npedrazzini/19thc_murder_suicide_news huggingface dataset:
Middlesbrough & Stockton Gazette and General Advertiser. — 1870-04-08 (Stockton-on-Tees, Durham, England)

ATTEMPTED SUICIDE AT MIDDLESBROUGH. Catherine M`Nulty, 10, married woman, residing in Kay's buildings, was indicted upon a charge of unlawfully taking a quantity of laudanum, with intent to kill herself at Middlesbrough on the let March. Mr Skidmore prosecuted. Prisoner pleaded not guilty, and said she had taken the laudanum from trouble. The prisoner, whose husband is in America, took in lodgers, and at the time of the offence had in her house la servant named Mary Ann Kidd. She had something to drink on Monday afternoon, but appeared to be sober; she had drink on Sunday morning. She sent the girl on the afternoon of the 21st ult, for three pennyworth of laudanum, which was obtained from Mr Taylor's shop, Linthorpe-road, the girl saying it was to "dip clouts in for bad breasts." On obtaining it she went • into an adjoining room and in a short time afterwards she returned, saying, "Polly I am done now; you can take my clothes." The prisoner then became very unwell, and the girl sent for Dr Simpson, who, on arriving, found two women administering mustard and water. He also gave her an emetic, which took effect, and rendered the use of the stomach-pump. She had taken four times as much as had been known to destroy life. About an hour after Dr Simpson gave her the emetic, she said she had taken the laudanum to put an end to herself, and that she was determined to do it. She afterwards said it would take all the policemen in Middlesbrough to stop her, for she would go to Darlington and destroy herself. At the police court the same evening, the prisoner said she had taken the laudanum more for pain than to destroy herself. The Chairman called the attention of the jury to the inconsistency of the prisoner's defence. The jury, taking a merciful view of the case, returned a verdict of not guilty. ROBBERY OF A WATCH AT SOUTH STOCKTOIC George Henry Powell, 16, labourer, pleaded guilty to an indictment charging him with stealing a watch, the property of John Ross, at Thornaby. on the 24th January. Mr Meynell prosecuted. The prosecutor put his watch under his pillow on the day in question and went out, and on returning he missed it. The watch was found in prisoner's possession next day. The prisoner was sentenced to be imprisoned and kept to hard labour for two calendar months.
Middlesbrough & Stockton Gazette and General Advertiser. — 1870-04-29 (Stockton-on-Tees, Durham, England)

BILLIARD MATCH AT LIVERPOOL.-9. billiard match came off last week between Cook, jun., ex-chatapion, and J. Roberts, sen., father of the present champion; game 700 up. It lasted two hours and a half, and terminated in favour of Cook, who however, won it by a fluke. When Roberts had reached 646 Cook had scored 636; his opponent left both balls in baulk, and Cook coming from the bottom to the top of the table, came back and finked the red ball into the bottom lefthand pocket. He then kept both balls together, and did not separate them till the game was called, 701, thus winning by 55 points. - - - -  . At a large and influential meeting, held in the Free. trade Hall, Manchester, on Thursday night, under the presidency of Mr Potter, M.P. for Carlisle, resolutions were unanimously passed expressing regret that the Education Bill did not provide for the immediate and universal establishment of school boards, and for compulsory attendance, and the conviction that no measure would be successful in its operation which did not provide for wholly unsectarian education in rateaided schools, or for the separation of dogmatic instruction from the ordinary school work. A petition, embodying these resolutions, was also agreed to. . .  On Wednesday night a gentleman, whose name we could not learn, committed suicide in the Cafe Royal Hotel, Edinburgh. He had opened a vein in his arm, and bled to death, when he was discovered. His body was taken to the Police-office. The stipendiary magistrates at Wolverhampton "astonished the Court" on Wednesday by fining a man £lO and costs for a mere drunken freak. The defendant, an otherwise respectable-conducted man, has lately fallen into drinking habits after seven years' teetotalism.  THE Parsarrenikri Sirson.—The English Presbyterian Synod had its final sitting in London on Friday. On the motion of the Rev. W. Mammy, it was resolved that the Synod should meet next year in Grosvenorsquare Church, Manchester, on the third Monday in  April. ARREST OF "Bony OF
Middlesbrough & Stockton Gazette and General Advertiser. — 1870-03-11 (Stockton-on-Tees, Durham, England)

DREADFUL MURDER AND SUICIDE IN NEWCASTLE.  On Mon lay morning alabourer, livingin Blenheim. street, Newcastle, cut his wife's throat, attempted to murder a man who lodged with him, and then committed suicide by cutting his own throat. The parties resided together in two cellars in Blenheimstreet, and were named NV. Walton, a labourer, a man about 55 years of age, his wife, Ann Walton, 55 years of age, and a lodger named Frederick Atkins, a labourer at the Central Railway Station. On Monday morning Walton got up about eight o'clock, and, having had breakfast, seized a razor and cut his wife's throat. He then entered the bed-room, armed with the fire-tons, where Atkins was lying asleep, and inflicted a blow which fractured the latter's skull. Atkins, however, succeeded in effecting his escape, and on the police proceeding to the house, they found Mrs Walton weltering in her blood, with a horrible gash in her throat, while blood was sprinkled in all directions about the room. In the inner room in which the struggle between Walton and the lodger had occurred, lay stretched on its back, in a pool of warm blood, the body of Walton himself, with a fearful wound in his throat, his head being nearly severed from the body. It would appear that as soon as Atkins had' effected his escape, Walton had possessed himself of a second razor and committed suicide, as a razor all covered with blood was found near him. The police lost no time in sending for medical assistance, but Walton and his wife had passed beyond their skill and were both dead. Atkins was then removed to the Infirmary, and treated by Dr Arnison, who found that he had received a severe compound fracture of the skull, three small scalp wounds, two large cuts in the neck, some small skin cuts, and several lacerations on the wrists. Among the many causes assigned for the commission of the rash act by Walton, was his jealousy of his wife with the lodger. For this theory there seems to be no substantial grounds; Walton and his wife having, it is stated, always lived on the best of terms both before and after their marriage. The recovery of the man Atkins is despaired of. On Monday night, an inquest was opened on the body of Ann Walton, the murdered woman, and was adjourned.
Middlesbrough & Stockton Gazette and General Advertiser. — 1872-08-01 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

WIFE MURDER AT HIGH FELLING. A most brutal wife murder was perpetrated at High Felling on Saturday afternoon. John Grant, an Irishman, employed at Felling Chemical Works as a labourer, went after receiving his fortnight's wages on Saturday afternoon, to a public-house not far from his house, which is in the locality known in Felling as Little Ireland. After he had been drinking there for some time his wife Mary, a woman of about 33 years of age entered to seek him. She had some liquor along with her husband and a man who lodges in their house, and the three afterwards went home together. On arriving at the house Grant's wife asked him what money he had to give her. He produced 7s 6d, which she took, and remarked upon the smallness of the amount. He rose and struck her, and a struggle took place. After a pause, he again attacked her, and forcibly took from her the money he had given her. Grant then went downstairs, followed by his wife, with an infant of ten months, their only child, in her arms. As soon as she reached the bottom of the stairs, he turned round, struck her in the face, and knocked her down. He then kicked her on the head and breast, and about five minutes after he had ceased his brutal treatment she died. Grant took np the child, which had fallen from its mother's arms, and went upstairs, leaving his wife lying on the ground. Dr Mullen, who had been instantly summoned, arrived about the time the woman expired. Dr Mullen obtain-ed the assistance of a bystander, and at once apprehended Grant, who was given into the custody of P.C. Little. Grant is said to have been a habitual drunkard, and he and his wife frequently quarrelled. He was in the habit of using ber most cruelly when drunk, and he has been heard by the neighbours to threaten her life.  John Grant, plasterer, was brought up at the Gateshead County Police Court, on Tuesday, before Mr J. Morrison and Mr R. 0. Latub, charged with causing the death of his wife, Mary Grant. on Saturday night last, at the Hign Felling. The witnesses who were examined at the inquest held on the previous day were called, and gave similar testimony. The magistrates committed the prisoner for trial on the charge of wilful murder.  MURDER AND SUICIDE OF LoVERS AT
Middlesbrough & Stockton Gazette and General Advertiser. — 1872-01-18 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

LIFE-ANP-DEATII CONTEST. An exciting struggle between a would-be suicide and her rescuer occurred the other day at Point de Loup. A man and his wife having quarrelled, the hater rushed out of the house iu a state of the wildest excitement, and directed her steps towards the river Sambre. She was observed by a letter. carrier named Somveau, and he, suspecting her intention, resolved to. follow her. She was some distance in advance of him, and succeeded in throwing herself into the river, appearing at the surface just as be reached the river's brink. Hastily throwing off his coat he pillaged boldly in and swam towards the woman, who saw him, and cndeavoured to elude him. He, however, succeeded in reaching her, and got old of her by one of the arms, she resisted most violently, and at length managed to escape from him. The position was growing exceedingly dangerous, the current carrying them rapidly towards a high weir, the descent of which would doubtless have been death to both. The courageous fellow made another effort, and was successful in laying hold of her by the waist. Another terrible struggle ensued, the wcman succeeding in getting her arms round Somveau's neck and striving to pull him under the water with her. The case being desperate, and Somveau losing his strength, by reason of the cold, he adopted the only course he saw open to him by .striking her on the head as hard as he could with one arm. This had the effect of stupefying her for the moment( and causing her to relax her hold of his neck. Seizing the opportunity, he caught her by the hait of the head, and struck out vigorously for the slim-, ' which he happily reached with his burden. Both were so exhausted that they fell down and fainted, and remained in that condition for some time, till they were diszovered by some passers by, who rendered them the necessary assistance.
Middlesbrough & Stockton Gazette and General Advertiser. — 1872-10-17 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

SUICIDE AT STOCKTON. On Tuesday morning, a married man named John Corner, about 26 years of age, committed suicide by cutting his throat in a cellar attached to premises in Yarn-I -lane, which was occupied by Mr Hutchinson, wine merchant. About nine o'clock, Corner was engaged lighting a fire, and on some pretence went down into the cellar. Some few minutes later on, a fellow workman heard groans proceeding front the cellar, and proceeding there he found that Corner had cut his own throat, with a pocket knife. P.C. Stoner, assisted by Sergeant Wall, took the man to his house in Garden place, where it was found that the wind pipe had been severed. Dr. Farquharson, with other medical men, dressed the self-inflicted injury, but Corner died about three o'clock in the afternoon.  ing. Inspector Robson wak called, and examined by Mr Daruborough. He deposed that on the general licensing day, on the 30th August last, when the license of the Blue Bell was called up, he said he intended to oppose the license, and it was adjourned till that day month. He afterwards gave seven days notice. Mr R. C. Bewicke Bewicke, J.P., was then sworn, and, on being examined by Mr Darnborougk, deposed that he was present at the general licensing sessions, on the 30th of August last. Inspector Robson said he opposed Ventress's license. By Mr Price: I also added that I intencted to oppose the license. I did not hear any objentiOn taken as to the iWoraiality of the notice given to Ventrees by Robson. Upon my honour I did not sI heard Mr Pennyman say the euthe bench were p'repared to confirm Robsou's statement. I heard Robson say that lie should oppose the license. He certainly did not say "I intend to oppose the license." The megistintos may have heard him say so, but I did not. The Chairman then suuouuced that the justices wore unanimously of opinion list the powers and the discretion of the justices were to be exercised under the new act as heretofore, subject to the provisions of the new act: They therefore confirmed the decision of the magistrates at the Brewster Sessions. Mr Prioe Evicted for a case upon the points of law he had raised. The ohairinanlgal.l that as the statute W. 13 so clearly expressed, a ease could not be grantel.
Middlesbrough & Stockton Gazette and General Advertiser. — 1872-10-17 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

SINGULAR CASE OF SUSPECTED SUICIDE AT SUNDERLAND.  A singular case of suspected suicide at Sunderland was brought to the knowledge of the authorities en Monday, and its investigation has revealed a most depraved condition of life. The most prominent actor in the affair is a man named James Harrison, a tailor, residing in Dunning Street, Bishopwearinouth, whose wife died about Whitsuntide last. Since that time Harrison has ceased to follow his avocation, giving himself up to a course of headlong dissipation. To obtain tLe means to satisfy his intense craving for intoxicating liquors, he removed one by one the articles of furniture in the hour" aid turned them into money by selling them. Fits of madness, the result of his fearful dissipations, frequently seized him, and his conduct at these times was of the most violent character. Unfortunately he satisfied his morbid passion by ill:using his children and on one occasion it is stated that he obtained possession of a gun, and threatened to shoot them. On Monday morning, about half-past three, he left his house and four children, all of whom are girls, the oldest being 13 and the youngest about 7 years of age. To the oldest he gave a letter addressed to his sister, residing 1 in Silver Street, in which he intimated that poverty and the conduct of his neighbours had driven him to commit suicide. " Ile very stones of the strcet," he wrote, "have risen up against me since my wife's death." Nothing further is known positively as to his proceedings beyond the fact that about five o'clock on Tuesday morning, a man found a hat on the bridge, and in it was a piece of paper, upon which was written the words, " Who ever finds this hat and those few lines, and will take those to Mrs Mary Metcalf, No. 15 Dunning Street, Bishopwearmouth, for they belong to James Harrison, and his body may be found in the river. Poverty and drink have been the cause of the crime. Adieu to all on earth. James Harrison." The hat and missive were conveyed to the police station, but the information in it to the effect that the body of the writer had been committed to the river has not as yet been confirmed, a fact which has given rise to the suspicion that Harrison had invented the scheme of stating he had committed self-destruction merely as a decoy to cover his desertion. Harrison has left four children in a most destitute and filthy condition. Mr W. S. Fairbairn, relieving officer, visited the house and found it destitute of almost every article of furniture, and in a most filthy condition. The children were removed, by Mr Fairbairn's direction, to the Workhouse, where they will be properly tended- Ha.irison is a man about 31 years of age, and 5 feet 411 inches high. He has a large beard and moustache of dark, ginger colour, and was attired in dark trousers and short grey coat.
Middlesbrough & Stockton Gazette and General Advertiser. — 1872-04-04 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

MANSLAUGHTER BY A CLERGYMAN'S SON. At the Hereford Assizes, last week, Thomas Fairfax Fletcher Carlyle was charged with the I slaughter of Thomas Price, at Staasbatch, near aainster. This was a sad case. The accused had just completed his studies at Oxford, and was tended for for the Church. It would appear that he had overworked himself, for he had become much excited, and had been in the habit of taking sedatives in order to procure sleep. On the 23rd Deee.n• her, he was stayin,, with his aunts, the Misses Fletcher' of Stanstatch, and was observed to be wild and excited, and as they were aware that he had a gun in his room, they became somewhat alarmed. One of the ladies sat with him in his room ia the hope of quieting him. Shortly after she had left the room the housekeeper entered for some purpose, and observed that Mr Carlyle had taken his gun from the corner in which it had been standing, and had put it down near his feet at the fireplace. She became alarmed, and called up the coachman (Price, the deceased), who hurried into the room, followed by the Misses Fletcher. On Price entering. Mr Carlyle was seen standing near the fireplace, with the gun in his hand, which he immediLtely raised, calling out at the same time, "Stand back, Price, or I will shoot you." The barrel of the gun however, struck the bedpost, and it fell from Mr'Carlyle's hand. Price attempted to seize it, but Mr Carlyle picked it up in a moment, and placing it to his shoulder fired. At that moment Price struck the gen (as it was pointed to his chest), and the contents were lodged in his thigh, causing his death. When the accused saw what he had done he seemed to recover his presence of iniad, and expressed deep regret for what he had done. He said he had no idea why he used the gun. On the gun being afterwards examined, it was found that the second barrel was loaded, and that a piece of ribbon, about 2 feet long, was attached to the trigger, with a loop at the end. This was believed to have been intended by Mr Carlyle to put his foot into, and that he was about to commit suicide when the housekeeper entered his room. There could bs no doubt about the unsoundness of his mind. The prisoner was acquitted.  AN
Middlesbrough & Stockton Gazette and General Advertiser. — 1872-07-25 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

THE ATTEMPTED SIIICIDE.—Phoebe Gray, an unfortunate, was brought up under remand, charged with attempting to commit suicide, on the 19th July inst. —P.C. Stoner said: On Friday night, about half-past five o'clock, I was on duty on the Quayside, at Wickton. I was standing at the bottom of Black Bullyard. I saw the prisoner come down and go out of Black Ball-yard to the quay, as fast as she could walk. She did not speak, but clasped her hands together, and then jumped into the river, about eight feet from the shore. It was a half-ebb tide, and five feet of water. I pulled my hat and belt off, to jump In after her. I saw James Wall, the fisherman, get out of his coble and walk along to save her. I remained upon the quay, and got a piece of rope and *misted him to get her out of the water, back to the quay. I afterwards took her to the police station. She then asked for a handkerchief to put round her neck, saying that she would kill herself before morn• ing. I afterwards charged her with attempting to commit suicide, and she replied that she would kill herself.—James Wall, fisherman, living on the Quayside, said that on Friday afternoon, when busy picking mussels close to the water's edge, he heard a tremendous splash into the water. He looked round and saw something, which he could not distinguish for some little time, and then he saw a pair of feet. He immediately jumped into his coble, which proved to be fast, and then got out of the coble and into the water, and fetched the prisoner out. She was afterwards heisted up to the quay, as previously described. Could not say whether prisoner was sober; she smelt rather strong of liqoor. ilad known her before, and, BO far as he knew, this was the first time prisoner had attempted to commit suicide. This was the case. Prisoner was then charged with, attempting to kill and murder herself. She replied, "I have nothing to say." She was committed for trial at the Durham sessions.
Middlesbrough & Stockton Gazette and General Advertiser. — 1872-12-26 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

SUSPICIOUS DEATH OF .AN AT STOCK'ON.—On Wednesday nu .tJuke White, aged yettrs, was tond.dtt in bed at the house of his sister, Frances King, Elliott-street, Stockton, under circumstances which gave rise to a suspicion of foul play.—Mrs King is widow sof the man who attempted to murder her at a house on the opposite side of Elliott-street, some twelve months ago, and then committed felo de se. Since recovery from the injuries sustained at the hands of her husband, she has obtained a livelihood by receiving lodgers, there being four, named Michael Wood, Terence Quinn, Michael Mut. ‘eney, and Michael Callighan, occupying a double-urrlded room of her house at the present time. The u .ad man, Luke White, was a farm labourer, in Son rsetshire, and brother of Mrs King. He arrived at Stockton on a visit to her, about a fbrtnight ago, and was about to return to his native county. On Saturday night, between nine and ten o'clock, deceased and his sister had a supper of bread and butter and tea, and subsequently a bottle of whiskey was introduced by one of the lodgers, deceased partaking, it is said, of only one glass. Alter that the old man went to bed in the back room leaving his sister talking to the lodgers, who wished to have a fire in their bedroom, against her will. Whilst this conversation was going on, a noise was heard in the back room, and on a lodger proceeding there, he saw deceased on the floor, dressed, but also with the bed clothes around him. Deceased said that he had fallen out of bed, and seemed all right after he had been assisted in again. After the lodgers had gone to bed, Mrs King went and got into bed, beside her brother, who was holding his head over the side of the bed, as though his nose was bleeding. She did not make any remark to him, but merely fastened the door, and then went to sleep. On Wednesday morning, at halfpast five o'clock, one of the lodgers got up to go to work, and roused Mrs King to give him a candle. Deceased was then found to have his head hanging over the side of the bed, and an examination showed him to be dead. Upon the floor and in a chamber utensil there was a very large quantitx of blood, and when Mr Butler arrived he found that, in addition to a lump upon deceased's foreb cad, the right side of his nose had been severely bruised. After this, information was given to the police, and Sergeant Thornthwaita took charge of the house until further investigation had been made. Dr Foss subsequently made a post modem examination of the body, which showed that the bruises about the forehead and nose were merely superficial, and that death had resulted from some old affection at the heart. It is thought that deceased had caused the injury to his face by accidentally falling with his head upon the corner of a box that I stood in the room. An inquest is being held.