npedrazzini/19thc_murder_suicide_news huggingface dataset:
The Blandford and Wimbourne Telegram. — 1884-06-06 (Blandford, Dorset, England)

SUICIDE AND SLEEPLESSNESS.  The circumstances attending the death of the Dean of Bangor—albeit they are infinitely distressing—present no novel features. The revs?. gentl-man was a man of considerable intellectual " power," which is the same thing as saying that he was con•titutionally liable t intervals of mental d mression. All highly iotellec ual men are exposed to this evil. A pendulum will always swing just as far in one direction as it does in the other. Great power of mind implies also great weakness under C rtain conditions. The rosrvel is not that great minds occasionally hoc 'me deranged, but that they so often asaape derangement. Sleeples nest; means nat m wely unrcet. hut starvation of the cerebrum. The brain cannot recuperate, or, in other wor is, it cannot rest. Payaiologically, recuperation and rest are t e same thing. Sleep is simply PhYsiflogical rest. The only cause for regret in these cases is that the blunder should ever he corn. mitted of sunpasing that a et mefying drug which throws the brain into • coPrlition that mimics and burlesques sleep can do good. It is d cmtive to give narcotics in a csse of this type. The stupor simply masks the danger. Better far let the insomniona patient exhaust himself than stapes, him. Chloral, bromide, and the rest of the Poisons that produce a semblance of sleep are so many snares in such c i.e.. Sleeplessness is a malady o the most formidahle character, but is not to be treated by intoxicating the organ upon which the stress of the trouble fa is. Suicide, which occurs at the very outset of derangement and is apt to appear a sane act, is the logical issue of failure of nut-ition that results fr-ma want of •ileep. It is curious to note how a sleepless patient will set to work with all the calmness and forethough;• ef in. tel igent sanity to compasa his death. He is not iname in any t ichnical sense He has no delusion. He does not .ct, or suppose himself to act, tinder an "influence." He simply wants to die, and, perhaps, not until after he has mide an attempt to kill himself will he exhita any of the formulated symptoms of mental disease.—Lancet.
The Blandford and Wimbourne Telegram. — 1884-12-24 (Blandford, Dorset, England)

THE MURDER NEAR UXBRIDGE. SENTENCE OP DEATH.  The trial of Elizabeth Gibbone for the murder of her husband at Hayes, near Uxbridge, on November 15th, was resumed at the Central Criminal Court on Frith,. before Mr. Justice Hawkins, Mr. Poland and Mr. Montagu Williams again prosecuted : Mr. Grain and Mr. 'Eckel' defended the prisoner. Mr. Poland proceeded to address the jury for the prosecution, commenting upon the fact that Mr. Grain had called no witness on the prisoner's behalf. The evidence he had put forward was practic illy uncontested, and it was upon that that the jury would have to decide. Referring to the fondness o• Gibbons for the young girl who called him " Uncle," he pointed out that differences had arisen between the prisoner and her husband on that subject. Up to the day befere his death Gibbons was in his ordinary health and spirits, and had written a kindly letter to the little girl stating his intention of going to Taunion. It was also shown that on his return he was in the same state of health. After sniper he had gone into the bedroom and partially removed hie clothing. The prisoner was there also, and then some little altercation arising between them about goi rig to see the little girl, this cheerful and happy man was stated by the prisoner to have ehaved like • madman, and to have repeatedly shot himself with a revolver. If the man had done as the prisoner had stated. then it was one of the most extraordinary and determined cases of suicide ever known. While the man was weltering in his blood on the floor. it was necessary the prisoner should at once give the alarm. To her friend, Mrs. S wman, who came in, she had made no statement, but subsequently to the police-constable and others had made a variety of statements, which were of a widely different character, Ile asked the jury whether they could believe those different accounts; and beyond that he would contend it was extremely improbable that Gibbons wee the kind of man who would have committed suic'cle. Beyond that it was shown that Gibbons was a right-handed man will, if he had shot himself, would have taken the revolver in his right hand. If that were so, it was absolutely clear that two of the wounds could have not been inflicted by the deceased. He did not contend that the woman had wilfully planned the murder because Gibbons was spending money on the child and had devised plane for her benefit, but that after an altercation with her husband she had angrily taken up the revolver and shot him : and that then, seeing her safety depended upon his not living to tale the tell, had fired other ishote.—Mr. Grain then addressed the jury for the defence.—Mr. Justice Hawkins, in summing op, pointed out the improbability of suicide. —The jury after about half-an-hour's deliberation returned with a verdict of guilty. The Judge in passing sentence held out no hope of merey.—The prisoner was removed in a fainting condition
The Blandford and Wimbourne Telegram. — 1884-08-15 (Blandford, Dorset, England)

SHOCKING CASE OF ATTEMPTED SUICIDE  BY A GIRL.  At the County Petty Sessions on Saturday, before Mr. H. B. Middleton, Colonel Stewart, Mr. G. WarrY, Mr. G. NV. Floyer, and Major-General Henning, C. 8., Sarah Vallard, the young girl who attempted to commit suicide by throwing herself into the sea at Wyke Regis, was t r )ught up on remand.—The evidence previously adduced was now read over to the prisoner and witnesses. The prisoner appeared much affected, and apparently recognised her position most acutely.—The first witness called was Mons. P. E. Tapernonx, CE., of Weymouth, who spoke with a alight French accent. From his statement it appeared that he was sitting on the railway bridge engaged with a book, when two little boys passed with a bag to collect shingle. Prisoner then came by from the direction of Portland, and by her appearance he thought she was a street ill. She continued to look at him, so he got up and walked away. her looks were very strange as well as her conduct. At first she took r if her hat and placed it on the embankment, and she then took it up and put it on again. He was afraid she was about to do something wrong, but being well-known in Weymouth he did not like to be seen speaking to hi so he told one of the lads (Hopkins) to go and tell hi not to do anything wrong, as he was impressed with the idea that she was contemplating suicide.— ..lames Watts, a lad of Wyke Regis, said he Paw prisoner seated on one of the piles, and then saw her walking in the wet( t neaily waist high. She said she should sit on the pile and let the waves come round her. She afterwards went out of the water and seated herself upon the bank, when Hopkins came, and he asked him to remain there whilst be went to call the coast-guard. Afterwards prisoner prostrated herself in the water, but she kept her head out of the water. (Laughter.)—Superintendent Gale said that on Tuesday evening, as he was returning from Portland, he was informed that a young woman had attempted to drown herself, lie ran to the railway near the bridge, whore he sew the prisoner with a number of people around her. He asked her if she knew what she had been doing, ama she said " Yes," and that she intended drowning herself. She was Crying bitterly at the time, and said that she had been out all night with a sailor, and had slept at the  Cambrian at Portland, and was afraid t 3 go home.— The mother of the pris,mer, who wan in coml, sail her daughter had been very strange of late, and eho had asked the Weymouth p ,lice to watch ivr. Witnes+ also had a son who was equally strange, and the sister had every appearance of being afflicted like her brother,—The Bench committed prisoner to tako her trial at the ensuing Quarter Sessions.—The mother, on bearing the sentence, ran screaming out of the Court. expressing her determination to commit suicide, and the attention of the police was directed to her.
The Blandford and Wimbourne Telegram. — 1884-06-27 (Blandford, Dorset, England)

STRANGE SUICIDE.  Oia Friday the Dauntv C sunty Coroner, Ur. James ruff, held an inquiry at the Hanover Inn, Hanover-real, High Beach. Essex, on the body of Tans Margaret Gibbings, aged 19 years, who committed suicide under very romantic circitmatances. Mrs. Mary Ann Gibbings. a widow, living at Nile-cottages, High Bach-road, said her daughter had been in service as a housemaid, but laterly bad been staying with witness. She had beel keeping company with a young man, and had been very strange in her manner owing to II quarrel she had with him. ()a Wednesday morning her dead body was found in a water tark attached to the prarnisas. In her dress pocket was found the following extraordinary letter t—Tneaday night —My dear Mother,—When you hear of my distressing end you will, I know, break your heart. When I got int) bed, and had been there more than half an hour, the devil paid me a vikit. He stood talking t me for some time, and told me that he had seen Charley—my young man —with anther young woman. I said to myself, " New, what can Ido I To think he who I have laved so much should leave me for another. All of a sudden I thought of the water-butt, end the more I tried to keep away from it the more the devil trikd to get me into the water. He said to me at last, " If you jump in I will get Charley to bring you out" My head is raving, and I feel on tire. I cannot say anything more. I have left my photograph in my box. Give it to Charley, and tell him that if it had not been for him I should not have killed myself. I, however, did it for the best. Now, mother, dear, what war the good of my living? I was miserable and could not be happy without Charley. Good-byemother. Givekind love to all—Your loving daughter,
The Blandford and Wimbourne Telegram. — 1884-05-30 (Blandford, Dorset, England)

EXTRAORDINARY SUICIDE IN WILTSHIRE.  • On Saturday an inquest was held at Dunge Farm, midway between Trowbridge and Westbury, before Mr. F. T. Sylvester, coroner, on the body of James Cox, 16. who was found dead hanging from a beam in his master's stable. Charles Barnett, labourer, said he saw deceased after he came from ploughing on Thursday afternoon. lie was in the yard going towards the stable from the barn. Au hour after wards, as the deceased did not come out of the stable, witness went to see where he wad, as the horses were not turned out to grass, and found him hanging by the neck by a cart-rope, from a beam seven feet from the ground ; but the drop being too long he was on his knees, showing the determined nature of the act. In answer to a question from a jur r, Barnett said when he saw deceased going az,roes to the stable he had his pocket handkerchief tied across his mouth, and in reply to witness he said his master had told him he had too much mouth, and he had tied it up and was not going to speak again. Mr. T. Beaven, the master. Was then cant d in, and said on Thursday, when the workmen were at dinner in the kitchen, deceased made use of language that he did not approve of, and he told him if he did not alter his behaviour he would have to find another mister. This, it seemed, had er offended the deceased, who was of a sullen temper, that he coininitted the r +eh act which cost him his life. The jury were of opinion that the deceased WAS not in his right mind when he committed the act, and reiurned a vrraict of 'Temporary insanity."
The Blandford and Wimbourne Telegram. — 1884-09-05 (Blandford, Dorset, England)

ATTEMPTED MURDER AND SUICIDE.  A young man named Harry Miller, & painter, after Ii eying been several days in London, returned to Guildford on Friday in a state of considerable exc;te• ment. During the day he was frequently heard to say that he "would do something," and that it was his intention to kill some one. In the evening Miller, accompanied by several of his friends, including a young man named Richmond, the manager of a tobacconist's shop in Guildford, went into a public' house, where they remained a short time. Richmond, observing Miller's excited condition, endeavoured to quiet him, but apparently without much success. Just before eleven o'clock the two young men went for a walk together towards the upper part of the town, linked arm-in-arm. Before len,ving the publichouse Miller said G )ocl bye "to Mrs. Burge.s, a young widow residing there, and told her that she would not see him again. When Miller and Richmond had entered the London.r )ad they were ob.erved to be engaged in loud conversation, as if wrangling. and Miller, suddenly putting his hands behind him to his coat pocket, draw out a pistol, deliberately pointed it at Richmond, and fired. The shot did not take effect. Richmond ran along the road toward the town calling out "Police !" He met a policeman almost directly, and they went back to the spot were they had left Miller. They fund him lying on his back on the gr nand bleeding profusely from a wound in the head, a six-hrtmbered rsvolver lying close beside him. It seems that directly aft r Richmond ran away to call the police sev, ril persons saw Mill. r deliberately ~hoot himself with the revolver, and her I him exclaim as he did so " Oh, God, save my soul !' The young man lingered until S iturday afternoon, when he extnreci. It has since been ascertained that he was paying some attention to the young woman Burgess referred to above, and that he had asked her to marry him, but she declined. She had also refused to grant him a private Me rview, which he requested on Friday night.
The Blandford and Wimbourne Telegram. — 1885-06-05 (Blandford, Dorset, England)

MURDER AND SUICIDE YEAR BRISTOL. A most determined murder and suicide occurred on the riverside at Hanhani, between Bristol and Bath, on Monday night. The Chequers Inn, close to the Avon, was some two or three years ago kept by a man named Isaac Rogers, who died rather suddenly, leaving some house property in the neighbourhood, besides other effects, all of which he left absolutely to his widow, although he had a son then 18 years of age. The widow six months ago, when she was 40 years of age, married a man named Pillinger. 65 years of age. Pillinger had just returned from Australia, where he was reputed to have made a lot of money. Three months ago the pair sold some house property. The young man, the son of Isaac Rogers, now 21 years old, went to the sale, protested against its being continued, and asserted that he had an interest in the property, and he fought with Pillinger. The altercation led to magisterial proceedings, in consequence of which the son was bound over to keep the peace. Last I week the purchase of the property was completed by payment of the purchase money, amounting to £3OO, to Pillinger. He and his wife thereupon resolved to leave England, and they packed up their boxes and made arrangements to leave on Tuesday morning. But at a late hour on Monday night young Rogers went to the house at the river side with a gunlm his hand and asked Pillinger if he were going to give him his share of the property. An altercation followed, and Rogers, raising the gun, shot the old man through the head,¶killing him on the spot. The murderer then ran to the river, jumped in, and although he was an expert swimmer he made no effort to save himself, and thus committed suicide.
The Blandford and Wimbourne Telegram. — 1885-08-21 (Blandford, Dorset, England)

MURDER AND A T TEMP TED SUICIDE. A murder and attempted suicide of the murderer are reported from Abingdon. A woman named Sarah Willoughby was struck on the head by her husband with a coal hammer and killed on the spot. At the inquest on Friday it was stated that the man used threats towards his wife in the morning, and had threatened her for some time past, and some years ago he underwent a term of five years' penal servitude for a murderous assault upon her. While the deceived was talking to a neighbour Willoughby came up and asked it she would go for a walk. This she refused to do and he then said, '1 will make you suffer firit before night." Shortly afterwards, one of the children ran into the street crying out that his father had hit his mother on the head with a hammer. On the neighbours going into the house they were met with a horriblo sight. The woman was lying dead with a bole in the top of her head, and beside her was her husband with a deep gash across his throat. The floor was covered with blood, and by the side of the bodies were the coal hammer and razor with which the crimes had been committed. The man, although unconscious, was found to be alive, and he was removed to the Radcliffe Infirmary at Oxford. During the night he made a great effort to tear the bandages from his throat and reopen the wound, , but he was prevented by those in attendance.  At Eastbourne on Saturday the magistrates investigated the charge against Jane Green, a young milliner from Hailsham, the dead body of whose child was found in a field near the town. The prisoner was committed for trial at the Sussex Assize.
The Blandford and Wimbourne Telegram. — 1885-02-20 (Blandford, Dorset, England)

CLERGYMAN IN THE DIVORCE COURT.  In the Ptobate and Divorce Lunt on Saturday (before the President, Sir J. Hannen). the case of Wodehotise v. Wodehouse was heard. This was a petition by tie wife for a dissolution of her marriage on the ground of her husband's cruelty awl adultery. The respondent answered and denied the charges. Dr. Deane. Q C., was counsel for the petitioner, and Mr, Inderwick, Q C., and Mr. Meidicon for the reepoudent. It appe,ne that the parties were married in June, WS. The reepondent "as at the time, nod is no.v, the rotor of the perish of Distingten, in Cumberland, and a' tar the marriage they lived at the reetery there up to May of last year, when the petitioner left her husband in coast quencg of he violence. The adultery is charged as having been committed with two servants. The petitkner gave details of the cruelty she alleged, which did not colonist so much of personal violence es that the respondent treated his wife with Coarse laeeuage and insinuations of an improper character. lie was given to drink, and when ehe remonstrated w th him an that point he abused her in the vilest and c 'anent manner. Mr. Inle r wick havirg et dad that he did not deny the charge of adultery. Dr. Dane eubreitted that the petitioner had made out the case. Sir James Hannon corsidered that the adult ry of the re.,p,ndent ha I Leen establi•bed, but he did net think legal cruelty Lai hen establish A. He ane pre p iced to grant a decree of judicial sire.ration, if that would suffice. Dr. Deane said the eaeo was of cone:derabl . irepor talc.) to the petitioner and her family, and he would suggest, after what his lordship had staled, that for the present Ur: pet;tion as regarded the charge of cruelty be di teed, and that the petitioner might have leave to come again and ask for a judicial sepiration. Sir James Hannen : Would not this suit you, to dismiss for the present the petition for diesolutton, with have to the petition, r to upp'y afterwards for a decree of judicial cep ration. De. Deane: Tnat will exactly meet the exigencies of the case, my lord. The appeal for dissolution was accordingly dismissed, with leave to the petitioner to apply for a decree of iudfoial separation should she desire it,  SUICIDE Br A
The Blandford and Wimbourne Telegram. — 1885-01-09 (Blandford, Dorset, England)

BELCHALWELL SAD CASE OF SUICIDE.  An inquest was held on Saturdt.y at the dwellinghouse of Teirza Rose in the p ,rish of Belchalwell, on the body of George Clarke, before Dr. Comyna Leach, coroner. Ella theth Clarke said :1 am the wite of the deceased, George Clarke. He was 35 yeare of age, and he wee a shepherd, and had worked for Mr. Phillips, of Okeford Fitzpaine, but had been out of work for a fortnight. Yesterday morning he got up about eight o'clock. He lit:the fire and fetched some water, and when I came down he was sitting by the fire smoking his pipe. He was in very low spirits, and was afraid he would be put in the Union, as he ha I no work. I have heard him say he wished he was dead. I left him sitting by the tire and went int ) Mrs. Harding'e house, a neighbour. This was about nine o'clock. I staycl away about '2O minutes, and when I came hack he was gone. I made some tea and sat down with my four children, and as he did not come in I want to look for him. The fuel-house door clore by was partly open, and, looking round the door, I saw him hanging, and I ran inito the neighbours screaming. Twelve or 13 ye:.rs ago he was for about a year-and-a-half in the County Lunatic Asylum. Arthur Malphus said : I live at Bournemouth, but am here on a visit. Yesterday, about 10 o'clock in the morning, I was close by the deceased's house, and had seen him look out of the window about a quarterof an-hour before. I was splitting up wood, and heard a woman screaming, and going to the fuel-house I saw George Clarke hanging by a rme to the beam, and sending for a knife I cit off the strap, which was around his neck, and attached to the rope. His feet were on the ground, and he was in a kneeling p with one knee nearly touching the ground. li3 was quite dead when I cut him down, but warm. Henry Bnrden said : I am a police-con,table, stationed at Okeford Fitgpaine. Yesterday mornint, about eleven o'clock, from information I received, I came here. I found George Clarke lying on his side in his fuel-house, and found the strap (produced) around his neck, and this rope with a pant of the strip fastened to it around the them. I had the body removed into his house... _ _. - . .  The jury found a verdict of " Suicide by hanging whilst in an unsound sate of mind."
The Blandford and Wimbourne Telegram. — 1885-05-15 (Blandford, Dorset, England)

STRANGE SUICIDE IN PARIS.  An extraordinary suicide was committed on Sunday in the Protestant Chapel in the Rue Madame. Immediately after the sermon a man rose, and saying deliberately in a loud voice, "The pastor alone tell* the truth," drew a revolver and blew out his brains. Women screamed affrighted, and rushed to the door. Two doctors were fetched, but could only certify that death had taken place. A wild letter of great length written overnight clearly indicates insanity. The writer, Herman Keller, a German Swiss, a native of Zurich, said that when in 1871 the army of liourbaki took refuge in Switzerland he alone showed sympathy for France by offering cigars to the soldiers. He Came to France, and desired nothing so much as to be a French soldier to fight for the recovery of Strasbourg. He had been living for six years in a boarding-house with relations, but he could not reconcile himself to abandon his idea and exist for mere eating and drinking. He had wished to marry a Frenchwoman, and two girls had paid court to him, and ultimately jilted him. He had broken his arm, which a French quack doctor had badly set, and so his dearest wish to serve in the French army was 'frustrated. He gave notice that he would kill himself in the Protestant Chapel to show that he thought the pastor a hyl)ocrite. He desired no superstitious cross over his grave, but hoped all patriotic I. renchmen would attend his funeral, or he would like better that his body might be given up for dissection so that the most scientific doctors might say what ought to have been the proper treatment for the accident which rendered him a cripple. In a postscript he said, "My uncle owes me 250 francs, of which I wish to subscribe 100 francs to the Gambetta monument."