npedrazzini/19thc_murder_suicide_news huggingface dataset:
The Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle. — 1865-01-28 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

EXTRAORDINARY SUICIDE.  In Monday evening Mr. F. Mackenzie, coroner for the borough of Tiverton, Devon, held an is.. quest, at the sexton a house in Tiverton Cemetery, on the body of John Fewines, the gravedigger's son, a boy only 13 years old, who committed suicide, after quarrelling with a younger brother during a game of marbles under the subjoined circumstances:—  On saturdav last the deed, who is but 13 years of age as above stated , left his brother, with whom he had been at play, in anger, and had gone nobody knew whither. His father and mother having noticed his absence a short time afterwards, instituted a search of their premises, which are situated within the Cemetery, but could not find him. His father, finding that he had not returned up to a late hour, made further search in the town and communicated with the police at 11 o'clock in the night, but no tidings could be obtained of the missing boy, whose absence, through his being subject to fits, caused the parents great anxiety. All day on Sunday the father, with several friends and the police, carried the search into adjacent towns and villages. On returning from their fruitless mission shortly after dark on Sunday evening, Police-constable Cavil! met Mr. Fevrings at his house in the cemetery, and suggested that a search should be made in the cemetery, including both chapels. The distracted father replied that every place had been searched but the Dissenters' chapel, and it was of no use to go there as the door was locked, and there was the key on the dresser, where it had been since Friday night. However, at the request of the constable, Fewings caught up the key and went to the chapel. Before he could obtain a light he heard a loud cry from that direction, and on hurrying to the chapel • sickening spectacle presented itself. The boy was suspended by the neck by a sash-line fastened from the top staple bolt behied the chapel door, quite dead and cold, with a stool lying on the floor, evidently kicked from under him. Cavil! immediately cut down the body, and carried it to the house to await a coroner's inrinese The most remarkable part of the story is the singularly ingenious and deliberate manner in which the wretched boy must have committed the rash act. It would appear that, after parting from his little brother, he must have gone into the house te pawn himself of the key, and, having unlocked the chapel door, have replaced it where it was usually kept, to avoid suspicion. Ile must then have procured a ladder from an open grave, and, having taken a sash-line from one of the chapel windows, returned the ladder to the grave and then came back and completed the deed. The jury returned a verdict of "Suicide while in g state of unsound mind," and exenerated the parents from any blame in the matter.
The Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle. — 1865-09-09 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

FAMILY OF SUICIDES.—A few days ago the police found the corpses of three young girls who had terminated their existence with charcoal in one of the old houses of the Rue Beautreillis, Paris. It appeared that the family to which they belonged had a monomania Cm suicide ; that the father, in consequence of commercial misfortunes, had thrown himself from the top of the Tour ;•••t. Jacques; that his son had enlisted ft.f; a soldier, and then blown out his brains ; lastly, that Eugenie, one of the three girls, had made several attempts to commit suicide, and had been confined at Charenton. It was only a fortnight ago that her mother, thinking her entirely cured, withdrew her from that asylum and took her home. Eugenie being left alone with her two sisters, took the opportunity of converting them to her own ideas of life and death, the consequence of which was that they went out, bought charcoal, and then re-entered the room. The mother, on returning home, found her three daughters dead, in a kneeling posture, and all attired in their best dresses.  AN EXCITING WHALE On the morning of Tuesday last the fine nay of Vierowall, in the North of Scotland, presented an exciting spectacle. The tidings flew like wildfire that there was a large shoal of whales in the bay, and there was an immediate rush of all hands to boats and skiffs. The whales were observed swimming slowly along in a compact and magnificent line, about three-quarters of a mile in length. It was estimated that they could not number less than seven hundred. By rapid rowing and skilful steering seventy skiffs and boats succeeded in getting into the rear of the invading army of whales, and the shouting and noises of the various crews drove them well inshore. The pursuers were beginning to congratulate themselves on the prospect of the rich booty which almost seemed within their reach, when suddenly, and greatly to the chagrin of the crews, the whales wheeled round in a fierce charge, dashed under and between the crowd of boats, and rushed away out seawards with tremendous speed, blowing in chorus, and churning the waters of the hay into foam. The rowers were somewhat exhausted with pulling at high pressure speed, and they were likewise disappointed that they were not better requited for their toil.  INTERESTING TO rORIC
The Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle. — 1865-08-05 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

VERY MYSTERIOUS OCCURRENCE.—The following circumstances have been reported by the caretaker of a residence having a tale of suicide connected with it, and situated in a somewhat lonely position, surrounded by trees, in the vicinity of Blackrock (says the Dublin Express). Recently, between twelve and one o'clock at night, the narrator was alarmed by hearing footsteps ascending the house stairs of the mansion, of which he was for the time sole occupier and caretaker. Striking a light, and taking with him a double-barrelled gun, loaded with bullets, he entered the corridor from whence the sound of footsteps appeared to proceed, and there, at the head of the stairs leading to the corridor, he perceived by the dim light of his candle the figure of a man dressed in darkcoloured trousers and coat, and wearing a broad-leafed slouching hat. He called out, but, receiving no reply, he laid down the light and discharged both barrels at the figure, which disappeared. As he reports, he then proceeded to examine all the doors by which the staircase or corridor could be entered, but all were found securely fastened. After about an hour continued and loud noises were heard by the caretaker, proceeding as from the kitchen of the residence in question. Going in that direction, he again distinctly perceived the same figure standing motionless in the kitchen passage. IN. ow greatly alarmed, he again discharged his gun, which he had reloaded, and, in his confusion chopped both light and gun, ran from the house. Two police-constables of the F division were promptly on the scene, and a minute search was made throughout the premises, but nothing unusual was discovered save the dropped gun and candle, and bullet holes in the walls where the caretaker indicated having fired them. These circumstances, with the necessary reservation of names, are here given precisely as they have been related by the actors in them. Those who are fond of unravelling mysteries and accounting for ghost stories will probably easily arrive at the elucidation of this particular one.
The Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle. — 1865-01-14 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

DRAM TOROUOII CLII,OROFORM.—Ao iti.iiiiry has been held in London, respecting the death ot Mr. Magnus, aged 39. Mrs. Thorgood, housekeeper at Adelaide•chamberm, said that the deceased had offices on the second and third floors. He appeared to be in excellent health, but at ten o'clock on Friday night he bold her he had got the toothache and asked her what was the best remedy. She told him to put some laudanum in apiece of lint, but he Raid "be would try chloroform." Ile was then laughing, and seemed to be in good spirits. The next morning, Friday, she could not make him hear when she knocked at the door; she entered the room, when she discovered that he was dead. The police were called in, when a bottle of chloroform was found in his hand. There was nothing in his behaviour to lead her to believe that he committed suicide. The jury, after further evidence returned a verdict of "Accidental Death." TOE 11E10IIT OF SrIRES.—Mr. E. B. Denison writes in the Bui/dcr:—The highest spires, &c., are Salisbury, 404 ft.; St. Paul's, 356 ft. ; Coventry, 320 ft. ; Norwich, 313 ft. ; Louth, 2911 t. ; Grantham, 274 ft. ; Chichester was 271 ft. ; Newark not known mem rately; Lichfield, 2521 t. ; Wakefield, 247 ft. ; Trinity Church, Coventry, 2371 t. ; and several others (not of this list) are said to be about the same height. People will measure spires to the top of the weathercock ; and so it is only fair to give them all so. Boston tower is 268 ft ; Lincoln, 262 ft. ;Canterhury, 229 ft. ; Gloucester, and the two of Westminster, 2251 t. ; Ely and Durham, 215fL ; the three of York, and the two west towers of Lincoln and Beverley are, and Worcester probably will be, about 200 ft. ; the queer-lantern of Newcastle, 1911 t. ; All Saints', Derby, 180 ft. ; Doncaster, 1701 t. ; Wells, 1651 t. ; Bath and Ludlow, 1621 t, ; Taunton and St. Cuthbert's, Wells, 150 ft.; 1 know of no other of that height; and it is not worth while to go lower or add further details.  A
The Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle. — 1865-12-02 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

DISTRESSING SUICIDE BY A YOUNG  WOMAN.  An inquest has bean held at liolton to inquire into the cause of the death of a young woman nanied Catherine Joyce, a domestic servant, aged 24 years. who died suddenly on Friday night last under the following circumstances  Mr. Whitehead, confectioner, said deceased came into his service on the 12th August last. On Friday night last he discharged deceased from his service without notice, paying her a week's wages in advance. She appeared much distressed in mind in consequence. Witness had missed some money out of the shop drawer, and called the deceased and three other servants together, and told them some money was missed out of the till, and asked if any of them knew anything respecting it. They all denied any knowledge of it. Witness afterwards consulted Mr. Harms, superintendent of police, and his advice, under the circumstances, was to discharge deceased without giving any specified reason; witness did not specially charge any of the servants with taking the money ; the deceased had occasionally access to the shop, and near the till, but he could not say whether she had been seen near it on that day. He missed the money between a quarter to and a quarter past five o'clock. During the time she had been in witness's service, she had been accustomed to purchase a poison known as "almond flavour." She had purchased that article for them during the week. It is used for flavouring pwidings and confec, ionery. Deceased had been informed that almond flavour was a ! poison, and the bottle containing it was labelled "poison." Deceased had always done her duty up to the time she was discharged in a most satisfactory manner.  Mr. T. Goodman, druggist, said: Between eight and nine o'clock en Friday night, a woman came to ilk shop and purchased some almond flavour. He never saw her before. When he purchased "essential oil of almonds" it was slot a poison, being purchased free from prussic said; but ir generated prussic acid by age. Essential oil of almonds contained from eight to 14 per cent of prussic acid. but before he purchased it it was freed from prussic acid by some process. Jonathan Fell, a labourer, said that about twenty minutes to nine o'clock on Friday night, he was going up Kay.street. and saw deceased going along the street. She flung something from her mouth. She was staggering at the time, and shortly fell to the ground. Witness went to her assistance: she was foaming at the mouth, breathed quick, her hands clenched, and was groaning. He thought she was in a nt. She was quite insensible. She was remov,-,1 to a beerhouse adjacent, but died before she reached there. _ . . . .  Dr. Settle proved that death was the result of an overdose of prussic acid. Oil of almonds was also poisonous, and he had never heard of it being sold without containing prussic acid. The jury found that deceased committed suicide while in a state of temporary insanity, advising Mr. Goodman also to put a poison label upon oil of almonds in future.
The Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle. — 1865-05-20 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

SHOCKING SUICIDE.  The whole of of North Lancashire has been startled by the announcement of the suicide of Mr. William Whelon, a gentleman of high position, and carrying on business at Lancaster and Preston, through pecuniary difficulties and the fear of exposure. Mr. NVhelon rose from a error office boy to be the secretary of the Little North• Western I tailway ; then he became a merchant and manufacturer ; afterwards he was made town-councillor, mayor, and magistrate of Lancaster. While mayor of Lancaster he was distillguinhed for his liberality and hospitality, and his wife, during his year of office, was presented with a silver cradle by the inhabitants. In addition to these positions, he was chairman of the Lancaster Athemsum Club and the Morecambe (as-works, vice-chairman and director of the New Waggon Company, a churchwarden, • leading Conservative, and generally a man of high influence and position. On Friday he was at Preston on business, and returned home in the evening. On Saturday it was rumoured that lie had forged and embezzled solos to a very large amount, varying, according to report, from 6,000/. to 20,000/. On the evening of that day a warrant was issued for his apprehension on the charge of stealing scrip belonging to the Little North-western Railway. The police went to his house' but be was absent. An officer was afterwards sent to Preston, where it was thought he might have gone, but he could not be found. On Sunday his dead body was found in the water at vleetwood.  The inquest on the body was held on Monday. The evidence given showed that he left home on Saturday evening in good health and spirits, that he walked along the coast towards Fleetwood, that at midnight he got a boat at Kaott-end, opposite Fleetwood, and about ten miles from Lancaster, rowed out a short distance in it, took something to drink, and jumped off the boat into deep water ; that his body was seen floating about off Fleetwood by a seaman' and was afterwards picked up and taken to one of the hotels.  The jury returned a verdict of "Found drowned." The deceased gentleman was about 43 years of age, and he has left a widow and seven children. It is said that his embarrassments had reference mainly to the Little North-Western Railway, of which he was the secretary.
The Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle. — 1864-08-13 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

ATTEMPTED MURDER AND SUICIDE.  On Saturday an inquest was held at Exeter, on the body of E izabeth Squirm, 35 years of age, who met with her de sth by jumping from a third-story window on the night of the election on 'Thursday last. Tire deceased, woo lived with her father, Mr. Phillip, Wellington Inn, Exeter, was a married woman with several children, one of whom was in her care, the rest being with the husband, who has been parted from his wife for the past six years. The fader stated in evidence that she was desired to retire to rest just ef ter 11. About a quarter oast 12 he and his wife also retired, when a few minutes afterwards they beard die child scream from a room overhead occupied by the deceased. Mr. Phillips, on going thence, discovered the deceased attempting to throw her child from the window, and with difficulty he rescued it and carried his grandchild down to his wife. During this interval the mother had thrown herself from the same window, hanging fora few moments by a guard rail of iron in front. She then let go her hold, and fell to the ground, pitching on her head and fracturing her skull. A po iceman heard the cries of "Murder," and on going to the house saw the woman inside the window, and asked her why she cried "Murder." She said "For protection from those below" (meaning her father and mother). She alsothreatened tojump out of the win' dow. She got ou the window sill, and the policeman exclaimed, " For God's sake, Mrs. Squiers, don't; go back !" She appeared excited, but took no notice of his warning. When she let go, the policeman attempted to catch her, but she struck on a projem Lion, which threw her out of his reach. She was cons veyed to the Devon and Exeter Hospital, where she remained insensible for two hours, and then died. A witness, Emma Tucker, living opposite, was awoke by the cries of murder, and heard Mr. Phillips say, "You have rohbed use day and night; I have found you out." She could look into the room frornher window. The child also cried out, "You have killed mother." This was corroborated by other witnesses, who were similarly disturbed. The father's evidence was very contradictory in this respect He said he had not an angry word with his daughter; that he had no fault to find with her, and con d assign no reason for the rash act. Three witnesses were examined, who proved that deceased had been driiikiiig v. r) freely throughout the day, and they positively asserted she vies drunk at 11 o'clock, and was frequently in that *tat*,  The inquiry occupied three hours, af:er which the jury were another hour endeavouring to come to • decision. The coroner then ordered them t be locked up without " 't, drink, tire, and candle," 11 h.-ing in favour of "temporary insanity,°' and four for fed:, On the door being I,,cked, however, one of tue Jurymen charged hi, mind, and made the number of those who thought the act one of insanity 12. A verdict to that effect was then returned.
The Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle. — 1864-11-05 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

GAMBLING AND SUICIDE. The -. Universal her beyond all things on earth? What had she to fear? and respectful appeal should be thrown aside with a hoots; h. would Probably base on one slipper and one be pinioning my limbs, and my mind to be swelling to 1 'es way by thrusting his neck through a in his pocket, Now the German Gazette" is making war on the gambling The lady screamed, implored, and prayed in vain. The contemptuous sneer. Look to it. If you, the people !mot. and the other boot would be '',at happened to be in the hamper, andcarriages stopped not, except to change horses, until of the Northern states shall austainthis act of tyranny, if, when be attacked Mr. Briggs, he took that boot • dimensions and cum:kite/soy of an eleven-such shell just ready to exploit's I-awaked off to Doctor Sempihouses in Germany. It publishes a list of the suicides 'Se. Ile was quiet dead on arrival, the next morning, when it was already far away from your own time will soon come. If the President of helei:rt°ruisidgibtainblowans with the from his pocket, held it in the middle of the sole, tennis Everybody at Saratoga knows Doctor SempiI sem examination his body was w.,.hisal? ts,aavo taken place at these residences.. At cthishaLM,aaindthife, ahtnollhio.wag, it gives the number as 7; at Nalthei.m 3 • Paris on the road to Italy! At Fontainebleau the ball- the United States may "manage his Ride of the conterms, that knelly and geniel physician who is such a se goose, but with a peculiar a''Y !bwi ' , dress was changed for s travelling costume ; the test" by setting aside the very letter of the Constetut Homburg, Li ; and at Wilhemsbad 2. By adding to ilia d I the fl owe s an, e ewers were exchanged for a con- tion and altering the election laws of the State so as d i hi,,~ h. liberty • with his development about the shoulders, his supple energy da,,andrifirmia bin , capital hand at short whist. " What spring was it ?" he asked I told him the one in the Clarendongrounds. 1 , the above the suicides, which have not precisely taken e 1; e
The Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle. — 1864-11-05 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

EFFECTS OF IMAGINATION. ODCP, at a large dinner party (says Mr. Babbage), Mr. Rogers was speaking of an inconvenience arising from the custom, then commencing, of having windows formed of one large sheet of plate-glass. Ile said that, • abort time aga, he ...at at dinner with his hank to one of these single panes of plate-glass: it appeared to him that the window was Ingle open, and inch was the force of imagination, that he actually caught cold. It no happened that I was sitting just opp-ite the poet. Hearing this remark, I immediately said, "Hear me, how add it is, Mr. Rovers, that you and I should make such a very different use if the faculty of imagination. When I go to the house of a friend in the country, and unexpectedly remain for the night, having no night-cap, I should naturally catch cold. But, by tying a bit of packdhread t ghtly round my head, I go to sleep imagining that I have a night cap on; consequently I catch no cold at all." This sally produced much amusement in all around, who supposed I had improvised it; but, odd as it may appear, it isa practice I have often resorted to. Mr. R ' ogers who knew full well the respect and regard I had fir his, saw at once that I was relating a simple fact, and joined cordially in the merriment it excited. A SUICIDAL Goosa —Geese, it seems, like mortal men, are prone at times to acts of violence and to suicidal mania (says a Worcester paper). Recently  we recorded, in connection with the exhibition of poultry in this city, some strange doings on the part of three large geese belonging to Mrs. Reaman, of Aylesbury, which tork it into their heads to break their prison bonds and walk by " iinoonlight alone- amongst the rows ot pens that tilled the Corn Exchange, bantering their leas fortunate companions, and especially eouse ducks of their mistress's, whose docility and enhinimion to orders they seemed very much to ridieule. After trying to pick warr•dm with several of the game coax, who coll.! not retaliate, they were reconveyed by the keeper to their pen, mid during the exhibition their mischievous propensities displayed themselves in more ways than one. At the concluaion of the [dhow they were packed off to Aylesbury, but the ringleader of the three put an end to his existence on the way by thrusting his neck through a loop of string that happened to be in the hamper, and fro committed suicide, lie was quiet dead on arrival, and on a poet mortem examination his body was found to weigh 201 b., a fine goose, but with a peculiar taste.  JUVENILE BLOJltate