npedrazzini/19thc_murder_suicide_news huggingface dataset:
The Sun. — 1837-10-30 (London, England)

EXTRAORDINARY EXPEDIENT OF  AN IMPOSTOR.  Of all the e;iedients ever resorted to for the purpose of extracting money front the pockets of the charitable, by imposing on them through fictitious cases of distress, those adopted by a fellow, a few years since, were incomparably the most extraordinary. Wllit be be:;eved that this regue, who was an excellent swimmer, was in the habit of pretending attempts at suicide, by throwing himself into the Thames. with a view to work upon the feelings of whoever chanced to see him after being taken out of the water ? Ile always contrived to select a part of the river near which there were a number of bye-slanders, while another person, who was a party to the affair, took care to give the alarm, and call aloud for some boat in the vicinity. Whenever the fellow pretending to have attempted suicide was brought out of the water, the other affecting to have been passing accidentally at the time, addressed the spectators, and said that the unfortunate man had been induced to make the rash attempt through the greatest distress, and that this was the fourth or fifth time he had sought to put an end to his life, and that within a very short period. Every spectator who had a heart within him, believing, as all always did, the got-up tale, put his hand into his pocket, and gave something to the " poor unhappy man." The collections thus made often amounted to two or three pounds. This daring expedient, however, was only convenient in the summer season ; winter was much too cold to do the thing comfortably. It will be asked, in what way, then, did this consummate rogue manage to live in winter? Why, by affecting to commit suicide by hanging himself in some public place in the evenings ! used to fasten a rope to sonic lamp-post or other projection' at the corner of a partially frequented lane or street, and then encircling his neck with another part of the rope, he would scale the lamp-post, or other projection, as if about to throw himself down again and thereby hang himself ; but always at this critical moment his partner in imposture made his appearance, and, cutting the rope, prevented the rogue from carrying his pretended purpose into effect. Of course an assemblage of people presently gathered around ; the same story of distress was vamped up ; the deepest sympathy was expressed for the " unhappy man ; " and the shillings and sixpences were forthcoming from every pocket, accompanied by the warmest commendation of the humanity of the other rogue. But the leading performer in this drama of imposition on the benevolent public, was eventually constrained to. relinquish his part. The catastrophe was one evening very nearly realised in all its horrors. In ascending a lamp-post, after the rope had been fairly round his neck, he slipped his foot and fell, and would actually have been hanged but for the opportune appearance of. his friend, who cut him down. From that moment he ever afterwards had such a horror of a rope that the very sight of one made him turn pale.—From Skcichcs in London.
The Sun. — 1837-05-20 (London, England)

TIIE COURT I‘IOURNING.—There has been an uncertainty prevailing, for a few days, as to whether persons were expected to dress in black for public places, and parties not at Court; we can inform our readers that at all fashionable parties the ladies have appeared in black velvets or satins, and at the opera, on Tuesday night, there was not a coloured dress in the boxes.  Yesterday morning, between six and seven o'clock, the body of a man, apparently about 45 years of age, and having bad three fingers of the left hand amputated, was found floating in the river Thames, opposite to Pickle •Herring Stairs. A lamentable and awful occurrence has recently taken place in Barnstaple. A man named Thomas Kelly, by trade a mason, who resided at Newport, was apprehended on Friday week under suspicion of forging two checks on the West of England and South Wales District Bank. It appears that, in the afternoon of the above day, he went to the shop of Mr. Alexander, a watchmaker, in High-street, to purchase a watch, in Payment of which he tendered a check of 161. Bs., drawn in favour of Richard Gilbert and signed Francis Squire. Mr. Alexander suspecting that all was not right, went immediately to the Bank, leaving Kelly in the shop, for the purpose of getting the check cashed. On his way thither he met Mr. not no, the manager, who discovered it to be a forgery. Kelly was in consequence apprehended, and identified as the person who had succeeded in passing a forged check for 14/. Ss. at the shop of Mr. Kennard, linendraper, on the 17th of April last, when he purchased some cloth, and received about 122. in cash. The deposition of Mr. Ken ward was taken before a magistrate, and Kelly was remanded to prison till the following day. In the course of the night, however, he put an end to his existence by hanging himself, being discovered by the turnkey, on going his round in the morning, suspended, quite dead, in his cell; a handkerchief was round his neck, which had been affixed to the grating. A Coroner's Inquest was held on the body, and the Jury returned a verdict of Felo-de-se. The body was interred in a rough shell at 12 o'clock the same night, in the churchyard, without any prayers being read over it, amidst a moat revolting scene front nurnero4s half-drunken bytanders.--. Western Luminary.
The Sun. — 1832-10-06 (London, England)

MAR YLEB ONE.  SEDUCTION AND ATTEMPTED SUICIDE.—Yest erday Elizq Carter, a girl about 18 years of age, was brought before Mr. RAWLINSON, the Sitting Magistrate, charged with attempting to put a period to her existence.  Police•constable, William Powell, No. 59, of the D division, stated, that at half-past 11 o'clock on Thursday night, as he was on duty in the Regent's Park, near the bridge leading to the inner circle, he heard a splash, and on hastening to the bridge, he saw a woman's bonnet lying on the road, and heard a noise proceeding from the water, like that of a person struggling in the agonies of death. He afterwards perceived a rope, one end of which was fastened to the railing of the bridge, and the other suspended in the water, and a women's head above the surface. At that moment a gentleman, who resides in Cornwall-terrace, came up to his assistance, and finding that the rope was attached round the waist of the prisoner, they managed to drag her ashore before life had become extinct. She remained for a considerable time in a state of insensibility, and when she was being conveyed to the Station-house in Marylebone-lane-, she exclaimed several times " Oh, Lord !" Witness asked her, whets she recovered, how she came to commit the rash act, and the only answer she made him was " because I was in trouble." On searching her at the Stationhouse, he found on her a bottle containing nearly a pint of laudanum, which she said she intended to have taken, provided the water had been too shallow to drown her. She was afterwards conveyed to the Marylebone workhouse, and placed under the care of a nurse. Witness added, that the gentleman who hail assisted him in getting her out of the water, had desired him to give the prisoner 55., which he accordingly did before she was removed from the Justice-room. Mr. Henry Thompson Green, surgeon, 39, Essex-street, Strand, stated, that the prisoner had been about three mouths in his employ as a servant. There was a foreigner lodged in the house, whom witness suspected had seduced her, and he took her to task on the seeming intimacy which subsisted between them, when she informed him that she was labouring under severe illness. On the night on which she attempted to commit the fatal act, she asked leave to go to the house of a Mrs. Robinson, m Citiey-street,.but not returning, he sent to inquire for her, and not finding her there, he gave orders to the other servant not to admit her into the house again if she should return. Witness, however, heard no more of her till that morning, when he was told she was in custody. Mr. RAWLINSON here asked the witness what had become of the foreigner?—.Mr. Green said, that lie Thad decamped from his lodgings to avoid being arrested, awl t,ii;ce that time the girl had fallen into a deep melancholy. Witness here Fodueed the following lines, which the prisoner left behind her, addressed to her mother : s, My body will he found its th,: Serpentine River, when all my troubles will sink to rise no more. "
The Sun. — 1832-05-07 (London, England)

ATTEMPT TO VIOLATE A YOUNG GIRL•  SUICIDE OF HER FATHER.  On Saturday an inquest was held at the King's Arms, Little St. James's-street, St. James's, touching the death of William Bowleg, aged 63, coachman in the service of W. S. Pointz, Esq., M.P., of the Albany. Mr. Thomas Smith, of No. 16, North-mews, Mapleton-place, Burton-crescent, stated that the deceased, who was his brother-in-law, drove to his door in a hackney-coach about eight o'clock on the preceding morning ; he was accompanied by his daughter, a very interesting girl, who lived as upper housemaid in the Marquis of Exeter's mansion, Burleigh House, near Stamford. On getting out of the coach, the poor old man stared wildly, and appeared as if labouring under the most heart-breaking anguish. On inquiring into the cause of his uneasiness, the deceased, with tears in his eyes, told him that the butler in the service of the Marquess had been taking the most rude and improper liberties with his daughter, having tried every means which a villain could suggest to seduce her. He then added, with great emphois, that if he knew where to find the villain who had attempted his daughter's honour he would blow his brains out with a pistol. Witness reasoned with him, and he became a little more composed, and shortly afterwards he left witness's house, leaving behind his daughter, whom he placed under his care, with strict injunctions to look well after her, as she was the darling of his heart and comfort of his age. On the following day he was greatly shocked on hearing that his unfortunate relative had hung himself in a loft over his nutzter'S  ',tables, in Little St. James's-street, and when found he was quite dead and cold.  - . In answer to questions from the Coroner and Jury, the witness said that the Noble Marquess had investigated the conduct of the butler, and feeling satisfied that he had behaved in the most brutal and improper manner towards the young woman in question, had dismised him from his service. Several witnessed stated that the deceased bore the most exemplary character, having been in Mr. Pointz's service for the last thirty-six years. The Jury thought the Noble Marquess had acted most properly in dismissing such a man from his service, although the punishment was far too light for such delinquency. A verdict of Temporary Insanity was then recorded.
The Sun. — 1832-08-01 (London, England)

STAFFORD, JULY 31. George Bailey, an ill-looking man, was indicted for the wilful murder of Elizabeth Martin, It appeared by the evidence that Elizabeth Martin was a poor woman who earned a livelihood by selling matches. She was the widow of a travelling musician, and was also in the habit of picking up money by the exercise of her talents in singing. On the night of the murder she had been amusing a large party at a public-house called the Dog and Partridge, at a distance of 30 miles from Newcastleunder-Lyne. The prisoner and several of the witnesses were of the company, and they remained until past twelve o'clock. When they left the public-house the deceased was not tipsy, although she had taken some liquor. She was the last person who left the house, and did not do so until she was assured by the landlord that there were no persons on the road, and that she could do so with safety. After she had proceeded a short distance towards Newcastle-under-Lyrae (her home) the prisoner came up to her, and they procee led on together. They were observed by several other witnesses (persons who had been with them at the Dog and Partridge) to be quarrelling together, and on one occasion the deceased fell on a bank by the road-side, and the prisoner fell upon her, apparently on purpose, the dispute seeming to be about the deceased's money, of which she declared she had none. A witness named Padmore, (who evinced a degree of stupidity almost amounting to idiotcy) stated that he saw the prisoner push the deceased down upon the bank with violence, and that his conduct to her was altogether very harsh. The prisoner forced her to aceompany him on a road which he stated was the road to Newcastle, but which she protested was not ; and when she at last complied, the witness (Padmore) lost sight of them. Subsequently, at about a quarter to one o'clock, the watchman of a large factory on this last-mentioned road heard a cry of molder thrice repeated, and afterwards groans were heard ; but as they were fearful that it was only a stratagem of a gang of thieves, of whom they were afraid, they did nut proceed to the succour of the party, but shut themselves up close. On the morning after the murder the body of Elizabeth Martin was found in a pond a few yards from this factory, in the directio❑ of which this cry was heard. 'The body, when found, exhibited marks of violence on the bonnet, la hich was nearly torn to pieces, and the hand of the deceased was in her pocket, as though to save her money. Mr. Baron GURNEY having summed up the evidence, the Jury found the prisoner Guilty. The JUDGE then sentenced him to be hung on Thursday morning next. The prisoner heard his sentence without any visible appearances of emotion.  _ William Kennersley, the unhappy nun who was charged at the Coroner's inquest with the murder of his wife, and was brought into the gaol on Friday night last, was to have been tried for the offence this morning, but it was discovered that, after being let out of his cell, and taking his breakfast early in the morning, the miserable man had committed suicide by hanging himself.
The Sun. — 1832-11-03 (London, England)

SUICIDE..—(THIS DA .)—This morning, between six and seven o'clock, the family of Mrs. GLASCCW, a widow Irdy, residing in Norton-street, Fitzroy-square, were plunged into the most poignant grief, by the eldest daughter, a young lady of great accomplishments, between nineteen and twenty years of age, having swallowed a quantity of poison, with the intent of committing selfdestruction. It Providentially occurred, that this morning, being Saturday, the servant maid had occasion to get up sooner than usual, to perform her domestic occupation'. On entering the kitchen, with the intention or lighting the fire, she discovered ber young mistress, lying on the floor, apparently in a fit, emitting a quantity of saliva. She immediately ran up stairs, and acquainted her mistress and the family of the circumstance. On Mrs. G. entering the kitchen, she discovered a phial lying by her side, with a label on it, " Laudanum—Poieon," the contents of which the unfortunate young lady had taken. Mr. Vaasa the medical attendant to the family, was instantly sent for, and succeeded, by the aid oi the stomach-pump, in ejecting the deadly poison from off her stomach. On searching her pockets, some letters were found, which led to the csuse of the commission of the rash act. The unfortunate young creature had been, betrayed by a young gentleman, who abandoned her, and has since left the country for India. Another phial full of laudanum was found in her pocket. She was enabled to speak, but regrets that her life is likely to be spared.  % AircouriT GracuLtik -\ s  The QUEEN paid a visit to the Hulce, Duchess, ar:d Prince GEORGE, of Cumberland, on Wednesday, at their residence at Kew. Her MAJESTY partook of a dejeune with their Royal Highnesses, and left Kew soon after four o'clock, on her return to the Palace at Windsor.  Prince TALLEYRAND received despatches yesterday morning from his Government; his Excellency went in the afternoon and had an interview with Viscount
The Sun. — 1832-01-18 (London, England)

MELANCHOLY SUICIDE.-Last night an inquest was held at the King's Arms, King-street, Camdentown, on the body of Mr. JAMES BROWN, aged 25, late of Queen-street, Camden-town The deceased was a young man of great talents and respectability, and was a clerk in the house of Messrs. COTTAM and ALLEN, of O:ford-street; he was possessed of a great knowledge of anatomy and medicine. On Saturday morning he was found dead in his bed-room, and on examination it appeared he had taken a quantity of Prussic acid. He was veryintimate with Professor DEWHIJAST, surgeon, of 8, Gowerstreet, Bedford-square. For the last five weeks he had complained to his friends of a violent singing and noise in his ears; remedies were applied, but had no effect. He at times behaved strangely, which he afterwards said was occasioned by the state of mind to which the noise in his ears drove him. A few days before his death the Pro, fessor gave him an ounce of Prussic acid, for the purpose of destroying cats. He had then no suspicion of his intellects being deranged, but on considering his conduct for a week before his death, he was convinced he had not b en in his right senses. He was a young man much respected, and his accounts were perfectly right.—Verdict, Mental Derangement.  The Gazette des Tribunaux contains the following singular history :—" Madame DASSY had lived for some time on bad terms with her husband, when the revolution of July broke out. On the 4th of August she presented hsrslf in tears before a Commissary of Police, and made a formal declaration that M. DASSY had left his home on the 27th July, and had been killed at the attack of the Louvre. With a certificate of this fact, she presented herself at the office of the Constitutionnel, and obtained a sum of 50 francs. Soon afterwards, the Committee of National Rewards being established, she obtained as a widow a provisional grant of 250 francs. But when the Commission came to decide upon her application, on behalf of herself and daughter, for the pensions allowed to the widows and orphans of the victims of July, her case was more a t ntivtly examined ; and suspicions were conceived, which were soon confirmed by a report from the Police that the pretended dead husband was still living in good health, and exercising his trade of shoemaker at Petit Montrouge, where he had resided since the 23d of July, 1830. A prosecution for fraud was instituted against Madame DASSY, who appeared before the 6th Caan bT, accompanied by her little girl. Both cried bitterly, wid the mother, for her justification, pleaded tier fl rm belief in what she had stated. I knew my Inisbauil s patriotism,' she said, ' and as he used to heat we very often, I thought he had been fighting against the Swiss ,t.ul havingotal asl am nut hot: however, lucky enough to be acquitted."Xa Ist uhi since, e e. soldierssht he thought ga shCf. thwomKwyles. Eye
The Sun. — 1832-01-18 (London, England)

BRISTOL, JAN. 17.  TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.  SIR, —A circumstance occurred in the Guildhall of this city on Saturday last, which, as illustrative of the benefits the citizens derive from the system of local government under which they live, demands especial notice. A prisoner was on his trial for manslaughter,—the chain of evidence wanted a link, there was no evidence to prove his identity. Messengers were sent hither and thither, but in vai❑ ; and after some delay the 'flan, as a matter of necessity, was acquitted ! The occurrence, however, led the Learned Judge (Taunton) to enquire what attorney was employed for the prosecution, and being told by the Coroner that no one was employed, as there were no funds in Bristol to meet the charges of such prosecutions, His Lordship declared that " it was no wonder crime so extensively prevailed in Bristol—it was not to be expected that private persons should bear expenses that ought to be borne by the public, and, if he rightly understood, a felon in Bristol had an equal chance of prosecution or not, as it might happen !" Now, Sir, it is a notorious fact, that the Corporation of Bristol are in receipt of very large revenues ; and it is also a notorious fact that they never publish any account of the manner in which their revenues are disposed of ! I will not weaken the force of these facts by any comment. The Aldermen of this city are twelve in number, they are self-appointed, and, with one exception, they are nonresidents! The Town-clerk is so very rarely where he ought to be always, that a facetious attorney aptly calls him the out-of-town clerk ! Sir, the day is coining when (if it does not previously commit an act of official suicide,) this body will have to plead at the bar of Parliament. Let the system be proved to be vicious, and its effects deadly, and we need not, under the present auspicious circumstances, entertain any fear that the claims of justice Gill not be fully recognised and amply satisfied. Q. B.  Instructions have been given at the Commons to prepare a Bill for the improvement of the tnunicipal government, the police, &c., of Bristol. It is doubtful whether the efforts to mend the present blessed corporate influence in Bristol may not create a difficulty equal to that expressed by the countryman who overheard POPE exclaiming " Gon mend me ;" the countrymen replied, that " it would be easier to make two perfect than to mend one that was so deformed."—Morning Herald.