of the riot at Castleda wacin, was arraigned for shooting at Mary Brown, with intent to kill and murder her. The same witnesses were produced by the Crown as appeared yesterday in support of the riot. The jury acquitted the prisoners without leaving the box. —l- ON JUDGR At the Tralee assizes on Saturdavi 1 Connor was sentenced by Mr Justic 1-. imprisonment, with hard labour, for obbery. ment his Lordship had concluded the entence, took from his pocket a stone of tws or thrweight, and hurled it violently at theheadijudge, who fortunately observed the'action forward to the bench. The stone s ruck ' heavily, on the shoulder. The prisoner having been removed from the bar, Judge PERRIN, addressing the governor of the jail, said that it was highly improper that arrangements were not made to prevent such occurrences taking place. It was not the brat time that similat easidlturere made on the judges in the discharge of their dittf; and it should be known that the jailors throunfidnt the °wintry were empowered to search the p Thera before they came into court, and not leave it in e power of any prisoner to art as the prisoner in the esent case had done. The GOVERNOR of the Aix said that such a circumstance had never before urred in the county Kerry, and that it was the precti of the jail to search the mi-1 miners before taking the into court. One of the turnkeys, o removed the prisoner, here came into court, and slat that he had just ascertained that the stone thrown a his Lordship by the prisoner, who had been searched t t morning before leaving the jail, had been taken out the wall of the cell under the dock. Mr.