npedrazzini/19thc_murder_suicide_news huggingface dataset:
The Warwickshire Herald. — 1888-05-03 (Birmingham, West Midlands, England)

SUICIDE OF A BOYISH LOVER. An inquest has been held at Brighton on the body of Horace Cuthbert Hopwood, aged 15, who committed suicide by juir ping into the sea from one of the gr.) nes. The deceased was seen on the concrete groyne steps about half-past 11 at night. A person went towards him and he WAS heard to say, "God forgive her"' and at once threw himself into the sea. The deceased's father, who lives at Stoke Newington, identified the body,and stated that the deceased lived with him, and was a clerk in a foreign shippinfi office. He had no trouble at all, and was always pleasant at home. He had never before absented himself from home. Upon the deceased was found the following letter from a girl, who, it was stated, was very young. The coroner read the letter, which was as follows :—" My dearest Horace,—Thank you very much for all your jolly letters. You must think me very unkind for never having answered them before this, but I so very rarely get a chance of writing. There is always some one watching us. Thanks very much for How to kiss.' It came in very useful to a friend of mine. I think Gel tie is very wise not writing to Harry Bird. as she has so often been found out. I think I shall follow her example. We have had to go to church every day this week. Don't you pity us? It was very naughty of Marion to give you that piece about the choir boys. I shall be jealous if she writes anything more to you. I must end this letter, as I shall be practising my violin, and Miss Wyatt will be kicking up a row. So you will eNcuse this short letter, so different from your long one. Adieu! mon cher Horace! Te reste, toujours votre affectionnee, "
The Warwickshire Herald. — 1888-11-15 (Birmingham, West Midlands, England)

EXECUTION OF AN AGED MURDERER. Levi Richard Bartlett was executed on Tuesday in Newgato Prison for the wilful murder of his wife. The convict was 66 years of age. He and his wife kept a small general shop at Poplar. He had been drinking heavily, and asked his wife to give him money to get more drink, which she refused to du. This irritated him, and he threatened that he would kill her before the day was over. He got a hammer weighing eight pounds out of the 'coal cellar, attacked the unfortunate woman while she was lying in bed, and literally beat out her brains. He then tried to cut her throat, and made a desperate attempt to commit suicide. At t lie trial an attempt was made to set up a plea of insanity, but it was evident that his condition was solely owing to drink. A memorial was sent to the Home Office, asking for a commutation of the capital sentence on the ground of Bartlett's age and his mental condition, but without avail. The under-sheriffs arrived at the prison shortly before 8 o'clock. Bartlett was asked whether he desired to say anything, and he replied that he only wished his love to be given to his relatives. He at the same time thanked the officials for the kind manner in which they had behaved to him. Berry, the executioner, was then introduced, and the man was pinioried. He walked to the scaffold without any assistance. He had slept soundly for several hours during the night, and appeared to be refreshed. A rather shorter drop than usual was given to him, but he appeared to die instantly. Upon subsequent examination, it was discovered that the rope had only very slightly torn open the wound he had inflicted on his throat.  DARING ROBBERY IN A STATrON. Mr. Long, of the Somerset County Herald, who had been in London during the week collecting accounts, and had reached Paddington Railway Station, on his way home, went into lie telegraph office for the purpose of despatching a couple of telegrams. He there deposited his bag, containing a number of cheques, upon the desk by his side. He had written one message, and was in the act of writing the second, when a stranger entered, snatched up the bag, and rushed out through the door. An alarm was raised, but before any one could realise what had occurred the thief had got clear away. The cheques were of considerable value.
The Warwickshire Herald. — 1888-02-16 (Birmingham, West Midlands, England)

CURIOUS LAND TENURE.  The United States Consul at Sivas, in Asia Minor, in a recent report on his district, describes the various tenures of land there—such as state lands, freeholds, grants to public buildings, &c., and, finally, describes another sort of tenure, called merat, which is determined in a manner truly Oriental. It relates to small pieces of state lands situated between the boundaries of villages. The theory of this species of tenure is that the pasture or common land of a village should not extend more than a certain distance, so that quarrels with the neighbouring villages may be avoided. This limit is ascertained in this way, One of the villagers, standing on the steps or mirarebt of the mosque, calls out at the top of his voice. The point beyond which his voice cannot be heard is the limit of the village property and common pastur• age. At the neighbouring village the same performance is gone through, and the land between the two points is merat, and belongs to Ow State.  SUICIDE OF A DESPONDENT LOVER, An inquest has been held at Liverpool as to the death of Charles Manley, aged 25, a theatrical manager. It was reported that he had coinmittad suicide in consequence of an engagement having been broken off between him and a young lady employed at present at one of the Liverpool theatres, and he had been recently out of employment. Mr. J. \V. Manley, commission agent, Manchester, brother of the deceased, said the latter had been in the habit of taking chloral for s:eeplessness, and he suffered from a weak heart. Miss Crane stated that she had been engaged to the deceased, but the engagement had been broken off for two months, oa the understanding that if h. got employment it might be resumed. They were quite friendly. She p,,rted with lurn on good tei nis, but she thought he seemed strange, and she called at his lodging the same night, and found him quite insensible. She had seen chloral in his possession. A bottle of chloral WM found in Manley's pocket, out of which about four table-spoonfuls had been taken, and it was very strong. He bad previously written two letters. The jury returned a verdict that he committed suicide whilst in a state of temporary insanity.
The Warwickshire Herald. — 1888-02-23 (Birmingham, West Midlands, England)

SISTER.  At Taunton Assizes, before Mr. Justice Field, Ernest William Vernon Hitehms, aged 21, the son of the medical officer of health of Weston-super-Mare, has been indicted for the wilful murder of his sister .2onstance. It appeared from the evidence that the prisoner and the deceased had often exchanged angry words, and prisoner had spoken of her as a" beast." He had also stated that he disliked her because she passed him in the street without speaking, and she would not give him a paper to read when lie asked her for it. On the morning in question the father heard the report of a gun, and saw smoke issuing from his daughter's bedroom. He Iffituediately went there, and found his daughter (lead in bed, and the prisoner rising from the floor, and there were two holes in the ceiling as if the gun, which was on the floor, had been discharged upwards. The prisoner had evidsntly attempted to commit suicide, for there were wounds on his cheek, thought not of a serious character. Before shooting his sister he had written on a piece of paper as follows: " I leave everything that belongs to tie to my dear mother. I have been treated so badly by that beast, my sister Constance, that I must put an end to her life by shooting, and knowing that I shall have to die for it, I also shoot myself. Good-bye to all; hoping you will all have a nappy timeof it. Goodbye, dear father :.nd mother." For the defence witnesses were called to prove that the prisoner had suffered from epileptic fits, and that he had been in the navy and was not allowed to go aloft on account of them. He was a man of unsound and feeble mind, and at the time the murder was committed was not responsible for his aetions.—The jury were of this opinion, and the prisoner was ordered to be detained during her Majesty's pleasure.
The Warwickshire Herald. — 1888-01-26 (Birmingham, West Midlands, England)

SUICIDE WITH A HOT POKER.  Rear-Admiral Versturme, of Arwensk House. 1 al. triouth,has died a horrible death from injuries inflicted, it is presumed, by his own Laud. About 9 o'clock at night the servants of the household beard screams proceeding from the drawing-room, where Admiral and Mrs. Verstorme were sitting. Ongoing into the room they found the admiral lying insensible on the floor with a red-hot poker in Lis hand, and his wife close by in a state of unconsciousness. On examination it was found that Admiral Versturme had four or five large wounds in the abdomen, in which the poker had evidently been plunged. He was at once carried upstairs and placed in bed, where he lingered until four o'clock the fulloaing morning. It is supposed that the Admiral in a sudden fit of insanity inflicted the injuries on himself. He was 62 years of age. Before his death the Admiral said, "It was on account of the si hisky 1 did it." —At the inquest it was stated that Admiral Versturme and his wife lived happily together, and just before the occurrence he was in good spirits. As Mrs. Ver. stern e at down at the piano she saw her husband put the poker in the tire. A few minutes after he had it in hishands. and the appearance of his face alarming her, she rushed across the room and seized the poker. In the struggle idle burnt her hands, and then she fainted. He seemed bereft of his senses, and seized the lamp, the oho% el, and, in fact, anything he could lay his hands on. Admiral Versturine had been in a despondent frame of mind owing to family troubli n, but he had never shewn any sign of suffering front mania or delirium tremens.—The jury returned a verdict that deceased died from the effects of wounds self.inflicted while in a state of temporary insanity.
The Warwickshire Herald. — 1888-07-05 (Birmingham, West Midlands, England)

ATTE)! PTE I) SUICIDES.  feorge Bowen Lloyd, described as a commercial traveller, 72, Barker-street, Lozells, was charged with Attempting to commit suicide by taking laudanum, on the 2nd inst.—Police-constable Broderick deposed that a little after midnight on Monday a relative of the prisoner came to him and requested him to go to 72, Barker-street, as it was feared something was the matter, for the prisoner had locked himself in his bedroom, and nothing had been heard of him since the day previous. He went as requested, and found the bedroom door locked from the inside. He knocked, and requested to be admitted, but receiving no reply, he burst the door open, and found the prisoner lying in the bed in an unconscious state. By his side was a phial that had contained laudanum, and also a tally-charged six-chambered revolver. Witness stayed in the room, and subsequently prisoner regained consciousness. In reply to witness, he said he had been suffering from neuralgic pains in the head, and with a view of affording relief he had taken a dose of opium, but had inadvertently taken too much.—Mrs. Lloyd said her husband had been out of employment for a long time, and there was no doubt that he was mentally distressed in consequence.—The prisoner, in reply to the Bench, said he had been : worried because his wife had been iiving with her brother, but he had no intention to take his life. I—He was discharged.—John Ridgway, poulterer, of Wheeler-street, was also charged with attemptbig to take his life by cutting his throat with a kblife, on the 10th ult.—Mrs. Ridgway said her husband had been for some time prior to the attempt under the care of Dr. Hadley, for paralysis and softening of the brain. She promised to see that her husband did not make further attempts upon his life.—Prisoner was discharged.
The Warwickshire Herald. — 1888-08-23 (Birmingham, West Midlands, England)

HOW A MURDERER WAS CAUGHT.  Toni Forsythe, the murderer of County Treasurer Hill, of Panola County, Tex., has (says the New Orleans Pica 'lane) been lynched at Carthage, in that State. The story of the crime and its results is one of the most remarkable in the annals of crime. Mr. Hill was murdered in his office, his skull being crushed with an axe and his throat cut. There were no witnesses of the bloody deed, and for a long time no clue was found to the murderer. A poor negro was arrested on suspicion, which proved to be without foundation. Bloodhounds were secured, and the country thoroughly searched. Sheriff Forsythe and his son Tom, a deputy, visited Longview in hope of obtaining information that might lead to the discovery of the murderer. Here Deputy-Sheriff Parker joined tt party. He soon suspected that Tom Forsythe, who was quite a wild young man, was the perpetrator of the crime. Part ev, to satisfy his suspicions, proposed a game of cards, in which young l'Jrsythe joined. Parker won some 500d01., and discovered blood on a number of the bills. Nothing was said at the time, and after the party returned to Carthage the deputy won n.ore blood-stained money, Parker then charged young Forsythe with the murder. Forsythe first denied it, but afterwards made a full confession, which was afterwards repeated in the court-room, the prisoner displaying great bravado and insolence. He said that he went to the County Treasurer's office to get a 20do). bill changed. The sight of the money in the safe aroused his cupidity, and he seized an axe, and struck Hill in the face with it, and cut the old man's throat %lath his pocket knife. After getting out unobserved, he walked out, locked the door, and carried away the key. Subsequently, a mob entered the Froal in which Forsythe was incarcerated, seized the murderer, and took him to a tree, where he " hung bitnself, with the assistance of a large windier of citizens," as the Texas rcis,rter puts it. The rope was fastened about his neck, after which lie climbed the tree, and jumped from one of the boughs. The Forsythes have always been highly respected in Panda County, and much 'sympathy is expressed for the sheriff and his wife. Mss. F. myth's was prostrated by the news of her asm's confession, and may not recover. It was rumoured that Sheriff Forsythe had committed suicide through grief and humiliation, but this has not been authenticated.  AN
The Warwickshire Herald. — 1888-09-06 (Birmingham, West Midlands, England)

CYCLING CRAZE IN BERLIN. To even a casual visitor to Berlin it has been plain of late that a considerable part of the population have gone fairly mad over tricycling. The craze began in April, when the police at last removed the prohibition of tricycling in the city. At first the rider of the " Dreirad," as the Teuton calls the machine, appeared timidly in the streets, amid the jeers of the cabmen, who did all they could to impede his progress, in more than one case even running him down. Now, however, says a Berlin correspondent, he has triumphantly asserted his rights, and has become the stock figure of the caricaturist, and his doings the refuge of the editor wanting "copy." In all the principal thoroughfares tricycles may be hired, and to judge by the great numbers in the streets their owners do a brisk trade. Ladies as yet have not been able to brave German prejudice, and are rarely to be seen on "cycles," and then only at night. As a natural consequence, tandems are not very popular. The bicyclist is still forbidden the town, and is only to be met with in the suburbs. Once an adventurous youth made an excursion as far as the Brandenburg Gate, and was only captured after an exciting race with a mounted constable by his running into an omnibus. Bicycling races, however, share with rowing the glory of being an athletic sport in which the German takes an interest, and few places are more visited than the track that has lately been laid down. The suicide about a month ago of a young Berliner, who had won several races, because his doctor had told him that he must give up racing, shews how passionately the sport is pursued. During the past week the tricycle has appeared in quite a new light, for it has been used for the first time in a duel. The two combatants rode out with a number of friends to a retired spot some five miles north of Berlin. There 300 yards were measured on the road and the two duellists, after taking off hat and coat, charged madly against each other. In the collision that ensued. one was thrown on his side and had his leg badly damaged; the other was thrown on the back of his head. As the machine of the former was hopelessly smashed, honour was declared satisfied, and, after bandaging the duellists, the whole party returned to Berlin—the beaten combatant on a "carrier" tricycle, while the remains of his machine were towed along by an obliging friend.
The Warwickshire Herald. — 1888-06-14 (Birmingham, West Midlands, England)

DETERMINED ATTEMPT AT SUICIDE BY A WHEELER-STREET TRADE...MAN.—EarIy 011 Sunday afternoon John Ridway, poulterer, of 163, Wheeler-street, Aston, made a determined but albeit an unsuccessful attempt to take his life by cutting his throat with a pocket-knife. Soon after dinner he went upstairs ostensibly for the purpose of having a post-prandial sleep and in a short time afterwards the household downstairs heard a peculiar noise. Mrs. Ridway at once ran upstairs with a view of ascertaining the cause and much to her horror she, on reaching the top of the Stairs, hound her husband lying in a pool of blood and with his throat cut in a frightful manner. An open penknife was lying by his side and pointing to it he made a gasping remark to the effect that he had inflicted the injury himself. Medical aid, in the shape of a local doctor, was at once summoned, but as his condition was eminently critical several 3ther doctors and surgeons were called in and the wound was sewn up. It seems that Ridway, who has been in a poor way of health for some months past. has been in a despondent state of mind of late, and it is supposed that this and the presence of domestic anxiety cause him to make the attempt upon his own life.  Tut: PERRY BARR ROMANCE: THE CAS!? OF ALICE WOODHALL —A Reuter's telegram from New York states that Alice Woodhall, who was taken there from England on an extradition warrant for uttering false American notes, was on Saturday liberated on the charge of forging the name of a person named to some United States Bonds, but was immediately re-arrested on a warrant granted by the Bench for forging the signature to a cheque. The prisoner's coursel claims that there has been a violation of the Extradition Treaty, and demands her discharge. Upon an enquiry being made at the State Department, the information was given that England had surrendered Nliss Wood hail upon the charge of "forgery generally." The case, consequently, assumes a special interest from the similarity to that which caused the suspension of the Extradition Treaty between Englund and the United States a few years since, and the occurrence is especially unfortunate while the question of the new treaty is still pending before the Senate, A Reuter's telegram from New York, dated Monday, says Miss Woodhall has been discharged, the charge in respect of which she was re-arrested not being specified in the extradition papers.  AN INVEsTIGATION
The Warwickshire Herald. — 1888-06-14 (Birmingham, West Midlands, England)

IMPOVERISHED BY THE CROWN.  Mr. Marcus Lewis, a solicitor, attended before Mr Bridge at Bow-street Police-court, on Saturday, and referred to the case of Mary Wilson, aged 58, who in January last was charged with attempting to commit suicide. It was then stated that many years. ago she lived under the protection of a gentleman who died, leaving considerable property to Ins natural son. The son subsequently died without making a will, and the whole of the property to the amount of 27,0000rk.5.000 was forfeited to the Crown,. from whom Mrs. Wilson had since received an annuity of r 2:). Site had, however, become very much embarrassed, and was 11.1 W in difficulties with i.er lanrllord. On the occasion of her being charged a gentleman who had read the reports in the newspapers wrote to Mr. Bri. ge and expressed adesi re to assist her. ---On the suggestion of the learned magistrate M. Marcus Lewis petitioned the Lords of the Treasury with a view ofohtaining an increased allowance out of the money forfeited. He now read a letter addreesed •to Mrs. Wilson in reply to her personal application : " Madam, The Lords Commissioners of H.M.'s Treasury having bad melor their consideration your memorial of the tltel inst. lam directed to inform you that their lordships have no funds at their disiseal front which they could afford you relief.—(Signed) C. J. Banitixorox." In reply to Mr. Lewis's letter he received a letter under the same signature, which read as follows " I have laid before the Limds Cot 1111 l issioners of 11. M. 's Treasury your letter of the 11th relating to the case of Mrs. Mary Wilson, the natural 'nether of the lute C. W. Norton. I am desired to transmit to you for your informati.m the enclosed copy of a letter [given ahoYe] which my lords mused to be addreesed to Mrs. Wilson on the 17th of June, IS$6, and I nut to add that my lords must decline any.furthe: correspondence on the subject." Mr. Lewis said his ol.leet in stating what hat transpired was ti e tug the ease tinder the notice of the Kentl.•wan Y. 1.0 had proffered assistance or anyone who might he dispos,l to offer Mrs. • Wilson • a home in ietern for her an ouity. Beyond that sum she was without means, Mid WilA in bad health. Mr. Bridge reeretted to sav that the letter haul horn destroyed. He was 1111:61, in do anything further for Nils.. but gist- Lewis, out of I his piiwito purse, We.