npedrazzini/19thc_murder_suicide_news huggingface dataset:
The Warwickshire Herald. — 1891-06-25 (Birmingham, West Midlands, England)

PROMPT JUSTICE.  • - ----In the "History of Beverly," a town in Massachusetts, the following anecdote is related of • good justice of the peace in the old times. On • cold night in winter, a traveller called at his house for lodging. The ready hospitality of the justice was about being displayed, when the traveller unluckily uttered a word which his host considered profane. Upon this he informed his guest that hew a magistrate, pointed out the nature of the offence, and explained the necessity of its being annieted by sitting an hour in the stocks! Remonstrance was unavailing; for custom at that time allowed the magistrate to convict and punish ' at once, and in this cue he acted as nonuser, witness, jury, judge, and sheriff, all in owe. Cold as it was our worthy justice, aided by his son, conducted the traveller to the place of punishment, an open place near the meeting-house, where the stocks were placed. Here the traveller was confined in the usual manner, the benevolent executor of the law remaining with him to beguile the time of its tedium by edifying conversation. At the expiration of the hour he was leo:inducted to the house, and hospitably entertained till the next morning, when the traveller departed with, let us hope, a determination to consider his words more carefully before giving them utterance in the hearing of a conscientious magistrate.  "I know," said a tiny maiden, "bow to be polite. You must say 'yes, ma'am, to a lady, and `no, ma'am, to a gentleman." Ernest (6i) and Frank (3) persuade mother to take them for a ride on the top of steamer. She feels rather nervous, and holds them very tightly. Ernest: "Don't be 'fraid, mamma. You have the safest place in between us." Mamma (to three year old daughter): "Frances, pick up your playthings and put them all away." France': "Ina minute, Mamma—Oh, let's play you's Baby and l's Mamma!" "All right, Frances; now I'm fishy and you are Miunma. "Well, DOW Saby can pick up her playthings, and out 'em away." A coloured man near Cochran, (is., has SIX !Then on each hand, and three of his four sons are said to possess the same number. A notary named Monnerau was sentenced on Saturday, at Tours, to penal servitude for life, for a number of frauds perpetrated on his clients. A young man, named Clapson committed suicide On Monday morning by drowning himself in a vat of beer et his place of employment, a Maidstone bine:New Capes, very stylish for young ladies; 60, asll.Btressi
The Warwickshire Herald. — 1891-10-22 (Birmingham, West Midlands, England)

BALM ACEDA'S LAST MOMENTS.  The Paris Tecj lull cs a letter from ita Buenos Ayres correspondent ishich contains some curious details respecting the laet moments of the late President of Ci,ili. After stating that President Balmaceda had liam,ed over the reins of Government to General Baquedano immediately after the battle of Placilla, the coirespondent goes on to say: "On August 28th at midnight, the ex-President left the Mint and repaired to the Argentine Legation, where by the instrumentality of his Minister of Foreign Affairs, Senor A. Zanartu, he gained admittance. At this moment he had no intention of committing suicide. On the contrary, he made known his intention of surrendering himself to the authorities pending the constitution of a tribunal. At his own request, the persons who were to accompany him to the prison were two Ofkillis of the Opposition, Senores Conclia-y-Toro and Walker Martinez. Three days before the suicide was committed Balmaceda told Senor Eriburu that he was busy drafting his application far imprisonment and that he hoped to finish it as soon as the civic fetes were over. During the night of September 18th the ex-president handed two letters to Senor Eriburu. One of these was addressed to his mother and the other to his wife. The Argentine Minister remarked at the time that Balmaceda seemed very anxious that these two letters should be tent out without delay, but he soon forgot the incident. Matters were in this position when suddenly, at 8 o'clock the following morning, Madame Enburu heard the report of a firearm, and at once went and gave the slarm to her husband, who was in an adjoining apartment. Senor Eriburu sent at once for the ex-President's servant, who went to his master's room and returned a few minutes later with the information that a suicide bad been committed. SenoreEriburu at once sent for Senor Walker Martinez, who arrived at the Legation a few minutes afterwards. They then both repaired to Balmaceda's room, where a horrible sight met their eyes. Itaimaceda was dressed, and had his boots on; he was lying on his bed, his head in a large pool of blood. One of his eyes had been forced out of the socket. His death had been instantaneous, and in his right hand was loosely grasped the revolver with which he had shot himself."
The Warwickshire Herald. — 1891-09-10 (Birmingham, West Midlands, England)

SHOCKING LOVE TRAGEDY.  The town of Algiers has been the scene of one of those dramas ef disappointed love which have draws the public attention recently to the North African colony of the French Republic. After the Chambige case and the attempted poisoning of a husband by his wife at Ain Fezza, there is now, telegraphs the Paris correspondent of the Daily Telegraph, the murder of Fanny Vivot, whose lover shot her dead and then committed suicide. Mdlle. Vivot was a beautiful brunette, the daughter of a baker in the Rue Med6e. She was deeply beloved by a young man in her father's employment, named Joanne, who asked her in marriage. M. Vivot did not absolutely reject the candidate for his daughter's hand and dowry, but reminded him that Fanny was only 15, and therefore too young to be led to the altar. Joanne regarded the proposed adjournment as tantamount to a refusal on the part of the baker, who, be concluded, wanted the girl to marry somebody in a good position. On Sunday evening Joanne, who had left Lis master's employment some days ago, went to M. Vivot's house and asked for a certificate of good conduct and efficiency. The baker sat down at his writing-table in order to prepare the desired document. Fanny Vivot, in the meantime, was left face to face with her lover, whom she had come to see, as soon as his presence In the house was known to her. Joanne, pulling out a revolver, aimed at the girl and fired with fatal effect. He then turned his weapon against himself. Fanny Vivot was a corpse when her fathei rushed into the room where the tragedy took place, but so sudden was her death that she still wore on her features the smile with which she had welcomed her lover. Joanne was writhing on the ground in the throes of his lot, agony, and soon expired.
The Warwickshire Herald. — 1891-08-27 (Birmingham, West Midlands, England)

NEW METHOD OF SUICIDE.  A new thing in the way of suicide has just been successfully attempted by a citizen of the French metropolis. Having determined on putting an end to his days, lie resolved, after much reflection, on selecting the Eiffel Tower for the purpose. He had made up his mind to hang himself, and probably was moved to selecting the great iron structure by the thought that although a peg driven into a wall might give way, or the branch of a tree might break, the huge metal pile presented more than sufficient guarantees of firmness and stability. At an early hour in the morning the man proceeded to the Tower, and, ascending some of the steps of the staircase, tied a rope securely to one of the girders, and fastening the other end tightly round his neck threw himself into space. The corpse was found two hours afterwards, still suspended in mid-air. In one of the coat pockets was a letter, in which the suicide set forth that he bequeathed his head to the major of the regiment in which he served formerly—a piece of liberality which it is to be feared will scarcely be appreciated; hi body to the School of Medicine for dissection; and what goods and chattels he possessed to M. Eiffel, presumably as some compensation for the liberty he had taken In thus utilising his tower as a means of shuffling off this mortal coil. It is devoutly to be hoped, says the Paris correspondent of the Daily Telegraph, that his example will not be followed by others who may resolve on putting an end to their lives. Visitors to the cloud-piercing fabric would hardly be edified by the ghastly spectacle of bodies dangling in its nooks and recesses. This is the first suicide of the kind that has yet occurred at the Tower of the Three Hundred Metres, and it is to be hoped that it may be the last.
The Warwickshire Herald. — 1891-10-08 (Birmingham, West Midlands, England)

ATTEMPTED SUICIDE AT ERDINGTON  DRIVICH TO IT BY QTARRELSOMIS WOMEN.  At the Aeton Police Court, on Monday, before Alderman Hart and Mr. R. P. Yates, James Harvey, bricklayer, Summer • lane, Erdington. was charged with attempting to commit suicide by shooting himself. —Police-constable Bowles said that shortly before eleven o'clock on Sunday night be, in company with Police-constable Mellor, were on duty in the Lichfield-road, Erdington, when he heard the report of a firearm. On going to the rear of the Three Tuns Inn, where the prisoner lodged, they found Harvey, who shouted out, "Mind the string which is tied to the gun. Stand clear." Prisoner, in reply to Mellor, pointed to a gun which was horizontally on the top of a tub near the well, the butt being fixed against a waterpipe with a stick, so arranged as to keep it in position. Asked what he was doing, the prisoner answered, "I RM trying to blow my self to nieces." Witness remarked, "You must be a foolish man," and Harvey replied, "I am not. You don't know what I have to put up with." He then ran into the washhoues and brought out a strong piece of wire, one end of which was formed into a hook, and informed the officers that as he had failed with one barrel he was going to put the contents of the other through himself/ with the aid of the piece of wire. Mellor then took the gun away, which, on being examined, was , found to contain one empty cartridge and another loaded. The accused was perfectly sober at the time. On being asked what explanation of his conduct he had got to give, Harvey informed the Bench that he had nothing to say, except that he was very sorry. He was excited at the time, and asked Alderman Hart : " What would you de if you had two women in a house."—Superintendent Walker explained that prisoner had married one of the two sisters who had an interest in the Three Tune public.house, and as they were constantly quarrelling after closing hours this seemed to have upset the prisoner.—.Alrlerman Hart remanded the prboner for a week, and refused bail.
The Warwickshire Herald. — 1891-11-19 (Birmingham, West Midlands, England)

TRIFLE MURDER AND ATTEMPTED SUICIDE.  A frightful tragedy Wok place at Titchfield, Is Hampshire, on Monday morning. Alice Hinton, the wife of a harness maker living in West-street, in that village, had a short time since uniergone three months' imprisonment for neglect of oh, children of her husband by a former wife, and haviiig been summoned by the National Society cm further cruelty, she was to have appeared before the justices at Fareham on Monday. During the morning, however, the unhappy woman murdered the two step-children and her own child, and then made an attempt to cut her own throat. John Hinton, the husband, went out to purchase a pair ol shees for his son Frederick John, 11 years of age. During his absence screams were heard by the neighbours, and William Hinton, the second son, S years of age, was seen coming from the house with a deep wound in his neck. He fell down, and was taken into the house of a neighbour, where he died about noon. On the police being called they found in the house of the Hintons the lifeless body of a little girl, Augusta Hudson, 8 years of age, the daughter of Mrs. Hinton by a termer husband, the child's head being nearly severed from hes body. Police-constable Harfield met Mrs. Hinton descending-the stairs with her throat cut, and, in answer to his inquiry as to who had done this, she replied "I did." She was at once secured, and on the poll, going upstairs they round the boy Frederici: John Hinton lying dead with a carving knife beside him. The woman was attended to cy Dr. Hoare and then conveyed to Fareham, where she was taken before the justices, who, on the evidence of Dr. Hoare that she was undoubtedly insane, directed her removal to the County Lunatic Asylum.
The Warwickshire Herald. — 1891-01-01 (Birmingham, West Midlands, England)

DEATH PREFERRED TO DISGRACE. At an early hour on Tuesday morning a great sensation was caused within Whittington Barracks, Lichfield, by the discovery of the fact that Colour-Sergeant W. H. Cummins, of the 2nd Battalion of the South Staffordshire Regiment, who for some years had been attached to the depot of the regiment, had committed suicide in his room. From appearances when discovered, about nine o'clock, it is evident that death was instantaneous. Deceased apparently had loaded his rifle with ball ammunition—a packet of which lay on the table—and had placed the muzzle at his side and pressed the trigger with his foot. The bullet entered one side and came out of the other, passing through the heart. The deceased, who was twenty-eight years of age, is stated to have been drinking rather heavily of late, and had been busily engaged in preparing for the annual sergeants' dance, which was to have taken place on Wednesday evening, but which has been postponed in consequence of this event. He was president of the committee of the Sergeants' Dance Club of the 38-84th Regimental District, and had charge of the funds, in which, it is stated, a deficiency has been found. He was about barracks first thing in the morning, and appeared to be in usual health and spirits. After breakfast be appears to have gone to his room, secured the door, and committed suicide in the determined manner mentioned. His books and accounts lay on the table as if ready for use.  T.w man who never made a mistake is a son of the woman who never gossiped, and of the man who Lever had the "best cure for rheumatism you e vet. BaW."  .‘ Humph," sneered the ass as he t ncountered the z-bra. `• you look like an escaped convict." "Possibly." retorteki the zebra. But no one ever takes m fermi ass."
The Warwickshire Herald. — 1891-10-01 (Birmingham, West Midlands, England)

KILL HIBISELF.  Seldom has more determination been displayed under difficulties than that just exhibited by a draughtsman of Paris, who, having resolved on "shuffling off this mortal coil," set to work to carry out his fell design with an amount of energy which if utilised in a better cause might have led him on to competence, and.possibly to fame. Having made up his mind to put an end to his days, he selected hanging as the most practical mode of executing his programme. Accordingly, attaching a rope to a peg in the wall of his bedroom, he suspended himself thereto. The rope, however, was the worse for wear, and it broke ere he had breathed his last. This experience rathei cooled his ardour, but he returned to the charge with a pan of charcoal. Here, again, his plan was frustrated owing to the accidental fracture of a pane of glass. A police official, to whom the circumstances of these two attempts at self-destruction bad been reported, sent for the draughtsman and earnestly implored him to accept the omen, and to abandon his sinister project. But he refused to be guided by these kind counsels, and declared that he would be more successful on the next occasion, and that a couple of stabs in the region of the wart would soon settle the question for good. He tept his word, at least in part, for a few days afterwaists he was taken to the Hotel Dieu apparently n a dying state. Singular to relate, the man remvered rapidly, and in a fortnight he was once more at home, again revolving in his mind the best , method of killing himself. Having tried hanging, suffocation, and the knife without any definite 1 •emilt, the would&e suicide next turned his attenlion to poison. He swallowed a quantity of 1 ahosphorus, but the prompt appearance on the , icene of a chemist, who administered a strong l antidote, again saved him. The draughtsman, 1 aowever, would not yield, so deeply rooted was his 1 1.-termination to make away with himself, and . Mier having been baffled four times he succeeded 1 at the fifth attempt with a preparation of chloro'o.m and bichloride of mercury, and expired in atrocious sufferieg.
The Warwickshire Herald. — 1891-11-12 (Birmingham, West Midlands, England)

THE BANK FAILURES IN BERLIN. SUICIDE AND ATTEMPTED SUICIDE.  The Daily Sera Berlin correspondent forwards the following particulars of the tragic events in the tionnan capital on Saturday. About 2 o'clock the news spread that the brothers Felix and Siegmund Sommerfeld, of the well known Berliner Wechsler Mink. had committed suicide at their offices. Owing to the heavy failure of Messrs. Hirschfeld and '4% ald. numerous, customers lost confidence, and withdr w their deposits from the bank. One of Huse drpositors was not satisfi, d, and innnediately went to the police, who at his n guest examined the books. It appears that it was iii order to avoid arrest that the two partners decided to commit suicide between 12 and 1 o'clock, while some of the clerks were at the Bourse and the others had gone to dinner. They locked themselves in their private office. Felix Sommerfeid sat down on a sofa, while his brother lock an arm chair, and each prepared to take his life, as it appears, according to a well premenitated plan. Each cut 'pen the artery at the left wrist, then shot himself, the two shots I“.big heard alm.,t sitnultareously. Each shot himself through the right temple, and received almost the same injuries. The police were informed and the door was broken clam and the brothers were found lying unconscious. They were at once taken to the hospital, where in Ht.,. rveniu; one of them died.  The news of the suicide, says a Standard correspondent, produced a regular panic on 'Change. It is feared, and, unhappily, apparently with only too good reason, that the recent Berlin failures are only the symptoms of an approaching crisis, perhaps even more ruinous than that of 1873. The eagerness to make money fast, no matter how, has abeadv infected whole strata of society which, in the '73 crisis, were free from it. Moreover, the commercial depression now prevailing almost all over Germany is greater than leading merchants, the heads of firms of 30 or more years' standing, have ever experienced. News of similar commercial depression in France, Italy, and Russia is constantly arriving.
The Warwickshire Herald. — 1891-04-16 (Birmingham, West Midlands, England)

ATTEMPTED SUICIDE AT HOCK LF.Y. -At the Birmingham Police Court, on Saturriao-bafore Messrs. .1. D. Goodman, Johnson, Lloyd, and Sir Thomas !Martineau-William Hewett (3.5), boxmaker, Well-street, was charged with attempting to commit suicide. -The prisoner and his wife have lived unhappily for some time past, and on Friday night he fastened a rope round his neck, but made such a noise about it that a rescue party appeared on the scene before much mischief had been done. To the police officer who arrested him he declared that his wife was the cause of it, and he would destroy himself before morning. On Saturday he explained that his wife was always getting drunk and associated .with drunken women. She came home the previous night the worse for beer.-This was admitted by the woman. --Superintendent Stephenson said the pair lived a cat and dog life, and had done so for a long time.-The Bench remanded the accused for a week in custody BURLINGTON HALL EARLY MORNING SCHOOL The fifth of the annual concerts which are promoted in the interests of the above institution was held on Saturday evening in the Town Hall, and was largely attended by friends of the, school and by the public generally. The vocalists were Miss Florence Bethell, Miss Lizzie Neal, Mr. Edward Branscombe, and Mr. Samuel Heath. while Mr. S. Hawley filled P he duties of ace,ompanist, and the Birmingham Police Band gave sundry selections, under the conductorship of Sergeant Kelly. Without being at all iuvidicus, we may single out Miss Lizzie Neale appearance for special comment, inasmuch as she may be said to have sung far an old Anton innlitation "on ant°, . Her magnificent contralto voice was displayed to great advantage, and she wan enthusiastically applauded. The programme was of a popular character and the concert proved to be very enjoyable.
The Warwickshire Herald. — 1891-04-16 (Birmingham, West Midlands, England)

TRE RECENT DETERMINED ATTEMPT TO COMMIT SUICIDE AT SUTTON COLDFIELD.  At the Sutton Petty Sessions, on Tuesday— before Messrs. C. J. Harcourt and B. J. Brookes :eorg,4 Nichols, burnisher, 116, Cromwellstreet, Birmingham, was charged on remand with attempting to commit suicide by placing himself in front of a train on the London and North Western Railway in the Driffold Cutting on the sth inst.—The prisoner, who now appeared in his right mind, it will be remembered, on Sunday, the sth inst., went to the Driffold Cutting whilst suffering from delirium tremens, and lay on the  metals as the 1.50 p.m. train for Birmingham wee approaching from Sutton. He was seen by two a Ae.pang at Dr.. Want Asia they With great difficulty, after stopping the train, got him off the metals and pinned him to the ground until the train had passed. He was afterwards banded over to the police, and Dr. Evans, who subsequently examined him, gave It as his opinion that prisoner was suffering from alcoholism, and was no, responsible for his actions. He farther advised that he be taken care of, and the Bench reminded him to ‘Vineon :hem Asylum for • week. He was brought from the asylum by ,a prison warder i that morning, and he now, n answer to the Bench, said he was sorry for what he had done. He remembered nothing about it—Prisoner's wife stated that on the morning of the sth inst., previous to his leaving home he was very strange in his manner, but she had never known bins before make an attempt on his life. She believe] he had had a little extra to drink during the holiday, but she now thought he was in a perfectly sane state, and would not again commit. such an act.—Superintennent Walker said if the Bench decided to discharge the pri,oner he must. ask for the costs that had been incurred on hie behalf—ln answer to the Bench, Superintendent. Walker said he had received no report from the Asylum ae to the prisoner's sanity. It was not, customary to send one unless the Bench requested to be furnished with one. —The Bench did not see, their way clear to discharge prisoner unless they had some report as to his sate of mind, and at. their request Dr. Evans was sent for to examine him. This he did privately, and a little later said he Was glad to find the prisoner in a perfectly sane state of mind. Last week he was suffering from. the effects of alcoholism, but this week his mind was perfectly sane, and he win well able to take care of himself He was cow fully alive to the dangers incurred, and had promised him (Dr. Evans) to keep right in tee future—The Chairman: That is perfectly satisfactory. Addressing prisoner's wife, he further added : We find from the report of Dr. Evans that your husband is in a sane condition, and we hope he will continue to retain his sanity, and that you will do all you can to keep him from drink. We dismiss the came on your payment of the costs, El 15s. fkl.