npedrazzini/19thc_murder_suicide_news huggingface dataset:
The North-Eastern Weekly Gazette. — 1893-04-08 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

SAD DOMESTIC TRAGEDY IN  •LINCOLNSHIRE.  I On Monday an inquest was held at the White Horse Inn, Brigg, before Dr. Moody, district I coroner, touching the deaths of Martha Deunett Firth, aged 25, George Lumby Firth, aged two years, and Ivy Winifred Rollett Firth, aged eleven weeks, whose dead bodies were found in the River Ancholme at Erigg last Saturday.—The I Coroner, in opening the enquiry, said it was one of the most painful cases he had ever had to investigate. The question fog the jury to con Sider was whether it was a ewe of murder and suicide or whether it had been an accident. After hearing the evidence they would be able to judge whether the poor woman was re,ponsiide for her actions.— George Wa.dkinson Firth, booking clerk at the M., S., and L. Railway Station, Brigg, said he was the husband of the deceased woman and father of the two children. Miring last week his wife complained of pains in her head. He had tir,-ext her to let him fetch the doctor. She objected, stating that the illness was not so serious as to require one, but had promised to go to the doctor herself on the Saturday evening. When he went home to his breakfast on Saturday Morning she did not appear so be any worse. He kissed her on leaving home after breakfast, and they had never had any quarrel sites they were married. Fie had never heard her threaten to destroy herself, and never had any reason for supposing that she contemplated such an act. When he heard of the bodies being found in the river, he went to the building in the Anchohne Tavern Yard. and at once recognised the bodies as those of his wife and childien. He was so overcome by the shock that he remembered nothing more until an hour afterwards, when he was at his mother's house, (The witnesa was deeply affected whilet giving evidence, and wept bitterly.) —Darwin Oglesby Keelman deposed that on Saturday morning about half-past ten o'clock he saw the deceased woman walking on the river banks. She was carrying an infant, and another child was walking hy her side. She seemed to be in a hurry. Aft-'r evidence regarding the finding of the bodies, the Coroner, in summing up, eaid there were no marks of violence on the bodies,-and there was no evidence as to how the woman and her children had got into! the water.—After some deliberation the jury returned a verdict of "Found drowned," and expressed their deep sympathy with Mr Firth.
The North-Eastern Weekly Gazette. — 1893-04-01 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

NEWS IN BRIEF.  pthe Marylehone Police Court on Friday week George Manners Astley, Lord !Testi ngte WI larged with indecency in Regent's Park on visrpeurrecay a—Beam:ion, and ll ued 250, or th ree months' •istir"-• nment.—Notice of appeal was given. —tie Abbess of the Convent of the Trinity in gadret a lady aged sixty-three, has committed suicide by throwing herself from one of the weeiews of the building into the inner court. In this convent, which is the olde.st in Madrid, are dtpoeitecl the ashes of Cervantes, and here the datiel aer of Lope de Vega, the great Spanish drnadist, was once Abbess. An ]iiquest WAR held limit !Saturday, before Mr paniieni, respecting the death of John Onstoby, "twee 17ody WAS found in the river at Grovehill the weeeeet evening. The deceased, who was not at Eat identified, proved to be a retired tinner belonging to Beverley, although he had for many veers resided at Newcastle. He had returned "to Peeerley a few months ago, and had been eone-.1 hat strange of late, but there was no evidence that the case was one of suicide.—A eerclit•t of "Found drowned" was returned. At in inquiet held at Preston on the body of , Ohm. Millard, aged three, who had been burned to deeth, the father etated that the mother had not been a. 40 • 1411 for 20 yea. He had had to do ,her wen , years. {II tl!,` washing for years. They had had 18 vhildreu, of NA It. an only two lived to be 12 years old, and only ewe were now living. The wife had had six months' imprisonment for manslaughter, and had frequently thrown jugs and basins at hine—A vercliet of "Accidental death " was returned, and the woman was severely ()ensured by the Coroner. St N eral disastrous fires occurred last Saturday. The !pinning mills of Maoris Rivett and Co., at Beaton Norris, Stockport, were destroyed, the damage being estimated at between £20,000 slid £ao,ooo. At Spalding an engineering works and adjoining property were destroyed, the estimatel damage being between £5,000 and £5,000; end lit Liverpool a cotton warehouse has been destroyed, which represents a loss of £lO,
The North-Eastern Weekly Gazette. — 1893-04-29 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

SENSATIONAL TRAGEDY AT  DURHAM.  'TWO BANK CLERKS SHOT.  SUICIDE OF THE ASSAILANT.  A tragedy of a remarkably sensational character occurred at Durham city on Wednesday, and as its chief features afforded a striking resemblance to several other recent crimes, the quiet little Cathedral city WM thrown into a state of consternation. At about a quarter to eleven a respectably-dressed man, apparently about 45 years of age, walked into Messrs Backhouse's Bank in the Market-place, just 1113 a clerk named William Brewis, from the National Provincial Bank, had entered with the exchanges. Without speaking a word he deliberately fired two shots from a revolver of large pattern and American make. He fired first at Fred Clough, aged about 24, a native of Durham city, and then at Mr Brewis, who is also a young man, and the son of a Newcastle provision dealer. Brewis, who was Ileaning over the counter, was shot through the ! back and at once staggered to the ground, and as he did so his assailant fired at Clough through a thick glass screen, and the shot lodged in him left arm. The other clerks were engaged in the hank at the time, and they were naturally greatly alarmed. Before they had recovered from their amazement the man left, and after flourishing the weapon he held the muzzle to 11114 head, discharging two barrels, and fell to the ground unconscious. A crowd quickly gathered, and Drs. Robson and Vann attended to the victims. , They were removed to the Durham County Hospital, and so serious was the condition of Brewis that his relativea were telegraphed for. The shot had plasm] clean through his body, and it is feared must have pierced the right lobe of the lungs. Clough's injuries are not so serious, and though the shot has not yet been extracted, it is believed that Alias buried in the muscle of his arm. For a considerable time the identity of the would-be murderer was not established, but it now appears that his name was William Ryan, and that some ten or twelve years ago he was employed as checkweighman at the Bearpark Colliery. Since leaving that employmenthe hiss visited America,andonry returned a few mouths ago. He was a man who at one time was well connected, and is now, we understand, related to some local colliery proprietors. His conduct has been strange for some time. During the morning Ryan had visited tho office of Colonel Rowlandson, the agent of the Dean and Chapter of Durham, where he enquired for employment. He WWI told there was no place available, and left quietly. He then proceeded to the office of the Clerk to the County Council (Mr Ralph Simey) and made a similar request, meeting with a like reply, after which he walked into the Marketplace. He was there seen by a woman who states that while she was behind him, he called out, "I will do it, I will do it," and he disappeared into Messrs Backhouse's bank.
The North-Eastern Weekly Gazette. — 1893-01-07 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

SCHOOLBOY TAUNTED TO  SUICIDE.  SAD STORY FROM VIENNA.  A very sad case of child-suicide has just core to light in the District Court of Hernals, Vienna. where a tailor named i;ouba was charged with hating neglected to summon medial aid to his dying child, a boy of about twelve. The facts throw a curious aide-light on the political animus that prevais bet-A eon Germans and Bohemians in Austria, and also cm the slow effects of some poimns on the human organism. Joseph Kouba, a boy of 12, and the only child : of his parents, was ties idol of his father, who saved every kr:rut. er he cou'd get he order to give the bright, gifted lad a brilliant education. He was to be sent to a gymnasium, cr Slate gra!nmar school, taught Latin and Creek, and than to enter the university. The , father denied himself the necessaries of life in order to carry out this ambitious pro;eet. On the day when the names of intending pupils are in- j scribed it is usual for the father or mother of the scholar to appear in the °lice of the head master and to introduce the boy, offering & few remarks &bent hie studies, 1 ealth, and other detaiis. Joseph's mother came with him to the director, but, as the iv a bohemian, and cannot speak German, the child had to du all the talking himself. The other boys noticed this, and when (maul,' began to frequent the gymnasium probably wade him the butt of their .431 ms. At all events, one day the child came home and declared that he would never again Nisit the gymnasium. "I am ashamed," he explained to his father, "because mother is a Bohemian and cannot speak Lerman." The 'ether pail no attention to this, and peremptorily ordered his child to go to school. That day the boy did not return home, and on the following morning he came back and told his parents that he had bought two little boxes of matches and eaten the heads, "because I waut to die." The parents were horrified, but ns the child ate his breakfast with an tm,cellent appetite their fears gradually subsided. The next day and the next lie was as weil as usual, and only after the lapse of five days did he complain of terrible pains and a burning sensation in the stomach. A physician was at onco sent for, Int it was too !late. Tee lad died in indescribable agony. This was the terrible tale narrated to the ;tidge by the father, who sobbed and groaned as he spoke. j "Whv did you not send for a doctor when your ,1 boy first toll you what he had done ?" asked the j Judge. "I would have done so if I had thought J the child was telling me the truth. Besides, im lag not ill, did not complain, and ate heartily. I Ah! be was my only child. I would have given iloy life to save him. I have nothing left to live • for now. My darling boy is dead—dead--and, what is worse still, a euicide." Hers the unfortnnate man broke down, and had to be revive-J. The medical experts declared that the symptoms of phosphorus poisoring sometimes appear only after several de -Jo. The wrelehed father was discharged.
The North-Eastern Weekly Gazette. — 1893-01-07 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

ADIRLINGTON GIRL. HARTLEPOOL. John Sheridan, seamark was —Coroner Walton last Saturday morning held charged on remand at West Hartlepool on Widnesan inquest at the Low Hail Farm, near Hum day afternoon with unlawfully wounding Joshua worth, on the body of Susannah Baker, Viosoy, seaman, on the night of the 31st alt.—The which was fotml in the Tees near Hurworth. evidence showed that at about midnight prosecutor —The father of deceased, Jean Bane; was in George-street when primmer runthed up to 10, Arden-street, Darlingbon, gave evidence him with an oath, and stabbed him ssveral fame of indentiacation, and said deceased was 14 I with a knife on the neck and body.—Dr. Biggart yews of age, and was engaged as a day girl. ; doecribel the nature of the wounds, several of he had never heard her utter any threat—John which, he sail, were half an inch deep. It was Bowin Baker, brother of the deceased, spoke to 1 probable the man lost a good deal of blood, but finding her bat and shawl on the banks of the river. 1 witnese did not consider any of the inntriee —ln mply to the Coroner witness sad he did not I dangerous to life.—Prisoner reserved his de:ence, know what made him go to the river's edge. Be I and was committed for trial. didn't think his sister had drowned herself. He Suarmr SCHOOL JUBILEE AT Hammtmermore couldn't rest in the house.—E.C. Bewick said he : —On Monday the fiftieth anniversary of the Indefound the boot of deceased near Hurworth I pendent Sabbath School, Hartlepool, of which Church. —Mr George Sparks ;S.P.C.C) said I Alderman names Graham has been superintendent he had mede full enquiry into the!for over 42 years, was celebrated by a public tee home life of the deceased, but had not been ! and concert in the Temperance Hall. The annual able to learn anythirm which would lead ' report submitted by the lion, sec. tali. J. 0. j him to suppose that she had left Graham) referred to the work of the past fifty I home through illareatmenta—The Coroner said years. There are now 30 scholars and 2a towhee-a the fact that the body had been found in the river on the books. Alderman Graham was r!--elected did not necessarily mean that deceased had coin- I superintendent, and interesting addresses weee ranted suicide. She might have fallen into the given by the Rev. W. Armstrong (pastor of the water, but the finding of the hat and shawl made it church, Councillor T. ttludd, wile presided, and look like a case of suicide.—A verdict oi "Found ;others. Tie mus:cal portion of the proceedings was drowned" was returned. I conducted by Mr W. T. Breen and Mr Murrell. ExTRAOFEJINAB.Y
The North-Eastern Weekly Gazette. — 1893-02-25 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

MYSTERIOUS DEATH OF A  CIIENTST.  A terrible discovery was made on Wednesday in Blackburn. A chemist named Walter Nielson was found at his shop inWhalley Range by his assistant lying dead across the hearthstone in the back room, with a wound in the forehead extending to the back of the head. He was lying on his back in a pool of blood. The assistant shortly before was sent on an errand, leaving Mr Nielson alone in the shop. On returning lie found the door locked, but on the third titterer): to g,t in tho door was opened. At first it was thought from the appearance of the in,uriea that Nielson had shot himself, but no weapon was found, and the ease looks suspiciously like one of murder. Apparently nothing in the shop Las been disturbed. Nielson's watch was found upon Lim, and there was a little money in his pockets. if the tragedy should turn out to be a crime the murderer must have gone into the shop, locked the door behind him, shot his victim in the back room, and left by the ,front door unobserved.  Telegraphing on Thursday afternoon our Etlaekburn correspondent says :—Little has occurred yet to elucidate the mystery surrounding the fate of the chemist Nielson. Deceased Lad threatened to shoot himself owing to troubles due to bad trade, but no we Ton can be found. The police incline to the theory that ,leeeased cc I.thitted suicide, for the key of the shop door has been found in his pocket. :Nielson a few months ago gave a wo:nan poison In mistake for /,psom salts, but forimmitoly discovered his error in time to save her life. This and trade troubles have made him at times depressed in sp!rits. Thera is nothing escept absence of wearons to point to murder.
The North-Eastern Weekly Gazette. — 1893-07-15 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

STRANGE LETTER FROM A  SUICIDE.  ADVICE ON CONTENTMENT.  An inquest was held at Sheffield on Friday last week on the body of a young man named Frank Howell, a collector for an insurance company, which WAR found in a dam in one of the suburbs. He had buen missing for a week. The following letter was found in one of his pockets : "Judge not, that ye may not be judged." A man cannot judge another. To judge anybody we must take into consideration his temperament and his whole environment That we can never do. 'Am A mad? Or is it that I have no conscience? I do not feel the slightest regret at, leaving this world. I do not regret anything I have ever done. "The evil that men do lives after them; the good is oft interred with their bones." do let it be with me: What matters it Is there another life? If there is, I am satisfied that it will be better than this. I feel as easy as if I was going to rest after a hard day's work. Death has always had a fascination for me. I can't resist it to-night. I have no inclination; am thoroughly sick and tired of this life. My life has been one long disarmointtnent. I should never have been content with my lot in life. I was ambitious, and yet never saw any possible chance of gratifying my ambition. To all who would be happy, I say—" Be content." I suppose I shall be called insane. Why? Because the majority of mankind are afraid to meet death. Cowards die many times before their death. A valiant man never tastes death but once. I long to solve the mysteries of eternity. I shall soon know what comes after death. "lii vain the Sage, with retrospective eye, Would from the apparent What, conclude the Why." Infer the motive from the deed, awl say that what we chance was what we meant to do. I have been dreaming all my life, and have now woke up to find it a stern reality. I shall be called a coward by some, but let those people think a little. Would they take anything this world can offer rather than take a leap into eternity: like lam doing? lam a strong believer in fate. This is my fate, and I do not grumble.
The North-Eastern Weekly Gazette. — 1893-12-02 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

CAUSE OF A BOY'S SUICIDE. At in ton-on-Thames on Monday Mr A. !Braxton Hicks held an enquiry concerning the death of William George Remington, aged 18 , years, lately residing with his parents, who committed snieide.--Otorge Remington, an army Pensioner, identified the body as that of his son, and ' stated that down to May, 1892, the lad was in India, where ho contracted enteric and jungle fever. On Friday morning witness called him at half-past six, and at a little after seven, upon going to the room, he found that !he was still in bed. Witnees said to him, "Didn't I promise you a beating the other night if you did 'not obey me?" The boy replied, "Yea," where-1111011 witness gave him a few strokes with a cane, " just to make him tingle • bit," at the same time ' remarking, "Now perhaps you will get up." With that witness returned to his own room, but had not been there more than a minute ! when Alma It younger boy, called out, "Daddy ! —Willie." Witness ran into the boy's room, and ! Alma pointed to the open window, and again said "Willie. Witness -looked out of the window, ! and saw the lad lying on the bricks in the back 11 yard. He had fallen from 14ft. to 16f1.—In answer to the Coroner witness said that wait the first time he had beaten the boy since his return from India. It was with an ordinary penny cane. Since his death witness's daughter had informed hiru that the boy had told her that he should not stick in the house much longer before he jumped out of the window. He was not sulky nor was he bad-tempered.—Mrs Rebecca Remington the mother, stated that her son was a good boy. Sometimes he was ditheuli. to get up of a morning. His. father had often threatened to beat him if he did not "sharpen up." He had lest one of his eyes inlndia, the result of illness, andthe frequently cried because boys in the street called after him. When dying he said, "Only you mother," meaning that he would like to stay for her sake. He also said he was sorry.— Dr. William K St. Lawrence Finny, who attended the boy until his death, said there mass, bruise 3in. long on the right arm, which might have been caused by a stick, but the other bruises on the body were the result of the fall from the window. The cause of death WSW fracture of the skulk—the Ivry returned a verdict of suicide while temporarily Insane.
The North-Eastern Weekly Gazette. — 1883-10-27 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

THE SERIOUS CHARGE AGAINST  A SURGEON. SUICIDE OF THE ACCUSED.  At the Hammersmith Police Court on Tuesday, Mr Shiel proceeded with the charge against Mr Dalton Adolphus Haffenden, surgeon, of Bath-place, Kensington, and Mrs Julia Blearn Hardie, of 128, Gold hawk-road, Shepherd's-bush, for being concerned in procuring 1 abortion. Mr Poland conducted the prosecution on behalf of the Public Prosecutor. Upon the case being called on, the female prisoner entered the dock alone, and Mr E. Clarke, Q.C., who had been retained to defend the male prisoner, said he appeared under very painful circumstances. He came with the confident conviction that he should be able fully to vindicate Dr. Haffenden, but he regretted to state that the defendant had removed himself from that tribunal, having that morning committed suicide. For the consolation of Dr. Haffenden's numerous friends, he had left behind him in writing statements to the effect that he was innocent of the charge. The female prisoner here remarked, "He was innocent."—Mr Stephen Noekolds, medical practitioner, residing in Goldbawk-road, deposed that Mrs Hardie told him that her husband did not like children, and that she asked Dr. Haffenden to mike the operation.—The case was again adjourned.— Much commiseration is felt for the family of Dr. Haffenden. The following is is copy of the writing left by deceased, and referred to by Mr E. Clarke, QC., who represented him at the Hammersmith PoliceCourt:—"My own Darling Wife,—The fearful disgrace that has come upon us is more than I can endure; it drives nie mad. I must be utterly ruined, and can be of no help to you in any way. You will be far better without me, my own darling, whom I have loved so fondly. Oh, this suspense is , most awful. How can, I ever lire under the I snspicion of this foul charge of which I am perfectly innocent ?"
The North-Eastern Weekly Gazette. — 1883-12-01 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

SHOCKING TRAGEDIES. . DOUBLE M.URDER AND SUICIDE IN SCOTLAND. At the village of Kirkfield Bank, near Lanark, on Friday night week, a young man , named William Brown murdered two young women, and then committed suicide. The names of the murdered women are Charlotte Spiers, aged 36, and Catherine Hamilton, aged 16. The crime was committed between ten and eleven o'clock, when the inhabitants of the village had for the.most part retired to bed. The first intimation of the tradegy was from a named Geo. Kay, of the Station Hotel, who had been at Kirkfield Bank with a party, and he observed something like a person lying on the roadside. On returning he stopped and found that it was the lifeless body of a woman with her throat cut. He raised the alarm, and the neighbours turned out, when it was found that deceased's body was that of a Mrs Spier. At , the same time it was found the servant girl, Catharine Hamilton, was lying in a dying state at the door of the house of Geo. Elder, wheelwright, where she had been knocking for about half an hour. The inmates heard a faint tapping but as no one spoke they did not open the door. The postilion hastened to Lanark, and gave the police intimation of the sad affair. Catherine Hamilton was found to be still alive, and waslremoved into Mr Elders house. She being unable to speak, wrote with a pencil "Willie killed us both." The unfortunate girl died early on Saturday morning. On examining Brownville House the body of the murderer was found on the lower flat of the house, and a sharppointed new knife was found near it. He being a medical student, it is thought the knife was used in surgery. A large pool of blood was found inside the outer door of the house. The girl's hand was much cut, as if in warding the fatal thrusts. No motive whatever can be assigned for the deed. It is said the murderer Brown was suffering from insanity. He had been seen lately walking in the garden speaking and laughing to himself. The event has caused great excitement in the village and neighbourhood.  cintailrir,