npedrazzini/19thc_murder_suicide_news huggingface dataset:
The Warwickshire Herald. — 1889-05-23 (Birmingham, West Midlands, England)

SOLIHULL.  THE STRANGE DISAPPEARANCE OF A GIRL  Mr. C. Couchtnan (Deputy-Coroner for South Warwickshire) on Monday morning held an inquiry at the (olden Lion Inn, Solihull, touching the death of Isabella Owen (19), whose parents reside at Railway Terrace, Nechells, and who, up to the time of her death, was a domestic servant in the employ of Mr. Benjamin Pearson. farmer, of Copt Heath. During the four years which the deceased had been in the employ of Mr. Pearson nothing had occurred to justify any complaint as to her conduct. For the past twelve months deceased had been subject to fits, which during the last month had increased both in frequency and violence, and whech had caused great mental depression. Deceased had been very depressed of late, and had conducted herself in a somewhat eccentric fashion, but it was not thought that she would destroy herself. On Thursday week she expressed a desire to go to Birmingham, and was allowed to do so, Mr. Pearson paying her railway fare. On arriving in Birmingham she went to Mr. Pearson's Birmingham residence, and while there had a fit, which left her in such a state ot depres sion that it was necessary she should stay in Birmingham all night. On the following morning she returned to Copt Heath, and in the afternoon Mrs. Pearson spoke to her in a kindly manner coneerning her depressed condition, when deceased expressed a desire to go back to Birmingham, stating that life in the courtly was very lonely. She ultimately consented not to go to town that clay, but agreed to defer her visit until the following Monday. About half-past nine O'clock the 'night she abruptly left the house, and was running in the direction of the canal by a young man named Bendleton, who thought she was probably going an errand for her mistress. As she did not rett rn home a search was instituted. and as nothing could be heard of her the police draggod thQ canal, but without result. On SatureLly Morning last a dredger in the otnploy of the Canal Company was proceeding along the towing-path of the canal at Copt Heath, when he saw the dead body floating on the top of the water.  Dr. Page stated that one side of the skull had entirely disappeared, and the brains were protruding. In his opinion death resulted from drowning, themutilation probably being the work of some boat which had passed over the body. The deceased was a virtuous girl. Mrs. Pearson said that after deceased had disappeared she found a piece of paper, on which was written in the deceased's handwriting, "Don't trouble, when you dad me gone, as I told the MiSSUS what I should do when I was gone." Mrs. Pearson could not explain the letter; there had been no unpleasantness between deceased and herself, nor had the girl threatened to commit suicide. A verdict of" Found drowned "was retureed.
The Warwickshire Herald. — 1889-05-23 (Birmingham, West Midlands, England)

TRAGIC SUICIDE OF AN ACTOR.  An inquest has been held at St. Pancras concerning the death of Norman Corke, aged 20. who committed suicide under tragic circumstances at his lodgings at Kentish Town.—Elizabeth Robinson Gorke, the wife of a draper residing at Maidstone, who identified the body as that of her son, stated dial he had recently been acting with Miss Thorne's company at Margate, and had been on tour with them. He left the company in March, and subsequently came to London with the object of getting an engagement in town. He was a " flighty " boy, being odd and excitable. He had plenty of money supplied him. He was at times given to intemperance. She could not say if •he had formed habits of gambling or become connected with bad associates. The only suggestion she could throw on his death was that he had "false notions" with regard to being a burden to his family.— Mrs. Goff, the landlady, deposed to hearing the report of firearms in the back parlour. On entering the room she saw Corke lying on the bed, with his clothes on, and his hand pressing against the side near his heart. He said, " Send for a doctor, Mrs. Goff.l have shot myself.'•Further evidence shewed that a six-chambered revolver was found lying on the floor, of which five chambers were loaded and one had been discharged. The following letter to Miss Hettie Corke, his sister,was also found: "I hay gone—no, that's very Irish—l am going to that bonnie from whence no traveller returneth, and have just taken my last cup of tea with a bitter zest. I havecoloured thetown to such a degree that there is no paint left in the locker, so I commend myself to Davy Jones. You will not remember my good qualities, for I never had any; and my bad ones I will ask you to forget. With much love, I am, yours, about to be 'kilt entirely.' "—The jury returned a verdict of suicide whilst of unsound mind.
The Warwickshire Herald. — 1889-01-17 (Birmingham, West Midlands, England)

BRITISH VERSUS AMERICANS IN JAPAN. 0 suicide at thirty. The packet he had given An American Consul in Japan has interviewed me contained Amias's papers and diamonds, and the leading merchants in his district concerning the these few words to me, ' Nelly, my father and drawbacks to American trade-in his place; and all, mother knew nothing of Amias Axeworthv's without exception, gave testimony to the superior claim nor of my dealings with him or you. For quality of American manufactures as compared their sake—not mine— I ask you to keep them in with those of England. The Consul was assured, igaorance." Whe coroner's jury, who knew ;milling q tms one of the leading importing houses, that goods note or of his visit, found a verdict of Accidental Ibe shipped from New York to Liverpool, Death, and he was buried among his kindred at and thence via the Suez Canal, to Yokohama at Ashford Court. Amias, whom be had wronged less coat than the same can be shipped from New so cruelly, spared no effort to shield his memory, York, via San Francisco, direct to Yokohama. Under and few people, I think, have any suspicion of his such circumstances, notwithstanding the superiority true history. As for me, I found it iwpos.siLle wlien - of American products, the merchants of Japan prefer I reniembered that downcast face of his as !SAW it tO buy in Europe, the cheaper freight making ups in the flielight that night, with the look of a hunted animal on it, to keep my resentlarge share of their profits as against freights from the ments, just though they were. ord Ashford up finked States. A number of large American houses L was very much broken down by the death f at Nagasaki state that the brown and white shirtings o 'his son, though he has remained to this day igno- of American manufacture are esteemed by the rant of the terrible circumstances of that death.-1. Japanese, and are superior to British goods of similar A inia.s went to see him, laid before him the proofs character, but consumers want these goods of a certain of his claim, and offered to leave bira ia midis- :awidth, 39 inches. People seem to have little conception turbed possession during his life, lie himself re- of the petty things upon which Oriental trade hinges. ceiving only a small yearly income. Lord Ash- The people are as children in this regard, although ford, struck by the likeness of feature as well as sharp enough in other ways. The consumption of name between the living and the dead Amine, kerosene is increasing most wonderfully throughout took a great fancy to his young coaein. My Japan and Cores—the latter country receiving this aunt, I think, scarcely shared her husband's feeljug; but at let She found A satiefactioo, since product from the Japanese. The Japanese take the she had no unmarried daughters of her tan cases in which the kerosene is exported and make own, in the fast a that Arnim was to very simple and cheap lamps thereof, which they use marry use; and in course of time has almost themselves and which they send to Cores. come to believe that the marriage was of her own
The Warwickshire Herald. — 1889-09-26 (Birmingham, West Midlands, England)

THE ASTON TRUSTS.  THE DEATH OF THE TREASURER.  INQUEST AN OPEN VERDICT-.  With regard to the death of Mr. A. E. Roberts, accountant of. Colmore-row, Birmingham, whose dead body was found in the Severn, near Arley, last week, and who was Official Receiver to two of the Aston Trusts, the inquest was held on Tuesday at the Valenti& Arms, Arley, by Mr. W. Phillips (district coroner).—The jut' returned a verdict of" Found drowned." _  Messrs. P. King and Ludlow, under -the date of the 21bt inst., writes as follows to the local daily contemporary, which previously puttlished an account of the discovery of Mr. Robert's body, viz. :—" The friends of the late Mr. A. E. Roberts have been mueh pained by the publication of a paragraph in your issue of yesterday, in which his death is assumed to have been self-inflicted. It appeared that deceased, after leaving the hotel at Arley, crossed the ferry, and was seen walking along the path by the river-side in the direction of Bewdley, and that subsequently near the riverside, about a mile and a quarter from Arley, be was discovered face downwards, in:water not more than eighteeninches deep, and with a considerable bruise upon his forehead. It is surmised that deceased, who had only one arm, fell forward on one of the rocky. stones on the side of the river, and, being stunned by the fall, was unable to extricate himself from the water ;. and this surmise is materially strengthened by the fact that there was deep water within twenty yards of the spot: that no scrap of paper pointing to suicide was found, and that the inquest held at Arley, yesterday, resulted in an open verdict.. We shall be obliged by your inserting this letter, in justice to our clients, the friends of the-deceased."
The Warwickshire Herald. — 1889-09-26 (Birmingham, West Midlands, England)

THE KILBURN OUTRAGE. Leonard Bowes Handford, 35, clerk, was arraigned , before Mr. Justice Charles, at the Central Critainal I Court on Friday, on the charge of shooting at his wife, Mrs. Sarah Elizabeth Handford, and his mother.in-law,Mrs. Elizabeth Deveson,with intent to murder them; a second count in the indictment charged I the prisoner with attempting to commit suicide by shooting himself. The prisoner was married in December, 1887. There was one child of the marriage, and soon after its birth the wife had occasion to find fault with her husband on account of his drunken habits and his frequent threats to murder her and her child. They were living at the time with the wife's father and mother at Kent Lodge, Iveson-road, Kilburn. After many disputes the prisoner was practically turned out of the 11M1114) last June, and he went to live at 26, Iveson-road, in the immediate neighbourhood. Proceedings were instituted in the Probate Court for a judicial separation, and a few days after the service upon the prisoner of the document in the case, the wife and mother-in-law were leasing a chapel in Brondesbury, when the prisoner came up to them from behind, and fired first at his wife, next at his mother-in-law, and then at himself. His wife was wounded in the cheek, Mrs. Deveson in the mouth and neck, and himself in the head. The ladies were taken home by friendly people in the street, and the prisoner was taken to the St. Mary's Hospital. One matter of importance bearing on the motive of the crime was that, on prisoner's room being searched by the police, a document in the prisoner's handwriting was found, from which he appeared to be greatly annoyed by the divorce proceedings, and that, in consequence of these proceedings, "the world would shortly hear of him." Afterthemedical evidence, which wasto the effect that the wounds were of a dangerous nature, the principal evidence was that of Mr. Butler, with whom the prisoner lodged after being separated from his wife, who stated that the prisoner was very lowspirited, ate very little, and drank much. He was very excited, and could not sleep at night. He was constantly talking about his wife and child. On the child's first birthday the witness, at the request of the prisoner, went to Kent Lodge to ask that hi might see his child. On the morning of the tragedy,hewas particularly low-spirited. The defence was that the prisoner might have resolved to make away with his own life, believing that he had been wronged; but that the shooting at his wife and mother-in-law with a sudden impulse, from the fact that he had suddenly and accidentally seen them I in the street, showed he was scarcely responsible for the full effects of his actions. It was therefore suggested that a verdict of unlawfully wounding I would meet the justice of the case.—The jury returned a verdict of guilty with intent to murder, but with a recommendation to mercy on account of his health.—The prisoner was sentenced to 14 years' penAl servitude  THE FEENOWargii(
The Warwickshire Herald. — 1889-05-16 (Birmingham, West Midlands, England)

SUICIDE OF AN ASTON MAN. DRINK, DREAD, AND DEATH.  A young married man named Arthur Bowers, who had resided with his wife anti two children at 215, Clifton-road, Aston., and been for several years employed as a clerk at the brewery of 3.lessrs. Ansell and Company, Park-road, Aston, committed suicide in a very determined manner, and under peculiarly distressing circumstances, on the London and North-Western Railway, near Hampton-in-Arden. on Friday morning. A goods train from Willesden to Be.scot was passing 'Hampton when the driver saw a man run wildly down the embankment near the bridge which carries the Coventry-road over the railway and throw himself on the rails immediately in front of the train. The ene.ifte was brought quickly to a standstill, but not before it and the following wagons had passed over the suicide. The driver, seeing that the man was literally cut ti pieces and that he could render no effectual aid, ran on to the next station, at Marston Green, where he gave information of fhe I occurrence, and in-the meantime the driver of an express train from Birmingham, on the other line of rails having Observed the mutilated corpse, stopped his tram at Hampton and informed the officials there of tibia he had seen. The station master at Hampton, together with a number of I platelayers and iPolice-constable Broderick went I to the spot indicated, and there found the body, the head decapitated, an arta and a leg completely severed, and the rest of the corpse crushed '6o an :almost shapeless mans. The remains were carried to the Clock bin, Bickenhill, and an aritire.s written inside the deceased's hat gave a clue to 11118 identity. Inquiries made by Poliee-conottable Broderick showed that the young man was 'happy in his family relations, and was he in 'flhigh .esteem by his employers. Latterly, however, he had given way to habits of intemperance, avid for a week before Le committed suicide had beer...may from his work on a spree. There is no doubt Messrs. Anseli would have overlooked Ms misconduct., and indeed they had several times sent to his house to request his return to trasiness, but he seems to 66.-e dreaded facing his eraployers. On Thursday he left home saying he was going to work, but did not do so, and no more was heard of him till news reached his anxious relatives of his traeic death.  On Saturdar; morning Mr. C. Couchman'held an inquest at the Cock Inn, Bickeubill, on the remains. Evidence was given embodying the above facts, and also showing the deeeasedis state of mind before and when he left home, and a verdict of "Anicide whilst temporarily itsane" was returned.
The Warwickshire Herald. — 1889-05-16 (Birmingham, West Midlands, England)

MYSTERIOUS DEATH.  • On Satnrday evening, Acocks Green was thrown into a state of commotion by the circulation of reports to the effect that a woman had been found dead in a ditch. Unfortunately, these rumours proved to be only too true, the body of a married woman named Mary Amelia Drew (32), being discovered, face downwards, in a ditch in Marsh-lane. It appears that of late the deceased has been worried, and on Saturday evening, during the absence of her husband, who has conducted the services at the Plymouth Brethren places of worship, both on the Green and at Bordesley Green, she made a number of purchases in the village. Shortly after seven o'clock she visited the shop of Mr. Brooks, provision dealer, in Foxall-road. She does not appear to have complained there of feeling unwell, and nothing strange was observed in her demeanour. A quarter of an hour later a boy named Frank Cox was p._afkirla along Marsh-lane when he noticed Mrs. Dreic lying face downwards in a ditch. The lad raised an alarm, and Superintendent Yardley and Police-constable Hinman soon arrived, raised the woman from the tuud, and placed her in a chair. The ditch is only about a foot de,ep, and at , the time of the discovery is said to have contained only three inches of water. It was raising hard at the time. A messenger was despatched for Mr. M. W. Roston, surgeon, and when that gentleman saw the woman he at once pronounced life to be extinct, but did not express ally opinion as to the cause of death. It is stated that there is no indications of violence about the body, and the police are at a loss to know whether the case is one of suicide or whether the deceased Vas seized with a fit. and fell face downwards into the ditch. The deceased's husband was attending a service of the Plymouth Brethren at the time of the discovery, and he was immediately sent for.
The Warwickshire Herald. — 1889-05-16 (Birmingham, West Midlands, England)

SUICIDEIOF AN ASTON JEWELLER.  -- On Tuesdis afternoon, Dr. Wynter <consoler for Central Warwickshire) held an empiirratthe Belle Vue Inn. Wheeler-street, concerning the circumstances attending the death of 'John Lisaborn, jeweller, 165, Wheeler-street, Assisi', .who was found dead,aander the following cirournstances. He was a .widower, and resided at the above address with Ma five children. On Sunday night about half-past ten he returned home, arid proceeding to theikitchen seated himself down, being apparently in e. pensive mood. Four of thobaildren riled gone to,bed, his eldest daughter Esther, age twelve, being the only one up. After a while he gave her sixteen .shillings and sixpenoa, tailing her *to keep it, atilt would be required on the morrow to pay an aceoirit. He then bade her good night :and kissed her. She went off to bed learir.g him sitting in the.laitchen. Early the next morning the deceased was found by one of his thildren, _lying dead on the floor of the upstairs sitting-room. 'On a table in tibe room was a glum containing a small quantity of admixture, one of the ingredients of which was either crinide of potassiuns or prussic acid. Police-constable Goodridge was called in, and subsequently Dr. Vokes who on making an external examination of the deceased, found that the poet ntortent symptons were clearly those of poisoning. Accordiag to the evidence of a sister of the deceased, he had et late been in a very despondent mood in consequence of troubles and amiieties connected with his business. Some time ago he left a good situation to go to another, thinking of • improving his posiLon, but it turned out otherstise. He was unable to earn sufficient to meet the requireiments of his home, and this had prayed ,upon his mind. Hewes engaged to be married to woman with whomlfie had been out for a walk previous to his return home on Sunday night.—A werdict i "Suicide whilst temporarily insane" was reterned.
The Warwickshire Herald. — 1889-05-16 (Birmingham, West Midlands, England)

INOWLE. MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE OF A  GIRL.  SUICIDE OR OUTRAGE ?  On Friday night last a girl named Isabella Owen disappeared from the housa of Mr, B. Pearson, farmer, Copt Heath, where she was in service as domestic servant, under circumstances which are at present mysterious. She is nineteen years of age, described as of captivating, appearance, though somewhat reserved in her habits. She had been in Mr. Pearson's service for a number of years. and during that time had so conducted herself as to gain the esteem and respect of her master and mistress who, indeed, treated her more as a member of the family than as a domestic. She had but few acquaintances, and appears to have had no intimate friends outside Mr. Pearson's house. Abont ten o'clock last Friday night Mr. Pearson, junr., returned, home and soon afterwards the girl was missing, Seeer4l members of the family wee: into the lane e!!ijoinging the house to look titter her, but e'n.ing.,, nothing of her they proceeded in tht: direction of the canal, when they met some one who informed them that a girl answering the description of Owen had just hurriedly paesed in the direction oi tite Upon hearing this the pursuers made all possible haste forward, and even visited the canal, but could find no trace of the fugitive. The girl has not since been seen or heard of. She was subject to fits, and these seizures, it is said, had caused her to become eomewhat deranged and despondent. It is supposed that in a pareesym of depression she has jumped into the canal. The police, who have carefully searched all the watercourses in the neighbourhood, had, however, up to Wednesday afternoon, been unable to find her. There was no cause why the girl should be desirous of absenting herself from her employer's house. The gossips of the neighbourhoe say that some unpleastintnesses had lately occurrNd between the girl and her mistress, but this must be accepted cunt germ) sta.
The Warwickshire Herald. — 1889-06-13 (Birmingham, West Midlands, England)

ARRIVAL OF THE QUEEN IN SCOTLAND.  The Queen arrived at Perth at half-past 9 o'clock on Friday morning. Breakfast was served in the directors' room in the station, which was beautifully decorated with flowers, some of which her Majesty took away with her. The public were excluded from the station, which was guarded by a detachment of police from the city. The Royal train arrived at Ferryhill Junction at 1 o'clock, and after being shunted on to the Deeside line, proceeded for Ballater. The public assembled in large numbers, and loud cheers were raised when her Majesty appeared at the carriage window, Balmoral was reached about half -pant 3.  A retired tanner named Richard IJavles nas committed suicide by jumping from a railway bridge span. fling the Ogmore Valley, South Wales. He lost heavily on the turf, and this fact is supposed to have led to the act.  A New York detective, who came to Berlin after a visit to the Paris Exhibition, has had a rather unpleasant proof of the skill of the Berlin pickpockets, who have relieved him of his pocketbook, containing ill his money and a number of important papers. Mr. John Hayes Gill, postmaster at Forms, has been killed on the Highway Railway, about a mile item the town. He rushed out of a thicket near Milton of Grange, and placing his neck on the rails was decapitated. No reason is assigned for the act. The decea,ed had been all his life connected with the post-office. and succeeded his father as postmaster. The bard was asked to etalipose a little poem upon his childhood, and this is what he produced : "1-low dear to my heart is the school I attended, and how I remember, so distant and dim, that red-headed Bill and the pin that I beaded, and carefully pat on the bench under him. And how I recall the surprise of the master, when Hill gave a yell and sprang up from the pin, so high that his balletbead smashed up the plaster above, and the scholars all set up a din. That active boy, Billy; that high-leaping Billy; that loud, shouting Billy, was sat on a pin."