npedrazzini/19thc_murder_suicide_news huggingface dataset:
The Cotton Factory Times. — 1887-11-18 (Manchester, Greater Manchester, England)

WINDER.—On Friday week the body of a young woman named Jane Barlow, a winder at a cotton mill, aged 23 years, who resided in Knowles-street, Radeliffe, Was taken out of the canal near Green-lane Colliery. It appears that sbead been put about. There is apparently no other roson for the rash act.—On Monday an inquest was held at the Royal Oak Inn, Radcliffe, before Mr. J. B. Edge, district coroner. The first witness called was Mary Barlow, who said she was a single woman. The deceased, who was 23 years of age, resided with the witness and her brother. She was employed as a winder at a cotton mill. Witness last saw the deceased alive about half-past seven o'clock on Thursday evening, when she left the house to go on an errand. On the previous Friday she went home from her work, and witness then noticed there was a difference in her manner, and that she seemed strange. The deceased commenced crying, and said that she had had a very bad day at her work, the material being very bad. She continued at her work until the Thursday, but the stuff she had that day they promised to send back. This, however, was not done. The deceased met witness's cousin the day before, and she asked the deceased if she had any better work, and she replied "No." The deceased was generally reserved, and if she had any sickness she never told anyone until she was at the far end. There was no other cause that witness knew of for the deceased drowning hereslf. There was nothing at home, and the deceased was not keeping company with anyone. No complaint had ever been made of the amount of wages she had brought home. She had never heard the deceased say that she wished she was dead, or anticipated that she would commit suicide. She had no reason to suppose that anyone had injured the deceased.—Police-constable Martin said that the deceased was reported to be missing on the Thursday, and he went in search of her, but did not find any trace of her. On the following day he drageod the canal, with the result that he found the deceased's body about 80 yards from the wooden bridge, near the Green-lane Colliery. He got the body out with a boat-hook, and found that the deceased was quite cold and stiff. She was fully dressed, exeept her shawl, and there was a purse containing 25., and a pocket handkerchief in her pocket. —Jane Towndeud, wife of Lester Townsend, a collier, residing at Lord-street, said that she laid out the body, and foand no marks of violence upon it. The deceasee was always very quiet and reserved,—The Coroner said the deceased appeared to have committed suicide. He had no doubt her mind must have been unhinged to some extent. —The jury returned a verdict to the effect that the deceased committed suicide whilst suffering from temporary insanity.
The Cotton Factory Times. — 1887-07-15 (Manchester, Greater Manchester, England)

THE RED CROSS.  To the Bditor of the Cotton Factory Times. Sir,—lt is with regret, combined greatly with indiglation, that I make a few cursory remarks respecting ‘the inquest that was held at Hyde, on the body of . net Kennedy, aged 17 years, employed at the mill of ka elms. Hibbert and Aspland, Manchester-road, Hyde, coo body wee found in the Peak Forest Canal, on 1 educed") morning, July 6th. In reviewing the testi?pony of the first witness, Maria Wareham by name, I !nd one cause and one only of that sad end, and that ' the red cross of the overlooker.- Again, reviewing the statementsof the second witness, by name Margaret Dewsbury. I find the same solitary cause. I also find 1 the deceased was a merry, light-hearted girl when out 1 'of the mill, but it was the "red cross' that did the 1 imischief. BO thought the coroner, as in his summing !up he stated: "There WM no doubt that that (meaning t,13 red cross of the overlooker) had preyed very extensively on her mind." Now after all this evidence, and 'ipfter the coroner had emphasized the evidence, the lury had the stupidity to bring in a verdict "that deceased committed suicide whilst temporarily insane." fEat how in the name of goodr.ess did they come by this verdict? What remarkable judgment they mast have had to find sneh a verdict from such evidence. I should : very much like to know who were the men who formed the (jury. Wore they operatives who were frightened of bringing in any other verdict, lest they should be cast, , . upon the cold world to starve ; if not, who were they ? , The verdict, as it appears to my mind, should have ,tieen of another kind, against somebody responsible. 'Why should we, as Englishmen, who boast of our freedom and civilisation, allow such barbarity and slavery to exist as thie ? Fancy persons being given material and tieing compelled to produce good stuff, failing to do which •they have a "red cross' put on their pay ticket, which means if you do it again you will be discharged. It .reminds me of the Israelites of old, who were compelled by the Egyptians to make bricks without straw. Why should a person be thrown upon the world because he or she cannot do what is impossible? Hoping you will 'favour me by allowing me the privilege of seeing it in print, I remain, yours truly,
The Cotton Factory Times. — 1887-11-11 (Manchester, Greater Manchester, England)

TEE SUICIDE OF A BOONMAXER. A TERRILLE Ssearrice.—The West Kent Coroner held, on Monday, a lengthy inquiry into the death of Charles Sinclair Middleton Cox, aged 43, a bill discounter, of Lewisham, who on Friday shot himself in the head with a gun, while awaiting his trial at the Stafford Assizes on charges of conspiracy and perjury. Evidence showed that deceapei, after writing for a time in a book, went upstairs to his bedroom, telling his daughter Lilian, aged 14, that he wanted her. She shortly afterwards heard the report of a gun in the room, and called the cook and the gardener. On the latter opening the door he saw the deceased lying on the floor, and brains on the bed, and blood on the ceiling. The widow said her husband had said if his troubles lasted much longer he would destroy himself. The Coroner read from a document found in the room paragraphs in the deceased's handwriting, in which he referred to an action tried at Shrewsbury in which he was plain. tiff. Amongst other things the deceased wrote that he was smarting too much under injuries done to him to wish to quarrel with anyone. In another place be spoke of wanting money for his defence at Stafford. A letter copied by his daughter spoke of his determination to raise £l,OOO by Monday. but he must put up with high terms if he could not get it otherwise. By the miserable affair he sacrificed his life and £25,000, or equivalent to it. The Chief Constable of Shrewsbury said he saw de°eased at Shrewsbury Assizes on the 20th of July, when he was plaintiff in an action against a Mr. Wood. On the second day of the trial the action was stopped by the direction of Mr. Baron Huddleston, and a verdict given for the defendant. Cox and four others were then given into custody on charges of conspiracy and perjury. Witness charged them at the Mayor's Court, and they were remanded in custody with the exception of Cox. They were brought up again and committed for trial with the exception of a man named Slack, who gave evidence. The magistrates refused bail for Cox, but nearly a month afterwards he was admitted to bail —himself in £l,OOO and two sureties of £5OO each. The assizes at Stafford, at which the deceased was to appear, would commence on the 14th inst. The jury deliberated for nearly an hour, and then returned a verdict that the deceased came to his death by feloniously shooting himself with a gun, which verdict the coroner said was one of ftfo de se,
The Cotton Factory Times. — 1887-11-11 (Manchester, Greater Manchester, England)

TRIM IN CRO3IPTON.—It is satisfactory to know that, despite the unprofitable condition of the cotton trade, all the mills in Shaw and Crompton have during the year kept their machinery fairly well employed. The manufacturing firms of fustian cloth, however, have worked rather indifferently; some resorting to short time and others completely stopping their broad looms, which is equivalent to short time. We are informed by a very reliable authority that there will be little or no alteration until after Christmas, as merchants are determined to dispose of their stock. The demand for strong goods is not at all encouraging—they last too long —and merchants feel more inclined to purchase very light goods instead. There is a lamentable lack of out-door labour throughout the towuship. No work, no money, and no bread, is the mournful formula iterated from one end of the village to the other. We know of many families who, after partaking of one meal, have no ides where the relit must come from. Such a crisis in the building trade has not been known for many years. THE Srictee OF a Miet, Grete—On Monday afternoon Mr. F. N. Melesworth, coroner, resumed the inquest at the King's Arms, Shaw, on tne body of Susannah Henthorne (16), whose body was forma in the water lodge of the Moorfield Spinning, Coin' puny on the 3rd inst.—The evidence tendered on this occasion included that of Samuel Charles Butterworth, living at 23, Refuge-street, Shaw. This witness said he was an under carder at the Moorfield Spinning Company's mill, and he last saw the deceased at work in the mill about twenty minutes past five on the 2nd inst. She then appeared to be in good spirits. Subsequently witness exatninea the banks of the water lodge for clog marks, but did not find any.—Alice Wild, living at 11, Brunswick-street, Shaw, also employed in the same mill, said she last saw the deceased alive at twenty-fivo minutes to one on Wednesday afternoon. Witness had noticed that the deeettsed had been quieter than usual during that week, and slie seemed to have taken to heart her retrograde step in the mill. Police - constable Burrows gave evidence of the dragging of the mill water lodges, and the subsequent discovery of the body of the deceased in the middle lodge on Thursday morning. —Sarah Gaunt, living at 49, Oldham-road, Shaw, deposed to laying away the body, on which occasion she observed no marks of violence.—The jury returned a verdict of "Found drowned," and added to it the opinion that the deceased had committed suicide whilst of unsound mind.—On Saturday afternoon her remains were interred in Holy Trinity Churchyard. Considerably over 1,000 persons (principally women) assembled in the vicinity of the church to witness the interment, The service was conducted by the vicar, the Rev. George Allen, M.A. The female portion of the employes at the Moorfield Mill attended the funeral, and placed a beautiful wreath upon the coffin. Wreaths and crosses were also deposited by friends and members of the family.
The Cotton Factory Times. — 1887-01-14 (Manchester, Greater Manchester, England)

MAY. Monday, 3rd.-A mill foreman stabbed at Glasgow by a young woman named Ann Munro. The assault was attributed to revengeful feelings because the foreman had dismissed her from her work. Advance of 21 per cent granted to the operatives at Bank Top Mill, Damen. Tuesday, 4th.-Fire at Messrs. Bottomley Bros., Stalybridge. Wednesday, sth.-A desperate encounter between Chicago police and Socialists ; five police killed and many wounded. Friday, 7th.-Shocking suicide of a weaver and her sister owing to alleged bad work. The names of the sisters were Elizabeth Jackson and Margaret Jane Jackson. Their bodies found in the mill lodge at Shawclough Mills. Thursday, 13th.-Suicide of Hannah Holt, operative, at Stalybridge, Friday, 14th.-Weavers' meeting at Brierfield. Previous to the meeting the men on strike had a procession through the village, and burnt an effigy on a vacant slope known as the "stump field." The effigy was dressed in a tweed snit, with a nudger hat, and a crow on the top of it. It was fastened to a stout stick, and saturated with petroleum, and set ablaze. A crowd of many hundreds gathered round, and a band of wind and string instruments performed Sankey's hymn "Rescue the Perishing," the multitude joining in the singing with a keen relish for the humour of the thing. Saturday, 15th.-Shocking tragedy at Kirkham. Constable Blieb murdered his three children, and afterwards attempted his own life. Sunday, 16th.-Annual meetirlg of the Northern Counties' Amalgamated Weavers' Association held at Rishton. It was decided to get up a testimonial for J. C. Fielding, Esq., for his services to the operatives of North-East Lancashire. saturday, 22nd.-Lloyd Jones, celebrated advocate of co-operation, died at his residence, Stockwell, London. Thursday, 27th.-Thomas Lnndy and James Mills were ire..cted at the Liverpool Assizes, for unlawfully, maliciously, and feloniously wounding John Vincent Greenall, and intending in so doing, then and there, to disable him, and to do him grievous bodily harm. Each a the prisoners were sent to prison for three months' hard labour. This case is known as "The Hollinwood intimidation case." Strike of cardroom hands at the Duchess I Spinning Company, Shaw. Satarday, 29th.-David Holmes elected Chairman of the North-East Lancashire Weavers' Association for the 13th time. Monday, 31st.-Disastrous fire at Luzley Brook, near Oldham. Damage estimated at about £13,000. Great meeting of operatives in the Market Place, Burnley, to protest against any interference or alteration hi the holidays usually enjoyed during Whit Week.
The Cotton Factory Times. — 1895-05-10 (Manchester, Greater Manchester, England)

SUICIDE OF A CARDROOSI OPEIIATIVE.—On Thursday week the Oldham Borough Coroner (Dr. George Thomson) held an inquest at the Town Hall on the body of James Cole.—Harry William Cole, 54, Hawksley-street, Hollinwood, a cardroom jobber, said that deceased was his brother, who was also a cardrooni jobber, and was 33 years of age. Witness last saw him alive at 11 30 on Saturday right at his house, 14, Cashgate. They had some yards about witness's daughter taking him home when he was drunk on Easter Monday. The landlord of the house said he did not want any bother there, end the deceased, who was drunk, at once jumped up, put on an overcoat, and went out, making at the same time the observation, " My policy is in my box; I am going to destroy myself." Witness went to look after him, but could not find him. The landlord said that it was only a drunken freak. Deceased was in the habit of drinking a great deal, and witness had heard of him previously threatening to commit suicide.—John Henry Taylor, 14, Cashgate, said he was a cotton mixer in the employ of the Oldham Twist Company. Deceased had lodged with him, and on Saturday tight he had a few words with his brother and went out, saying he would go and drown himself. Witness said "Go to bed and be a good lad," but he took no notice and went out. Deceased had been oat of work lately, and had told witness that he would destroy himself as something seemed to overcome him.—P.C. Finnigan deposed to finding the body of the deceased at 4 5 on Wednesday rooming in the lodge of the Oldham Twist Cornpaoy.—The jury found that "the deceased had . . .  committed suicide whilst in an unsound state of
The Cotton Factory Times. — 1895-10-18 (Manchester, Greater Manchester, England)

OUTLINE OF THE PLOT. "THE PIRATE TEN."  In the year 1834 a pretty little clipper bargee named the "Queen," a great favourite in the trade, left Sydney for London with a cargo of wool, and upwards of £280,000 worth of nuggets and dust in her bold. There were sixteen saloon passengers—no steerage people were carried. The crew was of the average complement; of the passengers, eleven were men and five ladies. Several extraordinary incidents were experienced by this ship during her progress towards Cape Horn. For instance, shortly after she left the Heads she was chased by a powerful cutter, which pat a young gentleman on board, who implored the Captain to give him a passage to England. The commander reluctantly consented, and received the gentleman's baggage. That same afternoon the smoke of a steamer was seen on the horizon, and next day a tug belonging to Sydney, with two police officers on board, arrived alongside the "Queen." The young fellow had absconded with 00,000 belonging to a bank be was manager of. They did not nab him, however, as he committed suicide. After a variety of strange experiences, one day happens something truly amazing—the ten male passengers rise. _  They gag and throw overboard a young lady who has had the misfortune to learn their secret, they secure the crew and officers—the captain dies—and the passengers are turned adrift. So are the officers and crew, except two men who are detained to assist in navigating the vessel. The ten men make for an uninhabited island, and during their course quarrel. A duel is fought, and their number reduced to nine. The gold is landed and hidden. After some days of suffering the crew who had been turned adrift are picked up by a colonial vessel, and are thunderstruck at the sight of the young lady, whom they supposed to be drowned now standing on the deck. The story has already been told the commander of the vessel, and a few days after they sight a ship apparently abandoned. It is the' Queen.' They board her, and find the two sailors who were detained by the ten men that seized the ship. These men state that the vessel was anchored off an island, and the gold landed and buried. There is an exciting search, followed by fightings and adventnres. _  The love element of the story is never lost sight of.
The Cotton Factory Times. — 1895-01-18 (Manchester, Greater Manchester, England)

TRAGIC SUICIDE OF A MASTER COTTON SPINNER.— A shocking discovery was made on Monday morning at the Rumworth Cotton Works by Thomas Horrocks, a stripper and grinder employed at the mill. He was the firdt to enter the cardroom before six o'clock, and was horrified to discover on the floor there the dead body of Mr. Sidney Marsland, the proprietor of the mill. He at once raised an alarm, and the body, which was quite cold and rigid, was removed to the offices. Close by was found a double-barrelled gun, one of the chambers of which bad been discharged, and it appeared as if Mr. Marsland had placed the stock of the weapon on the floor with the muzzle against his temple, and then shot the trigger with his foot. When the deed was committed is not known, but he left his residence on Saturday night, and was not again seen alive. Although there is a watchman at the mill, Mr. Marsland's entrance was not noticed by him, nor did he hear the gun shot. The family say there was no pecuniary embarrassment to cause Mr. Marsland to take his life, but it had been noticed that of late he had been depressed in spirits. The deceased was 38 years old, and leaves a widow and four children. In view of the sad event the mill was not started on Monday.—At the inquest on Wednesday some extraordinary evidence was given by the watchman at the mill. His name is William Siddall, and he deposed that on Saturday night as he was laid in the engine-house he heard strange noises in the mill. He was much upset, but made a search without discovering anything to account for what he had heard. The following night he was resting within a few yardsof the door leading to the spot where the body was found and heard a peculiar whistle close at hand. He was startled, and jumping to his feet he shouted "Hello, there." He at once proceeded to the spot from which the sound came, but saw nothing, nor did he hear retreating footsteps. Having listened a short time he proceeded to the card-room, but though he made a thorough search he found no trace of anybody's presence. He then went and attended to the boiler tires, hearing nothing more.—Other witnesses spoke to the deceased having been depressed in mind lately, and having the impressiou that he was on the verge of bankruptcy, although there was no cause for it whatever. A verdict was returned that deceased committed suicide whilst temporarily insane.
The Cotton Factory Times. — 1895-03-22 (Manchester, Greater Manchester, England)

SUICIDE OF A SPINNEIL—During the early hours of Sunday morning a middle-aged man named William Kent, a widower, committed suicide by cutting his throat with a razor whilst in bed at his home, in Sarah Moor. The deceased, who was a spinner and worked at the Hargreaves Spinning Co.'s Mill, Henshaw-street, had suffered during the week from cold, and had been confined to hie bed. During Saturday he frequently asked for his two children to be sent near him. Early on Sunday morning the deceased's housekeeper went to his room for the purpose of seeing if he required anything, and to look at the fire, and was shocked to find him dead, with a very large gash in his throat, probably inflicted by a razor, which WAR on a chair by the bedside. An inquest was held at the Boiler Makers' Arms, Top o' th' Edge, on Monday, when the jury returned a verdict of-'" suicide whilst of unsound mind." COLOSSEUM THEATRE .—A revival of Dion Bouci. cault's masterpiece, "The Colleen Hawn." by Miss Constance Bellamy, the famous operatic vocalist, and a powerful company, is the attraction at the Colosseum Theatre this week. As the drama is well-known, it needs no description at our hands, but we may say that it is well staged, and the appointments generally are of a high character. Miss Bellamy takes her usual part of Eily O'Connor, with charming naturalness and ease, and renders several beautiful and popular songs. Her voice is in fine order. Her contributions are "The Harp that once through Tara's Halls," "Come Back to Erin," and "Love's Golden Dream." On Monday evening she responded to the demand for an encore by giving "The Minstrel Boy. The role of Danny Mann, the hunchback, is sustained by the wel.known actor, Mr. Shiel Barry with all his old energy and power; Mr. Charles Yorke gives a capital rendering of the part of Hardress Cregan, the young squire; Mr. Russell Bogue, as Myles-naCoppaleen, a warm-hearted son of the soil, provides plenty of comedy, and sings one or two Irish songs in fine style; Mr. W. Clunne Lees makes an excellent parish priest, and Miss Marriette Hyde appears to advantage as Miss Anne Chute. The other characters are well sustained. To-night (Friday) the charming play "Don Ceasar de Hazen" will be produced, with Miss Bellamy in the role of Maritana. She will sing " Esmeralda," "For all Eternity," "A Summer Night," &c. Next week Mr. Harrington Reynolds and specially selected company will appear in "The Hand of Justice."