npedrazzini/19thc_murder_suicide_news huggingface dataset:
The Northern Guardian. — 1893-04-27 (Hartlepool, Cleveland, England)

THE DURHAM TRAGEDY.  As readers of last night's Guardian are aware, a horrible tragedy, was committed in the quiet city of Durham yesterday. Strange to say, it is just a month short of five years since the citizens of Durham were thrown into a similar state of excitement by the murder of Superintendent Scott, of Jarrow, by an ex-sergeant of police who thought he had a grievance against him. Both took place about the same hour of the day, and within half a minute's walk of each other. In both cases the men who committed the serious offences succeeded in committing suicide. In the case of the murder of the Superintendent of Police there did appear to be some cause, although it was slight. Not so yesterday, however. So far as can be gathered, the man who entered Messrs Backhouse's Bank in the Market Place, one of the busiest thoroughfares in Durham, had no grievance or alleged grievance. He appears to have been a lunatic, but there is not the slightest doubt but that he had made up his mind to shoot somebody. There is nothing novel in the whole occurrence. It reads very much like the stories we occasionally have to publish of murders and attempted murders in America and Australia. The man Ryan, who used to be a checkweighnian at Bearpark Colliery, had visited both these countries, and lately returned to Durham, living no one seems to know how. Several people have stated that they have noticed him behaving in a somewhat strange manner of late, and one woman says she heard him muttering to himself "I'll do it, I'll do it." She was, of  course, altogether unconscious then to what!, he referred. Now there is no doubt he evidently intended to murder somebody, but whether or not he had specially singled out the two young men st whom he fired it is impossible to say. He entered the bank, and without saying a word fired at Mr Brewis, son of a Newcastle provision merchant, and a clerk at the National Provincial Bank at Durham. Thepoor fellow was there transacting business. The bullet struck him in the back, and, passing clean through the lungs, had found an exit at the chest. Ryan then turned and fired at Mr Cluff, who was fortunately sitting with a glass screen between his would-be murderer and himself. This appears to have saved him to a great extent. Mr Brewis lies in the infirmary in a critical condition, but Mr Cluff's injuries are only slight. Ryan, after firing the two shots, stepped out ,of the bank and fired at his own head. The first shot was not fatal, so he put another bullet through his brain. .He was conveyed to the hospital, where be died about two hours after the horrible affair, without having said a word. In all likelihood we is Lail never know the cause of the attempted murders. It is stated that he has left a rambiing statement, and that, although it has not yet been made public, it contains no explanation of the crime. The two innocent clerks and their friends will have the sympathy of all; while,, so far as we can gather, Ryan, the one who has caused all the trouble, has no friends to mourn his loss, and none to share the shame , of so diabolical a deed.
The Northern Guardian. — 1893-07-24 (Hartlepool, Cleveland, England)

PROCEEDINGS AT THE POLICE COURT. At Hartlepool Police Court this morning—before the Mayor, Councillor E. Nixey (presiding) and Mr J. Pinder—Jas. Siggers (19), labourer, residing at Farwell Place, Hartlepool, was charged with attempting to commit suicide by drowning on the 23rd inst.  William Boagey said he was walking on the moor near the Watch House, about half-an-hour after Saturday midnight. Be heard prisoner call to him to go down on the Promenade. On going down prisoner said "Good night." Witness answered, "Is that all you called me down for ?" Prisoner then got through the railing and leapt into tho water. _ _  Francis Morgan said his wife and himself were walking along the Promenade, when the previous witness told him that a man had jumped into the water, and said : "If he was daft enough to jump in let him get himself out again." Witness went , to the escape-ladder, about ten yards further along, and went down to try and get the man out. He found prisoner clinging to a rock, and succeeded in : reaching him and bringing him up on to the wall, , where P.C. Crowther took him into custody. Prisoner did not seem drunk when he got him out. The water would be about seven or eight feet deep where prisoner went in. P.C. Crowther said he was on duty in Friar Terrace at 12.30 on Sunday morning, when Mrs Morgan, the wife of the previous witness, told him that a man was trying to drown himself over the Promenade. He went down to the place in question, and saw witness (Morgan) bringing prisoner up the escape-ladder. He took prisoner into custody. Prisoner said he wished he was dead. He also said he would buy a revolver and shoot himself.  Prisoner said it was all quite true what the witnesses had said. He had been drinking, and did not know what he was doing. The Chief Constable said he had sent for the man's father, but the father said he had had quite enough to do with him, and would let him take his chance.  Prisoner was remanded for a week in custody in order that the police might see what state of mind he would be in then,
The Northern Guardian. — 1893-08-07 (Hartlepool, Cleveland, England)

THE SUICIDE OF A MUSIC HALL ARTISTE.  An inquest was held on Saturday touching the death of Daisy Hughes, a serio-comic music hall artiste, who as reported in the Guardia*, committed suicide on Friday midnight at Brighton by jumping from the third-floor storey of the Grand Hotel. it transpired that deceased, whose real name was Alice Victoria Villiers, but who was known to the public as Daisy Hughes, had been performing during the week at the Brighton Empire. Rooms had been taken for her at the Grand Hotel by Mr Charles Bulpett, a barrister, who accompanied her on Friday to Lewes Races.—ln reply to the Coroner's questions, Mr Bulpett told the jury that he had known Miss Hughes for four years. She was a very excitable young woman. She had often threatened to commit suicide, and had once in his presence attempted to take her life. Nothing in her manner on Friday led him, however, to suppose that she intended again to attempt to " carry out her threat. It was true that she had somewhat upbraided him for not going to see her performance last Monday, but the journey to the races seemed to enliven her, and she went off to the Empire on Friday night in fair spirits. Mr Bulpett remained at the hotel, and when she returned shortly before midnight he was lying half; asleep on the sofa. She asked him why he had not been to see her play that night. Having simply replied "Don't bother," he turned round to go to sleep again. Immediately afterwards she went towards the window, He before he could detain her she was gone. He heard a crash and a thud, and the next moment, on looking over the balcony, he saw her lying lifeless on the stone pavement, eighty feet beneath. Medical aid, as well as the assistance of the police, was at once summoned, but the poor girl had broken her neck, and must have died instantaneously.—Other evidence having been given, the jury returned a verdict of "Suicide during temporary insanity."
The Northern Guardian. — 1893-02-20 (Hartlepool, Cleveland, England)

DOUBLE MURDER AND SUICIDE.  A SAD STORY OF SEDUCTION AND DESERTION.  On Saturday, the small village of Earlsheaton, near Dewsbury, was thrown into a state of excitement by a case of double murder and suicide. In the afternoon a letter, which was fastened in the ground by a long hairpin, a woman's hat, and two babies' feeding bottles, were found near the side of a dam, belonging to the Syke log Mill Company. The dam was draggeel, with the result that the dead bodies of Jane Kershaw, single woman, and her twin children, 13 weeks old, were discovered within a few yards of each other. The deceased woman came from Bury to Dewsbury in February last to take a situation at Staincliffe. She left there to go to the Spangled Bull, Earlsheaton. The allegations are that while at the Spangled Bull she was seduced by one of the landlord's sons, and that he supported the children after they were born up to three weeks ago, when he ceased for the purpose of her applying for an affiliation order. Having nothing to support herself with, she went into the workhouse at Dewsbury, but left that institution on Tuesday last. On Thursday she told a person she was going to drown herself the night previous, but that she was prevented by somebody watching her, and since that day nothing I was heard of her whereabouts until the finding of I the articles named. The letter was addressed to Mr Arthur Lee, partner of the firm of Messrs Arthur Lee & Sons, blanket manufacturers, and will be read at the inquiry. The police decline to give any information as to the contents of the ' letter at present. Deceased was 23 years of age, and of good education. During the last few days she had suffered great want and privation. Yesterday thousands of people visited the scene of the tragedy.
The Northern Guardian. — 1893-06-06 (Hartlepool, Cleveland, England)

MURDER AND SUICIDE'.  INQUEST: PAINFUL DETAILS.  An inquest was held yesterday at Wilmslow. near Manchester, on the bodies of Susannah Worth (40), the wife of a labourer, and her daughter, aged 19, who were found dead on Sunday, as stated in rsterday's amardiaa. The husband stated that at three o'clock on Sunday morning his wife got up and explained that her daugher was suffering from " tic," and she would, therefore, go and sleep with her. Afterwards he failed to rouse them, and entered the room. They were dead, and he called the nighbours in. A razor was found in his wife's hand. The following note in the girl's writing NAB found;—" Kindly let MRs Adshead lay us out, as we would rather she did." Witness had never heard his wife threaten violence. She was not strange in manner. Witness was not aware that the daughter was pregnant.—Mrs RailmaLk said she saw deceased on Saturday. The daughter did not try to conceal her pregnancy, but the mother did.—Sergeant Griffiths said he spoke to deceased on Saturday night about an unpleasant rumour. Mrs Worth said her daughter had gone to Cheadle. When witness saw the bodies there was a mug with blood in it between them. There had been no struggle. Witness was of opinion that the mother had cut the daughter's throat, and had held her head over the mug until she had bled to death, and afterwards cut her own throat.—Dr. Davies gave similar testimony, and added that the daughter bad been recently delivered of a child. In April witness pronounced her pregnant. Witness was informed by Mrs Worth that her (laughter had gone to Cheadle to be confined.—The jury returned a verdict orinurder against the mother, and found that she had afterwards committed suicide whilst temporarily insane.
The Northern Guardian. — 1893-05-04 (Hartlepool, Cleveland, England)

GIRL'S FALSE LOVER.  DISAPPOINTMENT AND POISON.  At the Leeds Police Court yesterday—before Mr Bruce—Margaret Campbell, a fine-looking young woman, who was for some time employed in one of the principal hotels in Leeds, was brought up on a charge of attempting to commit suicide by taking ii/On. Prisoner lived at 13, Clapham Place, New Wortley, and on Monday she went to the house of Mrs Barnes, a neighbour, and asked her if she would allow her boy to run an errand. Mrs Barnes consented, and during the absence of the b the prisoner said, "There is nothing to live for," and Mrs Barnes told her "not to talk like that." On the return of the boy, the prisoner drank the contents of the bottle which he brought to her, containing sixpennyworth of laudanum. Mrs Barnes raised an alarm, and the ambulance quickly arrived on the scene, and conveyed the young woman to the infirmary. Before the occurrence the prisoner told Mrs Barnes that her lover had not come on Saturday and Sunday, and asked her what she ' thought of him. When she was admitted to the infirmary she was quite conscious, but there were evidences that she had taken poison. She told the doctor when he asked her why she had attempted to commit suicide that she had had a lot of trouble. Prisoner said she was sorry for what she had done, and as a friend was in court aid promised to take care of her, Mr Bruce ordered her to be discharged. In doing so he said that people who attempted to take their own life should understand that they were liable to be sent to prison, so that if they escaped the next world they might not find this a very pleasant one. The prisoner seemed to have done this because some young man did not turn up, but if girls were to be allowed sixpennyworth of Poison because their lovers did not keep their promises, he did not know what would become of the world.  BE IT KNOWN to all ye men that P. W. Bramwell is now supplying High-class Tailoring, best make at reasonable prices, cut and style up to date. Be it known to all ye ladies that Miss Bratuwell s always Producing the Latest Styles in Dresses—Dress department above the shop.—P. W. BitemwEiL, in the ilorner beside the Market alteration.—Advi.  LimaimiL
The Northern Guardian. — 1893-06-20 (Hartlepool, Cleveland, England)

SYSTEM OF TREATMENT FOR DISEASES OF THE EYE AND EAR WITHOUT OPERATION—Mr L. Mitchell, Oculist and Aurist, of Leeds, announces special visits to West Hartlepool (Stati”n Commercial Hotel), Tuesday, June 13; Durham (Three Tuna Hotel), Saturday, June 17; Stockton (Black Lion Hotel), Wednesday, June 14 (hours 11 to 4), where he may be consulted on all cases of defective sight or hearing. Artificial human eyes adapted where the sight has been destroyed without pain or operation. Spectacles, eye preservers, to suit all sights. References to local patients. Letters to be addressed to 24, Zetland Place, Roundhay Road, Leeds.—Advt.  A boy fell over the cliffs at South Foreland yesterday morning and was killed. The prizes for the N.E.R. Band Contest and Sports are now on view in Mr J. M. Crosier's window, 76, Lynn Street.  , The Marquess and Marchioness of Londonderry returned to Londonderry House, Park Lane, on Saturday night from Wynyard Park, Stockton-onTees.  Sir George Colthurst has requested Renter's Agency to announce that no part of the real Blarney Stone has been taken to the Chicago World's Fair. The stone reniains intact, and will not be disturbed. An inquest at St. Leonard's yesterday showed that Mary Charlotte Shepherd, housekeeper, who was mentally distressed through losses in the Portsea Island Building Society, committed suicide by strangulation. She bound tape tightly round her neck.  John Dean, labourer, Eltham, was remanded at Bromley, yesterday, charged with causing the death of Johanna Andrews. The accused was parting two women who were fighting, when Andrews interfered, and the accused, it is alleged, struck her, and she fell dead.  The friends of Inspector Smettem, of Durham, and who was for many years sergeant at Darlington, will be pleased to hear that he has been promoted to the rank of superintendent, to take charge of the Castle Eden Division, in place of Supt. Webster, who has been appointed chief. clerk at Durham.  Nine young men and boys, whose ages varied from 23 to 13, were charged at the Liverpool Police Court yesterday with having stowed themselves away on board the Houston liner Hippomenes, outward bound for Monte Video, and it was stated that 15 to 20 men and boys usually stowed themselves away on the vessel at every voyage. As stowaways could not land in South America, they had to be brought back by the company at a cost of about £lOO.
The Northern Guardian. — 1893-01-20 (Hartlepool, Cleveland, England)

SHOCKING DOMESTIC TRAGEDY  SUPPOSED DOUBLE MURDER AND  SUICIDE.  HORRIBLE SIGHTS.  A correspondent, telegraphing last evening, says that Claremont House, 77, Goldstone Villas, Hove, has been the scene of a shocking tragedy that is as yet shrouded in mystery. AMr A. Black, B.Sc., a teacher of classics and mathematics, his wife, and one of his two little children, a boy about two years of age, have met with violent deaths, but under what circumstances is not yet definitely known. The first intimation that something was wrong at the house was conveyed to Hove Police Station about ten o'clock yesterday morning by a gentleman from Brighton, who told Inspector Fox his reason for thinking all was not right. It seems that Mr Black had an appointment af the School of Science on Tuesday night, which he failed to keep. Nothing being heard from him, the gentleman mentioned went to his residence to make inquiries. In consequence of being unable to make anyone hear at the house, he went to the police station and gave information to Inspector Fox. Detective Cursons, who was deputed to go to the house, found the place locked up. He, however, gained admission by forcing the basement window, and no sooner was he in the room than a horrible sight met his gaze. The awful silence of death dwelt in the air, and there lying almost naked upon a disordered bed was the body of a child, a little boy, his nightshirt bloodstained, and a wound in the back of his neck, apparently the result of a stab. The child was dead, and the blood around him and on the floor was congealed. A worse spectacle presented itself later on. The officer proceeding upstairs to a back room on the level of the street, the body of Mrs Black was found with her head terribly mutilated, as if with a hammer or some other heavy instrument. The body lay face upwards, clothed only in a nightdress, and there were bloodstains all over , the room. In a room over that in which the woman lay the body of Mr Black was found. He lay on his face across a bed in his night' clothes. An examination revealed no wound, but a quantity of blood had escaped from his nose and mouth, saturating the bedclothes and floor. Some bottles which had evidently contained poison . were found on a box beside the bed, and on a chair close by a hammer and table knife, both bearing . blood stains. The theory is that after putting an r end to the existence of his wife and child with these instruments, the unhappy man ended his own 7 by poisoning himself. A little girl, the only member of the family now alive, went to stay with some friends a few days ago.
The Northern Guardian. — 1893-02-24 (Hartlepool, Cleveland, England)

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.  ALARM CLOCKS, 3s 6d • 8-Day Striking Clerks, ISs 9d; Vienna Clocks, 28; 6d—all guaranteed for a term of years.—At J. M. CROZIER'S, the Cheapest Shop for Watch and Jewellery Repaiiv, 76, Lynn Street.—Advt.  Merlins, Palmist, will visit West Hartlepoal shortly.—Advt.  The return asked for by the Home Secretary as to the loss of life from pistol shots shays that in north-east London 31 persons have so died in three years (1890.2). Of this number two were murderers, one mantas tighter, and 28 suicides. Mr Gladstone has, we are pleased to hear, given a Civil List pension of £l5O to Dr. Richard Morris, whose services to early English literature and Pali are so well known. Dr. Morris met with an accident nearly two years ago which nearly deprived him of his sight, and he has been in weak health. His pension will be a real help to him, and has been earned by genuine hard work, the value of which Mr Gladstone has gracefully acknowledged. Lord Winehilsea is something of a journalist, and, indeed, he has already written a good deal for the press. Consequently, it is not surprising to hear that the young nobleman who made such a stir in the agricultural world at Christmastide has determined to bring out a weekly paper, which will be the official organ of the movement for the union of all classes of the agricultural community. The first number of the National Agricultural Union Cable (rather a long title, isn't it?) is announced to appear shortly. Lord Winchilsca will edit the paper and supervise the entire conduct of,it himself, and, judging by the neatly got up flyleaf which is circulating, the thing ought to "le." An agricultural paper edited by an Earl is quite anew development in journalism.  The following letter, extracted from a Devonshire paper, speaks for itself:—" Sir,—l want to tell you a plan I have for our good government. I have not heard it from anyone else, so it is original and simple. 111 r Gladstone offers to give the Irish people a Parliament in which we can't interfere, and then let 80 Irishmen help to govern us in England. Now, my plan is the reverse. It is to give England Home Rule without Irish interference, and then let a member of Parliament for every 50,000 of us go over to Ireland and help to govern them. I know Ibe ignorant, but it is the likes of me that placed the Home Rulers in power, and I have partly changed my mind.—Your servant, A. Clod." It was indeed the ignorance of the "likes of" this correspondent that put the Home Rulers in power, and we can well understand that they have "partly changed their mind."
The Northern Guardian. — 1893-10-31 (Hartlepool, Cleveland, England)

ROMANTIC STORY OF A STOLEN CHILD. .  At the Westminster Police Court yesterday, a falrhaired and rather good-looking youu,g woman, D aged 20, who gave the name of Florence avis, and stated she was from Torquay, was charged with kidnapping a little girl named Kate Rooks, aged four years, cud robbing her of a pair of earrings. The prisoner was further charged with attempting to commit suicide ins police cell. The child, who was in oourt, was flaxen-haired and bore some resemblance to the prisoner. The mother, the wife of a coal porter living at 0, Carpenter Street, Westminster, on Thursday morning allowed the little girl out to play with other children. They went to St. John's Remotion Ground, wherp it was alleged the prisoner decoyed her away. Ifer companions were found on a seat, having been told to wait there till Katie came Nock. The porenta communicated with the police, but nothing was heard of the etolen child till Saturday night, when a constable in Provost Road, Hampstead, noticed that the kitchen window of an empty house was slightly open. Gaining admission, he discovered the prisoner, apparently asleep, on the floor with a little girl. The accused said she was destitute, sad -at the police station she told such a circumstantial story that she was believed, and sent with the child as poor wayfarers to Hampstead Workhouse. She said that she ran away from her home at Torquay nearly five years ago with • young gentleman named Graham, who promised her marriage. On her arrival in London she lived with-Graham, who deserted her. Shortly afterwards her baby was born. After she had gone to the workhouse the inspector made some inquiries, and learning that a girl had been stolen from Westminster he cominunicated with the police of the -district. The result was that the father of the child went to the workhouse and identified her. The girl, in tho presence of the prisoner, tepeatedly said, 'This lady took my earrings." and she made no answer to the accusation. On Sunday afternoon, in the police cell, the imisoner tried to commit suicide by tying a portion of an apron tightly round her neck. Mr Shiel remanded her, and there was some hissing from the public as she was removed from the dock.