npedrazzini/19thc_murder_suicide_news huggingface dataset:
The Sun. — 1835-04-14 (London, England)

HATTON-GARDEN.  Yesterday John Willis, and William Wright, alias Gully Reed, well-known thieves, were re-examined, charged with having broken into the dwelling house of E. Hartley, Esq., of Southampton, and stolen therefrom bank notes, sovereigns, silver plate, and other property to the amount of nearly 2,000/. Crawford, 131 G division, on Saturday night week about eight o'clock, was passing through Bleeding Heart-yard, Holborn, when he saw the prisoners Willis and Wright in a state of intoxication, and- he took them to the station house. On searching them he found bank post bills, Bank of England and Romsey notes, and sovereigns, to the amount of 7271. The prisoner Willis was so affected by what he had drank that he was sent to the hospital. Superintendent Dixon of the G division stated that inquiries had been made at the Bank of England, and the notes were traced to belong to Mr. Hartley, of Southampton. Through subsequent inquiries he had ascertained that Mr. Hartley was at Calais, and shortly after his departure his house was entered by thieves, who forced open an iron chest, from which they stole the whole of the plate and other Property to a considerable amount, and made their escape. He had communicated with Mr. Hartley by letter, and that gentleman would be in town in a week. The prisoner Willis had been once transported and was confined in the Penitentiary, Milbank, and he had attempted to poison himself. Wright had also been convicted. They were both well known as Southampton thieves ; and the latter went by the name of Gully Reed. Terry, a police officer of Southampton, knew both the prisoners, and confirmed the statement of Mr. Dixon. Willis, in his defence, had found the property on the Southampton-road, and came to London to seek employment at his trade, a shoemaker. Wright was a shoemaker, and accompanied Willis to London to get work. They denied all knowledge of any robbery. They contradicted themselves on various points. Mr. LAING remarked that information had been received that the prisoners had been seen in London with a large bundle, which, no doubt, contained the plate or other valuable property, and in order that further inquiries might be made, he should remand the prisoners for a week. The prisoner Willis attempted to commit suicide since his apprehension, and Terry expressed his conviction, that he would no doubt accomplish his design, if not strictly watched.
The Sun. — 1835-10-14 (London, England)

SUICIDE.—OiI Monday afternoon an inquisition was held before Mr. Higgs, at the Rising Sun, CharlesstreA, Grosvenor-square, on the body of a man, name unknown, who drowned himself in the Serpentine-river, Hydepark. appeared that on Friday morning, about eleven o'clock, teceased was twice seen to clamber over the uarapet of the serpentine-bridge, and the last time to deliberately jump into the middle of the stream, where he sunk in about eight feet :veer. Two lads who witnessed the act, ..ttgane Society's receiving-house, and instantly ran to the 1; informed Bastin of the ci ``amity. Bastin instantly put off . his boat, and after dragzingCur about seven minutes the body was found, but life was tca'allY extinct. The deceased had on a black coat, striped waista oat, and drab trousers ;: his bat was nearly new, and had the maker's name, " derdown," in it, but. on inquiring there the constable could - found only lean that the person who purchase:l the hat was a stranger, who paid for it, and took it away , ith him. His linen was unmarked. In the pockets of his dresl were three keys, one a latch one, and an ivory lable, with the words, in reversed letters, " John Bell" cut in it. No evidence whatever as to who he was could be obtained. Under these circumstances, the Jury returned a verdict that the deceased committed suicide, by throwing himself from the Serpentine-bridge, but what his state of mind was at the time, they had no evidence to show. fire broke out at the hour of eleven 0;c.,--kek on Sunday night last, in the rick-yard of Mr. Turner, at N;Ninstone, in the parish of Wingham, about utcrbury. The estate belongs to J. P. x miles from C.' Plumptrc, Esq., for the Eastern Division of the pposCt that the incendiary carried his diabolical project into effect by firing the barn, the testicounty, It is su mony of individuals agreeing as the precise spot of the Pil;_ie wind blew a complete firo when it was first discovered. hurricane at the• time from the northwest, which gave so much activity to the flames, that in a sho: t time the whole including the vcrious buildings of Mr. Turner's property, in the yard, and the implements of trade, we "e one sheet of flame. At this time several persons had eo.nregated, but such was the fury of the element, that all Llieir endeavours proved fruitless, as in a few minutes the sta:!ks of Mr. Palmer, a farmer in an adjoining yard, also took fire, and together with the out-buildings, burnt furiously totif they were entirely reduced to ashes. Two valuable drafthorses, two 'flitch cows, and twenty hogs and pigs, the joint property of the above individuals, fell a prey to the devouring element. Mr. Turner is amply secured, but to 'Mr. Palmer the loss must prove ruinous, as he Lad -not iulopted the precaution of insuring his stock and buildings. The magistrates in the neighbourhood of Wingham have been active in endeavouring to trace out the author of' the mischief, but up to the present. moment: no satisfactory clue has been ascertained.  1111111  '••-•
The Sun. — 1835-12-17 (London, England)

TIIE PHANTOM' COACII.—A number of the more nervous portion of tho inhabitants of this town have lately been alarmed by a report that a phantom coach perambulates the different streets of the town almost every night at the " witching hour." We have not heard if any one has had the good (or bad) fortune to see this nocturnal visitant ; but certain it is that many have heard it, who affirm that they can easily distinguish the sound of it from that of any other ordinary, or material, coach—it giving no intimation of its approach until apparently within about ten yards of their domicilos, and the sound dying away in the distance before any other coach, drawn by the fleetest horses, could have proceeded ten yards farther. It would also appear that its peregrinations arc extended to a wide circuit, as it is not heard every night, but often allows one or two nights to elapse before it again returns ; and, judging by the sound, it must travel at a pace infinitely swifter than any locomotive carriage yet invented.—Kelso Chronicle.  On Saturday afternoon the neighbourhood of Devonshire-place, Chiswick, was thrown into a state of the most painful excitement, by the discovery of the following most dreadful attempt at suicide :—lt appears that in consequence of loud screams being heard issuing from the house of Mr. Hill, No. 5, in that place, several persons instantly proceeded to the spot, and on going to the back room on the first floor, they found Mr. Hilllying on the ground, weltering in blood, and on examining him they iiscovered an extensive wound on the right side of his neck, and it was also subsequently found he had stood over a washhand basin, and with a razor had mutilated his person in a horrid and indescribable manner. Mr. Loadnian, surgeon, of Hammersmith, was immediately sent for, with his assistant, promptly attended, and did .everything which humanity and surgical skill could suggest, but we regret to say, that although alive yesterday afternoon, very little hopes arc entertained of his ultimate recovery. The unfortunate man, who has for years been employed in. the office of Mr. Whittingham, the extensive printer at Chiswick, has recently laboured under great ~depression of spirits.
The Sun. — 1835-07-29 (London, England)

ORGANS.—Tho first mention of an organ w—co to be found (in our Northern Historians) is A. D. 757, yi Constantine Campronymus, Emperor of the East, sent tagsill King of France (Pepin), among other rich presents, a 71d cal machine, which the French writers describe to have composed of pipes, and large tubes of tin : and to have lot tated sometimes the roaring of thunder, and sometinlea4l soft warbling of a flute. A lady was so affected at h": 10 it played on for the first time, that she fell into a delitl "from which," says Froissart, " shoe never after ever I) perlie recovered." THE LIBERTY OF THE PRESS IN FRANLIee The Press, says the Minerva, is permitted to assert that t is neither virtue, morality, God, or the existence of the sunry but that it is expressly forbidden, on pain of five years' i.°l,cf sonment, and a fine of 10,000 francs, to deny the legitroto of the truth-promising Charter, and the Divinity of Philip on earth. This observation is made in reference t-vid trial of Bancal for murder, the advocate of the accused ha charged the press with justifying suicide. An old Lieutenant in the 25th (that is to say, 00 cient in his military sense, having been a sub of some 01, eOOl year's standing) used to give me a reason for his attaceePier to the West Indies, in which that corps for the last hall 011 tury has been almost a fixture. "By Jove it's a beat! 01 place, for you're always thirsty, and there's plenty to drier' Craven, in the Sporting Magazine. te In consequence of the vigorous proceedings adly. in the case of the daily unstamped paper by the proper Au 00 rities, in order to protect the revenue and the fair dealeP attempt to brave the law has already been put down, as paper has ceased to be published. 651/' As Mr. James Stanger was one day last week hid ing with fly on Keswick Lake, he caught a small trout, /1/511)' he was in the act of drawing out, when a pike, abotit, Or' weight, seized upon it and retained its bold so firmly, thaoi Stanger easily secured both with a small landing uet.---• morelqnd Gazette. A thistle of prodigious dimensions, though poi quite so large as that described in our paper of TuesdaYt o i tr be seen growing in a garden on the lower road between P mersmith and Fulham. The daily dieting of the paupers in St. Cuthbii,eisrld'' workhouse, Edinburgh, amounts, according to a pub account, to seven farthings a head. A mushroom was taken from a field at Stotforcitiso° Monday last, which measured nearly three feet in 61011 ference, one foot diameter, and weighed one and 804' pound ; the stock was seven inches round. —Bristol Olt 0
The Sun. — 1835-03-23 (London, England)

CORONER'S INQUEST.—On Saturday an inquest was held at the Spread Eagle, Hackney, on the body of Miss Jane Cavannah, aged 20, the daughter of very respectable parents residing in the above parish. A man named Carr stated that about twelve o'clock on Thursday night he heard the cry of " Help, help," and on hastening to the canal at Cambridge-heath he saw the deceased struggling in the water. At that instant a gentleman came up and threw a rope to the deceased, but she was incapable of laying hold of it, and she sunk to the bottom. Witness procured the drags, and after the lapse of half an hour he got the body out of the water. A surgeon appeared on the spot, and when he examined the deceased he said he thought she was not quite dead, but he made no attempt to restore animation. Mr. Baker, the Coroner, remarked that it was exceedingly neglectful of the surgeon : common humanity ought to have led him to resort to the usual means. He (the Coroner) had no doubt of the young woman being saved had the surgeon attempted to restore animation. The witness Carr stated that the owner of the flare and Hounds refused to have the body brought into his house, and the Coroner advised that the fact might be mentioned to the licensing Magistrates. The mother of the deceased deposed that on Thursday evening she had a few words with her daughter about some sewing, when the deceased flew into a violent passion, as was her practice when in the least put out of her way. In answer to questions witness said that the violent and turbulent disposition of the deceased was her only fault ; she was a highly accomplished girl, and had not long since completed her education at a boarding-school. Witness had no doubt the deceased threw herself into the water, having thrice before attempted suicide. The Coroner, after censuring the conduct of the surgeon and the keeper of the Hare and Hounds public-house, observed that, as there was no evidence to show how the deceased got into the water, he should advise the Jury to return a verdict of " Found Drowned," which verdict was recorded.
The Sun. — 1835-08-17 (London, England)

DETERMINED ATTEMPT AT SUICIDE BY A YOUNG FEMALE, AND INTREPID CONDUCT OF A SAILOR.-On Tuesday night, about half-past ten o'clock, a young woman, named Louisa Williams, made n most determined attempt to put a period to her existence los jumping over the bridge into the Reg-ent's Canal, close to the chain factory of Messrs. Brunton, in the Commercial-road East. It appears, that the unfortunate young woman, who is not wore than 22 years of age, and who possesses considerable attraeSions, had been, as she alleges, seduced about two years ago, by a wealthy tradesman, in the parish of St. Ann, Limehouse. After the accomplishment of his object, her seducer took a house for Miss Williams, and furnished it in very good style, kept iesr in very comfortable circumstances, with a servaut and other necessaries for her use, until a few months since, when thinking a second establishment rather expensive, he decided on breaking it up, and discontinued his visits and protection towards Miss Williams. This circumstance had made such an impression upon her mind That she had resolved, it appears, to destroy herself, and with this end in view, had swallowed a dose of opium. This, however, not having the desired effect, she determined upon drowning herself. Daring the whole of Tues. day she appeared to be in a most desponding state, and at 10 o'clock she left her house alone, with the intention, as it afterwards appeared, of carrying her purpose into effect. Her servant, perceiving the state of her mind, and suspecting she meant something rash, followed her at some distance unperceived, and on seeing her mount the balustrade of the Regent's Canal-bridge, she rushed forward with the intention of getting hold of her, but before she could do so, Miss Williams had got beyond her reach, and dropped into the water. The screams of the servant attracted the attention of a young sailor, who was accidentally passing at the time, and he, with. out scarcely waiting to know the case, except being told by the servant that her mistress gas drowning, jumped over the bridge, and had to fall at least 40 feet before lie reached the water. He fortunately succeeded in bringing Miss Williams on shore, and she was conveyed: to the Volunteer public-house, where by restoratives she recovered, but as soon as she could articulate, she declared that it was'useless to save her, as she was determined ..to. give Mr. Bakei''(the- Coroner) a jab. Her friends, who had been sent for, endeavoured to dissuade her from her rash intention, and yestertity:she was removed tO the residence of her mother, a most respectable woman.
The Sun. — 1835-04-30 (London, England)

SUICIDE.—An inquest was held at Sculcoates, Hull, on Wednesday last, on the body of Jane Cockcroft, aged 24, who had destroyed herself by taking arsenic. It appeared that an attachment had subsisted between deceased and a young man named Hale ; he had promised to make her his wife, and for the last three months the marriage had been expected. On Sunday the deceased arrived at the house of Hale's mother, and there met him in the evening. The family received her as usual, and did every thing to make her comfortable. Hale, however, spent very little time with her, and very few words passed between them. On Monday he was out the greater part of the day, and in the afternoon intimated that he was going out to tea, and should not return till late. His sister and the deceased sat up waiting for him until 11 o'clock, when the former retired to rest, leaving deceased in the kitchen, who said she'would sit up till 12. The young man arrived about 1 o'clock, but in the mean time the deceased had swallowed a quantity of arsenic, which made her very sick. She afterwards became worse, and, having at length confessed that she had taken poison, a surgeon was sent for, who attended immediately and administered proper remedies. The poison had, however, been too long on the stomach, and all his efforts to counteract its effects were vain, and she died shortly after. From the evidence of several witnesses as to what had fallen from deceased relative to the cause of her taking the arsenic, it appeared that she had been pregnant fin- some months, although there was not the slightest evidence to implicate Hale, who declared that it was his intention to have married her as soon as he could make the necessary arrangements. He had himself heard that she was pregnant, but did not believe it. The Jury returned a verdict of " Temporary Insanity."
The Sun. — 1835-03-16 (London, England)

FACT.  MELANCHOLY SUICIDES.—Between eight and nine o'clock on Sunday evening the inhabitants of Mitrestreet, New Cut, were alarmed by a report that a young man and his wife, of the name of Clayton, had committed suicide at their lodgings, No. 22, Mitre-street. From the inquiries which we have made, it appears that the unfortunate persons were natives of America, and had taken a ready furnished room of a coal-dealer of the name of Close. While residing there they became extremely reduced, and in consequence ran between 31. and 41. in debt for rent ; and, we understand, often went without the common necessaries of life. In the course of the week Mr. Close informed them that he wanted his rent, and if they did not pay it he must request of them to leave his house. The unfortunate couple, who appeared extremely dejected, referred him to a merchant in the city, who in reply informed Mr. Close that lie would call upon him, Mr. Clay.. ton, on the Friday. From some cause this person failed in keeping his appointment, and on Saturday morning Mr. Close went up to the room occupied by the deceased persons, and knocked at the door. Not receiving any answer, he thought they were in bed and asleep, and he then went down stairs. In the course of the morning he and his wife became extremely alarmed in consequence of not seeing either Mr. or Mrs. Clay.. ton during the day, and on seeing a police constable Mr. Close mentioned his suspicions, and begged of him to break open the door, which was done, when the first thing which presented itself to their view was the bodies of the unfortunate couple dead in the bed. The ill-fated pair had, it appears, obtained a quantity of charcoal, which they ignited, having previously stopped the chimney with the carpet, as well as the smallest aperture, so as to prevent the escape of the noxious vapour exhaled by the charcoal from escaping. When discovered it was evident they had been dead for some hours, as the lire was out and the bodies were quite cold. We have not been able to ascertain whether the unfortunate young man had any profession or business, or who and what were his connections; they were supposed to be respectable, as their mannerswere those of persons moving in the higher circles of society, and they had been married about eighteen or twenty months. The bodies of the ill-fated couple, are waiting the result of a Coroner's Inquest, which, we understand, will be helsl tomorrow.
The Sun. — 1835-03-17 (London, England)

MELANCHOLY SUICIDES.  In addition to the statement which appeared in our paper of yesterday, relative to the extraordinary suicides of two young persons, residing in Mitre street, Lambeth, we are enabled to add the following additional particulars. The deceased, whose name is Isaac S. Clason, was connected with some of the principal families in the United States, and related to some of the members of the Government.. Although endowed with considerable talents, he exhibited an extreme partiality for the stage, and was well-known some months back to the performers of the Victoria and Surrey Theatres, and had lived for several months in the immediate neighbourhood. On going to Mr. Close's, which is about four months ago he was asked for a reference, when he gave one to a gentleman of the name of Thompson, residing in 'Wood-street, Cheapside, who, in reply, stated the high respectability of his family and connexions, but ever since he had been living in Mr. Close's house he had never been seen out of doors, nor was the female (of whom there exists some doubts as to whether she was his wife), ex. cept at night ; and their leaving the room was only ascertained by Mrs. Close placing on the stairs small articles, which, by being removed, showed the egress which took place at night. The last time the female was seen was about 10 o'clock on Friday night, when she went down stairs for a bundle of wood, which was subsequently used for igniting the charcoal. When the room was broken open, the bodies were discovered in a bed, Clason undressed, with a shawl partly round him, and firmly grasped with his right band; his hair and beard had evidently never been touched since he had taken possession of the room. The female was dressed. 'They were close to each other, on their backs, with their eyes open, presenting a most disagreeable appearance. On Roberts the beadle being sent for, he took possession of a large number of duplicates, some of which related to valuable property, and a paper, of which the following is a copy " On demand, I promise to pay A. W. Clason the sum of 371 francs 55 cents., for value received. Oct. 20, 1833." " Z. W.