npedrazzini/19thc_murder_suicide_news huggingface dataset:
The Northern News. — 1896-07-11 (Carlisle, Cumbria, England)

SUICIDE OF A BANK CLERK.  On Monday morning a painful sensation was caused in the Cecil Street district when it became known that Joseph Stoddart had committed suicide by hanging himself. Deceased was employed at the Cumberland Union Bank as a clerk. Lately he had given way to drink, and become somewhat despondent. On Saturday his wife went to Maryport to see her sister, and returned on Monday morning, being accompanied by Captain Sulter, her sister's husband. Captain Su!ter was the first to open the door, and found deceased hanging in the attic. He was at once cut down, and Dr. Hair sent for, but life was quite extinct and the body cold. The inquest was held on Monday afternoon before Mr E. Westmorland, deputy-coroner for the oity.—John Ross Suiter, retired master mariner, Maryport, identified the deceased as his brother-in-law, Joseph Stoddart, 39 years of age. Deceased's wife came to Maryport on Saturday, and witness returned with her to Carlisle on Monday morning. Witness opened the door with Mrs Stoddart's key. As deceased was not to be seen downstairs, although his boots and slippers being there showed that he had not gone out, witness looked for him in the backyard and bedrooms, and finally found him in the attic suspended from a beam. First making sure that the unfortunate man was dead, witness brought Dr. Hair, and the body was cut down. It was quite cold, and Dr. Hair, in his evidence, said it must have been hanging at least twelve hours.—ln reply to a juryman, Dr. Hair said that deceased, if he bad chosen, could easily have avoided strangulation, since he was resting on both hands and knees on the the floor. The cord, a piece of window sash cord, about 6 feet long, was simply looped around the neck. He had attended deceased for some time for a chronic skin disease. Deceased, when he last saw him was in a depressed condition.—Edwin Stainburn, a waiter at the Cumberland Hotel, was the list man who saw deceased alive. He stated that deceased came into the Cumberland Hotel on Saturday afternoon, and stayed about ten minutes. He had two glasses of whisky. Witness had known him for some years. They had some conversation, and there was nothing unusual about deceased's manner.—ln answer to the Coroner, Captain Sutter said he knew nothing personally about deceased's habits.—By the Coroner's direction, the jury found that deceased committed suicide by hanging himself while temporarily insane.
The Northern News. — 1896-01-04 (Carlisle, Cumbria, England)

SUICIDE OF A CASI-11E K.  On Mrmday night,ftt the Poland Street board room of the Westminster Union, Oxford Street, Mr. John Trout beck held an inquest on the body of Arthur Windsor Horne, forty-five, single, cashier in the employ of Messrs. Elkington and Co. (Limited), silversmiths, of Regent Street, who was discovered in his office poisoned by prusida acid late at night on Monday week.—Mr. H. P. Bodkin, barrister, watched the case for Messrs. Elkington.—Mr. Frank George Morton, clerk to deceased's employers, said Horne returned from tea as usual that day week, and sat down to his books about half-past six. As a rule he did not leave the office till nearly nine, although the firm nominally closed at six. That night week deceased remained at the office exceptionally late, and a little before 11 one of the assistants informed him that deceased was lying on the floor in his office. Assuming that Horne had had a fit, witness ran for a doctor, and, after calling elsewhere, brought Dr. Kemp, divisional surgeon, back with him. Coroner: Had he any trouble that you know of P I believe he had great enxiety over his books, and a lot of trouble through illness at home. He had the appearance of a fine mitn,but was always taking some medicine or other. —Had he anything else on him mind ? No ; but think he was a bit troubled about Sarti.—W. Prior, 25, St. Leonard! Street, Clerkenwell, ntated that he found a bottle of cyanide of potassium, a jug, and a tumbler, from which the poison had been taken, near the deceased's right hand.—What was the potassium used for? Taking tarnish off silver.— Where is it kept? In a large tank in the basement. —ls the tank left open ? Yes, during the day, and locked at night.—Dr, Kemp deposed to having examined the utensils found near deceased, end, as the result of a post-mortem, he should think Horne drank about three ounces of liquid, which he imagined would contain about sixty grains of cyanide of potassium, or about five times as much as a fatal dose. Prussic acid was the principal ingredient of the drug, and of this the room smelt very strongly. Death was due to prussic acid poisoning.—Mr. William Foster, of 7, Queen Street Place, Canon Street, solicitor to Messrs. Elkington, deposed that deceased had worried himself a great deal, as lie was afraid he would be discharged, because the firm would consider lie ought to have kept a stricter cheek on Sarti. Having examined his accounts, however, witnees reported to Messrs. Elkington that be could not find that deceased was to blame, and the firm accepted that as final. Still, lie had the matter on his mind. Deceased had been in the employ of Messrs. Elkington about twelve years. He complained to witness of depression, and mei(' he could not shake it off.—The jury returned a verdict of suicide whilst temporarily insane.
The Northern News. — 1896-05-23 (Carlisle, Cumbria, England)

WIFE MURDER IN LONDON.  ATTEMPTED SUICIDE OF THE MURDERER. NARROW ESCAPE OF A BARMAID.  Early on Monday a man named Ellison, manager of the Rising Sun public-house, Wych-st., Strand, London, murdered his wife by shooting her with a revolver, and attempted to end his life by the same means. The tragedy took place in the bedroom of the couple over the shop, the alarm being given by a barmaid who heard the reports. On the arrival of the police Mrs. Ellison was found to Le dying, while her husband was bleeding from a wound in the left breast. The couple were at once removed to King's College Hospital, where Mrs. Ellison died soon after admission. The man was found to be badly injured, and is in a serious condition. When the news of his wife's death was communicated to him, Ellison's only remark was: "Is she dead?" Then after a moment's deliberation he added: "Good." There were four barmaids in the house altogether, and as one of them named Miss Archer rushed in, she noticed Mrs. Ellison lying in a pool of blood. Just then the murderer turned the revolver to his side and shot himself. He next raised the revolver to his head, and cried " Goodbye, girls ;" but Miss Archer seized his arm, whereupon in his frenzy he aimed at her, and she swooned. The other barmaids then rushed in, and the police were called. Mr. ad Mrs. Ellison were both about twenty-eight years of age. A young fellow named Webb, who is married to Miss Lilian Archer's sister, said in an interview that Lilian told his wife some weeks ago that Ellison had told her (Lilian) that he would offer her marriage had he not a wife living. She, however, treated this in a very light spirit, and it clearly made no impression on her, as she was walkinr out with a youna• master builder.  The Princess of Wales held a Drawing Room on Monday, at Buckingham Palace, when there were many notable presentations on marriage. Hugh Beley, aged 15, has succumbed at the Macclesfield Infirmary, to injuries received at Messrs. Brier and Sons' printworks, Oak Bank, Bollington. on Thursday last. The deceased caught his foot on a portion of a frame in the works and fell on his face on some weights, completely smashing his nose. He has died from fracture to the base of the skull. A Stourport correspondent telegraphs :—Phcebe and Lilian Perks, factory girls belonging to Kiddersminster, and Ernest Hartle, bootmaker, of Stourport, were drowned on Sunday, in the Severn near Stourport. Hartle and a carpenter named John Tyler had invited the girls into the boat. This overloaded it, causing it to capsize. Two young men named Bash and Bowkley gallantly attempted rescues, but Tyler was the only one saved.
The Northern News. — 1896-11-28 (Carlisle, Cumbria, England)

THE ATTEMPTED SUICIDE BY AN  ACTRESS.  Nina Herbert, an actress, and a member of the "Geisha" Company, who were appearing at York last week, was brought up at the York Police Court on remand, charged wi+h attempting to cornnit suicide by jumping into the river Ouse. The accused is twenty-four years of age, and played the rOle of Mabel Grant. On Monday the Lord Mayor (chairman of the bench) said the magistrates we:e desirous of sparing the feelings of the. young lady and her friends as much as possible, and he a.skvil Mr. Lilford Arthur the acting manager of the company), who was in court, whether he wouid become surety for Miss Herbert's good behaviour. Mr. Arthur replied in the affirmative. The accused was then bound over in £lO, and one surety of a like amcunt, to be of good behaviour for six months. From inquiries it would appear that for some time Miss Herbert had been in bad health, and that her condition had na been improved by a difference which she had had with one or more of her immediate relations as to her adopting a stage life. Indeed, her depression had been noticed by several 'whoa of the company with whom slie had been in the habit of lodging in the different towns visited during the tour, but it was never suspected that she contemplated suicide. The attention of the management had also been called to her state of health, and it is said that it was their intention, at the conclusion of last week's engagement at York, to give Eer a fortnight's rest, in the hope that she might " pick up." Min 3 Herbert's mind itself appears to be a blank as to how she got into the water. She is said to be of good family, her parents residing in Kent.  At Leicester Assizes, on Friday, Frances Rogers (42), stableman, was found guilty of the murder of Charlee Packer, another stableman, in the employ of of the Catlesmore Hunt, during e, quarrel, and was sentenced to death. At Carlisle, on Friday, Richard Ernest Saddler, a betting man, of Leeds, was committed for trial at The Sessions on charges of stealing money and valuables from the Border Café and the County Hotel the previous day.
The Northern News. — 1896-03-14 (Carlisle, Cumbria, England)

POSED ASSASSIN.  HIS PARENTS ARRESTED.  A shocking murder. accompanied by outrage 0. the victim, *as perpetrated in Birmingham lato on Tuesday night, and was discovered early on Wedaesday morning. The victim was a girl aged ten years,named May Lewis, who lived with her parents in Smith Street. The child went to school on Monday afternoon, and as she did not return,her parents became much alarmed and communicated with the police. In spite of the most active inquiries. nothing was heard of her, however, until early on , Wednesday morning, when a man named Williams discovered the body in front of a house occupied by a jeweller and his wife, named Taylor,in Vyse Street, Birmingham. There were shocking injtirles to th 2 head, and the clothes were torn. Williams at onciinformed Police-Sergeants Hemming and Thomas ot his discovery, and they, with several detectives, were inickly on the spot. Dr. Burton was also called, Ind found evidence of a terrific blow on the top el the head, which seemed to have fractured the skull. There were besides no fewer than five shocking wounds on the left side of the face, and there WILF further evidence that the girl had been outraged. The police demanded admission to the house, and the door was opened by John Taylor. Observing stain of blood on the steps of the house, the police made a search of the premises. On the right of the hall there appeared to be further blood stains, and it seemed that attempts had been made—but ineffectually—to wipe them out. In the room on the left of the passage, and also in Taylor's bedroom, there were similar stains of blood, and a piece of rag saturated with blood was found in a water tank. Taylor and his wife were at once taken into custody. The Taylors stated that their son Frank, aged twenty-three years, was in the habit of visiting them, and they described him as a loafing, good-fornothing fellow, who lived in lodgings about the city. On Wednesday night he went to the house, and Mrs Taylor gave him money to pay for his lodgings. The father also made admissions which strengthen the theory that the son had committed the crime, and that he had decoyed May Lewis into the house with the object of outrage, and that to prevent het screaming had battered her head with a brick. The terrible crime has created a sensation throughout thc city, and the premises have been visited by excited crowds. Shortly after ten o'clock at night Frank Taylor, who is supposed to have outraged the girl and then murdered her, gave himself up at the Dudley-road police station, which is in the city. His clothing was saturated, and it was evident that he had been in the water somewhere. It is thought that he had attempted to commit suicide. He stated that his name was Frank Taylor, and that the newspapers had not told the truth about him. The officer queried "What, respecting the Vyse-street murder ?" and the prisoner replied "Yes.' When charged with the murder and outrage, he said, "I shall not say anything now ; I will say it after."
The Northern News. — 1896-05-16 (Carlisle, Cumbria, England)

CASHIER.  On Friday, Mr. Brighouse, county coroner, held ap inquiry at Pimbo-lane, near Wigan, relative to the death of George Unsworth (45), a cashier, of 33, Salisbury-rd., Everton, who was found in a dying condition on the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway at Pimbo-lane, late on Wednesday night, and died early next clay.—Marian Birkett, of 15, Fair View Place, Liverpool, deposed that deceased was her brother-in-law. He left home at half-past two on Wednesday afternoon, but did not say where be was going to. He worked up to Monday, but on Tuesday he complained of feeling unwell. He bad suffered from insomnia for the past 14 months, and had been under the care of several doctors. Witness never thought he would commit suicide, as he had no pecuniary or other troubles. He had relatives living at Elmer's Green, three miles from Pimbo-lane.—After other evidcnce, the jury returned an open verdict.  At Liverpool, on Monday, James W. Hyde, formerly of the White House Hotel, Liverpool, and the Imperial Hotel, Rhyl, was charged under the 31st section of the Bankruptcy Act with having obtained credit in April last, he being ai that time an undischarged bankrupt, and not informing his creditors of this fact. Detective-Inspector Ley. bourne deposed to arresting the prisoner at Manchester, where for some time past lie has been carrying en business. Formal evidence as to one of the charges having been tendered, the Stipendiary remanded the accused for eight days. Prisoner asked that bail be allowed, but the prosecution objected, on the ground that be had already absconded as a bankrupt.—Bail was refused.  A serious epidemic of measles is raging at HooleyHill, near Ashton-under-Lyne, in consequence of which all the day schools have had to be closed. Out of three hundred children attending one school, over one hundred are suffering from the disease. Of the children attending another school over forty are affected. Several deaths are reported, and in one instance there are three in one family. The school managers have decided to abandon the usua) Whitsuntide procession.
The Northern News. — 1896-06-13 (Carlisle, Cumbria, England)

SUICIDE IN LONDON.  A man who was found shot through the head at Gordon's Hotel, Catherine-st.. Strand, on Sunday morning, is stated to be Mr. James Staples, of Bolton, near Chesterfield. It, Eeems that he and a friend engaged rooms at the hotel a week ago, and they told Mr. Ruffell, the proprietor, that they had come up from Bidton to mo to the rerby. Mr. Staples was always very cheerful in his manner, and there was nothing to lead the nroprietor to believe he contemplated suicide. He and his friend went to the Derby, but the latter afterwards returned to Bolton. Staples remaining in the h )tel. On Wednesday night he remaiked to some of the visitors at the hotel that his luck had been "all out." at the Derby, and he had lost his money on the wrong horses. On Saturday night, he returne 1 to the hotel just before twelve o'clock, and being a little elevated, Mr. Ruffell advised him to go to bed, which he did. As he did not make his appearance up till eleven o'clock on Sunday morning, and nothing was heard of his movements, the proprietor went to his room, and failing to get an answer to his knocking opened the door. A shocking sight then presented itself, Staples being frpund quite dead, with a bullet wound in his head, from which a large quantity of blood had flowed. In the decea.secl man's right hand there was a six-chambered revolver, a miniature weapon like a toy pistol, one chamber of which had been discharged under his head. A small note-book was found, in which the deceased had written in pencil, "My poor mother," "My dear mother." Several telegrams and papers were found upon him. The suicide 'a thought to have been the result of betting lo,ses. Mr. Staples was only 21 years of age.
The Northern News. — 1896-06-13 (Carlisle, Cumbria, England)

SUICIDE OF A WESLEYAN AIINISTEE.'  A VICTIM TO MELANCHOLIA. A profound sensation_ was. caused in East R  ford, and among the Wesleyan society in particular, by the suicide on Sunday of the Rev. Robert Raw, the superintendent minister of the circuit. Mr. Raw was a sufferer at times from great depression of spirits, which occasionally merged into acute melancholia. It was his turn to preach, but he felt himself unable so to do, and the services were engaged of Mr. Hopper, one of the students at Headingley College. Nothing of a serious character was anticipated, and the service was attended by Mrs. Raw and two or three of the children, Mr. Raw being left in the house alone. He left home, and was observed by one or two anglers walking along a well-known footpath by the bank of the river Idle until he had reached the hamlet of Bolham, distant about a mile. There are shuttles at this place, where the stream rushes turbulently down the race; and here he thrust his walking-stick into the grass, put his hat on the top of it, and flung himself into the water. The body was seen shortly afterwards by a young man named Bush, who immediately raised an alarm. The' remains were carried to the nearest inn. That the deceased intended to commit suicide is placed beyond doubt by the fact that his friends found a note from him, in which he indicated that life was unbearable; that he regretted the trouble which would be occasioned, but that he could not live any longer. Mr.sßaw had been three years in the circuit, resident in Retford the whole period, and a constant visitor among the congregation. There can be no doubt that he was not responsible for his actions, and the melancholy event has aroused feelings of the deepest sympathy and sorrow.
The Northern News. — 1896-12-19 (Carlisle, Cumbria, England)

THE CHAMPION DIVORCE SUIT.  SUICIDE OF MRS. CHAMPION.  - - An inquest was held on Monday by Mr. Drew al the Chelsea Town Hall on the body of Mrs. C. Champion, who recently pleaded successfully at the Law Courts for a judicial separation from her husbar.d, and who committed suicide by drinking laudanunt at 76. Oakley-st., Chelsea, on Friday morning.—Mr. Troutbeck, the coroner for Westminster, said he was deceased's solicitor, and saw her on Thursday, when she was greatly disapointed at some prospect of delay in the appeal which was being made by her husband against the decision in the Divorce Court. She had no fear of the result, but was very anxious about her child. If she worried at all it was about her child. She was further upset by the fear of detectives, who she said had followed her when she went to see her child, which had been placed with mutual friends of herself and her husband. Witness had received a letter from deceased since Thursday, directing the disposal of her property to her baby and Lady do Crespigny.—Lady de Crespigny deposed that when deceased returned from Mr. Troutheck's on Thursday she seemed a little depressed and anxious. She had taken laudanum before, but its fatal effects had been averted. She retired at eleven o'clock on Thursday night, telling the witness not to disturb her early in the morning. At nine o'clock on Friday morning she was found dying in her bed in a sitting posture, with portraits of witness and her daughter on the counterpane and a four-ounce laudanum bottle by her side, nearly empty. A letter, addressed "Dear Papa," and expressing sorrow at not having obtained her husband's forgiveness before she died, was also found.—A verdict of Suicide whilst of unsound mind" was returned.
The Northern News. — 1896-06-06 (Carlisle, Cumbria, England)

SOUTHPORT PLEASURE STEAMER UNABLE  TO LAND.  There was a scene of great excitement on the North Pier at Blackpool on Friday, when the throng of holiday makers was at its highest. The sea was rough, and when the pleasure steamer Belle arrived with a large number of passengers from Southport she had much difficulty in getting near the landing jetty. Amid general alarm: the waves carried her against the pier, and her sponson broke one of the piles. Good seamanship got her away, but she was unable to effect a landing, and the passengers had to be taken back to Southport.  At an inquest held at Cwmbach, Aberdare, on Monday night, as to the death of a child named Taylor, aged fourteen months, a verdict of " Manslaughter " was returned against the father, %Nilo, on Whit-Monday, in consequence of his wife nut having purchased a pennyworth of lettuce, threw a walking-stick at the woman. The stick struck the child on the head, and death took place on Friday.  A serious disaster occurred on Sunday night at Antwerp at the close of a performance of Locidiart's American Circus. As the spectators were taking their departure the staircase collapsed, and a panic ensued. Those who were behind, not realising what had oocurred, continued to press forward, and many fell among the ruins of the staircase. Fortunately, no lives were lost, but twenty people received serious injuries.  A sensational suicide was reported to the East Lantcsbire Coroner on Monday. Richard Aldred, bookkeeper to a colliery firm at Church, near Accringtoa, was recently discharged from his employment, after twenty-seven yews' service. Chi Saturday his son, who was in the employ of the same firm, came home and teld his father he had also bee, discharged. The father thereupon went upstairs and hanged himself.  After repeattd refusals, the Blackpool Justices on Monday. granted an application for a public dancing licence in respect of the Empire Theatre of arieties. Their decision was given after • i long consultation in private, the Chairman announcing that speculators must not take it that a dancing licence would necessarily be granted when a large building was erected. Permission was also given for Sunday concerts with sacred music alone.