npedrazzini/19thc_murder_suicide_news huggingface dataset:
The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle. — 1869-01-23 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

MURDER AND SUICIDE.  A murder and suicide have been committed in the village of Bulkington, situate about four miles from Nuneaton. The murderer is a weaver, named Thomas Charnel, who for many years past has lived with his wife and family in a small cottage in close proximity to the vicarage at Bulkington. He was not addicted to drinking, but is said to have been very much disliked hy the people of the village, owing to his bad temper and irritable dispfhition. He never associated with any one, and his manner at times was thought to be somewhat strange. On Saturday night Charnel and his wife were at home together. Between 7 and 8 o'clock, the latter undressed the children and took them upstairs to bed. On her coming down stairs aowin Charnel asked her if the children were in bed. She replied in the affirmative ; after which he seems to have got up, seized hold of her, and inflicted several severe gashes in her throat with a razor. Her cries were heard by the eldest child, a girl about 14 years of age, who got up, ran downstairs, and shouted " Murder !" Immediately afterwards, the brother of the murderer, who happened to be passing the house at the time, rail and opened the door. Lying upon the hearth, in a pool of blood, was Charnel's wife, and her husband was struggling with her upon the floor. As soon as Charnel observed his brother at the door, he deliberately cut his own throat with the razor, almost severing the head from the body. He died almost immediately, and in a few minutes afterwards the woman also ceased to breathe. There were evidences of a severe struggle having occurred, as two of her fingers were cut off, and she also had a frightful gash at the back of the head. Mr. Parsons, surgeon, was sent for, but medical aid was of no avail. The Charnels had five children. The inquest was held on Monday afternoon. A daughter of the deceased stated that her father had acted very strangely of late, and appeared to be greatly troubled in his mine. The medical evidence went to show that the deceased must have been labouring under some mental aberration at the time he committed the deed. The jury returned an open verdict  The inquest on the bodies of Charnel] and his wife was held on Monday, and the jury returned a verdict of "Wilful murder" against Charnel], but were of opinion that there was no evidence to show his state oi mind at the time the deed was committed.
The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle. — 1869-11-27 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

SUICIDE OF A TRADESMAN.  Au Inquest has been held at Chippeuham on the body of Mr. Alfred Sloper Banks, who far many years had carried on all extensive business as a caeinendaker and upholsterer. It appears that Mr. Banks, on Saturday morning, shortly before nine o'clock, reached his place of busineom, where he attended to several little matters in his office. In half an hour he left, stating that he was going to purchase some hay. He did not return home at the time he was expected, and the night passed without anything being heard of him. Search was made, and at half-past eleven &clock next morning Police-constable Brewer found his body on the bank of the River Avon, near the Caine Railway Viaduct. The face was upward, and the feet were in the river. His hat was on the grass about a yard distant, and it seemed to have been carefully placed there. His clothes were dry. Mr. Cooper, surgeon, examined the body, and found a wound under the fifth rib, caused by a bullet, which must have produced instantaneous death. The bed of the river was searched, and a six-barrelled reviver was discovered. One chamber was loaded, and another had been recently dischargei There is no douht the pistol was taken from deceased's promises, as he kept such weapons in stock. At 10 o'clock on Saturday morning the dezeased eallea at the hOune of his sister indaw, and gee+ her his check-book and a key, saying that he did not like to carry them about with him. Between 11 and 12 ocli ck a woman named Eliza Webb, working in a field at Cocklebury, saw a man answering the description of deceased walking rapidly toward& that part of the Avon over which the Caine line passes. Soon afterwards she heard a report of what she imagined was gun, hut she did not take further notice of it, as persons are frequently shooting on the backs of the river. The deceased had been ins low and restless state of mind lately, and had had much trouble through illness in his family. ' The jury, after a full investigation of the facts, found that "Deceased destroyed his own life by shooting himself with a revolver while ins state of temporary insanity."
The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle. — 1869-09-18 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

SINGULAR SUICIDE.  An inquest has been held at the Middlesex Hospital by Dr. Link,eter, on the holy of Anne Weston. aged thiay•six, whiew death resulted from wounds inflicted by herself upon her throat. A cousin of the deceased, named John Southg de, deposed that she was living so la ly's-maid at Epsom, anti had written to Min asking him to come on Sunday and gee her, and to take her away from her place. The letter was not received till Mond3y, and on going down to see her on Tuesday he found that in the meantime she had attempted to commit suicide. Ile had seen her since she bail been in the hospital, and on one occasion she wrote upon a slate the following : I have had presentunents for a long time that all our family were corning to something ltad, and some heavy trial was awaiting us I have been either very low, son not able to work or think of anything, and at other times my brain has been sonxeited that I lines sail anything that came into my head, whether true or false. I fear 6.1 has given me over to Satan, arid he has tempted me to do this rash set, which lam now very grieved alt, at I hope the Lord will pardon me, awl enable me to suffer anything on earth rather than let me die in my sin, and, although I cermet yet pray, I know Ile will do what is best in Ills sight. . . .  --- • The uncle of deceased, witness said, had committed suicide, and she had sometimes been strange in her manner. She complained also to him that her letters were stopped, but this, he thought, was a delusion on her part. Lydia Wright a c iok in the same house, deposed to the change that had come over deceased, who, she thought, was out of her senses at times. Mrs. Smith, the mistress, sent for two doctors immediately, and all that was pi ssible was done. No letters of deceased, who was very religious, hal ever been stopped. She W4S brought to the hospital under the advice of a medical gentleman connected with the iustitutisu. The evidence of the Louse surgeon and of the ward nurses having teen taken, the jury, after a short deliberation. returned a verdict of "temporary insanity."
The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle. — 1869-01-02 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

SHOCKING SUICIDE OF A LADY.  A shocking suicide was committed by a lady in Sheffield on Christmas Eve. The accouchement of Mrs. Davis, wife of Mr. Benjamin Davis, residing in Havelock-terrace, Broom-spring-lane, took place in September last, and sinee that time shehas been very desponding. The unfortunate lady entertained the idea that she had grievously offended the Holy Ghost, and that her salvation was imperilled. Frequently she retired to her room and prayed for forglvenews which had the elf cot of soothing and calming her mind. Her condi ion was the subject of solicitude among her friends; but until within the last fortnight danger was not apprehended, and her husband had reason to hope his wife would soon exhibit her accustomed cheerfulnew. About a fortnight ago, however, a piece of cord was found in her dress pocket, and when questioned as to the purpose to which she intended to appropriate it, Ate said she had procured it with the intention of hanging herself. Ulfon this Mr. Davis communicated with the family physician, but the result was that it was not deemed advisable to place any restraint upon the invalid. The nurse and servant were instructed by Mr. Davis to be unremitting in their attention, and above all things not to do anything calculated to foster tho feeling of melancholy which Mrs. Davis had manifested. On inumday Mr. I favis reeeived a hamper it Christmas cheer from friends in Wiltshire, and, strange to say, its arrival was anything hut agreeable to his wife. Her spirits were very much depressed, but after A time she rallied, and in the evening was demonstratively lively. She played and joked with the children, and divided amongst them a portion of the contents of the hamper. Mr. Davis was absent from house ou business between eight and nine o'clock, and almost immediately after he left the house his wife's manner suddenly changed. She desired the nurse to put' the children to rest, and at the same time intimated that she would !ie otown herself f, ,r a short time. Mr. Davis returned within the hour and svcertained that his wife had relifed ti li d. He proceeded to her chains her, and on opening Ca. door. against which a chair had been placed, was horrified by the appalling sight which mat his view. Mrs. Davis was extended upon the bed, her head hanging over the side, and her throat cut almost from ear to ear. The lad clothes and carpets were saturated with blood. 'the unfortunate lady was quite dead. The weapon with which the wound had been inflicted %s its lying near, and was an ordinary carving knife. Air. Davis is left with a family of six children, the eldest of whom is only thirteen) ears of age.
The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle. — 1873-01-04 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

THE MURDER IN GREAT CORAMSTREET, LONDON.  The action taken by the police, under the management of Superintendent Thomson, has invol .red telegraphic communication with 300 chiefs or agents of 101 l e throughout the United Kingdom, giving a brief statement of the facts of the murder and a description of the person who is supposed to have committed the crime. Upon this later and most important head the sole testimony is that of the greengrocer and of a servant-girl, who believed they saw him ;nor has any particle of information come to light which tends to give the slightest trace of the direction taken by the murderer after he left the vicinity of Great Coramstreet on the morning of the 24th. From the fart of the shops and places of business being closed on Christmas-day, the streets would be free from the traffic that prevails on a week-day morning at seven o'clock ; but it is difficult to believe that the man could have traversed any considerable distance through the metropolis, even on that liay and at that hour, without attracting at least ordinary observation from any one who chanced to meet him. Any Pnch person giving information to the police would, of course, be entitled to at least a share in the reward offered by the Government if anything they communicated led to the capture of the murderer. NO suspicion whatever is entertained that the murderer had 'key accomplice, in the active sense of the term, the only intention of the clause in the notice on this head being to induce any one who may have any knowledge hearing on the mime, or on the identity of the murderer, to come forward and make known the tics. as far as they are able to do so. There is not the slightest reason to believe that the murderer has committed suicide, nor would it appear that any informs• tion has been received to warrant the supposition that he has already left the country from any of the accustomed orts of embarkation. Telegrams weresent in the first instance to the home ports, calling the particular attention ,if the police authorities to the description of the suspected man. A number of letters that were found in the room occupied by the deceased have been carefully read by the superintendent in charge of the came, but nothing occurs in any of them to indicate that the man who committed the murder was acquainted with his victim, or at all known to her before their casual meeting in Russell-square. On Sunday many persons passed through Great Coratn-street to see the house where the fearful crime was committed. It is a large building, in no wise different from the respectable-looking houses which form that pert of the street nearest to Russell-square
The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle. — 1873-09-06 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

THE WATERLOO-ROAD TRAGEDY.  Four days after the attempt to murder the housekeeper of the "Hero of Waterloo Tavern," the body of her assailant was found in the mud of the River l'harues, in fact oLly a few yards hum the ecene of the _  —.— It will be remembered, that wt midnight on Wednesday, in last week, Henry Wigg, a guard on the South Western Ralway, shot Ellen Stone, discharging several chambers of a revolver at her. He then placed the muzzle of his weapon just in front of his own right ear, shot himself, and escaped out of the house, running down the aide streets in the direction of the Brlvidereread. Shortly after he had escaped, he was traced to the very spot where his body was found at half-past two o'clock on Sunday morning. The earliest intelligence received about him by daylight on Thursday morning was that he had left a track down Collegestreet, and that his foot-prints and blood-stains had been seen on the mud and on a raft of timber. The original report turned out to be correct, for near the spot, imbe&ed in the mud, and below a balk of timber, was the body found It was immediately conveyed to the Lambeth Workhouse to await an inquest. Intelligence of the finding of the body of Wigg was communicated to Ellen Stone on Monday, and she appeared to derive considerable satisfaction from the information. It had been suspected that she entertained some fear that he was still alive, and might at a future time renew his attempt on her life; and it was therefore considered advisable to acquaint her of his end. This done, she became more composed than she was before.  An inquest was held on Tuesday, on the body of Henry Wigg, which resulted hi • verdict that he committed suicide while in an unbound state of mind.
The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle. — 1873-12-06 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

TRAGEDY AT SEA.  The mail steamer Lwritaiiia, which arrived at Lisbon some days ago from South Amerioa,lbronght intelligence of the burning of the Eden, a vessel of 508 tons, owned by Messes. Hargrove, Fergosson, and Co., of Liverpool. Further particulars of the calamity have been obtained. The vessel was set fire to by the captain, named Bowden, who was in an unsound state of mind and who afterwards committed suicide. The vessel left London for Valparaiso on the 15th of September loot, having among her other cargo a berg° quantity of gunpowder. Nothing unusual woe manifeat in the demeanour of the captain until the 7th of October, when he was suspected to be insane. On the 14th of October the chief officer, named Clarkson, hailed the etbark E • GroJui and brought her captain on board. The latter advised the crew not to put Captain 13c.wdeD under restraint, as he appeared to be harmess, but to make for Pernambuco. During the night, however, the captain poured a quantity of petroleum oil about his cabin and set fire to the after-part of the veseeL The flames spread rapidly, and the neut.* in resisting an effort to arreat their progress, wounded the second offioer, Hopkins, with a pistol shot, and afterwards injured a sailor with • bayonet. The crew ultimately left the vessel, but the captain refused to join than. The men were picked up shortly afterwards by the brig Juanita, when they proceeded to the burning vessel and took off the captain. Shortly after. wards the Eden was shattered to pieces by the expkwion of the gunpowder, which occurred about five o'clock in the evening. Captain Bowden, having socceeded in eluding observation, jumpel into the *ea and was not seen again. He was a native of Dangarvan, and bore an excellent character. There was an unusual quantity of spirit. on board the vessel.
The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle. — 1873-12-06 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

ATTEMPTED SUICIDE AT KING.  SWINFORD.  At the Sturbridge Police Court, yesterday, before Major Fletcher, Mr. B. Little. wood, mid Mr. It. L. Freer, William Price, coke-wheeler, Kingswinford, was charged. with attempting to commit suicide by hanging. himself, on the morning of the 4th inst. William Vickery said he lived next door to defendant. Fr un what he heard, he went into defendant's hone and found him suspended by the neck, with a rope attached to a hook in the bcam. His feet were off the ground. and the rope was tight round his neck. His face:was discoloured. Witness lifted him up, and a woman unfastened the rope. A surgeon was sent for, and it was minutes before defemlant recovered consciousness. There was no one in the house at the time. Defendant is a married mto, and is of soher habits.  The wife of defendant was called, and said defendant WIN a good husband. They had not quw•relled but had had a few words. Defendant was very queer when he had any drink.  EliztOrickery said she lived next door to llefendaut. On Thursday morning he was st her house, and he appeared in a low eon. dition. He asked witness to eut his two children s.nne bread. and he said he would pat rim in the Workhouse and then hang himself. Witness asked him not to do anythug of the kind, and he then left the house. IVitness saw defendant come out of the hrewhouse, and he went into the house, put up the shutters, and fastened the door. She beard a elyAir fall, and on the door being burst open, defendant was found hanging from a beam.  'Police-constable White proved apprehending defendant, who said he was very sorry. The man was sober.  Defendant, in defence, said he never did sarthiiig of the sort before. Committed to Stafford Sossions.  The Subscription Lists fnr the el 50,000 six per cont. I), I,ontn e of the 'rodit F ncier o Engs i!. rl. u.. 1 on M.:l,ltty next the Bth i et, for Londoi; and on Tu. &lay, the Bth hist, at la o'clock, for the *mtg.
The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle. — 1873-09-20 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

DEMONSTRATION AT THE GRAVE OF  WOOLFE TONE.  On Sunday a most remarkable Nationalist demonstration took place at the grave of Woolfe Tone, in Bodenstown Churchyard, some 20 miles from Dublin. Woolf e Tone was onerof the most famous leaders of the Rebellion of '9B, having organised the celebrated French expedition to Bantry Bay. Re was taken at sea, tried in Dublin, sentenced to death, and committed suicide In prison on the very morning fixed for his execution. Be was buried at Bodenetown a village in Kildare, and his tondb has been • favourite theme for national poets, and a shrine for national pilgrims. Owing to the great number of the latter, who carried away • portion of the tombstone as • relic, it became shattered and disfigured, and the ostensible object of Sunday was to erect a new tombstone in its stead. This was • very handsome marble slab which had been purchased by the Woolfe Lone band, a society of Dublin artisans. On Sunday morning a vast number oil persons from the city of Dublin and the Various localities in the counties of Dublin and Kildare proceeded to Bodenstown and assembled in the churchyard. All wore green ties and a single green laurel leaf in their hats. About 5,000 persons were present in the churchyard when the ceremony of replacing the slab commenced. The Nam, Saltine, and Woolfe Tone Lands played • solemn dirge as the old tombstone was removed, and the new one adjusted in Its place by a hundred willing hands.  The moment the new dens was fixed In itepolition the bands broke Into the nationalist march, "O'Donnell Aboo," acd the old slab WAG shattemd into a thousand fragmeate, which were distributed as relics among the crowd. One of the organisers of the demonstration then addreastd the people, declaring that the stone they had that day raised would in course of time moulder and decay. The name of Woolfe Tose would never perish or be forgotten the principles for which that glorious hero and martyr lived and died would never perish out of the Irish mind. After this eulogy the great crowd quietly dirpersed.
The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle. — 1873-01-11 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

DUDLEY.  TEE DEATE 0, ALTRED MAJOR —OD Thursday morning, an inquest was held at the Angel Inn, near Staines, Windsor, on the body of Alfred Major, aged about fifty, who was found on the previotui day in I comatose state, arising from laudanum poisoning. The OM after hearing the evidence, returned a verdict of " Suicide whilst of unsound mind." The antecedents of the deceased, who for a year er two wet the minister of the Baptist Chapel In Dudley. Ilia heavy defalcations end his selfishness in duping his intimate fi tends rendered him notorious in Dudley and district. Immediately after his flight from Dudley he publishtd an autobiography in a local paper, and threatened to poison himself. Re Costing Gronr.—The first meeting of the creditors of the above bankrupt, a gless-dealer, in Flood-street, was held at the County Court. on Thursday, before the Reed, Mr. Bradbury (Sanders tind Bradbuty, Birmingham). was for the creditors, and Mr. G. B. Lowe for the bankrapt. Mr. Wm. Burton, of Cannonatreet, a'' was appointed trustee. On behalf of the offer of ss. In the pound was made, provi• di The terms of the offer were 2s. 64. at once, and 21. 64. in four months' bßaninrgrrutinhaltitth an the bankruptcy was annulled. time, on the sedulity of promiesory notes signed by the bankrupt and Solomon Woolf, of Bond-street. The liabilities are £566 Os. 2d., and the maestri were £145. The 14th February was Iliad for the last examination. UTTERING A FORGED Here.—A respectable-look,ng young man, named John E. Adonis (40), son of a commercial traveller, residing in the Dudley Road, Wolverhampton, was charged before the Mayor and Alderman Wilkinson, at the Police Coo-t, on Monday, nab obtaining from Mr. Walter Camel], tobacconist, • quantity of goods by means of • forged note. On the 28th ult, the prisoner went to the shop of prosecutor, and presented an order purporting to have bean written by Edward Hussey, of Carter's Green, West Bromaich. The boles of cigars, tobacco, and snuff, mentioned in the order, were wrapped up. and prisoner took them away.—E. Hussey deposed that the order WAS not written by him, or by his anthority.—Detective-sergeant Davies appre. handed the prisoner, who admitted that the note W*9 written bi hisa.—He was committed to the Amines. Tws WAGII QUESTION IN TUE CRALN Ti' iDE.—A Imelda( ot factory men was held on Monday evening, id Qs Loving Lomb Inn, Osksywell Street, Dudley, and  after • discussion it was unanimously resolved, we adhere to the demand for an advance of sixpence cwt. in large chain, and other sizes in proportion; ti we are prepared to meat our employers, to diacuse 1. matter in dispute; and that failing to settle the question, we agree to aubmit it to arbitration, leaving the appointment of arbitrator to the masters." It was stated that the masters were willing to give the men • Ilse of two. ; but it was thought that inasmuch as their fellow. workmen in the North of England received • much higher rate of wages the demand of sixpence was not unreasonable.