npedrazzini/19thc_murder_suicide_news huggingface dataset:
The Warrington Examiner. — 1876-08-12 (Warrington, Cheshire, England)

THE BAT. HAM POISUNIN G CASE.  SUMMING UP OE THE CORONER.  VERDICT OF WILFUL MURDER.  Yesterday, the Coroner summed. up to the jury the evidence relating to the death of Mr. Bravo. The Coroner amalysed the mass of evidence which had been submitted to the court with great care and elaboration. Amongst other matters he referred the jury to the evidence of the medical men on the question as to whether Mr. Bravo took the antimony inadvertently, he would refer them to the evidence of the medial men and Mr. Bravo's statements to them, amongst others, his statement to Sir -William Gull " [took it myself, I took it myself, but before God'it was only laudanum." If they shoull be cf opinion either that he took antimony medicinally, knowing it to be antimony, but took an overdose of it, or that he took the antimony in mistake for some other chug, they would find accordingly. In considering whether antimony was administered by any other person or persons he was unable to point them to any direct evidence bearing on the subject. They would consider whether or not it was the fact that the only evidence that antimony was administered by himself or by another was that antimony was found in the body of Mr. Bravo, and in the vomit found upon the leads. They would consider whether there was any evidence of the purchase of antimony by Mr. Bravo, or any other person having means of accsss to him. Glifiactis ocrtaiuly said in his evidence that he purchased tartar emetic both at Smith's, Balham, and RAinson's, Streatham, but both thJsa gentlemen denied the truth of his statement. Ho himself said that he threw away what he had left be. sore he left Mrs. Bravo's service early in January. All the evidence was before them, and it was for them to consider and decide upon it. They must be sati fled with the evidence that murder had been committed before they found a verdict.  Before retiring, a member of Vie jury pointed out that they had been directed to inquire into the habits of Mr. Bravo. Ile wished to point out that Dr. Payne said after the jaost-mortein that there was no other appearance of disease except what had been introduced, and it was a perfectly healthy body.  Sir Henry James hoped there would be no conjecture on the question, and The jury then retired to consider the verdict. VERDICT OF THE Juity.  The jury retired at 1135, and after an absence of about two and a halt hours returned into court with the following verdict :  "We found that Mr. Bravo did not commit suicide, and that he did not meet his death by misadventure, but was wilZully murdered by the administration of tartar emetic, but there is not sufficient evidence to fix the guilt on any person or persons."
The Warrington Examiner. — 1876-05-06 (Warrington, Cheshire, England)

MYSTERIOUS AFFAIR AT WARBURTON. At about six o'clock on Saturday morning last a female's hat, in which there was a letter pinned, was found in the hut on the packet stage at Warburton. Subsequently the letter and hat were handed to the police, and Sergeant Hollingworth, of Lymm, went to Manchester to the address in the letter-290, Deansgate—where he ascertained that a young woman named Ann Yarwood, who was in service there, left at seven o'clock on Friday night, and where she had gone they knew not. Her parets resided at Sandy-lane, Lymm. She was 29 years of age, and was considered by her employer—Mrs. Williamson, draper, of Deansgate, Manchester—a very steady, honest, arid hard-working woman. On Friday her employer noticed that she was rather low-spirited. The following is the contents of the letter, which was written in pencil : " Mrs. Williamson,—Do forgive me for going when you told me to stay, for my heart it was breaking, and something passed over me and asked me to come today." _  The above was inside the envelope, and on a sheet of paper she wrote "Mrs. Williamson,—Friends, a home, I have none. I always clung to you as my dearest friend. If you say you have been good to me, I wish I had been better to you. I hope you will forgive me now all is passed and gone. There will be a struggle for death; I shall get over it I know. My lamp is lighted late, but there is one that will let me in. It is hard to leave the sunshine, but harder still to stay. Give dear Alice this Ea lock of hair], and let her wear it for my sake. Kiss the children for me when I cannot kiss them. I have no one to weep for me. Please ask Ellen Guest and Sam Williamson; we were rocked in the cradle together. Good bye all." The letter bore no signature. On Sunday and Monday the river was dragged, it being supposed that the woman had committed suicide, but the body was not found. We understand that the young woman's father is an imbecile, at present in the Knutsford Workhouse. Up to last night the body had not been recovered, nor had any tidings been received of the woman.
The Warrington Examiner. — 1869-07-10 (Warrington, Cheshire, England)

OFFICIAL DENIALS.—The following is a string of negative statements culled from evening papers published in the French metropolis on Tuesday. According to one or the other of these papers, the rumours as to the approaching change iu the Ministry are "devoid even of the semblance of truth," the Government has no intention of shortly withdrawingthe troops from Rome, the Emperor and Empress of Austria are not about to visit Paris, the present French ambassador at St. Petersburg is not to be recalled, and M. Buffet was not received by the Emperor on Sunday.  ATTEMPTED SUICIDE AT HALEWOOD RAILWAY STATION • —About noon on Monday a train from the district of Manchester arrived at Halewood railway station, when a man was observed to step from one of the carriages and enter a closet. His strange manner exciting suspicion, he was followed by two gentlemen, who forced open the door, and found him in the act of cutting his throat with a pocket knife. He had inflicted a somewhat deep wound, but the weapon was wrested from his grasp before he succeeded in more seriously injuring himself. He was at once replaced in a carriage and taken to his home, which we believe is in Liverpool. His name is said to be William Smith, a car-owner. BRIBERY AT MUNICIPAL ELEcnoNs.—At a recent municipal election at Lichfield a voter was told that he would be remunerated for any loss of time which his going to the polling booth might involve. The person who gave this pledge was subsequently sued in the county court for penalties for bribery, but the judge decided that the promise did not constitute an offence under the Municipal Act. An appeal against this decision was carried to the Court of Queen's Bench, and on Saturday judgment was given for the appellant. In delivering the judgment of the Court, Mr Justice Mellor said "it was of the greatest importance that a voter should go free to the poll, and in construing the language of the defendant they must look at its intention without entering into any refined analysis of it."
The Warrington Examiner. — 1869-05-29 (Warrington, Cheshire, England)

OUR ARM CHAIR.  Wanted, a strong adhesive plaster, to make busybodies stick to their owtt business._ _ _ _ _  A SCHOOLBOY' 8 AsPutterrox.—" Oh, how I wish I were a fountain, for then I could always be playing !" Mr. Jones was advised to get his lifeinsured. "Won't do it,"said he; "it would be my luck to live for ever, if I should."  "My lord," said the foreman of a Welsh jury when giving in the verdict, "we find the man who stole the mare not guilty !" Artemus Ward asked a Mormon party who had fortysix wives:—"Well, sir, and how do you like matrimony as far as you have gone ?" Under the head of "broken English." a Paris paper places such Londoners as get smashed up by railway c3llisions, or who financially come to grief. The following advertisement lately appeared in a country paper:—" Wanted a steady young man to look after a horse of the Methodist persuasion." A stoker in bragging about his wife, wound up with the declaration, Why, she'd make a regular high-pressure steamer, she's such a talent for blowing up!" The latest duel in New Orleans was between an Englishman and a Frenchman, about a promissory note; the weapons were rifles; the result was a pair of torn pantaloons. An Irishman, illustrating the hoirors of solitary confinement, stated that out of one hundred persons sentenced to endure this punishment for life, only fifteen survived it!  Concord, N. H., presents the "champion accidentalist" in a man who has already broken one arm, one leg, four *ribs, his collar bone, and lost sight of one eye by accidents.  A story is told of a young man in Devonshire, who was crosssd in love, and attempted suicide lately by taking a dose of yeast powder. He immediately rose above his troubles. _ _ _  "Come Bill, it's ten o'clock; I think we had better be goingfor it's time honest folkwere at home."—" Well yes," was the reply; "I must be off, but you needn't go on that account," A milkman may have a habit of stopping daily near a river and not excite suspicion ; but when we find his little boy fishing for minnows in the milk pans, we begin to have our doubts.
The Warrington Examiner. — 1873-03-01 (Warrington, Cheshire, England)

SUICIDE AT TOWN'S END.  Yesterday morning, an inquest was held by Mr, Driffield, at the "Rodney," Winwick-street, on the body of Elizabeth Chard, wife of George Chard, landlord of the Golden Ball publichouse, Town's-end, Mr. Bretherton appeared for her husband. It appeared from the evidence of Mrs. Hankinson, the charwoman, that the deceased complained of her leg being bad on Wednesday morning. She was at once, put to bed, and a doctor was sent for, but before he arrived she was dead. Witness said she had heard the deceased had attempted to put an end to her life, but she did not know of it of her own knowledge.—George Chard said his wife was 64 years of age, and had been married twice. She got up about six o'clock, and at a few minutes to seven the charwoman brought her upstairs. Wicness placed her on the bed, and she began to shake violently. The charwoman was sent for a doctor, and whilst she was away he asked her if she had taken anything, and she replied that she had not. Before the doctor arrived she died. About nine o'clock he saw some poison papers in the house, of which he was not previously aware. This was not the first time she had attempted to take away her life. Somewhere about six months ago she took some beetle or vermin poison, and Dr. Wood had to be sent for.—lnspector Whittaker deposed to receiving the papers oontaining poison from Mr. Chard, as well as a glass, in which was a blue sediment, which had been found by Walter Sidney Chard whilst he was washing the glasses in the bar. He could not find the place where they had been :purchased at.—Mr C. N. Spinks, surgeon, said he made a post-mortem examination on the body of the deceased on Wednesday. On the inner side of the right leg was a bruise mark about two inches in diameter, and the knee was very black. On the left thigh were two round bruises, but not of any great extent. These bruises were quite recent, and there was no disease of the skin, but the veins were very much swollen. The deceased, in his opinion, had died from strychnine, which caused violent contraction of the heart, sending the blood into the lungs, which ultimately burst one of the arteries. The deceased, however, might have died naturally any time. All the organs were more or less diseased from the effect of taking copious quantitielpf spirits.—Mrs. Mary Hayles, Pinners Brow, and Oxley, another neighbour, stated that Chard had a quarrel with his wife on the Monday evening, and that he struck her, causing her to scream.—The Joroner, in summing up, said he was of opinion that the deceased had committed deliberate suicide, and a verdict to that effect was returned, but the jury were not able to say what the Ade cf her mind was at the time she took the poison.
The Warrington Examiner. — 1873-04-12 (Warrington, Cheshire, England)

SAD SUICIDE AT BOLTON. An inquest was held before the Bolton coroner on Saturday touching the death of John Henry Flitcroft, aged.l9 years, son of Mr. D. Flitcroft, contractor, of that borough. Some time ago the deceased was articled to an architect, civil engineer, and land surveyor at Liverpool. He left before the termination of his articleship, and had not since done anything. On Friday weekte left home and rambled to Hull, Sunderland, and other places. He returned last Friday night, and asked his mother to forgiNe him. Just then a ring came to the door, which Mrs. Flitcroft ;answered, and when she entered the sitting-room again she missed her eon. He was aftewards found in the dining-room all inthe dark, and judging from his "wild and vacant" demeanour that all was not right, Mrs. Flitcroft proceeded to search hitn. It was then discovered that the deceased, although he left home with a large sum of money, had spent every farthing of it, and was ebtirely destitute; he had even disposed of his shirt. Deceased asked if he might stay all night, to which his mother replied that he might go upstairs, ano she would see what his father said when he came in. Deceased thereupon went upstairs, and in two or three minutes afterwards a pistol-shot was heard. Mr. Fhtcroft was sent for, and on entering the bedroom he found his son lying on the floorovith a shot-wound in the right temple. ite was quite dead. Beside him was a six-chambered revolver, and three of the chambers were still loaded. Thirteen cartridges and a number of pawntickets were found in his pockets- The following letter was also found in his possession : "Manchester, Friday, dinner time. "My dear Mother,—' have had no letter yet, and so I suppose lam not to conie home; so there is nothing for nu I know of but to stop away. But I would rather know that you forgive me, if you can, for all the misery I have brought on you; but I willnot bring much mare. I will wait till to-night to see if you have sent a letter, and if you have not---. God bless you, mother and sister.; Although I have plundered you I am very sorry. Don't think too much about it, for I am not worth it. I only hope you will see happier days. and God bless you now, farewell.—l remain your thie‘ish son,
The Warrington Examiner. — 1871-02-11 (Warrington, Cheshire, England)

WAR ITEMS.  Provisions :for Paris are being furnished from the Royal William victualling yard as rapidly as possible. it is stated that Messrs. Rothschild Brothers have advanced 200,000,0001. towards the war contribution.  Prince de Joinville is a candidate for a seat in the Constituent Assembly as representative of the Department of Manche. _ _  It is said that orders have been received at Berlin to send all the German reserves to the front, and to fill up the regiments to their full strength during the armistice. . .  - General Garibaldi has accepted the invitation of the municipal commission of Nice to become a candidate to represent that town, which is his birthplace, in the National Assembly. Marshal Macmanon gives a flat contradiction to the statement made by Count Bismarck in a recent circular to the effect that explosive bullets were used by French soldiers at the battle of Worth.  Five hundred Prussians at Doudeville and 1,200 at Thietreville, near Valmont, have quartered themselves on the inhabitants by force, and have made requisitions for provisions. The Emperor Napoleon is not asleep at Wilhelmshohe, nor does he appear to have abandoned all hopes of a restoration to power. It is stated that in view of the elections he has issued a proclamation to the French people. _  The Prasians have inflicted a fine of 2,000 francs on the Nouvelliste de Rouen for having published M. Gambetta's circular to the Prefects respecting the elections. There is now no longer any newspaper published at Rouen. A telegram received in Liverpool on Monday from Havana reports an engagement in the Pacific between two small French gunboats and the German war steamer Medusa, the result being that the former were sunk. According to the Berlin correspondent of the Times the English Government has urged upon other neutrul Powers the expediency of taking an active interest in the restoration of peace, and has recommended Prussia to be lenient in her demands.  The Standard professes—to—have been informed, on good authority, that General Beauregard has requested a large number of ex-Confederate officers to hold themselves in readiness to come to France for the purpose of serving under him should hostilities recommence. Many of them are now in London, awaiting the order of departure. It appears that Bourbaki, after his attempt at suicide, was taken into Switzerland. His wife set out last week to rejoin him, accompanied by a surgeon. It is said that his repulse from before Belfort preyed upon his mind, and that he has repeatedly applied to be relieved of his command, recommending General Clinchamp to succeed him; but that request was not attended to until it was too late.  The Hon. E. Lyulph Stanley, brother of Lord Stanley of Alderley, after a year's absence in the United States, Japan, China, and Siam, returned to England on Saturday:last. According to the Observer the measure of military reform to be proposed by Government will be much more extensive and sweeping than is generally sup posed.
The Warrington Examiner. — 1871-03-18 (Warrington, Cheshire, England)

DETERMINED SUICIDE BY A WARRINGTON MAN.  Ycsterday afternoon Mr. Thomas Giblin, who formerly carried on business in Horsemarket-street, Warrington, as a hatter, committed suicide by poisoning himself. Early in the morning he went to Mr. Higham's, gunsmith, and purchased a six.barrelled revolver, and then proceeded to Mr. Dickson's, chemist, Bridge Foot, where he asked for a quantity of prussic acid. Mr. Dickson at first hesitated, but on Mr. Giblin assuring him that he wanted the poison to kill a dog, the required article was supplied to him. The deceased asked the chemist to serve him with as much pkson as would at once put an end to the dog's life, as be did not want to see the animal suffer. Mr. Dickson's suspicions were aroused, and from the inquiries he made he found that Mr. Giblin did not want the poison for the reason he alleged, and he at once went in search of him but he did not succeed in regaining possession him, dangerous liquid. With the revolver and poison in his possession he entered the coffee-house, Horsemarket-strect, kept by Mr. Pilling, about half-past three, and after tilling inside about ten minutes, he att,uiptca to rush out of the house, but was stopped in the lobby by Mr. Newall, who lad been informed by Mrs. Giblin that he had a pisLol and same poison in his pockets. He then went into the bar-parlour, where the revolver was taken out of his pocket. Mr. Newall and others were about to search for the poison, but before they could do so Mr. Giblin placed the bottle to his lips, and drank a portion of the poison. Dr. Smith and Mr. T. Starkey Smith were immediately sent for, and they attended him shortly afterwards, but their assistance was of no avail, for he died at a few minutes to seven. Mrs. Giblin, on searching the body discovered nine cartridges in the waistcoat pocket, and on examination live chambers of the revolver were found to be loaded with balls. The deceased has been employed for some time jpast as traveller for Mr. Myers, tailor, London-road, Liverpool.
The Warrington Examiner. — 1874-08-22 (Warrington, Cheshire, England)

FROM THE TOWER OF A CATHEDRAL.—At Paris, on Friday, a fashionably dressed young man was seen flourishing his hat on one of the tawers of Notre Dame. He threw it down, and then jumped after it. He was picked up quite dead, and so mutilated in the face that it was thought useless to expose the body in the Morgue. From a passport found on him, it appeared that his name was Emile Jean Christian Hubert, born in London. The assumption, however, from these names is that he is not an Englishman. He had a gold chain and diamond ring, a watch, and nearly forty pounds in English and French gold and notes. Nothing is known of him at the British Embassy. He is believed to be a commercial traveller, and the rumour is that his despised love of an English girl drove him to suicide.  EDGERLEY AND THE RUNCORN Gu s At the fortnightly meeting of the Runcorn 80-a• rd of Guardians, _held on Thursday la.st, a letter was read from Mr. Edgerley, in which he stated that he had been misunderstood with respect to his declining to receive from the Board anything but a Pension. He was willing to receive a grant from the Board as representing the Union, but declined accepting a private subscription from the members of the Board. He was not alone in his opinion that he had been hardly treated, after his 36 years' service, during which time he had only been three nights unable to do his work, and that owing to being stricken down by smallpox caught whilst visiting a pauper who was Suffering from that disease. After some discussion on the motion of Mr. Handley, seconded by the Rev. J. W. N. Tanner, it was resolved that the Clerk write to the Local Government Board asking them whether they would be willing to give Mr. Edgerly a gratuity for one year. TRH Naw BUILDING SOCIETIES AcT.—The Act passed in the late session to consolidate and amend the Laws relating to Building Societies in the United Kingdom contains some important provisions as to the liability of members, and will come into operation on the 2nd November, when the statute of the 6 and 7 Wm. IV. c. 32, on Benefit Building Societies, will be repealed. There are 44 sections to the new law, with a schedule of forms to be used. The registrars of friendly societies in England, Ireland, and Scotland are to be registrars of building societies. There are various provisions as to the tables to be made and the objects of the society, the most important of which relate to the liability of members. The 14th section states that the liability of a member in respect of a share upon which no advance has been made shall be limited to the amount actually paid or in arrear on such share; and in respect of a share on which an advance has been made, to be limited to the amount payable thereon under any mortgage or other security, or under the rules of a society.