npedrazzini/19thc_murder_suicide_news huggingface dataset:
The Sun. — 1853-03-23 (London, England)

NELSON V. TAYLOR. THE VALUE OF A LEG.—This was an action to recover damages for au assault, by which one of plaintiff's legs had been broken.  The damages were laid at 501. Mr. Buchanan, Basinghail-street, for the plaintiff, stated the case, from which it appeared that, on the 13th of December last, plaintiff, who is a bootdoser, went to the shop of Mr. Cole, bootnaaker, in Unionstreet, to whom defendant was foreman, and some dispute having arisen, defendant seized plaintiff by the collar, and threw him with great violence from the shop into the street, by which one of his legs was broken. He was taken to St. Thomas's Hospital, where he was kept for five weeks ; and since his discharge he had only been able to earn a few shillings a-week, and was stilt suffering from the injuries sustained. Mr. Lewis, for the defence, called witnesses who contended that it had been a fair stand-up oght, and that the injury was not intentional. Mr. Buchanan in reply, however, pointed out the positive evidence for the plaintiff as to his violent ejectment by the defendant. The jury, after a short consultation, gave a verdict for the plaintiff, damages Si.  REMORSE AND SlllClDE.—Yesterday Mr. Wakley held an inquest at the Bear and Rummer, Mortimer-street, M'arylebone, on William Thomas Tucker, a tailor, aged 47. It appeared from the evidence of deceased's widow, who evinced great mental distress, that for the last 22 years deceased led a dissipated wild life until Christmas, when his father died in the workhouse, which deeply affected him, as he was frequently heard to exclaim that if he had spent upon his father the money he had squandered in drink, he would not have died an inmate the workhouse. of workhouse. He often said he would not long survive his father, and threatened suicide. He lately purchased a business, which proved a failure, which two o'clock increased his melancholy. Between one and on Sunday morning he returned home the worse for drink, and went to bed. His wife sat up all night watching him, lest he might be smothered in his drink. Upon bringing him a cup of tea at seven o'clock, she found him insensible, and gave the alarm, after which she sent for a friend, who, in consequence of deceased having said to him the day before, " Mr. Pheasant, tomorrow you 'will hear of my death," concluded he had poisoned himself, and sent for medical aid, but before Mr. Tucker, the surgeon, could arrived, deceased was a corpse. Mr. Tucker said deceased died from laudanum, which was taken from a phial that was found at his bed side. Verdict, "Insanity."
The Sun. — 1853-06-09 (London, England)

SHIPMENT OF MARBLE FROM CARRARA.—Those who have visited the marble quarries at Carrara, and seen the immense and laborious traffic carried on there, must have been surprised at witnessing the process of shipping the blocks. The coasting vessels to be loaded are drawn up on the beach, and shears erected alongside, by means of which, and a clumsy capstan and tackle, the blocks are hoisted on board. With blocks of ordinary dimensions, this is the plan adopted, but when these happen to be of extra sizes, another most singular method is employed. The vessel in which a large block is to be embarked, after being hauled up on the beach, has her masts taken out, and the hold filled with sand, and inclined plane of the same material being raised from the shore to the side of the craft ; these preparations completed, oxen are yoked to a sledge on which the block is placed : it is then dragged up the incline, and ultimately deposited in the centre of the hatchway. The sand is then thrown out, and the marble gradually lowers into its place. The expense and delay connected with this system are beyond conception.— The Builder.  Ayeaferws, dayssonoafgaen eSnurTyciEHD Ea vBITI, aagriculturaltwelve labourer, residing at Rockbeare, in Devonshire, was found hanging to the bough of an elm tree quite dead. It appeared from the evidence adduced at the inquest that the lad worked for the Rev. J. Elliott in his fields, and that he was occasionally in the habit of sleeping at the rev. gentleman's house. He left his father's cottage in good health and spirits, taking with him his food for the day. The night passed over, but the lad did not return. It was imagined that he was at Mr. Elliott's house ; and on the third day the father made inquiries of one of the servants, but found that he had not been there. On going to the field where he had been at work, the boy was found hanging to the bough of a tree by his handkerchief. There were no marks of violence on him, and there can be no doubt that he had committed self-destruction. What could induce a lad of such tender years to commit so rash an act was the question at the inquest ; but no one could assign any reason for it, as he had not evinced any distress of mind, and was in good health and spirits when seen at his work. A few months ago, however, his brother also committed suicide in the same way, and it is thought that this produced a morbid effect upon his mind, which led him to commit a similar act.
The Sun. — 1853-06-07 (London, England)

SUICIDE PROM A HOUSETOP.—Yesterday, Mr. Baker held an inquest at the Freemasons' Arms, Salmon's-lane, Limehouse, on view of the body of Mr. Reeves Wilson, aged 36, proprietor of the Jolly Sailor, Salmon's-lane. Deceased occasionally suffered from delirium tremens. On Saturday forenoon lie was in conversation with his wife when he left her as she thought to go up to his room. In a few minutes she was alarmed by hearing that he had got on the top of an adjoining house, from which he had taken a leap and jumped into the street. He was taken up in a state of insensibility and conveyed into his own house, where he was promptly attended by a medical gentleman. He died the following day. Verdict, "Temporary insanity." ATTEMPTED MURDER IN THE ClTY.—Considerable excitement has been created in the neighbourhood of Newgate-market in consequence of a desperate attempt on the life of Mrs. Marianne Kipp having been made last night by Ann Mack, a servant in the employ of Mr. Pike, book clasp maker, carrying on business at No. 8, Oxford Arms-pa,ssage, Warwick-lane. It appears that the wounded woman's husband works at Mr. Pike's, and she having conceived a jealous feeling against the maidservant, went a few evenings since and abused her most shamefully, promising to call again on Monday (last) evening. This preyed very much upon the girl's (Mack) spirits, and she purchased a razor during the day, for the purpose it is believed of committing suicide, as she appeared in a very excited state. At half-past nine o'clock Mrs. Kipp again made her appearance, and commenced a tirade of scurrilous language. Anne Mack, who had the razor in her hand, unable to brook such abuse, rushed at her, and inflicted some serious wounds on the neck and breast. The screams of Mrs. Kipp brought assistance and she was conveyed to Bartholomew's Hospital, and her assailant was taken into custody, and will undergo an examination to-day before a magistrate.
The Sun. — 1853-06-07 (London, England)

SUICIDE FROM A HOUSETOP.—Yesterday, Mr. Baker held an inquest at the Freemasons' Arms, Salmon's-lane, Limehouse, on view of the body of Mr. Reeves Wilson, aged 36, proprietor of the Jolly Sailor, Salmon's-lane. Deceased occasionally suffered from delirium tremens. On Saturday forenoon he was in conversation with his wife when he left her as she thought to go up to his room. In a few minutes she was alarmed by hearing that he had got on the top of an adjoining house, from which he had taken a leap and jumped into the street. He was taken up in a state of insensibility and conveyed into his own house, where he was promptly attended by a medical gentleman. He died the following day. Verdict, "Temporary insanity." ATTEMPTED MURDER IN THE ClTY.—Considerable excitement has been created in the neighbourhood of Newgate-market in consequence of a desperate attempt on the life of Mrs. Marianne Kipp having been made last night by Ann Mack, a servant in the employ of Mr. Pike, book clasp maker, carrying on business at No. 8, Oxford Arms-passage, Warwick-lane. It appears that the wounded woman's husband works at Mr. Pike's, and she having conceived a jealous feeling against the maidservant, went a few evenings since and abused her most shamefully, promising to call again on Monday (last) evening. This preyed very much upon the girl's (Mack) spirits, and she purchased a razor during the day, for the purpose it is believed of committing suicide, as she appeared in a very excited state. At half-past nine o'clock Mrs. Kipp again made her appearance, and commenced a tirade of scurrilous language. Anne Mack, who had the razor in her hand, unable to brook such abuse, rushed at her, and inflicted some serious wounds on the neck and breast. The screams of Mrs. Kipp brought assistance and she was conveyed to Bartholomew's Hospital, and her assailant was taken into custody, and will undergo an examination to-day before a magistrate.
The Sun. — 1853-06-07 (London, England)

SUICIDE FROM A HOUSETOP.—Yesterday, Mr. Baker 11ej,-1 ,an inquest at the Freemasons' Arms, Salmon's-lane, Limeho use, on view of the body of Mr. Reeves Wilson, Proprietor of the Jolly Sailor, Salmon's-lane. aged 36, , P Deceased occasionally suffered from delirium tremens. On Saturday forenoon he was in conversation with his wife when lie left her as she thought to go up to his room. In a. few minutes she was alarmed by hearing that he had goi on the top of an adjoining house, from which he had tahlext a leap and jumped into the street. He was taken up in a state of insensibility and conveyed into his own house, wh he was promptly attended by a medical gentleman. lie died the following day. Verdict, " Temporary insani.V." ATTEMPTED MURDER IN THE ClTY.—Considerable excitement has been created in the neighbourhood of Newgate-market in consequence of a desperate attempt on the life of Mrs. Marianne Kipp lanv:ng been made last night by Ann Mack, a servant in the employ of Mr. Pike, book clasp maker, carrying on business at No. 8, Oxford Arms-passage, Warwick-lane. It appears that the wounded woman's husband works at Mr. Pike's; and she having conceived a jealous feeling against the maidservant, went a few evenings since and abused her most shamefully, promising to call again on Monda(last) evening. This preyed very much upon the girl's' (Mack) spirits, and she purchased a razor during the day, for the purpose it is believed of committing suicide, as she appeared in a very excited state. At half-past nine o'clock Mrs. Kipp again made her appearance, and commenced a tirade of scurrilous language. Anne Mack, who had the razor in her hand, unable to brook such abuse, rushed at her, and inflicted some scrims wounds on the neck and breast. The screams of Mrs. Kipp brought assistance and she was conveyed to Bartholomew's Hospital, and her assailant was taken into custody, and will undergo an examination to-day before a magistrate.
The Sun. — 1853-03-16 (London, England)

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.  SOUTHWARK.—Mary Urnbert, a woman advanced in life, was brought before Mr. Combe, charged with attempting to commit suicide. Jeremiah Kennedy, a labouring man, stated that on the previous night, as he was passing the river steps on the south side of London-bridge, he observed a woman descend towards the water. Suspecting that she meditated self-destruction he ran down after her. When he got to the bottom of the steps, it being very dark at the time, finding that there was no person there, he concluded that the woman he had previously seen must have thrown herself into the river. He then listened, and hearing a noise in the water at some distance from the steps, he pulled off some of his upper garments and jumped into the river, and being an expert swimmer he succeeeded in bringing the defendant to the shore, and rescuing her from certain death. In reply to the magistrate, the defendant said that she was either robbed of or had lost a sum of money with which she was to have paid her rent, and that the circumstance caused her such anxiety of mind that she determined on destroying herself. She added that she now heartily regretted that she had made such an attempt upon her life, and would promise not to repeat it. Mr. Combo pointed out to the defendant the folly of her conduct, and said that, had it not been for the excellent conduct of the man Kennedy, in venturing his owithfe-at-night itt-the-river4e-save hers, she would, in all probability, have been drowned. The magistrate then adjudged the defendant's husband to enter into his recognisances for her not repeating the attempt ; and, having eulogised the conduct of Kennedy, ordered him a small sum of money out of the poor-box, to recompense him in some measure for his activity and zeal in saving a fellow-creature's life, and at the same time said he was of opinion that such a man was well entitled to the consideration of the Royal Humane Society when they distributed their rewards for the preservation of human life.
The Sun. — 1853-03-16 (London, England)

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.  SOUTHWARK.—Mary Lambert, a woman advanced in life, was brought before Mr, Combe, charged with attempting to commit suicide. Jeremiah Kennedy, a labouring man, stated that on the previous night, as he was passing the river steps on the south side of London-bridge, he, observed a woman descend towards the water. Suspecting that she meditated self-destruction he ran down after her. When he got to the bottom of the steps, it being very dark at the time, finding that there was no person there, he coneluded that the woman he had previously seen must have thrown herself into the river. He then listened, and hearing a noise in the water at some distance from the steps, he pulled off some of his upper garments and jumped into the river, and being an expert swimmer he succeeeded in bringing the defendant to the shore, and rescuing her from certain death. In reply to the magistrate, the defendant said that she was either robbed of or had lost a sum of money with which she was to have paid her rent, and that the circumstance caused her such anxiety of mind that she determined on destroying herself. She added that she now heartily regretted that she had made such an attempt upon her life, and would promise not to repeat it. Mr. Combe pointed out to the defendant the folly of her conduct, and said that, had it not been for the excellent conduct of the man Kennedy, in venturing his own life at night in the river to save hers, she would,'in all probability, have been drowned. The magistrate _ then adjudged the defendant's husband.to enter into his recognisances .for her not repeating the attempt.; .and, having eulogised the conduct of Kennedy, ordered him a small sum of money out of the poor-box, to recompense him in some measure for his activity and zeal in saving a fellow-creature's life, and at the same time said he was of opinion that such a man was well entitled to the consideration of the Royal Humane Society when they distributed their rewards for the preservation of human life.
The Sun. — 1853-01-18 (London, England)

OLYMPIC THE4TI?E.  A French drama, turning upon the interest excited by a false accusation of poisoning, and which, under the name of Marie Simon, made some noise in one of the Boulevard theatres, has been adapted by Mr. Morris Barnett, and was last night successfully produced at this theatre as Lilian Gervaia. The plot may be briefly described as follows :—A somewhat dreary old Marquis magnanimously poisons himself in order to give his unfaithful wife an oppof tunity of marrying her lover, a smart young barrister. Lilian Gervais, an innocent girl, a dependent of the family, and to whom the dissipated but not quite unworthy son of the Marquis had been paying guilty addresses— is accused, in consequence of a train of minute circumstances, of the murder, brought to trial, and condemned to death—her former lover now appearing in the character of his father's avenger, and her motive being alleged to be the removal of that father as an obstacle to her intrigue with the son. The best point in the play is that in the scene in which the condemned girl tells the marchioness that she knew of her intrigue with the barrister who is conducting the case against her, and that her motive for getting rid of her husband must have been grea%er than her own could have been for putting out of the Way the father of a lover, whose guilty proposals she had never listened to. The Marchioness solemnly swears that she has had no hand in the tragedy. Lilian then magnanimously keeps the secret of the intrigue to herself, and is rewarded when on the point of execution by a confession of suicide being found in the hand-writing of the deceased, so that the barrister may have the marchioness, and we are quite sure that the son of the marquis has Lilian. The incidents of the piece are slight enough, in all conscience, but in artistic hands like those of some of the performers at this favourite ho'use they are made much of. The heroine was played by Miss Anderton, a young lady boasting, it is said, "of considerable provincial and transatlantic reputation," but quite new to the London boards. She acquitted herself very creditably in this, her first appearance in the metropolis, and as she evidently possesses dramatic powers of a superior order, she will no doubt soon work herself into as much popularity with John Bull as with Brother Jonathan. Her forte lies in the "passionate or pathetic line of business," and certainly her acting, though sometimes overstrained, is, generally speaking, simple, touching, and energetic. The other parts call for no notice whatever, further than that they were well sustained, while, as for the success of the play, it is enough to state that it was announced for repetition until further notice, amidst much applause.
The Sun. — 1853-03-17 (London, England)

SUICIDE OF A FOREIGN MERCANTILE AGENT.  Mr. G. S. Brent, the deputy-coroner for Middlesex, held a lengthened inquiry last evening, at the Middlesex Hospital, touching the death of Van Brecob Frieswicke, aged 31 years, a native of Holland, who died in the above institution on Sunday last, front the effects of having swallowed a quantity of nitric acid (aqua-fortis), on the 2d ult. The details of the case are as follows :—On the morning of the 2d of last month the deceased was lodging at No. 7, Clipstone-street, Fitzroy-square having only taken the apartments the day previously, although he had lodged there before, and he called out from the window of his room to the policeman in the street, that he had taken poison, and wanted help, at the same time throwing down the latch-key. Two constables went in and removed him to the hospital, where he was at once attended by Mr. Corfe, the resident medical officer. He seemed after some days to rally, but fatal symptoms ultimately supervened, and he lingered, as stated above, until his death. After taking the poison, a letter was found written by him, addressed to the " Magistrate of Marylebone," wherein he stated that his body would be found and taken away by his friends, that all necessary expenses would be paid, and he hoped that his name might not be alliewed to appear in the newspapers. Mr. Palmer, the landlord of the house, stated that the deceased had first come to him last December, under the name of Charles Lewis Vincent, fresh from the Continent, and as a foreign agent. He also told witness that he had travelled a great deal, having been to the Californian gold diggings, New Orleans, and other parts towards South America. That be was now a mercantile agent in a large way ; and witness believed him, seeing him with plenty of money, and paying a cabman 12s. a day to go to the docks, the Custom-house, &c. When he left to go the first time it was to the Continent, in great haste. His proper name was only ascertained through the agent of foreign firms in Birchinlane, City. Mr. Corfe said that the deceased was most respectably connected, but had, unfortunately, got in with some brothel-keeper in a street off the Strand, who had since sent in a bill to the agent of 12 guineas for lodging. A Swiss girl of the same house also visited him in the hospital. A gentleman from the Foreign-office, to whom he had applied for 25/., also called some time since, and stated him to be of the highest respectability. The deceased, when pressed as to the commission of the act, would only reply, " family matters." It was stated that he had a wife and two children in his own country. The post-mortem examination clearly showed the poison to be the cause of death. The jury returned a verdict in accordance with the medical evidence, leaving the state of his mind at the time an open question.
The Sun. — 1853-03-17 (London, England)

SUICIDE OF A FOREIGN MERCANTILE AGENT.  Mr. G. S. Brent, the deputy-coroner for Middlesex, held a lengthened inquiry last evening, at the Middlesex Hospital, touching the death of Van Brecob Frieswicke, aged 31 years, a native of Holland, who died in the above institution on Sunday last, fro* the effects of having swallowed a quantity of nitric acid (aqua-fortis), on the 2d ult.  The details of the case are as follows :—On the morning of the 2d of last month the deceased was lodging at No. 7, Clipstone-street, Fitzroy-square having only taken the apartments the day previously, alt4ough he had lodged there before, and he called out from the window of his room to the policeman in the street, that he had taken poison, and wanted help, at the same time throwing down the latch-key. Two constables went in and removed him to the hospital, where he was at once attended by Mr. Corfe, the resident medical officer. He seemed after some days to rally, but fatal symptoms ultimately supervened, and he lingered, as stated above, until his death. After taking the poison, a letter was found written by him, addressed to the " Magistrate of Marylebone," wherein he stated that his body would be found and taken away by his friends, that all necessary expenses would be paid, and he hoped that his name might not be allowed to appear in the newspapers. Mr. Palmer, the landlord of the house, stated that the deceased had first come to him last December, under the name of Charles Lewis Vincent, fresh from the Continent, and as a foreign agent. He also told witness that he had travelled a great deal, having been to the Californian gold diggings, New Orleans, and other parts towards South America. That he was now a mercantile agent in a large way ; and witness believed him, seeing him with plenty of money, and paying a cabman 12s. a day to go to the docks, the Custom-house, &c. When he left to go the first time it was to the Continent, in great haste. His proper name was only ascertained through the agent of foreign firms in Birchinlane, City. Mr. Corfe said that the deceased was most respectably connected, but had, unfortunately, got in with some brothel-keeper in a street off the Strand, who had since sent in a bill to the agent of 12 guineas for lodging. A. giriss girl of the same house also visited him in the hospital. A gentleman from the Foreign-office, to whom he had applied for 251., also called some time since, and stated him to be of the highest respectability. The deceased, when pressed as to the commission of the act, would only reply, " family matters." It was stated that he had a wife and two children in his own country. The post-mortem examination clearly showed•the poison to be the cause of death. The jury returned a verdict in accordance with the medical evidence, leaving the state of his mind at the time an open question.