npedrazzini/19thc_murder_suicide_news huggingface dataset:
Widnes Examiner. — 1905-06-24 (Widnes, Cheshire, England)

THE CORONER AND THE JURY.  The unusual verdict of " Felo-de-se " was returned by a Warrrngton jury on Monday in the case of John Rawlinson Savory (21),tivire netting weaver, Sharpstreet, who committed suicide on Friday morning by hanging himself. The inquest was opened on Saturday but was adjourned because the Coroner declined t) accept a verdict of "Suicide whilst temporarily insane." The only witness on Saturday was Eliza Ann Savory, deceased's widow, who said she last saw deceased alive at 9.40 on Thursday night when he left home to go to work, as he was on the night turn. She got up at nine o'olock on Friday morning but did not see deceased. She thought nothing about that, as deceased sometimes went for a walk before retiring to bed. At 11.30 she went into an outbuilding and found deceased hanging by the neck from a cord attached to a beam. Deceased was a jovial man and she had never heard him threaten to take away his life. They had been married about four mouths. So far as she knew, deceased had no reason whatever to commit suicide. '  The Coroner pointed oat that the law presumed every person to be of sound mind until the contrary was proved. Before they could return a verdict that deceased committed suicide whilst of unsound mind they must have evidence to support it.ln this case,there was an entire absence of evidence to show that deceased's mini was anything but sound, and he could only direct the jury to say that Savory feloniously killed himself. It was the popular idea that when a person took away his life he must be of unsound mind. That, however was,not sound reasoning for they might just as well say that a man could not kill his parent if he was of sonnd mind.  Sergeant Barlow (Coroner's °facer) said he had fully investigated the case. Deceased, it appeared, was seen playing with some children at the back of Sharp-street at eight o'clock on Friday morning- His brother left him at 7.30 at the works and he was then jovial and in the best of health and spirits. . .  After the jury had deliberated in private for about a quarter of an hour, the foreman (Mr. Dale, Sankeystreet) said that with the present evidence they could come to no other conclusion than that the deceased took away his life in a temporaay fit of insanity. The Coroner : lam very sorry, but I cannot receive that verdict at your hands. I won't receive it either. There is no evidence to justify it. The Foreman : The other alternative is that we must have additional evidence from the foreman of the works where deceased was employed, and others. The Coroner: We had better adjourn the inquiry then. lam not saying it in any angry or hostile way, but I have no right to receive a verdict from you that is totally against the evidence. The inquiry was adjourned until Monday morning for the attendance of additional witnesses.
Widnes Examiner. — 1905-11-25 (Widnes, Cheshire, England)

THE WARRINGTON SENSATION.  SISTERS CHARGED WITH MURDER.  At. the Warrington police court on Tnesday, Beatrice Waterworth, single woman, (31), and Alicia Drury, widow, (35), both residing at 10, Russell-street, were charged with the wilful murder of the infant child of Beatrice IVa.terworth, some time in October 1001. It will be rememoored that the prisoners were before the magistrates last week on a charge of concealing the birth of the child. Brialy recapitulated the facts then stated were that in September of this year ‘Vaterworth gave birth to a child. The day following her confinement Mrs. Drury's husband committed suicide, in consequence it was stated at the inquest which was held, of certain allegations made against him by the neighbours. The suspicions of the police were aroused Sy the receipt by the Chief Constable, and the Coroner of anonymous letters' andou the 15th inst they visited 63,Gmf ton-street, formerly occupied by the prisoners and Mr. Drury, and there after a brief search found the skeleton of a child buried in quick lime, under the pantry floor. At the proceedings on Tuesday Mr, Hallaway, deputy town clerk, who appeared to proseoute said very extensive inquiries had been made into the circumstances of the case, and certain new facts had come to light. In support of a charge of murder there ought to be the strongest possible evidence, anti he regretted, that they had not got the strongest possible evidence, as the women stood in peril of their liberty—even their lives —on ratherslight evidenee.But there WAS that, evidence,. though slight to consider. Another step had to be taken, as it was necessary that the circumstances should be reported to the Director of Public Prosecutions, ia order that he might th,troughly investigate them. He, therefore, asked for a remand until next Tuesday. Mr. Steel, who appeared on behalf of the prisoners, said he bad no objection to tho provided the Bench could See their Way to grant these miserable women bail. They had been in custody for over a week, and seeing that it WAS admitted that the evidence was very weak, he thought they might be granted hail. The Deputy Town Clerk said he wOuld not object to bail. • The Bench remanded the prisoners until Tuesday morning, bail being granted on their own security of £2O, and two other securities of .220.
Widnes Examiner. — 1905-11-25 (Widnes, Cheshire, England)

EXCITING STRUGGLE IN A TRAIN. Determined Suicide Near Warrington  A verdict of "Suicide whilst of unsound mind "was returned by a Warrington jury on Tuesday at an inquest which was held on the body of John Cooksoon (401) of 14. Portland-street, Lancaster, who died from selfinflicted wounds, at the Warrington Infirmary on Saturday. Deceased who was employed asa grocers salesman by Messrs. T: D. Smith Ltd., Lancaster, had suffered from fits of depression for a long time and on Friday cut his throat while travelling with his brother on the railway between Wigan and Warrington. At the Inquest on Tuesday, William Cookson, clerk 49, Ellesmere-road, said that owing to a communication from his brother's employers he, on Monday 17th visited Lancaster in order to bring him back to Warrington and have him medically examined. They left Lancaster by the 5.25 p.m. train and all went well until Preston was reached. He noticed his brother was in a very bad state of nervousness and having to make some enqhiries with regard to the journey he left him in charge of two railway officials to whom he explained his situation. From Preston to Wigan they were accompanied by a railway detective. Leaving Wigan they travelled alone in a first class compartment. His t brother -pulled out a pocket knife and commenced ' cleaning his finger nails. Witness asked deceased to lend him the knife and John at Once gave it to him. Deceased immediately pulled out of his pocket a larger knife and before witness could prevent it plunged the Iblade into his throat. Witness at once seized him I and a terrible struggle ensued, and it was not until his hands bad been badly cut that he obtained possession of the knife. With difficulty he pulled the communication cord,and the train stopped at Winwick Quay where he got the assistance of an ambulance man, who dressed his brother's wound. The journey was continued to Warrington, where the deceased was conveyed to the Infirmary. Mr. Hatton, who appeared on behalf of the relatives of the deceased, said that Mr. Smith, head of the firm of Messrs. T. D. Smith, Ltd., had come from Lancaster to give evidence as to his observations of the deceased's mental condition, and also as to the fact that there was absolutely nothing wrong financially, and that the relations between the deceased and his employers was of the most cordial kind. _  --Edward Garrill Smith, of the firm of Messrs. T. D. Smith, Ltd., supported this statement. Mr. Brighouse : There was no financial trouble at all?  Witness : On the contrary last week with a view to cheer him up we had a most encouraging report of a recenting stock-taking to give him. The jury in returning the above verdict expressed their sympathy with the relatives of the deceased.
Widnes Examiner. — 1905-09-16 (Widnes, Cheshire, England)

VOLUNTEER SERGEANTS' PICNIC.  The Sergeants of the Ist V.B. South Lancashire Regiment were most unfortunate in the choice of day for their annual picnic, which took place on Saturday last to Gateacre. Ile day opened bright, but fitful showers made the outlook anything but pro uising. A start was made at 1.50 p.m., about 50 sergeants taking advantage of the outing—which was extremely good considering that class firing at Altcar prevented the attendance of the stiff and a number of sergeants. On arrival at Gateacre the party, through Captain and Quartermaster A. 14% G. Potter, had the pleasure of going through Colonel Hall Walker's magnificent grounds—the head gardener acting as guide. Here again the weather intervened, the glass houses I being eagerly sought for. Nothing daunted .the Sergeants stuck the whole round and were delighted with the lovely collection of beautiful flowers which were shown. The kennels also were visited. After visiting the grounds the party left for the Elephant Hotel where arrangements had been made by the Mess President (Colour Sergeant J. Cliffe) to have their usual hot dinner. A bowling main which had been arranged had to be abandoned owing to the weather. A billiard handicap WaS immediately got up, but owing to the length of the journey however only the first round was played which resulted as follows : Col Sergt C. Russell ). 63 Col Srgt. T. Ashworth) 5G Band Mstr Richardson j Sergt Aikenhead. Col Sergt W. Woods 1,13 Sergt Woolstencroft. Sergt D. L. Owens. I" Sergt C. Dagnall. j2G Qt-Mstr Srgt Willcock 1. 63 Sergt G. Bebbington. 167 Col Sergt W. Spencer.) Mr. S. C. Gimson. The last was an extremely interesting game. The re turn was made about 8.15 p.m. the party arriving in Warrington about 10.30. The transport arrangements were undertaken by Messrs. Magian Bros. and were I arried out in their usual first class style.  A Cracow tailor named Kalinsky committed suicide by thrusting a needle into his heart.  CRAWFORD'S  CREAM CRACKERS
Widnes Examiner. — 1905-12-23 (Widnes, Cheshire, England)

SELF-RAISING FLOUR IT IS ,THE BEST. The Examiner, Saturday, December 23, 1905.  him; but I am rather puzzled. 1 must acumr, as to his actual identity. I wired the head of the Bavarienburg police this morning as to Prince Rudolph's whereabouts, expecting to hear that he was ' away ' or ill,' but he telegraphed back that he was at the Castle and had been, without intermission, for some weeks."  "Humph 1 that's strange," Ladmitted the Home Secretary: " but we must see whethet this 'Mr. Stuart' has fled back home, or whether he is someone else."  Sir Hugo took his leave: and the Minister tried to focus his attention upon other less exciting work, but failed utterly. He could do nothing but thinkof the affairs of the day and wonder what the next few hours would bring forth. Suddenly he looked up at the clock and saw that it was a quarter past five. "I'm doing no good here," he murmured to himself. " I may as well be off." He put on his heavy coat and went downstairs in a preoccupied state of mind. In the doorway he halted for a moment. "My carriage, Jennings," he said to the commissionaire: and he stood in the doorway buttoning up his gloves, while the man called it up. "I wonder they never had a go for me," he was thinking to himself, "considering how useful the run of the Home Office would have been to them. Thank goodness they won't have the chance now."  Suddenly a dark form sprang forward out of the shadow of the night, appearing from nowhere, as it were, and a revolver rang out sharply through the crisp air. Mr. Colgate felt a shock and staggered back into the doorway, falling prostrate in the hall of the Home Office.  His assailant, with a maniacal light in his blood-shot eyes, began to ascend the steps as fast as a lame leg would allow, but Jennings was too quick for him. However, before the old tsoldier could seize him, the murderer, hearing his approach, jumped to one side and, putting the barrel of the revolver into his own mouth, pulled the trigger a second time. An hour later the papers were selling for a shilling a piece in the West End, as they contained a vivid account of how Lord Branksea, the heir to the marquisate of Swanage, had shot the Home Secretary through the brim of his hat and subsequently committed suicide  by blowing out ms own Drams. It was the biginning of the end of the " White Rose ti conspiracy.  (To be continued.)
Widnes Examiner. — 1905-01-28 (Widnes, Cheshire, England)

THE QUARRYMAN AND HIS DEAD DAUGHTER.  The monopoly of the graveyard, so long defended .vith such passionate eagerness by the Anglican clergy, had been destroyed by the Burials Act passed at the initiative of Mr. Osborne Morgan. Under the new law, clergymen were compelled, on formal notice being given to allow Nonconformists to bury their dead in the village churchyard. This slight concession to justice and humanity was bitterly resented by the clergy, and he of Llanfrothen took a characteristic method of expressing his sentiments. An old qmarryman in the village with his expiring breath implored those who stood at his bedside to bury his body by the side of a daughter whom he had idolised during her life, and whose loss he had never ceased to lament. Nothing could be more natural than the old man's wish—nothing easier, it might be thought, than to comply with it. But the Vicar of Llanfrothen thought differently. He resented what he regarded as the outrage of being served with the legal notice under the Burials Act. and he took his revenge. He was unable to forbid burial in the graveyard, but he claimed the prerogative of deciding the precise spot where the poor old man should be buried. The dog of a Dissenter had wished to mingle his ashes with those of his daughter, therefore the pious cleric decreed that that was the one place in the churchyard where he should not be buried. Where, then; should his grave be dug? The vicar was at no loss for a reply. There was one desolate and sinister plot of ground sot aside by local custom for the burial of suicides. It was there where the vicar had the grave dug, and there the old quarryman was buried. Mother Church—Stepmother Church in Wales—had triumphed, and the Vicar of Llanfrothen gloated over the way in which he had paid the Dissenters out.
Widnes Examiner. — 1905-11-18 (Widnes, Cheshire, England)

THE INQUEST OPENED. Mr. S. Brighouse opened the inquest at the Police Station on Wednesday evening. Mr. Steel appeared on behalf of the prisoners. The Coroner said perhaps it Nvould be recollected that some time ago he held an inquest on the body of Mr. Alfred Drury,who committed suicide by drowning himself in the canal at Sankey. On that occasion he interrogated the widow as. to the reason, if any, for the act. He intended to place her depositions before the jury fit the adjourned inquiry,but ns far as his memory served him Mrs. Drury explained that her sister, Beatrice Waterworth, who lived with her, had got into tronble. The neighbours made certain allegations against Mr. Drury, and he was mach uns.t by them. The jury brought in a verdict of "Temporary insanity." Since then the Chief Constable and he (the Coroner) had received - several anonymous letters, in consequence of which the house where the two women formerly lived was visited. Several of the flooring tiles of the pantry were removed and underneath, at a depth of 13 inches, was found buried in quicklime the remains of a child. Dr. S,uith bad made an examination of the remains and the jury would have to find out, if possible, whether the child had a separate existence. If that were proved they would have to decide whether any person was criminally liable for its death. It was quite impossible to finish the inquest that night. The Chief Constable remarked that he intended to place the matter in the hands of the Town Clerk, who might possibly wish to send the depositions to the Public Prosecutor, but he (Mr. Talbot) hardly thought he would.  Datevtive Irsnolck state I that on iqonlay he in ceinnany With Sergeant- Birlaw visited the house, 13, Grafton-street, which was occupied by the two prisoners from July, 1901, to October 13, 1905. They were accompanied by the owner of the house, George Smith, and George lafoxey, a bricksetter. In the centre of the door of the pantry they had several tiles removed, and found the re name of the child buried in quick.- lime. : Later in the day he and Sergeant Barlow visited 10. Russell-street, and saw the two prisoners. Sergeant Barlow said We have came to see you on a serious matter, and anything you say !nay be used in evidence for or against you. We are .zoing to take you to the police station on suspicion of having caused a• child's death in Grafton-street." Neither of the prisoners male a reply and they were taken to the Police Station where they wereseen by the Chief Constable. They made the statements produced. Afterwards they were cautioned and lharged and Waterworth replied "I did not conceal it." Dury said " Yes she was in my house." The inquest was adjourned until net Tuesday afternoon.
Widnes Examiner. — 1905-11-18 (Widnes, Cheshire, England)

OUR LOCAL CHURCHES.  St. John's Sunday S:hool Annlvanary Services.  On Sunday the Sunday school anniversay services were held at St. John's. The Rev. J. La Milne, preached in the forenoon :tad addressed the Sunday school scholars in the afternoon. in the evening the preacher was the Rev. J. J. Glover, the recently inducted minister of the historically interesting Presbyterian Church at Risley, near Warrington. Speaking from the text" For we are labourers together with God," Mr. Glover said there was no gettin., on in life without work. To every man his work—that was God's great Libour law. If a man did not work, and work hard, he was soon thrust aside and fell into the rear. No one who kept his eyes open could fail to see that their cleverest wen and women were men and women of great industry and unflinching perseverance. All true men and women were called of God to do their work in the world, and whatever their work was they should seek to please God,and to honour If irn in the doing of it. They were God's fellow-labourers. God gave to each and all of them their work and he expoc.ted them to put their hearts into it, and to give to him of their very best. That was so in strictly religious work. Every num and every woman who made a profession of Christianity bore a great responsibility. They were put in trust with the gospel of Jesus Christ. What were they doing with that gospel ? It was for others as well as for themselves, and by telling others—by giving it to others, they were making Weir own possession of it all the more sure. They were God's fellow-workers, and let. it not be .forgotten that Paul spoke not to church officers. but to all church members. Officers were appointed to do things which could only be done through representatives ; all the church work did not belong to them, and the nearer a church came to having no need of officers the more nearly did that church realise the divine ideal. All had their work to do in the church. The church wanted men and women who would enter heart and soul into Sunday school work, men an I women who would shepherd with tender care those little lambs of the flock.—The church wanted men end women who would go after absent people and absent scholars, and carry the gospel to those who would not enter the church doors—the church wanted angels of mercy to go to homes of sickness and sorrow and distress. Might the inspiration for Christian work and Christian service be theirs in that church, for Christ's sake and for the good of His cause. At the evening service the choir sang the anthem "I will extol Thee." Mr. J. W. Jewett presided at the organ. Satisfactory collections were obtained for Church and Sunday school funds.—  A case of suicide occurred at New Brighton on Wed. nesday, a young German, named Hans Mantimor, being found dead in an hotel bedroom, shot through the head with A revolver.  At a meeting of the Council of the Wirral and Birkenhead Agricultural Society held on Tuesday it wee resolved to hold the Society's next show at Bebington on Wednesday the 18th and Thursday the 19th of July, 190 G.
Widnes Examiner. — 1905-01-14 (Widnes, Cheshire, England)

POLICEMAN CHARGED WITH PILFERING.  All the Cases Dismissed.  On Thursday, Police-constable James Dugdale, stationed at Collins Green, Earlestown, was charged at the Newton-le-Willows Police Court with having on the 18th October last, stolen half-a-pint of oil, value 2d., from the Collins Green collieries ; of having on December Ist stolen a sack of potatoes, value 25., belonging to Harry Bridge, farmer, Vulcan Village, Earlestown ; and with having on the 7th July attempted to obtain Bs. by false pretences from George Taylor, of Collins Green. The evidence in the first case was that the constable was seen by a colliery weighrnan helping himself to the oil in the lamp-shop, the witness asking if he was "pinching." In cross-examination witness denied being the instigator of the prosecution because defendant had been concerned in obtaining a conviction against a woman for keeping a betting-house.  Mr. ThorapsOn,° manager'at the colliery, said that defendant explained his action by saying that it would save him a walk of a mile and a half to get a fresh supply. Defendant had no right to take the oil, but after the defendant's explanation he decided to take no further action.  Mr. Browne, for the defence, said it was a Lancashire custom for constables connected with collieries to get the oil from the premises. After other evidence the case was dismissed. The alleged false pretenc, case was based by the prosecution on the contention that Taylor's father attempted to commit suicide, and that defendant borrowed the Collins Green Colliery ambulance, which, though not charged for, defendant represented there was h charge of Bs. The defence called for the production of defendant's report to his inspector, and as it was not forthcoming, the Bench dismissed the case. The third case was that Bridge's man lost a load of potatoes en route for St. Helens, and that three days later the constable asked Bridge if he had lost anything and he replied a sack of potatoes. The constable said he had found them, and Bridge said he might as well keep them. The case was withdrawn. Superintendent Cocker said the cases had come to the notice of the Chief Constable, who felt they ought to be properly investigated.  A Douglas correspondent has been informed that a scheme is under consideration for the construction of a light railway to run from Port Erin, by way of The Chasms—a well-known landmark—to Port St. Mary,thus connecting two of the principal southern towns of the island, both of which of late years have come into prominence as visiting resorts.  No Breakfast Table complete without  -sa