npedrazzini/19thc_murder_suicide_news huggingface dataset:
The Blackpool Herald. — 1879-07-11 (Blackpool, Lancashire, England)

REPORTED SUICIDE OF CETEWAYO.  The court martial on Lieutenant Carey has been in progress since the last mail, but no result has been made known. Evidence discloses serious looseness in the orders under which the reconnoitring party was despatched, and opinions gain round that the Prince incurred his death through his own headstrong action. There has been no fighting beyond patrol skirmishes since the last despatches, partly because, Spending negotiations, an armistice practically although not formally, eriste. The rumour is revived that Cetewayo has disappeared or committed suicide, but this is not officially believed.  News from Lord Chelmsford's head-quarters to the 18th of Jane states that our troops are still advancing towards Ulundi Zulu prisoners state that the people have all been ordered to the King's kraal, and the Zulu army is assembled there; that Cetewayo is gone to lacinipaei Kraal, whence he will issue instructions to the army and send them to oppose our troops. It is said they will allow our troops to advance near to Ulundi and then attack. hostilities will probably °commence in a few days.  The proceedings of the court-martial on Lieuten ant Carey are to be transmitted to the AdjutantGeneral of the Forces for ehibmission to the Queen, and Lieutenant Carey, under arrest, is ordered to England at the first opportunity. Lieutenant Carey read his defence to the court, and arged that he thought the Prince Imperial was escaping with the rest. When he found oat his mistake, he was told the Prince was already killed, and with four men and only three carbines it was impossible, in face of the number of Zulus, to return.  Lieutenant Carey's indictment reads, "for haying misbehaved before the enemy on the Ist of June when in command of an escort in attendance on the Prince Imperial, who was making a reconnoissance in Zululand; in having, when the said Prince and escort were attacked by the enemy, galloped away; and in not having attempted to rally the said escort or in other ways defend the said Prince." Colonel Harrison, replying to questions in court, says that in the matter of escort he was not ordered to treat the Prince as a royal personage, but as an ordinaay fficer, using, however, due precaution.  The news about Sir Garnet Wolseley's appointment has exercised a wholesome influence, and the result of the consultation yesterday is that Generals Wood and Newdigate march direct toward the King's kraal at Ulundi. It is now distant es the crow flies about thirty-five miles, and allowing for necessary detours about 50 miles, it is possible to cover the distance easily in ten days. Three weeks therefore should suffice to desolate the region round about Ulundi and conclude the serious offensive operations of this campaign. It is a ridiculous fabrication that Prince Napoleon when killed wore the sword of the first Napoleon.
The Blackpool Herald. — 1879-01-17 (Blackpool, Lancashire, England)

THE RECENT SUICIDE CASE AT FLEETWOOD.  In an old play that we remember, the low-comedy character, one Valentine Verdict, is constantly aspiring to be a juryman, and to him the pedestal of fame is a jury box in his native country. The duties now are rather irksome, and very few people are found with tendencies in the direction of "Mr. Verdict.* Besides, whatever may be said of the great bulk of juries, there are some who bring the office into discredit, and it is not always pleasant to reflect upon this fact when discharging its functions. A Fleetwood panel has just added its name to the un-illustrious roll of unreasoning juries. An unfortunate sergeant of the 31st Regiment helped himself to a quantity of cyanide of potassium, which contains prussic acid, ands° terminated his existence Twelve good men and true were convened for the purpose of "saying how and by what means" the sergeant came to his death, and, after diligent inquiry, returned a verdict of felo de se, which means that the deceased was in full possession of all his faculties when he committed the rash act. It means, furthermore, that the body had to be buried at night without the usual funeral rites. If the wiseacres, in arriving at their repulsive verdict, thought they were inflicting a well-merited punishment upon the departed, they could not have refleoted profoundly on the subject, for it was beyond the power of the dead to affect any preference for decent sepulture in consecrated ground to an unceremonious huddling into a hole at midnight, sans the customary burial service. To the living, however, it was a question of painful interest, and what had they done that they should have to suffer for the acts of him who had "hi. own quietus made" without their approbation or knowledge. To us it has always seemed that the mere act of self-destruction augurs a "mind diseased," and to bring in a verdict of felo de se in order that the deceased may be interred like a dog appears to us something more than a foolish proceeding. We are always wishing that these customs of a barbarous age may be done away with, but as yet our wishes have not been fulfilled. There is no more reason in burying a body at midnight without the usual rites than. there was when, as Tom Hood writes of Ben Battle,
The Blackpool Herald. — 1879-01-03 (Blackpool, Lancashire, England)

MANCHESTER.  LOCAL GOSSIP.  Hares generally go mad in March,—not December. The hare which drowned itself the other day at South Shore, probably oommitted !suicide on account of the Improvement Bill. Hares don't like to leave their native heath,or their native moss, and now that Marton is no longer to be considered country, but to be dubbed part of a town, poor puss decided to commit suicide rather than emigrate to pastures new.  One of the last things done in the House of Commons before adjourning for the Christmas recess was the presentation of a petition from Southport praying that it may have conferred on it the privilege of sending a member to Parliament. It is likely, however, that Southport will have to petition a long while before being successful. There are "centres of industry" with better claims for direct representation than Southport.  Bispham seems always to be able to secure a good choir when one is wanted at that model village. The choir at the Temperance Festival on Wednesday eveuing last were enthusiasts in their art. They Were encored again and again, and not contented with the: long and exceedingly select programme, they treated their fellow voyageurs back to Blackpool with some choice "selections" as Councillor Wilkinson's .three-horse brake rolled them gaily over the intervening three miles. The ride home in such pleasant company was in itself worth the journey out to Bispham.  The gentleman who moved a left-handed vote of thanks to "the speakers" at a village tea-party not far from the Metropolis of the Fylde the other evening, had a rather mixed-up notion of what he was doing. Instead of thanking two of the best speakers Blackpool can boast, the individual alluded to moved what was in real fact a "vote of censure," on the ground that the " addresses " were more humorous than edifying. But surely there is a time to pull a long face and a time to poke fun, and if there is one time of the year more than another when the muscles of the human face divine may with advantage be relaxed that time is "merry Christmas."
The Blackpool Herald. — 1883-08-17 (Blackpool, Lancashire, England)

ATTIMPTED SUICIDI AT FLESTWOOD.—At the Fleetwood Pollee Court, on Tuesday ll:afore blears. K Dunderdale is A. Camel, fraarkir Hannuma, • powerfully-built labourer, was charged with having on the previous day, attempted be some mit suicide by disowning. John liodgkiassa, mason, slated that at about half-past one *Wadi oa the psevious clay, he saw prisoner lying as leo sand seas the edge of the water opposite lie Mount. Witness went to him, and found that he had kki shoes off and was drunk. He assisted bits to pat his shoes on and took him some dateline from the water. Prisoner then rushed into the the water and went ankle deep, remarking, " I have nothing in this world to live for." Witness caught hold of him, and pulled him out of the water, taking hint away. He, however, rushed back mail into the water, going knee deep, and exclaiming, "I have nothing in this world to live for." Witness again got him out, but once more he entered the water, going waist deep, when he was brought out by a labourer named Thomaa Eaves.—Prisoner said he vies beastly drunk, and had lost his senses. He had been drinking rum all day, and he fancied somebody must have 'dosed him."—Thomas Eaves said he saw the prisoner in the water, and seeing that he was atupified with drink, witness got him out, took him to a cabin along the shore, and sast for a policeman.—P.C. Forbes said prisoner wee drunk and in an excited state, his clothes were "wringing wet" and he was drunk. He was locked up, and at half-past ten the seine night, witness charged him with attempting to commit suicide, 0 which he replied, Is that all? I have been drinking rum all day, and didn't know what I was doing." —Prisoner said he was very sorry for it ; it was not very often that he did take drink.—The Chairman: —What is this man ?—P.S. Wilson—Said he was a sailor, but for a short time had been working in Fleetwood at the "coal shoot,"—The Chairman: We don't believe that you wanted to destroy your life. —(Prisoner: Far from it, sir),—but was mad drunk. If you will take our advice you will let the drink alone.—Prisoner: I will never touch it again as long as I have breath in me.—Fined 58. 6d. and costs.
The Blackpool Herald. — 1883-05-11 (Blackpool, Lancashire, England)

ATTEMPTED SUICIDE AT BLACKPOOL—One of the most persistent attempts to commit suicide that has occurred in Blackpool was made on Friday afternoon. A respectably dressed man was noticed, at about three o'clock, to lie down in some water close to the North Pier. The tide at the time being "out," there was only about a foot of water in the , channel selected by the would-be suicide ; nevertheless as he was lying with his head submerged some men who were employed in making alterations I to the North Pier ran to his rescue, and with difficulty raised him from his somewhat perilous position. He then walked away towards the "hulking," where he discovered a small stream of water, and into this he dived head first, pressing his head into the soft sand. Again some spectators of his eccentricity- rnshe I up to him, and, after a struggle, put him on his feet again. It was then discovered that the man had tilled his ears, nostrils, and mouth wi.lt sand, which was removed with difficulty. After the lapse of a few minutes the would-be suicide, whose name has not transpired, walked towards the Promenade, which he reached, being accompanied by a couple of companions, but notwithstanding that they "kept an eye on him," he made a most deter mined attempt to leap from the promenade on to the beach, but, fortunately, he was for the third time foiled in his attempt at selfdestruction. He was ultimately removed by some friends from the scene of his triple escapade, it may be reason ably inferred a wiser, if not 3 sadder man, and unmistakably a more sober man than when indulging in the above eccentricities, for he was undoubtedly suffering from a heavy drinking bout, and for the time being was unaccountable for his actions.  If you wish to purchase any article of Gold or Silver Jewellery, you will find a good assortment at PAYNE'S, Market-street, Blackpool.
The Blackpool Herald. — 1880-05-14 (Blackpool, Lancashire, England)

SHOCKING SUICIDE AT MANCHESTER.  On Saturday evening, between six and seven o'clock, a shocking event happened in Cheetham Hill village, close to the top of A young gentleman, Captain Henry Gill, had been paying his addresses to a young lady, the daughter of a well-known Manchester merchant, residing in Halliwell Lane. Captain Gill's attentions were not approved of by her father, and the young lady acc..rdingly broke offj the connection. On Saturday evening, whilst she and her sister were pass;ng through the village in broad day-light they were met by Captain Gill, who spoke to the young lady. She made no reply to him, and was passing without taking any notice of his salutation, whea he took a pistol out of his packet, placed it to his ear, and shot himself, scatteringhis brains upon the footpath. The pistol either fell from his hand or was thrown away by him, and he fell to the ground. The ladies screamed and ran away, and for some time there was great excitement in the neighbourhood. The injured man was picked up by the terrified bystanders, breathing, but very badly hurt. He was at once placed in a cab and conveyed to the Royal Infirmary, where he died about half-past eight o'clock ou Sunday morning, nsver having spoken since admission. Mr. Gill was a captain in the mercantile marine, and was possessed of private means. In his pocket were found two bullets fitting the pistol, a single-barrelled one, and quite new, with which he shot himself. It is supposed that he was aware that the young lady, whose rejection of him was said to have preyed heavily upon him for some days past, would not speak to him when next they met, acting in accordance with the wishes of her family, and that he had resolved, in case this should be so, to commit suicide in her presence.  DEFEAT OF THE HOME SECRETARY AT _ _
The Blackpool Herald. — 1880-11-26 (Blackpool, Lancashire, England)

SCENE ON THE SCAFFOLD.  At eight o'clock on Monday morning William Joseph Distin was executed at Bristol for the murder of a woman named Daniels, in the presence of the governer of the gaol and two inspectors, the prison warders and visitors, and two reporters. Marwood was the executioner, and used the long drop, the pit being 10ft, deep, and the scaffold Bft. high. The fortitude which the prisoner exhibited during his trial and up to within a few days of his execution had latterly utterly forsaken him, and he had adopted a penitent mood. He slept very little during Sunday night, and when he was roused on Monday morning he burst into a paroxysm of grief, which it required the use of stimulants to overcome. He continued groaning during the whole time the pinioning was being done. He had to be supported between two warders from the cell to the scaffold, and arrived there he was scarcely able to stand, and almost at the last moment he had to receive something to drink. Then, heaving a deep sigh, he muttered, "Lord have mercy upon me," and while the chaplain was reading the Lord's Prayer, Marwood speedily completed his task. The crime for which Distin was executed was committed in August last. The culprit and Mrs Daniels, a widow, with whom he cohabited, had frequently qusrrelled, and on the 27th August he stabbed her fatally. An attempt was made to obtain a reprieve on the ground that he had repeatedly endeavoured to commit suicide, and was, therefore, presumably of unsound mind when he stabbed his victim, but the medical gentleman sent down by the Home Office could find nothing in the condition or past history of Distin upon which to recommend the reprieve. The Home Secretary had therefore to refuse the prayer of the memorialists.
The Blackpool Herald. — 1880-07-23 (Blackpool, Lancashire, England)

FOOLISH FREAKS. —On Sunday, a militiaman from the camp at St. Anne's whilst under the influence of liquor, attempted to walk along the rail, ing which protects the promenade deck of the South Pier at Blackpool. Of course the foolish fellow tumbled headlong into the sea. He was quickly rescued from his dangerous position. The ducking quite sobered him.—On Friday evening a man, while under the influence of liquor, rushed into the sea opposite the Palatine Hotel, Blackpool. with the intention, it was thought, of committing suicide. Two "chums" of the man rescued him, after a severe struggle in the water, all with their clothes on. He was afterwards apprehended by the police, and for attempting suicide was sent by the magistrates, next day, to the House of Correction for a week, from whence, no doubt, he will issue a sadder, if not a wiser man.  SWIMMING Tal our end moderate swimmers improved, at READ'S BATES, North Shore, Professional Teacher in attendance daily !from 6 a.m. Six lessons, les. Od. PIRIHITIVE MITI:10DM SUNDAY SCHOOL ANNlvzHasay.—On Sunday two sermons were preached in the Primitive Methodist Chapel, Chapel•street, morning and evening, by the Rev. W. Manahan, the newly•appointed minister. The congregations were good. In the afternoon, Mr. Gardner, of Preston, gave an address to teachers, scholars, and parents. Mr. Mallalieu's• genial disposition and strongly marked mental peculiarities having won for him a name in the denomination.   Moowas held a numerous attendance, who with great interest to the address made by t.. .ev. W. Graham. The Rev. H. W. Smith also made a few remarks. The meeting on Monday evening next is to be held in Kempe-street. LOCAL RAINFALL -Mr. G. Sharpies, of South Shore, has calculated that the rainfall in South Shore during the year 1879 was 31-60 inches-13.80 inches in first half-year and 17-80 in the second. Tn Fuarrwooo Prrmorr.—A letter has been received from Colonel Stanley, by the secretary, Mr. Greenwood, acknowledging the receipt of the petition in favour of Mr. Briggs' notion, and that the same was duly presented. ABOUT 100 persons left Fleetwood on Tuesday for Blackpool to hear the concert at the Winter Gardens.
The Blackpool Herald. — 1880-01-09 (Blackpool, Lancashire, England)

SUICIDE OF A SERGEANT AT FLEETWOOD. THE INQUEST.  On Monday evening a very distressing suicide was committad at the Easton Barracks, by a man named Samuel Henry Loop, paymaster sergeant, and treasurer to the sergeants' mess. As will be found in evidence below deceased left his bedroom to go to his sitting-room, the door of which he locked and then committed suicide by hanging himself. He leaves a widow and four children. The following evidence was adduced at the inquest which was held at the Police Station, yesterday (Thursday) afternoon, before Mr. Gilbertson, district coroner.  Mrs. Mary Marta Loop said--The body the jury have seen is the body of my husband, Samuel Henry Loon, now lying at the Euston Barracks. He was pay-master sergeant in the 36th Regiment. I last saw him alive on Monday night at about 11 p.m. in our bedroom. He left the room, and I asked him where he was going, to which he replied I am going into the sitting room. I heard him go into the other room, which is a sitting room across the passage. He came back and 1 asked him what he was going to do then. He said "You never mind, lam all right." He then went into the other room and locked the door. I got up about a quarter past seven the following morning and found the door fast. I called Sergeant Milne and he tried to foroe the door open, but he was unable to do so. He afterwards got through the window and found my husband dead. Deceased w:ui in the habit of spending the night in the sitting room when he had had anything to drink. He had bad something to drink that night. He has never made any attempt on his life before. All that 1 have ever heard him say that bothered him was that he WAS £3 deficient as treasurer to the mess. For the last three months he has been very nervous. He has been dunking rather heavily lately, having been tipsey two or three times a week. I fetched him from the caterer's room at a quarter to eleven. I didn't notice anything different with him. I had no suspicion when I heard him lock the do3r. I have since heard that he was £24 deficient in his mounts.  Sergeant William Milne, (armourer sergeant, 36th regiment,'said I know the deceased. I last saw him alive at the mess meeting about half-past rix on Monday,pvening, the meeting being held in the Sergeant's Mess. Deceased showed his books and
The Blackpool Herald. — 1880-01-09 (Blackpool, Lancashire, England)

SUICIDE OF THE WIFE OF THE RECTOR OF LYTHAM. On Thursday evening last week the body of Mrs. Hawkins, wife of the Rev. Henry B. Hawkins, Rector of Lytham, and a daughter of Mr. G. C. Dewhurst, of Beechwood, Lymm, near Warrington, was found in Lymm dam. The inquest on the body of the unfortunate lady, who was on a visit to Beechwood for the benefit of her health, was held in the billiard room at Beechwood last Friday evening. The first witness called was The Rev. Henry Beauchamp Hawkins, wko gave evidence has follows:—I live at the Vicarage, Lytham, and am a clerk in holy orders, The body the jury have seen is that of my wife, Lydia Constance Hawkins, who was 28 years of age. Her state of health for the last three or four months has been such has to cause me great anxiety. She had several medical advisers, and since -July last year she had been under the care of Dr. Mould, of Cheadle. In the beeinning of December last I and my wife wentr'to Penmaenmawr for a fortnight, and during that time she was suffering from depression. I afterwards took her to Beechwood, and since then I have frequently seen her; in fact, I have never been absent from her more than five days altogether. I was at Beechwood on Friday last, the 26th December, and remained there till the following Monday morning. During those few days I thought my wife was much better, as the depression I bad noticed to be passing away. I last saw her alive on Monday. The Foreman—l suppose her illness would be mental and bodily? Witnest—Certainly ; the mental being caused, I believe, by bodily illness. Mr. George William Mould—l live at the Royal Asylum, Cheadle, Manchester, and am a duly quail. fled medical practitioner. I knew the deceased. I  " Witness---I did not. The Foreman—During the time she was under your care, were the deluaiens temporary or continuous? Witsess—They were more or less continuous. During the time she was suffering from these delusions she was not responsible for her actions. Misa Mary Dewhurat—l live at Beechwood, and the decoased was my sister. I have seen a great deal of her during the-last two or three days. Yesterday she seemed somewhat depressed, but she drove out in the morning and walked in the afternoon. She returned to the house about twenty minutes to four, and appeared to be much the same as she had been all day. I did not see her alive again after she returned home. Sergeant Dutton, stationed at Lymm, said—Last evening, at 6-30, I received information that I was wanted at Beechwood. I went there, and in corm, quence of what was told me by Mr. Dewburst, I caused the dam to be searchel and inquiries made in the nstighbourhood. A few micutes past ten, in in the to dam, we succeeded in finding the body of the deceased, and took it to Beachwood. She was quite dead when got out of the water. Her footsteps were traced from the house to the water. , _  A Juryman—Can you form an idea as to how long she bad been in the water?  Witness—l cannot. The jury returned a verdict "that the deceased drowned herself whilst in a state of temporary insanity, produced by the debilitated state of her health.