npedrazzini/19thc_murder_suicide_news huggingface dataset:
The Kenilworth Advertiser. — 1876-07-08 (Kenilworth, Warwickshire, England)

INGENIOUS SUICIDE.  Au extraordinary case of suicide committed by James A. Moon, a farmer in good circumstances, residing about nine miles from Lafayette, has just occurred in that city. He engaged a room at the Lahr House Hotel, and on the following day it wss found that he had erected in it a guillotine constructed by himself, by which he had been decapitated. Where the cord connected with the axe was fa,tened it was divided, and a candle inserted between the strands, so that when the candle burned down sufficiently the two strands would come together, and the cord would be burned in two. Eight under where the axe would fall a soap-box was secured, screwed to the wall and floor, with the opening outward into the room, so arranged that the axe would come down in front of the box, the tipper edges being bevelled to secure a straight stroke from the implement. The axe, the irons in which it was clamped, and the timbers in the beam, altogether weighed a hundred or more pounds, to say nothing of the force of the fall, a distance of Six feet. After arranging the machine, the suicide appeared to have laid himself down upon the floor at right angles with the guillotine, buckled a strap which was screwed down to the floor around his thighs, buckled another around his body which was similarly fastened to the floor, put both his hands inside his suspenders—lying, of course, upon his Lack—and placed his head inside the box above mentioned. The box was filled with cotton wadding saturated with ohloroform. To keep the chin out of the way, holes were made in each side of the box, and a wooden rod ran through, upon which the chin rested. It is supposed that, having his Machinery arranged to his satisfaction, and the Candle lighted, the suicide laid himself upon the floor, arranged the straps, applied the chloroform to the cotton, placed his head in the box, and ' calmly slept until the axe descended. When the candle burned down sufficiently the cord was burned off and the axe fell, completely severing the head from the body. The head remained in the box, while the blood flowed out upon the floor and aeonlnulated in a great pool.  The Select Committee on Oyster Fisheries on Monday concluded the taking of evidence, and adjourned. Sir Saler Jung, accompanied by the Duke of Sutherland and party, visited Woolwich Arsenal on Monday afternoon. There are more than a hundred applications for the vacant editorship of a London morning paper, comprising members of Parliament, numerous barristers, several half pay military officers, and other professors of literature. The W hitehall Review says that Sir Saler Jung is about to sit for his bust to Miss Dubray, the young artist whose busts of the Princess Louise of Wales and of Lady Alexandra Leveson-Gower have been so much admired in the Academy this year. Madame Nilsson and Herr Conrad Behrens will take in the autumn a tour with an operatic company in the principal towns of Sweden and Norway. Madame Nilsson has never sung in her native land since she Left it to pursue her nunnotri studies in Paris.
The Kenilworth Advertiser. — 1876-08-05 (Kenilworth, Warwickshire, England)

THE SHOCKING SUICIDE OF MR. FRISWELL.— The adjourned inquest on Arthur Pickwick Friswell, clerk, of Howard-street, was opened at the Leicester Inn on Wednesday. The deceased had been found dead in the garden, with a small bottle laying by his side, and the inquest had been adjourned to allow a post-mortem examination to be made. The first witness called was Mr. Edward Triekett, ribbon weaver, who said that on Sunday morning, about a quarter-past eleven o'clock, he heard deceased had been found dead in his garden. Witness went to the place, and found deceased lying on his face. He moved deceased's right arm, and found the bottle and wine-glass produced near it. Witness gave the bottle and glass to Dr. Milner Moore, but received them back from him and handed them over to the police. Witness went to the garden a second time, and then found the stopper of the bottle.—Mr. Isaac \hitting said he knew deceased, who had been in the employ of Messrs. Wyley. He could . not Fay whether the bottle produced came from Messrs. Wyley's, because it was a similar bottle to what was supplied generally to the traile.—ln answer to the Coroner, witness said deceased was usually of a lively temperament, but he was remarkably quiet on Friday.—lnspector Elms produced the glass and bottle spoken of by the witness.—Dr. Milner Moore said he saw the body of deceased on Sunday morning about half-past eleven o'clock. By direction of the coroner he and Dr. Plowman had made a post-mortem examination of the body. He then read their report of the post-mortem examindtion. It gave a minute description of the body, and stated the cause of death to be the taking of prussic acid into the stomach.—The widow stated that she -had found in her husband's possession a County Court summons for 10/., and as she considered he ought not to have incurred the debt without her knowledge there was some disagreement between them respecting it. Decease ate scarcely anything on Friday, before he left home. He seemed depressed in spirits, and very uneasy.— The jury returned a verdict that deceased committed suicide, but there was no evidence to show the state of his mind.
The Kenilworth Advertiser. — 1876-08-05 (Kenilworth, Warwickshire, England)

COMMONS.—The sitting opened with a number of notices of motion for next session, and when these and a few queries had been disposed of, on the motion for considering the Education Bill, as amended, the Marquis of Hartington moved as an amendment, " That, in the opinion of this House, principles have been introduced into this bill since its second reading which were not then either mentioned to or contemplated by the House, which tend to disturb the basis on which elementary education now rests, to impede the formation of new schools, to introduce discord and confusion into the election of School Boards, and to place the management of schools in the hands of persons who neither contribute to their support, nor are elected by the ratepayers." It was to be expected, he said, that the bill would have a denominational character; but generosity, if not justice, might have led the majority to have some respect for the feelings of the Nonconformists. He condemned the attack which had been made on School Boards, and characterised the clauses to which he objected as tending to re-open grievances which should have been let alone. Government could under such circumstances scarcely object if, when the time came, the opposite party endeavoured to deal with the matter in a mode more in accordance with their own views. Lord Sandon asserted that the rights of Nonconformists were rigidly protected in the bill, and justified the amendments introduced after the second reading of the measure by a reference to the course adopted by the late Government in the bill of 1870. when most important amendments were intro. dosed long after the second reading. After a few words from Sir G. Bowyer, Mr. W. E. Forster (who supported the amendment), and Lord J. Manners, the House divided, and the motion to consider the bill was carried by 182 votes against 120. A new clause moved by Mr. Boord with reference to cases of prosecution was agreed to, and Mr. ShawLefevre's new clause requiring a statement of the income of schools receiving an annual grant was negatived.  A fire has taken place in the warehouses of the London and Lisbon Cork Company, situated at Caratnujo, on the beaks of the Tagus, opposite Lisbon. A large quantity of cork it iS said has been destroyed.  San Francisco complaips of the immense number of unemployed clerks, salesmen, and other men of that class now crowding the city and besieging business men with their appeals for work. On Monday morning, shortly after ten, a young woman made two determined attempts to commit suicide from the Thames Embankment, near Temple Pier, London. Each time she succeeded in mounting the pi4rapet, but was held book by persons who happened to be near. After the second attempt she was taken to Bow-street police station. On Sunday morning the Lord Mayor, &worn: panied by the sheriffs and their suites, attended divine service at the City Temple, on the occasion of Dr. Parker completing his seventh year of service in the City of London.
The Kenilworth Advertiser. — 1876-07-15 (Kenilworth, Warwickshire, England)

THREATENING LETTER.  Eliza Selina Woodward, of -2, Gilbert-street, dressmaker, was charged on remand with threatening to set the premises of Mr. J. M. Stevens, grocer, on fire on the 30th ult.—Mr. Neale appeared for the  prosecution—This case had been adjourned to allow the police to communicate with the friends of the prisoner, and her brother was now present.—He said, in answer to the magistrates, that he would , take his sister away to his home if the bench would , let her go, and she should never return any more., His sister in the dock had expressed regret at her conduct, and he would take her under his charge.— The chairman said that it was a very satisfactory termination of the case, and to them the (magistrates) it was a great relief. He would tell the brother for his guidance in the future, that for years past his sister had been in the habit of writing letters of a serious nature to persons in Coventry who had every wish to be kind to her, and when the case was brought before them last week, knowing something of the sisters, they (the bench) thought I they might not be responsible for their acts. But lit had since transpired that they were sane persons. It had come to their knowledge through a medical man that they were both sane, and consequently if I the offence was repeated the magistrates would have no other alternative than to send them for trial, and then they would lay themselves open to a sentence of live or seven years penal servitude. If it was a matter of temper that had caused the prisoner to act as she had done, she must under every consideration govern it, or at some future time it would get her ißto serious trouble. He (the chairman) had seen letters himself—he was not speaking of what he had heard, but what he had seen with his own eyes—vod now that it had been proved they were responsible for themselves, they must curb their temper, and restrain their feelings, or as he had told them before they would get into serious trouble. He hoped now they would be treated with kindness, and their minds relie,ed for a time, they would in the course of a few weeks or months be thoroughly restored to consciousness, as far as their acts and deeds were concerned, and that they would live afterwards happy and comfortabie. The prisoner would have to enter into a bond of £25 to I keep the peace for six months, and the brother was bound in is like sum. I Mime Woodward, sister to the above, was also ' charged on remand with threatening to commit suicide.—The chairman explained to her what he had said to the sisier. He said it was thought at first that she was not responsible for her conduct, but it had been proved by a medical man that she was. She had laid herself open to five years' penal servitude. She might have been subject to excitement, and that caused her to say what she liad,but he hoped that the rest she was going to have would put her right. The court would call upon her to enter into her own surety of £95, and her brother in £25 for six months.
The Kenilworth Advertiser. — 1876-12-02 (Kenilworth, Warwickshire, England)

THE NEW WINTER ASSIZE.—The commission for holding the Winter Assize to the counties of Warwick, Northatnpton, Bedford, and Buckingham, will be opened at the Shire Hall, Warwick, on Monday next. At present the entries in the calender for Warwick Assizes are :--Warwickshire, 22 ; Northamptonshire, 6; Bedfordshire, 3 ; Buckinghamshire, 8 ; total, 39 prisoners. Fm—On Wednesday morning, shortly after four o'clock, imformation was given at the Police Office that a fire had been discovered at Mr. Hands' dye-house, Burges. On going to the place Inspector Elms and Sergeant Harris found a considerable body of fire between the ceiling of an office on the basement, and a room above used for the purpose of drying silk. Being unable from smoke to ascertain the extent of the fire, the Volunteer Fire Brigade were called out, but before their arrival the fire had been extinguished, and their services were not required. The origin of the fire is unknown. Damage about £3O, and insured in the Sun Fire Office.  StICIDE.—On Monday evening an inquest was held at Porter's Vaults, by T. Dewes, Esq., coroner, on the body of a labourer, named John Smith, aged 57 years, living in Court 1, Hales-street, who committed suicide on Saturday evening by hanging. Sarah Smith, widow of deceased, identified the body. The deceased had been very strange in his manner of late. He had been to work in the country for the past month, and came home on Friday evening. He would take no notice of anyone, and went to bed without speaking to witness. He was very strange on. Saturday, and during the latter part of the day witness went out and was away about half an hour. When she returned she could not find him, and on going upstairs saw him hanging from a nail in the wall with a rope round his neck. Some of deceased's relatives were deranged in their minds, and one was in Hatton Asylum, but she did not know of anything that troubled him.—Thomas Gunn deposed to going into the house and seeing deceased banging from a nail on the staircase wall. They sent for a policeman and Dr. Shorter, and then cut deceased down with the assistance of his brother.—Dr. Shorter said he was called to deceased, and found him lying on the bed with the rope round his neck. He had been dead about an hour.— The jury returned a verdict that deceased committed suicide whilst in a state of temporary insanity.  ST.
The Kenilworth Advertiser. — 1879-12-27 (Kenilworth, Warwickshire, England)

SAD SUICIDE ON THE RAILWAY.—A shocking case of suicide occurred on the London and North-Western Railway on Saturday. On the arrival at the ticket platform of New-street Station of the London express, due shortly before noon, one of the ticket collectors, opened the door of the first-class carriage nearest to the engine, and immediately saw a terrible sight. Seated in one corner of the compartment was a gentleman whose forehead was pierced with a bullet shot, a revolver lying at his feet. He was to all appearance dead, but on touching the hands the collector found that the body was still warm. The collector at once locked the door and communic,tted with the guard and on the traia arriving at New-street Station, the body was taken out of the train and placed in the porter's room. There it was seen by Dr. Williams, of Newhall-street, who pronounced life extinct. He found there were two wounds in the forehead, one being close to the other. A passenger, who was in the compartment next is that in winch the body was found, stated that between Tilehill, which is the next station to Coventry, and Berkswell, be heard a loud report, but thinking it only a fog signal, he took no further heed of the noise. The deceased is about forty years of age, and is of a gentlemanly appearance. His name is William Dickson, of the firm of Crawford and Dickson, merchants and factors, of Brearleystreet, Birmingham. Under the instructions of William Chapman, one of the detectives in the service of the company, the body of the deceased was removed to the Moor-street, mortuary. We understand that the deceased put up at the Castle Hotel, Coventry, on Friday night, and when he left the next day, he left his portmanteau behind him. He was noticed by several to be Somewhat strange in manner.
The Kenilworth Advertiser. — 1879-05-17 (Kenilworth, Warwickshire, England)

SAD DEATH OF A BIRMINGHAM  MEDICAL STUDENT.  Dr. Hardwioke, the Coroner for Central Middletex held an inquest oa Saturday at the Silver Cup Tavern, Cromer-street, Gray's Inn-road, relative to the death of Thomas Pemberton Pemberton, aged 23, a medical student of St. Bartholomew's Hospital, who committed suicide by shooting himself at 11, Mecklenburgh-square,Gray's Inn-road ,on Thursday. Dr. Oliver Pemberton, E.R.C,S., consulting surgeon, of 11, Temple-row, Birmingham, said that the deceased was his son, and was a student at the St. Bartholomew's Hospital. He last saw the deceased alive when he spent the Easter recess with him. His son left Birmingham in very good health and he did not notice that there was anything peculiar about him. He had a letter from him on Tuesday, asking him if he was not coming to London, as he was going up for his examination as M. 8., and he (witness) had arranged to do so. On Thursday he received a telegram saying that the deceased was dangerously ill, and asking him to come to town. Afterwards he learnt that the deceased had shot himself. He came up to London at once, and went to the house, 11, Mecklenburgh-street, where he saw the body of his son, and found that he had shot himself with, a pistol. There was found in the room a note asking Mrs. Bristow to send to him (witness) telling him that the deceased was dangerously ill, and also a letter addressed to him in .which the deceased stated that he did not think that he should ever be able to fill the station which as his son ho should do; that he had determined to end his life, and that an existence would be miserable. He believed that the deceased had been studying, and that a morbid feeling came over him, and he committed suicide in a moment of temporary insanity. There was never a cross word between his son and any member of the family, and there was no cause for his committing this act. Mrs. Margaret Bristow, of 11, Meoklenburghstreet, Mecklenburgh-squaze, said that on Thursday morning the deceased returned home, having been out all night, and asked for his breakfast in a very different manner to that in which he generally spoke, and she thought that there was something the matter with him. In the afternoon, whilst she was: upstairs, she heard a noise, as if something had fallen, and she thought the servant had caused the noise, but on going downstairs the servant asked her if she heard the report of a pistol. When she went to the rooms occupied by the deceased she iJund the doors locked, and then called in Mr. Hayes, and on the doors being opened she found that the deceased had shot himself.  Other evidence was given showing that the deceased promised to be successful in his examinations and prospects. _ _  , . The jury returned a verdict "That the deceased ommitted suicide whilst of unsound mind."
The Kenilworth Advertiser. — 1879-08-09 (Kenilworth, Warwickshire, England)

SHOCKING SUICIDE OF A FARMER. An inquest was held on Monday afternoon at Willenhall, before Mr. Coroner Dewes, and a jury of which Mr. H. M. Jackson was foreman, on the body of William Henry Sawbridge Steane, aged 48, farmer and trimming manufacturer. The following evidence was given : Edward Steane, of Coventry, trimming manufacturer, identified the body as that of his brother. For the last six months deceased had been very despondent in consequence of losses in his farming operations. He last saw deceased alive on Friday last, when he was very despondent and crying. Pecuniary circumstances were not pressing him. On several occasions lately from observations he had made, he did not think he was responsible for his actions, and razors and other destructive instruments had lately been put out of the way. He lay in bed all the previous day, which he never knew him do before.  John Shipman, of Willenball, labourer in deceased's employ, said: I saw deceased daily for the last fortnight. Be has been very queer in consequence of the weather. On Saturday there was an awful thunderstorm, and when I saw him last night he said the weather had turned him right over. During the last fortnight I did not think he was responsible for his actions because his orders were so contradictory. About half-past five this morning I heard screaming from the house. I went to see what was the matter, and was told to go to the pantry. I did so, and found deceased hanging. I cut him down, but he was dead and cold. A chair was lying near on its side as if it had been kicked over. He was in his night-gown. I sent for the police and Dr. Wimbscley. P.C. G. Adams, stationed at Willenhall, said he was called to deceased about 5.40 that morning. The last witness had deceased in his arms who was dead. Deceased was hanging by an apron (produced).l Dr. Wimberley deposed that he was called to see deceased that morning, and found him dead. The cause of death was strangulation by hanging. He had medically attended on him for some years, and saw him on Wednesday last when he was in a depressed and despondent condition. It was the day after the rent audit, and he said he did not pay his rent in full. He said the weather was ruining him, and he was despairing altogether. He was always of a melancholy temperament, and excitable. He strongly advised on Wednesday that deceased should be sent away for a time, and that he should be under supervision.  The jury. returned a verdict that the deceased destroyed himself by hanging, and that he was in an unsound state of mind at the time.
The Kenilworth Advertiser. — 1879-08-09 (Kenilworth, Warwickshire, England)

THE ATTEMPTED SUICIDE AND CHILD MURDER AT WARWICK..  At the Warwickshire Assizes on Wednesday, before Mr. Justice Thesiger, Mary Ann Blackwell (45) was indicted for having feloniously attempted to drown her child, Jane Eliza Blackwell, at Warwick, on the 2nd June last.—Mr. Ewins Bennett appeared for the prosecution.—The prisoner had first thrown her child into the River Avon at Emaciate, Warwick, and then jumped into the river herself. Both, however, were rescued, and the child when taken out of tbe water appeared to be in a dying state. The prisoner, when called upon to plead to the indictment, said she was guilty, and begged the mercy of the Court for the sake of her children.—Mr. Ewing Bennett said he had been instructed by the prosecution to ask his lordship's favourable consideration to this woman. Not only did she throw her child into the river. hut she attempted to commit suicide. They had often before them the case of a young woman who to hide her shame took her child and destroyed it, but it seemed strange that at her time of life the prisoner should attempt to rid herself of her child, and he hoped for the credit of our human nature some good cause could be found for it. It would give great satisfaction to the public if his lordship could find it consistent with his duty to pass a lenient sentence.—His lordship said lie had made some inquiries into the case, and he proposed to see what the governor and surgeon of Warwick gaol had to say upon the subject. —Mr. Andereon, the governor of tho gaol, then stated that the prisoner came into his ett:,tody on the 3rd June, and for sometime she appeared to be in a depressed state of mind, but she was now ineerosing both mentally and physically.—Mr. Nenn, surgeon, had known the prisoner fer twenty ye:in, aud she always appeared to be an industrious and sober woman. Being a weakminded woman a fit of jealousy or a feeling of agitatien in consequence of her domestic troubles had uo doubt led her to commit the rash act. He believed the prisoner with regular habits and quiet would improve.—His lordship eaid it was a painful e,ase, but the prisoner had been guilty of a serious and fearful crime, and he would sentence her to nine months' imprisonment with hard labour.