npedrazzini/19thc_murder_suicide_news huggingface dataset:
The Glasgow Chronicle. — 1849-12-26 (Glasgow, Strathclyde, Scotland)

GLASGOW GREEN—HUMANE SOCIETY HOUSE To the Editor of the alotagow Chronicle.  SIR, —Will you permit me through the medium of your journal, to correct a gross mis-statement published in a contemporary of Saturday last, tending to injure the character of the institution with which I am connected, and whose servant I am. The writer, in noticing "Glasgow Green," and the subject of " walks, baths, the Humane Society House," &c., takes upon him to assert that "some 20 or 30 lives are annually lost in the river while bathing," and he infers that by an improved arrangement for bathing such things would be put upon a better footing. Now sir, will you allow me to inform this party and the public that for six years and seven months past there has only been drowned while bathing, twenty-threepersons in all. I may mention that during these six years and a half the lives of one hundred and forty-eight persons were placed in jeopardZwhile bathing from various causes, but through the activity of myself and assistants, one hundred and twenty five persons of that number were saved from watery graves—leaving. as I have already mentioned, only 23 in six years and a half who perished in the water—or, on an average, about four persons in twelve months, instead of the Keaminer's calculation of between twenty and thirty. I would not have asked the favour of your attention to this subject but for the circumstance that I conceived if such an unwarrantable statement was going forth uncontradieted, it might prejudice the public mind in respect to the ißstitution that I am connected with. While on this topic, I may mention that during the last six years and a half there has been cases of suicides and attempted suicides to the number of 115, out of these 84 were saved, and in that 115 there were 12 bodies taken out of the river who were never seen going into it. So that, on the whole, I can, without egotism, claim for myself and assistants the merit of saving the lives of 209 persons out of 263 bathers and attempted suicides. Trusting you will insert the above, in justice to "the Humane Society House,"— I am, Sir, yours, &c.
The Glasgow Chronicle. — 1850-03-13 (Glasgow, Strathclyde, Scotland)

ATTEMPTED SUICIDE IN THE RIVER.-011 Tuesday evening, between six and seven o'clock, a respectiblelooking individual was observed rushing along Crown Street, in a state of apparent excitement, and his purpose being divined, an attempt was made to stop him, but before that could be accomplished, he had crossed Adelphi Street, sprung over the parapet wall at the river, and flung himself into the water. A considerable number of persons soon collected', but no one seemed to have courage to undertake the rescue of the infatuated man, until a young lad, not more, we believe, than 14 years of age, named Alex. Macdonald, gallantly leaped the wall, and instantaneously divesting himself of a portion of his clothes, went into the water to save, if possible, the poor man, who was now all but exhausted, and had sunk several times. In this Macdonald was fortunately successful, having succeeded in catching hold of the skirts of his coat, by which means he was dragged safely on shore, but perfectly insensible. A number of those who had by this time assembled, among whom was Captain Wilson, the active Supeyintendent of the Southern District, and Dr. Strang, lent their assistance in getting the half-drowned man conveyed into a druggist's shop, in Adelphi Street ; where, some stimulants having been applied, the unfortunate individual was able, in the course of an hour, to be removed to his lodgings in Crown Street. He is, we believe, in a fair way of recovery ; though, had it not been for the noble conduct of the lad Macdonald, his life must have inevitably been sacrificed. The unfortunate man, who has not been long a residenter in Glasgow, has been for some time affected with lowness of spirits, and his rash attempt at self-destruction was the result of an attack of delirium. He is most respectably connected.
The Glasgow Chronicle. — 1850-03-27 (Glasgow, Strathclyde, Scotland)

FIRES.—On Sunday morning last, about half-past five o'clock, the premises occupied by Mr. James lit'Kerrow, as a cabinetmaker's shop, situated at Rosehall Gardens, New City Road, were discovered to be on fire. On the alarm being given, the fire brigade speedily was on the spot, but the engines were ineffectual in arresting the progrerfa of the flames. The workshop and stock were totally consumed. We have not ascertained the amount of damage done, but the building, we understand, was insured, although the tenant's stock was not. The cause of the fire is unknown.—On the same evening an alarm was given that a fire had broke out in the counting-house of Mr. Brock, house painter, Springfield Court, betwixt Buchanan and Queen Streets. It arose from a vent, the flames issuing from which communicated with the lintel of a window, And presented at first a somewhat alarming appearance. Fortunately, however, it happened that through the prompt and judicious measures instantly adopted, they were subdued before any considerable damage was caused, and without the assistance of the engines.—On Saturday morning, at an early hour. a fire broke out in the woodyard of Messrs. Law and Selkirk, New City Road. On the alarm being given, no time was lost in despatching the fire engines to the spot. The flames were subdued without the use of the engines. ATTEMPTED Suicine.—On Sunday, a girl named Nisbet attempted to commit suicide by throwing herself into the river, near Dalmarnock bridge. Fortunately a passer-by observed the action, and succeeded in rescuing the misguided creature from the consequences of Or conduct. She was conveyed to the Humane Society House, where, under the assiduous and skilful treatment of Mr. Geddes. she recovered in the course of the evening. She was subsequently lodged in the Police-office to admit of further inquiry concerning her. The supposition is, that the poor creature suffers from insanity.
The Glasgow Chronicle. — 1850-07-03 (Glasgow, Strathclyde, Scotland)

ATTEMPTED SUICIDE.—On Wednesday morning last, a very distressing attempt at self-destruction was made by a young teacher recently appointed to a school in the vicinity of Hamilton. On 'Monday last, he exhibited so much appearance of mental distemper, that his brother resolved to bring him to Glasgow, in hopes that the change would be productive of some benefit. This does not appear to have been the case. During Tuesday, while in town, the symptoms of excitement had not diminished, but, towards evening, he seemed somewhat more composed, and a lodging was obtained for the night in the tavern of Mr. Barr, Anderston Quay: Both brothers slept together, and till an advanced hour in the morning everything remained quiet, when it was discovered, from the groans that proceeded from the unfortunate youth, that he had stolen from bed, and, with a razor taken from his brother's pocket, cut his throat from ear to ear. The loss of blood was frightful, but the windpipe not having been injured, hopes were entertained that his life might be saved, Dr. Fleming was immediately sent for, who sewed up the ghastly wound. The young man was afterwards removed to the Infirmary, where he remains with but very little chance, we regret to say, of his recovery. He is most respectably connected, and had but recently finished his education at College. No cause can be assigned for the attempt but temporary insanity. BODY Foulso.—On Wednesday afternoon the dead body of a man, which was subsequently identified as that of a labourer named aPPherson, who resided in Cowcaddens, was found in the Paisley Canal, almost opposite West Street. A luggage boat in passing had raised it to the surface. Nothing is known as to the cause or circumstances of the accident. The unfortunate individual has been missed by his relatives since Saturday, and the advanced state of decomposition in which the body was renders it probable that it was the day on which the occurrence happened.
The Glasgow Chronicle. — 1850-05-15 (Glasgow, Strathclyde, Scotland)

SUNDAY TRADING.—At the A nderston Police Court yesterday morning, several grocers were brought before Bailie Gilmour charged with having carried on their ordinary business in their premises on Sunday last, and it having been proved that they had disposed of a few confections on that day, they were each fined in two shillings and sixpence. AN UNNATURAL CHlLD.—Yesterday morning, girl named Eli zabeth Kelly was brought before Bailie Gilmour, in the Gorbals Police Court, charged with having conducted herself in a drunken and disorderly manner in Main Street, and struck and otherwise abused Jane Hutcheson or Kelly, her own mother. Witnesses having been examined, the charge was found proven, and the Bailie, after a suitable admonition as to the enormity of the offence of which the prisoner had been found guilty,  _ adjudged her to pay a fine of one guinea, or go thirty days to Bridewell. The fine was not paid.  MYSTERIOUS Ctn.—Yesterday morning, the attention of the officers of the Gorbols police establishment was called to the house of an elderly lady, named M`Call, residing in Bolton Street, Paisley Road, under the following circumstances :—Miss M'Call, who was of lonely and somewhat eccentric habits, had not been seen for a fortnight going out and in as usual, and during the whole of that time the door of her dwelling-house remained closed. Conceiving that something was wrong, a few of the neighbours tried the door, but found it securely bolted inside,—on which they raised an alarm, and with the concurrence of the police, had it forced  open and examined the apartments, when they found Miss M'Call lying across her bed quite dead, but with no marks of violence on any part of her body. From the appearance of the deceased, it would seem that she must have been  lying in that position dead for nearly ten days, in the course of which no parties had called to visit her. It is suspected that the deceased, who was about fifty years of age, had taken suddenly unwell, and laid herself down in bed to rest, when she ex pired. There is not the slightest suspicion of anything like poison or unfair play connected with the death, as the money, bank cheques, and other valuables of the deceased, were found in her possession perfectly safe. The casualty, however, has excited a good deal of speculation in the neighbourhood. ATTEMPTED SUICIDE BY A Boy
The Glasgow Chronicle. — 1850-07-10 (Glasgow, Strathclyde, Scotland)

SUICIDE.—On Sabbath morning last, a farrier of the name of John Hart, put a period to his existence by throwing himself into the canal, near the aqueduct, in the immediate vicinity of Paisley. He was a young man, and has left a widow and dependent family.  QUARTER Sassions.—An adjourned meeting of the Justices of the Pence was held on Wednesday, in their hall, for the disposal of appeals from the decision of the Magistrates in reference to the licensing system. The appeals were 45 in number, of whom the greater number had been refuseci on account of keeping open on Sunday. In the case of three appellants the decision of the Magistrates was reversed, the parties again receiving their license, but on condition of their promising to discontinue, for the future the practice of opening on Sunday. The other class of appellants was that of parties applying for license for the first time, only two of which were su,tained, the others being refused. Of the whole number, 29 appeals were sustained and 16 refused.  We learn that our young townsman, Dr. L. Foucart, who was walking in the Park at the time, was the first to raise Sir Robert Peel from the ground, when the accident occurred which cost the lamented statesman his life. Dr. Foucart was assisted by two gentlemen in carrying Sir Robert to a carriage, and after five minutes they were joined by Sir James Clark, and conveyed him home. Dr. Foucart stopped at Sir Robert's bed-side till his death; and afterwards he remained, by Lady Peel's desire, locked up in the room beside the body all night, and for several hours next day, until it was consigned to the hands of the undertakers. Dr. Foucart expressed his opinion from the first that a rib was broken, in addition to the collar-bone; and, though this did not find fawner with the eminent medical men present, the result shows that our townsman was correct, for, on examining the body, it was found that the fifth rib on the left side was broken. Dr. Foucart still remains at Sir Robert's residence at Whitehall. His name was not published, like that of other gentlemen who rendered assistance, for he had no tints te• send it to the newspapers; but the omission was noticed: and repaired by the members of the lamented baronet's family.
The Glasgow Chronicle. — 1850-12-25 (Glasgow, Strathclyde, Scotland)

DETERMINED SUICIDE.—On Friday morning, a poor French seaman named Duperay Jacques, impelled to the rash act, most probably, through destitution and distress, committed suicide by blowing out his brains with a pistol. The constable on duty in East Clyde Street, -en taking up his station in the morning, and commencing to perambulate his rounds,. was surprised to come upon the body of a man, stretched in the bottom of a ferry boat, which was pulled up on the bank of the river, at the extremity of the Custom-house Quay. On inspection he found it stark and stiff, with a tremendous wound in the centre of the forehead. A pistol was grasped in the left hand; and some powder, with a few percussion caps, were found in a bonnet that lay near the place. The body was removed to the Clyde Police Office and examined by the surgeon, who gave it as his opinion that death, from the effects of the shot, must have been almost instantaneous. In a little time it was identified, and some particulars respecting the unfortunate man's recent history were ascertained. It seems he came to this port as a hind on board the Boadicea. He was dis-charged after her arrival some weeks since, receiving then a considerable sum as pay. He lived for some time in the lodging-house of a person named Swan, but teeing recklessly squandered away his funds, he left that place 4.11 Saturday without having made any reimbursement for his maintenance. Since then he has been staying at an eating- house in Wood Dane. He was seen with a pistol in his p issession on Thursday, but gave some evasive reply on being questioned as to his purpose with it. He did not come in at all on the evening of that day. It seems that the night watchman at an early hour of the sue. ceeding morning heard something which struck him as the discharge of a pistol, but in passing along discovered nothing suspicious, and therefore thought no more of it.
The Glasgow Chronicle. — 1850-02-13 (Glasgow, Strathclyde, Scotland)

GLASGOW HUMANE SOCIETY.  A general meeting of the subscribers to this society was held on Monday, in the Religious Institution Rooms— David Hope, Esq., in the chaii. The fjjllowing report was read by Dr. Gibson, the secretary to the society:— 'Since the last general meeting, 96 cases of immersion in the river have occurred within the society's jurisdiction, only 26 of which have been reported to the directors at their quarterly meetings, and severally rewarded according to the exertions displayed, or the risk run, by the rescuers.  "Of the 98 cases, 64 were males and 34 females. Of these 48 were saved, and 46 drowned. Of this number, 41 occurred above the bridges—namely, 18 males and 23 females ; of which 2 males and 12 females were saved by the Society's officer and his assistants stationed at the Green; and 4 males and 7 females by other individuals. Of these 15 were accidental and 25 suicidal. Drowned,l6; saved, 25; total 41. Males, 18, females, 23. "The remaining 57 cases occurred at or near the Broom;elaw, of which the following abstract has been obligingly furnished by Assistant-Superintendent Macfarlane of the Harbour Police : "Accidents :—saved, 21 ; drowned, 11-39; suicides, 3; attempted sdicides, 2; found drowned, 13; total 57 Males, 46, females 11.  " It will be noticed that a very distinguishing feature characterises itself in these two abstracts, namely, the great preponderance of males in the one case at the Broomielaw, and of females in the other at the Green, with, besides, the large proportion of suicidal cases in the latter. These differences, however, must be obvious to all who are acquainted with the several localities, and scarcely require any explanation, in so far as the accidental immersion at the Broomielaw chiefly happen to sailors in the harbour going on board their respective vessels in the dark, or in a state of intoxi• cation, and of strangers landing in a similar position from steam vessels; whilst, again, the retired position of the Green renders that locality a fitting place for suicidal purposes, and these consist chiefly of females from among the most abandoned poi t i on of the com munity, who, in a fit of jealousy, or some other equally evil passion, thus run headlong to self-destruction, while under the influence of intoxicating liquors. "DAVID GIBSON, SeCy."  Thereafter, the following gentlemen were elected officebearers for the present year :—David Hope, Chairman; Francis Steel, Treasurer; David Gibson, M.D., Secretary. Directors—Matthew Fleming, W. C. Alston, Alex. Harvey, James Roger, John Ellis, James Leachman. After a vote of thanks to the Chairman, the meeting separated.
The Glasgow Chronicle. — 1850-10-02 (Glasgow, Strathclyde, Scotland)

GENERAL HAYNAU—PUBLIC OPINION IN VIENNA, bringing to light, happened yesterday : —From the letter of a Vienna correspondent of the Mr. eruze who died suddenly on Monday bluer Zeitung we learn, that the news of the outrage supposed to 1 wealthy man, and I committed upon General Haynau met with a favour- ready money amounted to able reception by part of the population. "Three able sum. His taken cheers for England" was proposed in the coffee- a gentleman of th houses.—Times. search instituted for A Genoa journal exposes the sham miracle of the was expected to have winking Virgin of Rimini, and publishes a diagram desks, ' showing the manner in which, by pulling certain mere trifle, we ,bt, wires, a priest concealed in the drapery produces the Astonishment was at its height, pretended miraculous effect, incredible that no more came to light. SEDUCTION AND Suicins.—A man named Samuel nesday night, however, a young woman named .; Seaton, formerly a baker in Spalding, took a quan- Waite, of this town, "dreamed a dream" to tity of arsenic on Thursday last, and from the following effect, viz.," that if a certain esorutoire largeness of the dose vomiting was produced, but was searched at 12 o'clock yesterday a large quan, the poison had taken such an effect that death en- titv of money would be found." This daeam was sued on Sunday morning. The wretched man had kby some, but it was at last carried to seduced his own daughter, a young girl following gentleman of the the business of a dress-maker. The girl being en- deceased under 1-* to the ciente led to the discovery, aad the inhuman father, place indicated a and rewarded ' unable to face the publicity of his atrocity, has by the finding of about 30 or added the crime of suicide to the black and fearful rds of gold What makes '1 crime of sedpetion. Seaton was the man who lately singular "made an attempt to • Herculean of 'walking 1,000 miles. I domed for want of patronage, zight'e trial.—Boston Herald.
Glasgow Courier. — 1847-08-19 (Glasgow, Strathclyde, Scotland)

ATTEMPTED MURDER AND SUICIDE IN MARK LANE  LONDON.  On Saturday afternoon John Ovenstone, an upholsterer, of Great Tickfield Street, London, made a determined attempt to stoot Mr. George Crawley, a wine-merchant, whose office is No. 12, Mark Lane. The unfortunate gentleman is severely wounded. The assassin afterwards fired a pistol at his own head and inflicted injuries from which he is not expected to recover. It appeared that Mr. Crawley's solicitor had put an execution into Ovenstoue's house and sold his goods. Ovenstone presented himself before Mr. Crawley's clerk and requested to see that gentleman. An interview was granted, when Ovenstone said, "What do you mean by doing what you have done?" Mr. Crawley had not time to reply when Ovenstone pulled a pistol from his pocket and shot him. The WOUTI led man was carried to the hospital, where it 'was found that the bullet had entered his cheek, torn away a portion of the roof of his mouth, and lodged in the cavity. In the course of the evening the ball was extracted, and it is hoped the patient will recover. Meanwhile, the clerk locked Ovenstone up in the office. A report of a pistol was immediately heard, and, when the police entered, they found him in a chair, with a couple of pistols near him, and blood flowing in copious streams from his head and face. They immediately took him to Guy's Hospital. The house-surgeons found that the injuries he had inflicted on himself were of a most frightful character. The ball appeared to have entere I at the mouth and passed in an oblique direction, and lodged over the left temple. From the f ict of the bullet remaining in the head very little hopes are entertained of his recovery.—Observer of Sunday. It is understood that the medical gentlemen have been successful in extracting the ball wh'eli had lodged in Ovenstone's head, and that it is now in the care of Eilmonila the officer. There seems to be no doubt about its having been the intention of the wretched man to kill Mr. Crawley, and then destroy himself, as, in addition to the fact of his going to that gentleman's counting-house with two heavily loaded pistols, a written satemerit was found in his coat-pocket, which was evidently drawn up so as to give a full explanation of the several reasons that hail actuated him to attempt the commission of the dreadful crime of murder. In it he states that he is tired of the world, and, after detaiiiiig his many misfortunes, expresses his desire to die. It appears that 0 venstoue, in conjunction with a Mr. Cromer, was the assignee of a bankrupt manager of an inn in Holborn, to whom Mr. Crawley had supplied w Me and spirits, but 0 venstone's co-assignee failing, Mr. Crawley proceeded at law against Ovenstone for the amount due to the estate, about £l5O. What may have transpired in the course of the action is not at present ktiowb, but one thing is certain, that those proceedings influenced him in making the murderous attempt.