npedrazzini/19thc_murder_suicide_news huggingface dataset:
The Slaithwaite Guardian and Colne Valley News. — 1898-06-17 (Slaithwaite, West Yorkshire, England)

ATTEMPTED SUICIDE AND MURDER AT GOLCAR,  A SAD CASE.  A painful sensation was caused in this village on Saturday afternoon, when it became known that a somewhat determined attempt had been made at suicide and murder in the canal at Golcar. From enquiries made we learn that the unfortunate man is a blacksmith, named John Potts Dryden, aged 28 years. By birth a Sunderland man, it appears that he eventually came to Leeds, and two years ago came to Milnsbridge, in which place he has been working. He was married, and had five children. A series of troubles seem to have overtaken him, commencing with the death of his wife just over twelve months ago. Within a very short time his young child died, and singularly enough the eldest lad, aged nine years, also died whilst living with his grandmother in the North of England. To add to these misfortunes, Dryden lost his situation only last week. The unfortunate fellow seems to have given way under the strain, and attempted to put an end to his existence and those dependent on him. That he had fully resolved to make away with his life, the following letter, found under a stone on the canal bank, shows :  "Dear Friends, . . . You will think it strange of me. I can't go on. I sm done, done with the ups and downs off this road .f life, not forgetting Jack Birch and the rest of my family. Good-by Dad, and Jane. and Charlie; there is no one to blame for this ; don't talk off me, let the dead rest; the end off poor Jack Potts Drythu. Please take us to the deadhonse, for we have no home of our own, and I thank the may k;nd friends of this district and my best home."  Everyone who knew Dryden agreed that be was I sober, steady, industrious and fond of his children; I add it is hardly necessary to add that general sympathy is evinced at such an unlooked-for culmination of his troubles. Luckily for him, however, and the two children whose life he attempted to take, assistance was at hand. An insurance agent, W. 11. Roberts, who was on the canal side of the embankment about two o'clock, at Low Westwood. Golear, heard a splash and also someone scream. He ran about eighty yards in the direction of the noise, and when lie got there he saw the man Dryden in the middle of the canal holding his two daughters--two little girls—and trying to press them under the water. Ile at once jumped into the centre of the canal and got hold of the two little girls, and about the same time another man named Shaw, a waggon shunter, heard a scream, and also ran awl assisted to get the two little girls out. Dryden had then got some distance down the water of the canal floating, and Roberts went into the water again, and Shaw held his hand, and they got the man out. He was quite exhausted, and told them he wished they had let him alone, as he wanted to die. The two little girls were taken across to the house of Policeconstable Kempston, and care was taken of them, and they were then taken to their lodgings. Dryden was taken care of and handed over to Police constable Ashworth.
The Slaithwaite Guardian and Colne Valley News. — 1898-07-15 (Slaithwaite, West Yorkshire, England)

SAD CASE OF DROWNING AT MILNSBRIDGE.  It is only a fortnight ago we had to chronicle the sad case of the drowning of a little girl at this place, and we have this week to supplement the intelligence by an equally sad occurrence, which formed the subject of a coroner's enquiry on Monday. The victim on this occasion was a young woman named Annie Lockwood, who had been residing with her sister at Armitage Road, Milnsbridge. She was 31 years of age, and was employed as a cotton reeler. She was last seen alive by her sister on Friday evening, and on Nlonday morning was discovered by a teamer in the London and North Western Canal at Hulme Mills, Golcar. An enquiry held in the evening at the London and North Western Hotel, Longwood, before Mr. J. E. Hill (deputy coroner) elicited the following evidence : Clara Lockwood, a sister, said the deceased was 31 years of age. She last saw her at half-past nine o'clock p.m. on Friday last, when she left home. Deceased appeared rather depressed. She did not say anything beyond answering in the affirmative that she was going to Milnsbridge. She was of a quiet disposition, and did not give any reason for being quiet. The Deputy Coroner: Had she been keeping company with a young man ?—Not that 1 know of. She never said anything to me. Had she any trouble at her work none whatever, so they all say. John Edgar Lomb, book-keeper, of Scarr Lane, said that he saw the deceased Ong along the lane near the Royal Hotel about 9-45 su Friday night. He noticed this because she was going in an opposite direction to her home. She was alone. Herbert Taylor, teamer, of Dowker Street, Milnsbridge, stated that he 'found the deceased about 3-30 that morning in the London and North Western Canal near Hulme Mills, Golcar. With the exception of a shawl which she had on when she left home the deceased was fully dressed. The shawl had not been found.  The Deputy-Coroner : You are not a sweetheart of hers ?—Witness lam married. (Laughter.) Alice Derbyshire, wife of John Derbyshire, boot maker, Market Street, Milnsbridge, said she laid out the body of the deceased, upon which there was no mark of violence whatever— only a place was grazed by the stones or something. The Coroner: Perhaps a boat. Did the body appear to have been in the water some time ? Yes her hands and everything looked as if she had been in the water a few days. Was she well nourished ?-oh, yes. And the body:all right ? Yes.  The Deputy Coroner said it was rather a mysterious case. The deceased appeared to have got somewhat flat lately in her mind. There was no reason given why she should take her life—no case of a sweetheart or anything of that sort. She left home, it was said, to go to Milnsbridge and was found at Golcar. He thought the safest verdict for the jury to return was " Found drowned, without mark of violence and no evidence to show how she got into the water." There was no evidence that she committed suicide—she did not leave anything on the bank. The Jury returned a verdict accordingly.
The Slaithwaite Guardian and Colne Valley News. — 1898-01-21 (Slaithwaite, West Yorkshire, England)

SUPPOSED SUICIDE AT MELTHAM MILLS.  I: No small amount of excitement was occasioned ;en Sunday, when it became noised abroad that • the body of Mr. Dan Thorp, of Woodbottom, had been found in the reservoir connected with Messrs. • Jonas Btook and Bros. mills. The discovery was made by the son of the deceased, Fred Thorpe. It appears that deceased had for some time been II in a depressed state of mind and was last seen !I alive on Saturday, which day he left home. I, Search was made when he did not return and his body was discovered as stated. Mr. W. Barstow, J.P. (District Coroner), held ~ an inquest on Tuesday at the Royal Oak lull, Woodbottom. .  The first witness called was the son, Fred !`Thorpe, who, in his evidence stat -id that his father !• was sixty one years of age, and a farmer. De! -ceased lived with witness, and on Saturday night • went out about ten o'clock to all appearances with the intention of attending to the catile. He had to go to the end of the building. As deceased did not return the family grew somewhat uneasy, and eventually a search was undertaken -which proved futile. Continuing to institute in.quiries, witness, on the following morning (Sunnay) learned that deceased had been seen in the •vicinity of Honley Wood, when, together with ! his uncle, witness went into the wood, and whea j :near to Meltham Mills reservoir, saw something in ! the water. By means of a branch of a tree the ,object was pulled to the side, when it was seen to ;be the body of the deceased. Police Constables !Chapman and Ruddick were communicated with 1; and the body taken out of the water and conveyed home. For some time back the deceased had been in a depressed state of mind, though he had enjoyed fairly good health. Witness could not account for the deed, as deceased had never said anything to witness to cause suspicion that he might attempt self-destruction. Fenton Sykes, labourer, of Woodbothoin, deposed ! to seeing the deceased on Saturday night about eleven o'clock. At that time he would be about a quarter of a mile from the reservoir and three quarters of a mile from his own home. Neither of them spoke. Though not going across to the reservoir deceased could get that way if he chose. After the Police Constables had given their , formal evidence, the jury returned a verdict to the ' effect that deceased was found drowned and that rhe had probably committed suicide whilst temporarily insane.  On Saturday evening the Byrom Challenge Shield was presented to the liolmfirth Cricket Club.  The annual supper to the Warners in the employ of Messrs. Bentley and Shaw, Lockwood Brewery. took place on Saturday night. A smoking concert was afterwards held.
The Slaithwaite Guardian and Colne Valley News. — 1902-06-20 (Slaithwaite, West Yorkshire, England)

SUICIDE OF A GOLCAR WOMA.  INQUEST.  On Friday afternoon, as Mr. A. Crowther was walking by one of the Huddersfield Corporation compensation reservoirs on the borders of the borough, he found a black bhawl on the wall, end upon looking into the water he saw the body of a woman about six yards from the bank, lie reported the matter to the Longwood Police, and the body was subsequently recovered and conveyed to the Unity Miller Inn, where it was identified as being that of Eliz:t Gledhill, of Bankfield Terrace, Swallow Lane, Go'car, and widow of the late Mark Gledhill, rug manufacturer, who died suddenly about a month ago. She was fifty-eight years of age. The inquest was held at the Dusty Miller Inn, Longwood, on Saturday morning, by Mr. E. H. Hill, the district coroner. The evidence howed that of late the deceased had been in an unsettled condition of mind, which had been further affected by the sudden demise of her husband. The doctor had told her that her nerves were unstrung, and she had declared that she could not live, and would have to do "something," meaning in the way of self-destruction. Deceased usually took a nap after dinner, but on Friday afternoon she told her granddaughter, Miss Hilda Harrison, who lived along with her, that she preferred a walk instead, and she put on a shawl and strolled through the tield leading to the family's rug mill, and also in the direction of the reservoir. Mr. Allnrt Crowther, a retired licensed victualler, was taking a walk on the elevated land °veil oking the reservoir when he observed something in the water a few yards from the bank. As he was curious to ascertain what the object was, lie went down to the reservoir and found a shawl on the wall, and on getting to the edge of the bank he SAW that the o,,ject in the water was the body of the deceased. The water at the place where the body was found was only about three feet deep. LOa the bottom of the reservoir was a line of footprints, :as though she had walked in and then laid down. The place where deceased had got over the wall was,difticult to climb. There was a cut on her elbow, which it was thought would have been caused by her climbing over the wall. The Jury returned a verdict of "Suicide whilst in an unsound state of mind."  Every In Yorkshire now Ole CO•OP.
The Slaithwaite Guardian and Colne Valley News. — 1902-01-03 (Slaithwaite, West Yorkshire, England)

SUPPOBED SUICIDE.--It 9 15 on Tuesday evening the body of Sarah Ann Bradley, aged 63 years, a widow, of 97, Whiteley Bottom, was found in the canal lock opposite Burdett Mills. It appears that she was last seen alive at half-past four in the afternoon by Agnes Clegg, a little girl of seven years. George Hoyle, brother of deceased, returned from his work about a quarter to six, and could not find her. Inquiries were made, and the police were at once informed, and as Mrs. Bradley had made an attempt to do away with herself about four years ago, search was made in the canal with the result already stated.—The inquest was held at the Conservative Club before Mr. E. H. Hill, district coroner, on Thursday morning. George Hoyle, brother of the deceased, said that his sister was 63 years of age, and was the widow of the late Green Bradley. He last saw her alive at dinner-time on Tuesday, when she seemed very cheerful. Three years ago she attempted to .do away with herself and was at that time attended by a doctor for nervous depression, but she soon got over it She had been depressed from time to time since then, but had always quickly recovered. She had not been depressed of late. Witness came back from his work at 5-40 and found the house door open, the tire burning well, but no preparation for tea. He made inquiries about deceased at neighbouring houses, and not hearing anything of her he informed the police at about 7-30. P.C. Hellowell along with Witness's nephew and some neighbours commenced to make a search for her.—P.C. Hellowell deposed to searching the canal by the aid of a lantern. After going a good length they saw a dark object in No. 7 lock, and at the same time deceased's shawl was found on the towing path. By aid of a rope and hook, and by raising the water to the top of the lock they got the body out and conveyed it home. The lock. keeper had said the water was about four feet deep. There was a bruise on her right cheek and another on the left temple. Martha Taylor, Whiteley Bottom, who laid out the body, also gave evidence. The Jury retnrned their verdict as follows : Died from drowning, having thrown herself into the water whilst in an unsound state of mind.
The Slaithwaite Guardian and Colne Valley News. — 1901-04-12 (Slaithwaite, West Yorkshire, England)

EIXIE CHURCH. -- A bazaar was held on Monday and Tuesday last at the above place, f,r the purpose of raising money towards the renovation fund. The first day's proceedings were formally opened by Mr. John Fisher, of Iludderstield, with Mr. T. W. Thorpe as chairman. Tuesday's opening ceremony was presided over by the Rev. It. Willan, M.A., vicar, and Dr. Webster formally declared the bazaar open. The stalls, which were laden with a choice selection of useful and ornament& articles were as follows? drapery, crockery, refreshments, advertisements, toys, sweets, flowers, and ice cream. The entertainments were of a miscellaneous character, and included magic lantern exhibitions, galvanic battery, shooting gallery, 'WC. Puling the progress of the bavaar selections of music were played by a string band. The proceeds up to and including Tuesday amounted to £125.  " AILED Nowr." An inquest was held last Monday on the lydy of Thomas Dyson, 31, teazer and fettler, who was found drowned in a dam at Gledholt on Sunday morning. John Dyson, father of the deceased, said he last saw his son alive about a month ago. He said his son "ailed nowt ; he wor nobbut wrong in his head." He had threatened to buy a gun and shoot them all. Sarah Ann nyson, wife of the decea,ed, residing in Scar Lane. Golcar, said she hid been separated from her husband twelve months ago last Jar nary. On the day preceding Christmas Day lie was sent to prison for a mouth for neglect of her. She had had no communications whatever with him since. He had never threatened te commit suicide in her hearing, hut he had threatened to cut witness's throat many a time, lie had cried out with pains in his head, and had been attended by several doctors for this. Pour weeks ago that day lur daughter, aged seven, and son, George Henry, aged five, were going to school, when deceased jumped over a wall. He gave one sixpennyworth of copper and the other sixpence, telling them to " wear" the money themselves, and not give it to their mother, but to take his watch, which he gave the boy, to their mother. The jury returned a verdict that ! " deceased was found drowned without any marks of violence."
The Slaithwaite Guardian and Colne Valley News. — 1901-04-04 (Slaithwaite, West Yorkshire, England)

POULTRY HINTS.  APRIL.  My notes last month referred to sitting and hatching. We will suppose that the chicks are well on their feet. Food must be given five or six times a day, a little at a time and quite fresh. It will not do to mix a lot at once and then throw down a little as required, as chickens are easily thrown into diarrhcea, and they are difficult subjects to doctor. If by any mischance they show signs of looseness in the bowels, sprinkle a little chalk (powder) in the soft food, or, better still, mix a little meal, say a tablespoonful, with ten drops of chlorodyne and make it into pellets about as large as peas, and two or three may be given to each chick. If poultry food be given, scald it for a few seconds only, and then pour off the water. that clean water is supplied regularly, but avoid a deep vessel or some of the chicks may commit suicide. When three'Rr four days old, canary seed or groats may be given dry for the last feed at night ; and when a fortnight old, wheat or a little rice may also be supplied. Don't, however, give too much rice, as it is not a suitable food for growing chicks, though they are very fond of it. On fine days let the hen out of the coop for a run, and thoroughly clean it, putting fine sand on the floor, with a little fine grit sprinkled among it, for chickens require grit the same as older birds. When about three weeks old the youngsters may be allowed out for a few hours, if protected from cats. The cat question is a difficult one, for if puss once takes to killing chickens she is difficult to break of the bad habit. I know only one safe way—but do it very quietly and bury deeply. Under ordinary circumstances the chicks should grow rapidly, and in about six weeks you may expect the hen to again begin laying, when, as a rule, she leaves her brood to themselves.  If chicks begin to mope, and you cannot account for it, examine them closely and you will probably find them swarming with lice. A good dusting with insect powder usually suffices, but it may be advisable to repeat this in a few days, as the former powder will gradually drop out from among the feathers. The weather during March has been very bad for hatching, a great many chicks dying in the shell ; and a large number of young birds have suffered owing to the severe frost and heavy storms. There is plenty of time yet, however, to hatch winners, and birds hatched by the end of April or beginning of May will probably beat the earlier hatched ones at the November or December shows. This applies more especially to the lighter breeds. Those who require a few pullets for winter laying should now get their hens set, so that the chicks may be old enough for laying by the end of October. As a rule pullets are scarce in autumn, and, therefore, it is wise to  Printed and published by J. W. Roberts, at his general printing and publishing office, Bridge Street, Slaithwaite, Yorks, THURSDAY, Aram 4, 901.
The Slaithwaite Guardian and Colne Valley News. — 1901-06-14 (Slaithwaite, West Yorkshire, England)

SUICIDE OF A WEAVER AT MILNSBRIDGE.  THE INQUEST.  Mr. E. H. Hill, district coroner, held an inquest at the Fountain Inn, on Tuesday evening, upon the body of Arthur Cartwright, who was found dead in the new reservoir at Spring Mill. early on Tuesday morning.—Mr. Albert Dawson was elected foreman of the jury. Sarah Elizabeth Cartwright, wife of deceased, gave evidence of identification, and stated that her husband was 49 years of age, and followed the occupation of a woollen weaver. Deceased had been attended by doctors for six months for a disease of the brain awl spinal cord. Dr. Parke had advised witness to take him to the Infirmary, as it would be a long illness. Dr. Parke had also warned her to keep a careful watch over him, as Cartwright was not in his right mind. On Monday night, deceased ,went to bed along with her at five minutes past eleven. He complained that he felt rather dizzy, but witness attributed this to him having stayed up rather later than usual. They both fell asleep and she did not awake until 3 o'clock when she found that he was not in bed. She heard him rattling the door sneek, as he was leaving the house. She called out three times to ask him where lie was going and he replied lam going to the closet." Witness went to sleep again, and did not awake until 4-30 when she found ! that he was not in bed. She awoke the children and told them their father was absent, but they replied that perhaps he had gone for a walk. At twenty minutes to six witness saw there was something to do across the road, as there were several men looking, she thought, towards the reservoir. One of her daughters was sent to see what was the matter, and eventually the body of her husband was brought home. In reply to the Coroner witness said she had always kept a careful watch over her husband when he was the "fretful side out." Ile had gone out to the closet early in the morning on several  occasions. Edward Barrett, an electrician residing at Church Street, Longwood, said that he was passing by the new reservoir about ten minutes to six when he noticed a man's coat and vest on the bank. He went to look in the water, and saw a man's body floating face upwards, about four yards from the side. The water would not be above five feet deep. Witness sent for st policeman, and subsequently helped to carry the body home. Martha Ann Stocks, who laid out the body, said that she had often heard deceased threaten what he would do to himself. His wife had kept a careful watch over him. The jury returned a verdict to the effect that deceased had drowned !himself whilst in an unsound state of mind.