npedrazzini/19thc_murder_suicide_news huggingface dataset:
The Sun. — 1840-12-18 (London, England)

UNION-HALL.  Thursday Ann and Maria Bide, two sisters aged 18 and 19, of prepossessing appearance, were brought before Mr. Traill, charged with an attempt at self-destruction.  Thomas Linsey stated that on the preceding night as he was crossing Southwark-bridge, accompanied by Mr. Day, their attention was arrested on observing something move on the outside coping, and which they were enabled to see through the iron-railing of the palisades. Both he and Mr. Day immediately jumped upon the seat of the recess over the middle arch on the eastern side of the bridge, and then distinctly saw two females as close together as possible in a kneeling position outside on the coping, which is narrow, and just capable of allowing a person to walk along, but on the least false step must be precipitated the height of the bridge into the river. The moment he (Lindsay) and his friend saw the two women they stooped over the balustrades and seized each of them, when they discovered that they were both firmly tied together round the waists with two strong scarfs which were knotted together for the purpose, and went round their bodies two or three tim's. At the moment they were grasped by witness nd his friend, they endeavoured to disengage themselves, particularly Ann, the eldest, who entreated them to let her go, and made strong efforts to throw herself backwards, from the place where she and her sister were fastened together, into the river beneath. After experiencing some difficulty, ho ~ever, the witness and Mr. Day succeeded in dragging back the women over the balustrade on the bridge, and they then said that  „., they were sisters, that they had determined on dying together, and with that intention they had come to the resolution of throwing themselv,,,s off the Southwark-bridge. They also said, that although they were baulked on that occasion, yet still that they were determined to carry their project into cff,nt when on opportunity prewnted itself'. When questioned as to who they were, and where they lived, they gave their real names, said that they lodged. at Bermondsey, and their father, who held a situation in the Customhouse, lived in John-street, Webb-street, Snow's•fields, bat that he was at present on duty at Gravesend. Toey both begged hard to be let off, and when told th.;t they would be taken to the ret:idenec of their parents they became very much distressed, and entreated not to be taken there : and, in tact, tried to break away from the pet,ons who were the means of saving theta from inevitah:e destruction. Linsay and Mr. .13.1 y, finding that the defendants had such a decided aversion to being taken home, conveyed them to the station-house, where they were kept. all night, wed as it was suspected that they still tated suicide, they were accordingly brought up to this  Court. Mr. TRAILL inquired if the defendants had any friends
The Sun. — 1840-08-03 (London, England)

DREADFUL SUICIDE AT GOODWOOD.—A melancholy occurrence cast a gloom over Goodwood on Friday. Death had already deadened enjoyment at the Duke's, her Grace having lost her uncle, but on the morning of Friday it was found that one of the servants of the establishment had destroyed himself. The particulars are briefly these :—Thomas Dearman had lived with his Grace of Richmond four or five years ; was employed as butcher, and went in that capacity last year into Scotland, with his Grace. He was a widower, with two children, a boy aged twelve, and a girl of six. He was about to be married to a young woman of excellent character who is employed in the still-room of Goodwood House. A little before six o'clock on Friday morning Dearman went to the apartment of Mr. Rusbridge (the Duke's Steward) for orders, but Mr. Rusbridge had not risen. Dearman returned from thence, and desired his son to go into the larder, and wait for him. The poor child did so, but a considerable time elapsing, and finding that his parent did not return, heproceeded to the boiling hoase to seek him, and was horrorsti uck to perceive 'aim lying on his back with his head nearly severed from his body ; an open razor clotted with blood was in his left hand. From the position in which he lay, and the nature of the wound, it is conjectured that he must have lain down to inflict it. He had recently taken a house, and was furnishing it previous to his marriage, which was to have taken place in a fortnight. He was between thirty an forty years of age, and very generally respected. Amid the rumours current on the subject are allegations of his jealousy, and that he lost a comparatively large sum upon Charles the Twelfth for the Cup.
The Sun. — 1840-07-30 (London, England)

SUICIDE OF A BOY THIRTEEN YEARS OF AGE.—Yesterday afternoon an inquest was held at the Mason's Arms, East-lane, Walworth, before Win. Carter, Esq., the Coroner for Surrey, on view of the body of John Lee, aged only thirteen years, who committed suicide. William Lee, the father of the deceased, stated that the deceased was thirteen years of age; his mother died twelve years ago; he was one of eight children. Witness's other children, of whom seven were married, left him only the deceased, and as the boy and himself lived solely together, he naturally took a great interest in his welldoing. The deceased was a very active, good-tempered, and intelligent lad. Witness saw him last alive about eight o'clock on Saturday evening at home. He appeared well and hearty. Witness then went about his business, which detained him for several hours, and he returned to his residence soon after 12 o'clock, and was surprised at not finding a light, which the deceased usually left burning for his father when he was out late. Witness climbed over the back palings of the yard, and gained admission to the house, having occasion to pass through the wash-house, and was.horror struck on seeing his son sus-, pended by the neck from one of the rafters of the roof. The features of his child were so hideously distorted that for some time he could make no effort to cut him down. There can he no other reason, as far as he knew, that could have induced the boy to destroy himself, than that he committed the act from the peculiar impulse he received by reading the adventures of notoriously bad characters, and the fact of two nambers of the " Annals of Crime" being found on the table where it appears he had been reading on the previous part of Saturday evening. Several other witnesses confirmed the above evidence, and the Jury after some consideration returned a verdict, " That the deceased was found hanging, but whether done by design or accident there was no evidence to prove."
The Sun. — 1840-01-03 (London, England)

QUEEN- S QUARE.  DETERMINED ATTEMPT AT SUICIDE BY A FRENCHMAN.—Francois Visseurs, a French cook, in the service of a family living at 40, Albemarle•street, and who was wrapped in a policeman's coat, was placed at the bar charged with attempting to destroy himself.  Police-constable 156 A, stated that he was on duty in the mall of St. James's Park, opposite the Duke of York's column, about seven o'clock last evening, when he observed the defendant, who was only dressed in his skirt zlnd trousers, run down the steps from Waterloo-place ; and climbing up one of the trees, he took a rope from his pocket, fastened one end of it to a branch of the tree, and was in the act of putting the other end round his neck before witness could come up to him. With some difficulty witness got him down from the tree, the defendant all the time exclaiming, " Why you not let be! what for you touche me ; sat I not do what I like for myself? If I like hang vat is dat to you." When witness had got him to the ground, defendant, who was very powerful. entwined his arms and legs about witness in such a manner as nearly to suffocate him. He called out to a corporal of the Foot Guards, who was standing by in the Queen's Mews to assist him, but he refused. After struggling with the defendant for some minutes, relief came from the stttion-house, and after the constables had strapped both the defendant's legs and arms they were enabled to take him to the Police-station.  Inspector Haining, of the A division, said that he had learnt that the defendant had, in the early part of the evening, some words with his wife, who is a servant in the same family, and he ran out in the half naked state he was in. In Piccadilly he threw himselt into the road, before a waggon and horses, and was with much difficulty rescued from his perilous situation. He again attempted to throw himself under the wheels of a coach, but was interfered with, and he afterwards made his way into the Park, where he was taken under the circumstances mentioned. When at the station-house he was exceedingly violent, in fact he showed all the symptoms of raving madness ; he seized upon everything that he could, to. destroy himself, and up till tweive o'clock at night it took five constables to hold him. In . .  the course of that time Mr. M'Cann, the divisional surgeon, was sent fur, and he gave him a composing draught, which about twelve o'clock sent him to sleep. . _ _  Mr. BURRELL asked the defendant what he had to say to the charge. _ _ _  Defendant said, in a low melancholy tone, I noting say ; do vat you please. I‘lr. BURRELL ordered defendant to find sureties.  The sureties were found in the course of the day, and defendant was liberated.  It may not be generally known, that the moss gathered from the bark of the ash tree will immediately stop the effusion of blood from a wound, caused by cattle goading or fighting with each other. This is an excellent remedy, and the more valuable, as it may with safety be applied in the absence of a veterinary surgeon.
The Sun. — 1840-01-15 (London, England)

EFFECTS OF CHARTISII.—An inquest was held on Monday the Gth instant, on the body of Mary David, tLe wife of a highly-respectable farmer in the neighbourhood of Clynogwr, who had committed suicide in the following extraordinary manner, according to the evidence adduced. It appeared that about a month previous to the late Newport Riots, a strange roan bad called at the farm house, which is situated awongst the hills in a retired situation, with a pipet which he stated that unless she ar.d all her fzvpily would sign to bwoine, Chartists, they woqld rise in a month and take her and all away, and mnrkler them. The man woo left, and on the hushand's return, he and his sons were informed of the circumstance, and the deceased appeared to suffer considerably in her mind, and after the breaking out of the Newport Riots, she frequently exclaimed that the man's wards had become true, and often urved liar husband to leave all and quit the place, lest the Chartists should oome and carry him and her sons away. She continued to be flighty and wild till Thursday last, ti 2d I instant, when her husband, who was enagecl with butcher in killing a pig, was called ko, one of his a daughters, stating that she conic' net get her mother to come from her bed-room sthough shq‘und been down to breakfast. 'Vk;q husband went up, and found the deceased no her knees in. in© act of praying by her bedside, He observed some blood near her ; but knowing she had been naturally afflicted with hemorrhage, he thought it was from that cause, and induced her to go to bed, leaving his daughter with her, who shortly afterwards came to him, and stated that she had found a knife near where the deceased bad been kneeling, covered with blood ; when he told her that he was afraid she had been using a knife against herself, but she retyrned no answer. A medical man was sent for, when Iya4 found that she had inflicted a wound on lke.r. nl4otnen, extending five inches in lenph, as that the intestintestinesprotruded. She lingered till twelve o'clock on i'riday, when she died, and about half an hear 'before her. She stated that her mind had been howildeved aboutthe chartists, and that she was tired of the world, and wanted to go to God out of their way, Verdict— ‘.itOicide, whilst, in a state of insanity,” Na chin could be bath to the villiain who had called upon the poor woman.—Cambrian,
The Sun. — 1840-09-05 (London, England)

THE EDITOR OF THE SHREWSBURY SEWS.SIR,—I would feel obliged by your inserting in your paper of Saturday next, the following explanations and remarks, as connected with the late murderous attempt on my life in this town. It is stated by Mary Folkes, the' cook at the Angel Inn, in her evidence, that on her first entering the room she perceived me shaking try fist at her master. Now, as being as it may appear very strange that I should assume a pugnacious attitude at a time when I was in so awful a l situation, I must explain that it was the most effective question put I could conceive of giving denial to o the he first to discredit put to me—" Good God I whatever made you do it ?" at a time when I had not the power of utterance. The impression was long entertained by all, that I had committed suicide, and my thanks are due to Mr. Hodges, this m r a moreau r, andpa r ti c ulary, cause strict search and inquiry to be made. Considering that the person accused gained admittance into this house, to all appearance as the friend and companion of Mr. Ludlow, I would wish it to be I distinctly understood that cannot attach the least blame either to the landlord, or his servants, for any want of' caution in admitting the man. It has often been the subject of remark by commercial men, the indiscriminate admission to the commercial room of all persons in respectable dress, arriving either by coach or their own vehicles, with little reference to the business which may be supposed to bring them there. By these means their property is exposed to great risk by day as well as by night, and the only wonder is that robberies at commercial inns should be so rare as they are. These remarks are intended to apply to all commercial inns generally, and not to any one in particular. I am told that it has been the constant habit at this house to appropriate a separate private room to commercial men during the fairs : and it is my duty to state that even had it been so the day before the Fair, when I arrived, it would not have prevented this sad catastrophe befalling toe—for there is every reason to believe that I was not the intended victim of the assassin, but the unfortunate substitute under his mistake. Ca is stated in some of the lo • l My age, which papers as 35, should be 29. Your insertion of the above will much oblige, Your most obedient servant, W. M.
The Sun. — 1840-08-10 (London, England)

PARISH OFFICER. By JOHN FREDERICK ARCHBOLD, Esq., Barrister-at-law. The Profession are respectfully informed that this work is now completed, 3 vols. 12rn0., price 21. 10s. in boards. Published by Messrs. Shaw and Sons, Fetter-lane.  Just published, price 2s. 6d. APRACTICAL ESSAY on the DEBILITIES of the GENERATIVE SYSTEM, their Varieties, Causes, Treatment, and Cure By a MEM BE R of the ROYAL COLLEGE of SURGEONS, London, and Surgeon to a Metropolitan Infirmary. " I am impotent, and no% it to live,"—Last's Records of I, Suicide. Sold by Onwhyn, Catherine-street, Strand; Ross and Nightingale, Liverpool ; and all Booksellers in Town and Country. N.B. Persons in the Country may have this work forwarded by post (free), upon addressing either of the above Booksellers, and inclosing a remittance of 3s.  Just published, in royal 18mo., cloth, price 3s. ; and sent in Town or Country free, by post, 3s. 6d., MANHOOD: the CAUSES of its PREMATURE DECLINE, with Plain Directions for ITS PERFECT RESTORATION; addressed to those suffering from the destructive effects of Excessive Indulgence, Solitary Habits, or Infection ; followed by Observations on the TREATMENT of SYPHILIS, GONORRIICEA, GLEET, &c. Illustrated with Cases, &c.  By J. L. CURTIS and COMPANY, Consulting Surgeons, London. Published by the Authors, and sold by Balliere, Medical Bookseller, 219, Regent-street ; 011ivier, 59, Pall Mall ; S,range, 21, Paternoster-row ; Pattie, 4, Brydges-street, Strand; Machen and Co., 8, D'Olier-street, Dublin ; Duncan 114, High-street, Edinburgh ; and to be had ofall Booksellers The Work which is now presented to the public is the result of very extended experience in a class of diseases and affections, which for some unaccountable reason have been either altogether overlooked, or treated with apathy, and almost indifference' by the of dinary practitioner. To enter into the details of these affections, to point out their causes, and to mark the terrific consequences, social, moral, and physical, whichwe sure to follow from indulgence, in certain habits, would' be entirely out of place in an advertisement. We have no hesitation, however, in saying that:there is no member of society, by whom the book will not be found interesting, whether we consider such person to hold the relation of a PARENT, a PRECEPTOR, or a
The Sun. — 1840-05-20 (London, England)

ASSURANCE  LIFE SOCIETY. 34, Bridge-street, Blackfriars, London. Established 1823. Empowered by Act of Parliament, 3 William IV. LOWER RATES of PREMIUMS than those of any other Office that entitle the Assured to participate in the profits. The Bonus declared in 1834 amounted upon an average to 161. per cent. on the premiums then paid ; and, in 1839, a seeond Bonus was awarded, amounting on the average to 31/. per cent. on the premiums paid during the preceding five years. No extra charge for residence in any pert of Europa, nor for proceeding (in a decked, sailing, or steam-vessel) from any one Port thereof to another during peace, to Assurers not being seafaring men by profession. Licenses are granted to go to any part of the world, upon terms proportionate to the risks. Polices on the lives of Persons dying by suicide, duelling, or by the hands of justice, are not void, as respects the interests of Parties to whom they may have been legally assigned. Assurances may be effected on any and every day. By order of the Board of Directors, CAMPBELL JAMES DOWNES, Secretary.  /FM E CHURCH of ENGLAND LIFE and FIRE ASSURANCE and TRUST and ANNUITY INSTITUTION, 6, King William-street, City ; and 7, St. Martin's-place, Westminster. To be Empowered by Act of Parliament. Capital, Oise Million, in 20,000 Shares of 50!. each. Deposit, 11. per Share. Further Calls not to be made without Three Month's previous notice, and not to exceed Five Pounds per Share in the whole, without a previous General Meeting of the Shareholders. COMMITTEE, From among whom the Directors, being qualified Shareholders, will be appointed, Sir C. Bethel Codrington, Bt. ttev. W. Gray Sir William White Joseph Halford, Esq. C. W. Codrington, Esq., M.P. E. G. Hallewell, Esq. A. Hastie, Esq., M.P. IThomas Holt, Esq., Registrar H. T. Hope, Esq., M.P. •of Bristol and Gloucester Joseph Neeld, Esq., M.P. Rev. Robert Harrison Alexander Pringle, Esq„ M.P. Dr. lloskins John Anderson, Esq. IBenjamin Jackson, Esq. T. J. Lloyd Baker, Esq. Rev. H. J. Knapp The Rev. J. Black Captain Macdougall Colonel Browne John Maclure, Esq. I G. C. Child, Esq., M.D. Rev. W. Mayd J. P. Clarke, Esq. !Rev. H. Nevill Rev. B. S. Claxson, D.D. Archdeacon Newcome Rev. A. G. Cornwall Rev. W. Palmer, D.D. Rev. C. Cole George Pye, Esq. Wm. Camp Crane, Esq. Rev. W. Pulling Rev. John J. Dimock M. R. Scott, Esq. Rev. J. Dudley Rev. James Shirley Edward Duffin Esq. William Sloane Esq. Rev. John Dolphin ' George Sloane, Esq. Hon. and Rev. T. Erskine Rev. H. T. Tucker Rev. W. 11. Evans Rev. Thomas Tyrwhitt Rev. Evan Evans Rev. W. H. Vernon Charles M. Elderton, Esq. Rev. W. Walton, F.R. S. Richard Fothergill, Esq. W. Preston White, Esq. J. Winckvrerth, Esq. (With power to add to their number.)
The Sun. — 1833-05-02 (London, England)

SEDUCTION AND ATTEMPTED SUICIDE.— On Tuesday morning, just as the relief of the King's Guard, formed of the 2d regiment of Life Guards, had mustered on the open space of ground opposite Knightsbridge bar. racks for inspection, previous to mounting, a respectably dressed young woman, who was standing amongst the crowd generally assembled there, uttered a loud scream, and then set off running in a state of desperation to the side of the Serpentine river ; on reaching which she tore off her bonnet and cap, and throwing them into the water, pinged headlong in herself and immediately disappeared. A cry was instantly rai,ed that a woman was drowning, and one of the privates in the Guards, whose name, we are informed, is JOHN MITCHELL, directly started from the ranks, and, accoutred as he was, in full regimentals, with cuirass, helmet, &c., jumped in at the spot where the young woman had sunk, and in a short time brought her ashore in his arms, amidst the cheers of those who witnessed his heroic conduct. She was apparently lifeless, but on being conveyed to the receiving-house of the Royal Humane Society, and the usual restorative measures being employed, she was brought to a state of consciousness, and was afterwards conveyed in a chaise to St. George's workhouse, until her friends could be sent to. From the account she gave of herself, it appears that her name is MARY ANN EATON, and the daughter of reputable patents, living in i White's-buildings, Coleman-street, in the city. About six months ago she became acquainted with a private in the 2d regiment of Life Guards, who, having gained her affections, prevailed upon her to abandon her parents, and ultimately effected her ruin, under a promise of marrying her directly he could obtain leave from the regiment. She, however, ascertained, on Monday last, that he was a married man, and the father of a family, and she bad on Tuesday morning waited for him at the barracks, intending to reproach him. with his perfidy, when, on seeing him in the ranks, her feelings so overcame her, that she knew not what she was doing. Sbe was afterwards restored to her friends. It is hardly necessary to add, that Mizoram., who so generously risked his own life to ;are hero, is net her seducer.  Mr. Briggs—l refuse, upon the part of the proprietors, to pay it. The
The Sun. — 1833-08-31 (London, England)

DISTRESSING ATTEMPTED SUICIDE.--On Saturday night last, the family of DUNAIYE, Esq., a West India merchant, residing in Gower-street, Bedford-square, was plunged into a state of the deepest affliction, by the following peculiarly melancholy and lamentable occurrence :—Mr. DUNAIYE has been for some months past labouring under a nervous affection of such severity, that at times it has been found necessary to place him under restraint. lie has, however, latterly been much better than usual, and hopes were indulged in of his ultimate recovery, On Saturday night, ha retired to bed with Mrs. Dunaiye, at his usual time, and about two o'clock yesterday morning, Mrs. Dunaiye was called up by the nurse who was sitting up with Mrs. Dunaiye's youngest son, who is ill with a fever, a change far the worse having manifested itself respecting the child's health ; Mr. Dunaiye also awoke at the time, but was persuaded to remain i❑ bed. After being absent for about three quarters of an hour Mrs. Dunaiye returned to her apartment, and on entering it, was horror struck at the dreadful spectacle which presented itself; tier husband was lying over the side of the bed with the blood streaming on the carpet from a terrible gash in his throat, which he had inflicted with a razor that was lying beside him, and which he had fetched from his dressing case in an adjoining room. The bedclothes were also saturated with blood, and the unfortunate gentleman was groaning heavily, as if in great agony. Although the great loss of blood which Mr. Dunaiye sustained is of very serious and alarming consequence to him in his present state of health, strong hopes are entertained that no fatal result will occur. Mrs. Dunaiye was so affected by the shock that she was seized with a successio❑ of highly dangerous fainting tits, and is considered in a very precarious state.