npedrazzini/19thc_murder_suicide_news huggingface dataset:
The Sun. — 1861-12-11 (London, England)

ANTI-MAYNOOTH CRUSADE IN DUBLIN. A meeting of persons opposed to the endowment of Maynooth College was held on Monday evening at the Rotunda, in Dublin, for the purpose of hearing an exposition on the subject from Mr. Whalley, M.P. The Round Room was thronged to excess. The chair was taken by Sir Edward Grogan, Bart., M.P., who went into a history of the Maynooth endowment, contending that it was never meant to have been permanent, and that it ought to be repealed. He congratulated Mr. Whalley on having suceeeded to the mission of Mr. Spooner--a mission which Mr. 'Whalley, he was sure, would devotedly and persistently fulfil. A peetion to Parliament for the repeal of the grant was adopted. A letter from Rome says :—" The paternal Government of the Vatican has just issued two edicts of rather a peculiar description. One, which forbids tailov, tailoresses, and milliners to work on fete-days, and the keepers of ristoranti and eating-houses to serve any food except that of the most maigre' kind on those holy days. To appreciate the inconvenience of this despotic order, it must be remembered that for the next six months there will be on an average two of these fasts out of each week, besides the rauckle fast they Ca' Sunday.' The second order relates to the art of photography, and so great are the pains to suppress this useful science, and so lengthy the clauses of the police regulations on the subject, that the ' New &alandee (supposing him to have come to Rome to try his prentice hand on the Coliseum) might well suppose it to be the black art' itself."  SUlClDE.—Stephen Agate, a draper at Cuckfield in Sussex, a cousin of John Agate, whose wife killed one of her own children and afterwards cut her own throat on Thursday last, committed suicide yesterday morning. At about 8 o'clock the report of a gun was heard proceeding from a shed adjoining his dwelling house. Several neighbours ran to the spot, and, upon entering the place, found the unfortunate man lying quite dead, the upper portion of his head being completely blown away. Near him lay a gun which had recently been discharged. He had evidently put the muzzle of the loaded gun in his mouth, and had drawn the trigger by pulling a string with his foot. The only cause which can be suggested as having probably led to the fatal act is that his mind may have been affected by dietress, arising from the calamity which had so lately befallen a branch of his family.
The Sun. — 1861-01-07 (London, England)

DETERMINED SUICIDE THROUGH  JEALOUSY.  A most determined act of self-destruction was committed in Frome on Friday morning, under very distressing circumstances. Mr. Henry Taylor, the unfortunate man, was about 58 years of age, and had lately retired, after amassing considerable property as landlord of the King's Head Inn. On previous evening he retired to rest in his usually good spirits, and arose in the morning shortly before 7 o'clock. Telling his wife to lie still, he went downstairs, calling up the servant-girl before doing so. A little time after his son heard the report of a gun, but such an occurrence being not uncommon, he thought nothing of it. Mr. Taylor being soon after missed, however, search was made for him, and on the door of the water-closet being opened, the unfortunate man was found in a sitting position, but horrible to relate, one half of his face was co, npletely blown off. It was at once clear that the unhappy man had killed himself by placing the muzzle of the gun to h:s face, and pulling the trigger by means of a string which was attached to it. TWo letters were found on the seat, near the body, and so determined was he to destroy himself, that he had also provided himself with a knife and a renal.. The letters, one of which was dated 6, D ec. 31," were addressed to Mrs. Taylor. Ot le as follows :—" With regret I write this; but yo,u must thank your brother James for this rash act I am about to commit, as I have not had my comm on senses since I first found out that you and him ry ere so gay together. * * * I pray God Alm;ighty to bless you all ; and before this comes to your hand, I shall be in eternity. I thought of killing James first and myself afterwards, but let kim die as he must.—Yours, most truly, Henry Taylor. P.S. I should not have been driven to this, only by that scamp of a fellow. He is the worst of all men. I cannot forgive him or you ; but the poor dear children, what will become of them ? So I ain off; God bless everybody." The second letter was thus:—" I have been looking round. I see you are in a sad state. I wish I never saw that Jim. He ttas been my destruction. This is a sad blow for yo u. I loved the ground you stepped on till you ma de much of him and little of me. God bless all the dear children and yourself. I could say a good deal more, but my heart is too full. I could not speak a word, but was a fool or a liar. This has been brewing in my mind for some time. I have had the grin loaded for some time to shoot myself. So adieu for ever." The unfortunate man had latterly given way, to drinking. Thissa occurrence has caused no little consternation in the town, where the unfortunatt.. man was well known and much respected.—Briste.' Mercury.
The Sun. — 1861-02-06 (London, England)

MAJESTY. I hardly know anything more calculated to impede a measure for the reform or reconstruction of this house than to bring it forward at a time when there is no probability of its being accepted and carried. I think that the Minister would have incurred the gravest responsibility by bringing forward the subject merely from an erroneous interpretation of a sense of honour to a party which was not unanimous in supporting his original proposal." And so the matter has dropped for yet another year. And so, after all their grand flourish of ,trumpets last year, Ministers begin the session of 1861 with " bated breath and whispered humbleness." It is without doubt exemplary. But is it indicative of a Strong Government ?  We cannot congratulate the Tories on the strategical skill with which they have opened the session. They have attacked their opponents on what, with all its defects, will certainly prove their strongest side. If there be one thing which more than another keeps the present Cabinet in office, it is its foreign policy. In Law Reform the Conservatives would certainly do as much, and as well as the Liberals ; in Parliamentary Reform the two parties have proved themselves not to have any difference, which the public can discern. It is just the difference between the MALMESBURY and the RUSSELL policy abroad, that makes the country unwilling to turn out the present Government. If what is said often be true, and there is, we believe, some truth in it, we suppose one main reason for indifference to Parliamentary Reform is the greater interest taken in the struggles of foreign peoples to get parliaments at all ; and if there can be no doubt of the mind of Britain respecting the claims:of struggling peoples, not of torturing despots, on our moral support, then was it surely political suicide to open the Session by displaying to the public those leanings to hereditary despots, of which the Tories are more than suspected.  As independent Liberals, were Italy and Hungary well out of their difficulties, and Austria cut down to her own proper Archduchy, including, perhaps a few small adjacent territories she might have learned to treat decently, we would hardly give a toss of a penny fur the difference between the two leaders, PALMERSTON and
The Sun. — 1861-09-20 (London, England)

STRANGE CASE.—Yesterday Mr. Payne held an inquest at Guy's Hospital, on the body of Francis Beckett. About 10 o'clock on Thursday night he was found close to a cab-stand near the Bricklayers' Arms Station, lying across the road, and weltering in his blood. The cabmen had not heard any cries, although they were close upon the spot. His left collar bone, his left arm, and three of his ribs on the left side were found to be broken. He appeared as if he had been drinking. He recovered his consciousness, but, on being questioned, declared that he did not know how the accident happened. He never rallied, and died on Sunday afterncon about two o'clock. An envelope was found in his left-side pocket, stained with blood, and directed, "Francis Beckett, Grove-lane, Shepherd's-bush," but he was not known there. The jury returned a verdict "That the deceased died of the injuries received, but how occasioned there was no evidence to show."  SUICIDE THROUGH GRlEF.—Yesterday morning, about eight o'clock, a suicide was committed by Mr. Thomas Blackburn, at his residence, No. 50, Judd -place, Eustonroad, under circumstances of a melancholy character. The deceased, who was over 60 years of age, had for many years carried on an extensive business as a pawnbroker and silversmith in Skinner-street, Somer's-town. About two months since he lost his eldest son by a pulmonary complaint, which so deeply affected him that he immediately retired from business. Since then nothing had appeared to reconcile:him to what he deemed anirreparable loss. He would frequently sit and cry for hours together, and become so low and dejected that no endeavours on the part of his wife could rouse him. Yesterday morning Mrs. Blackburn rose and left her husband asleep in his bed, and on returning in about ten minutes she was horror-striken at finding him hanging by his neckcloth from the bedpost. He was quite dead. MURDER AND ATTEMPTED SUICIDE AT GOOLE, —Yesterday morning, a woman, whose name has not reached us, administered poison to her two children—one 18 months old, and the other six years—and then tried to take away her own life by the same means. It appears that between two and three o'clock in the morning she awoke the children and gave to each a quantity of opium, and then took a dose herself. From the effects of the poison the youngest child died in the course of the forenoon. To  keep the other child awake he had to be walked about in the open air, and at four o'clock in the afternoon, the time at which our report left Goole, he seemed completely exhausted. The woman did not appear to be much worse. She is the wife of a policeman at Newcastle, and is said to be a policeman of weak mind. A week or two ago she came to Goole on a visit to some friends, for the benefit of her health and for change of scene, as she appeared to be in a low state. We understand that within the last few days she was seen by some of the neighbours beat the head of one of her children against the wall most unmercifully, as if she would murder it.—Eastern Counties Herald.
The Sun. — 1861-09-20 (London, England)

STRANGE CASE.—Yesterday Mr. Payne held an inquest at Guy's Hospital, on the body of Francis Beckett. About 10 o'clock on Thursday night he was found close to a cab-stand near the Bricklayers' Arms Station, lying across the road, and weltering in his blood. The cabmen had not heard any cries, although they were close upon the spot. His left collar bone, his left arm, and three of his ribs on the left side were found to be broken. He appeared as if he had been drinking. He recovered his consciousness, but, on being questioned, declared that he did not know how the accident happened. He never rallied, and died on Sunday afternoon about two o'clock. An envelope was found in his left-side pocket, stained with blood, and directed, "Francis Beckett, Grove-lane, Shepherd's-bush," but he was not known there. The jury returned a verdict "That the deceased died of the injuries received, but how occasioned there was no evidence to show." SUICIDE THROUGH GRlEF.—Yesterday morning, about eight o'clock, a suicide was committed by Mr. Thomas Blackburn, at his residence, No. 60, Judd -place, Eustonroad, under circumstances of a melancholy character. The deceased, who was over 60 years of age, had for many years carried on an extensive business as a pawnbroker and silversmith in Skinner-street, Somer's-town. About two months since he lost his eldest son by a pulmonary complaint, which so deeply affected him that he immediately retired from business. Since then nothing had appeared to reconcile him to what he deemed anirreparable loss. He would frequently sit and cry for hours together, and become so low and dejected that no endeavours on the part of hiswifecould rouse him. Yesterday morning Mrs. Blackburn rose and left her husband asleep in his bed, and on returning in about ten minutes she was horror. striken at finding him hanging by his neckcloth from the bedpost. He was quite dead. MURDER AND ATTEMPTED SUICIDE AT GOOLE —Yesterday morning, a woman, whose name has not reached us, administered poison to her two children—one 18 months old, and the other six years—and then tried to take away her own life by the same means, It appears that between two and three o'clock in the morning she awoke the children and gave to each a quantity of opium, and then took a dose herself. FroM the effects of the poison the youngest child died in the course of the forenoon. To keep the other child awake he had to be walked about in the open air, and at four o'clock in the afternoon, the time at which our report left Goole, he seemed completely exhausted. The woman did not appear to be much worse. She is the wife of a policeman at Newcastle, and is said to be a policeman of weak mind. A week or two ago she came to Goole on a visit to some friends, for the benefit of her health and for change of scene, as she appeared to be in a low state. We understand that within the last few days she was seen by some of the neighbours beat the head of one of her children against the wall most unmercifully, as if she would murder it.—Eastern Counties Herald.
The Sun. — 1861-06-19 (London, England)

INSANITY.—" We have up to this time reported but one case of the treatment of insanity with mesmerism ; but that was a cure, and, like the majority of mesmeric cures, striking and satisfactory. The account appeared in our Fifth Report, which may be found in the forty-sixth number of The Zoist. The patient was a middle-aged man, anxious to die, and who meditated suicide, believing that all around him were happy while he was cursed and all his efforts doomed to turn out badly : that people were always insulting him and absolutely distracted with endless other fancies. He had taken immense quantities of medicine in vain : but he improved under us immediately, and left us perfectly well in less than two months. The following case of insanity cured by mesmerism deserves to be recorded :—" On the 27th of June, 18614 Dr. Elliotson received a letter from the father of the young man named Childs, informing him of the delusion he laboitted under, viz., that he was heir to the throne, that George the IV. was his father, and Queen Victoria his mother. Dr. Elliotson gave directions for him to attend the infirmary, and ho was brought daily, and mesmerised by Mr. Russel. This began on the 14th of February, and on the 13th of March he was carefully examined by the Council, and did not exhibit any trace of insanity. On the 16th March, the gentleman who sent him to the infirmary wrote to Dr. Elliotson—' It would have given you pleasure to see the delight of the young man's father and mother— people as deserving as can be found in the world. They send you their thanks and blessing. We advised that he should be occasionally mesmerised for some time to come : as it is very wrong to relinquish mesmerism soon after the cessation of any chronic affection. We have received letters from both the patient and his family to a late period, stating his healthy condition. "
The Sun. — 1861-01-21 (London, England)

LONDON AND SOUTH WESTERN RAILWAY.  NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, ihat the next HALFYEARLY GENERAL MEETING of the PROPRIETORS of this COMPANY' will be held at the Waterloo-bridge Station, London, on THURSDAY, the 14th day of February, 1861, at One o'clock, p.m., 13recisely, when the Directors will submit a Report on the affairs of the Company, a dividend will be declared, and the general business of the Company transacted. And notice is hereby further given, that, at this meeting, there will be an election of three Directors—viz., of two in the places of Henry C iarles Lacy, Esq., and Edward john Hutchins, Esq., who retire at this time in the usual rotation. and, being re-eligible, offer themselves for re-election ; and of one in the place of Matthew Uzielli, Esq., deceased. George Best, Esq., of EaFtbury, near Guildford; Samuel Gregson, Esq., M.P., of Upper Harley-street, London ; Alexander Hoyes, Esq., Bitterne Grove, Southampton ; and Wyndham S. Portal, Esq., of Malshanger, near Basingstoke, have also given notice of their intention to become candidates for election. The Books of the Company for the Transfer of Stock and Shares will be closed from Tliursday, the 31st day of January, till Thursday, the 14th day of February, 1801, both days inclusive. r _  By order,  L. CRO3IBIE, Secretary,  Waterloo-bridge Station, London, Jan. 17, 1861.  and they necessarily resisted all the efforts, both open and insidious, which were made by the civilians to acquire for the newly imported code of jurisprudence that supremacy—that unhealthy and, unjust supremacy, I will say—which has ever since rendered the continental courts of justice with the exception of those of France, a byword for legal trick and office malversation, when compared with the honest, straightforward action of our own.  I trust that, for the public good, and for the benefit of all heirs at law, and of the suitors whose domestic troubles drive them to the newly•established court, that not only in the Shedden case, but in every other which may rest chiefly upon facts, the technicalities of law will be avoided, and the right to obtain the honest and impartial verdict of a jury deciding upon truth and justice, will henceforward never be withheld.  It is among the singular features of this celebrated case that, besides occasioning the suicide of two persons implicated in the frauds alleged, it was made by our great novelist the groundwork of one of his most stirring tales. In the novel of " Guy IVlannering," the characters of Hatterick, Glossin, Vanbeest, Brown, and others, no less than the circumstances of the story, and even. the localities pointed out, have the directest possible reference to the progress of and the actors in this exciting and real drama of private life.
The Sun. — 1861-02-26 (London, England)

MARLBOROUGH STREET.  A WOULD-BE SUICIDE.—AN OVERDOSE.—AIice Watts, a respectable .looking woman of about 40, was charged before ➢lr. Beadon with attempting to commit suicide. The constable of Golden-square said he was called to the office of ➢lr. Syrupsen, solicitor, No. 7, in the square, and found the defendant there at the time vomiting, and by her side three phials, all empty. Having told him that she had taken arsenic, he took her to a doctor's. Lucas, 160 C, said he understood that she had been to Mr. Sympson's and annoyed him.  In answer to Mr. Beadon the defendant said she had taken laudanum—some from each of the bottles. Mr. Sympson had arranged to pay her some money due to her, and she had been disappointed. Mr. Beadon asked her where she got the laudanum.  The defendant said at three different shops. A certificate was here handed to the magistrate by Dr. Slight, of Brewer-street, stating that although he had tried remedies he could detect nothing, but this might have been owing to the overdose having caused vomiting. Mr. Beadou remanded the defendant for a week, that she might see the chaplain and be in a better frame of mind than she then appeared.  A CROSSING►SWEEPER CHARGED WITH PICKING A LADY'S PoCKET.—Daniel Sullivan, a crossing-sweeper, was charged with picking the pocket of a ladynamed White, residing at Thornton-Heath, Croydon. The prosecutrix was crossing from the Crystal Palace Bazaar, Oxford street, when the accused seized her, which caused her to let her dress fall, and at that moment she believed he took her purse from her pocket—the purse containing £3 15s. On getting safely over the crossing, notwithstanding that she had to shake the prisoner off, it appeared that a friend of the prosecutrix gave the prisoner a ponnv.  Mr. Beadon said had the offence of seizing hold of the lady not been condoned by the fact of a penny having been given to the prisoner, he would have severely punished him for it as an assault.  The prosecutrix said she did not discover her loss till she got to Messrs. Hodge and Lowman's, Regent-street. A constable (Poole 300 C), said he believed nothing was known of the prisoner.  Mr. Beadon, after a caution to the prisoner that if he was charged with seizing hold of ladies again he would fine him £5 or two months, said the evidence was insufficient, and discharged the prisoner.
The Sun. — 1861-02-26 (London, England)

ATTEMPTED SUICIDE.  Mahomet :Ali Khan was indicted for unlawfully inflicting a wound upon himself with intent to destroy life.  It will be recollected that the prisoner some time ago attempted to commit suicide in the House of Lords, and that the offence with which he stood charged on the present occasion was committed near the carriage in which ber Majesty rode on the occasion of her opening Parliament on the sth of the present month. The prisoner attempted to throw a petition into the royal carriage, but was prevented doing so by the police, and then he instantly attempted to stab himself with an old knife, which was in such a state as to inflict a very deadly wound. The instrument was knocked from the hand of the prisoner, and he was taken into custody. _ _  On:the prisoner being placed in the bar, he bowed to the judge and jury, and then handed in a long written statement of the alleged wrongs he had suffered in consequence of his claims for payment for services being disregarded by the late native authorities at Bombay. The Recorder asked if there was anybody in court who knew anything about the prisoner. Colonel Hughes, the Governor of the Home or Refuge for destitute East Indians, said he merely knew the prisoner as having been at the Home. He had no doubt the prisoner was in the full possession of all his faculties. The Recorder, in addressing the jury, said the fact that the prisoner was in a sane state of mind made the ease of his intention to commit suicide most inexplicable. One could understand such a circumstance if the person doing so was of unsound mind. It might be that, labouring under the impression that a great wrong had been inflicted on him, he might have attempted to destroy himself for the purpose of creating a sympathy in his behalf. However, it was undoubtedly an offence in any person to destroy life, and it would be for them to say whether he was guilty or net.  The jury returned a verdict of not guilty, intimating that they wished the judge to inform him that it was an offence to attempt to destroy his life. The Recorder said the prisoner was well aware of that, as he had already been in custody for the same offence.  11111 W,  Mr. Sleigh—You are not a London manager ? Witness—l wish I was.