npedrazzini/19thc_murder_suicide_news huggingface dataset:
The Express. — 1867-10-23 (London, England)

TBE POLICE COURTS.  MANSION-HOrSE.  1 Selina Salter, &young woman who has been frequently before the court, was charged with creating a disturbance at the homeless poor ward of the East London Union, in New-street, Bishopagate-street. It appeared that she had called there and asked for an order to admit her into the workhouse, but was told to go to the relieving officer. Instead of doing so she commenced kicking at the door and caused considerable annoyance, until she was taken into custody. In her cell she was visited at 2 o'clock by an officer, who found her lying on the door with one of her tied tightly round her seek, and it was believed if startehels; been left for some time longer by herself she would have been strangled. He immediately cut the garter, and walked her up and down the penman for a short time afterwards visiting her every ten minutes. At a quarter to five he found another garter tied round her neck as tight as the other, and on being questioned as to her conduct she said she would rather commit suicide than go to Holloway again. Mr. Alderman Dakin—How often have you been in prison' Prisoner—l do not know.  Partridge, an officer of the court—Fifty times, I should think, if not sixty. (Laughter.) The officer added, that three weeks ago, in accordance with instructions from the Lord Mayor, who had done everything for her he could. be accompanied her to Paddington station, and paid her fare to Bath, where her friends resided. He gave her a sandwich and some money, and saw her off by the train, but whether she had gone to Bath or not he could not say. The prisoner said she had, but her father, seeing her name so often in the papers, did not want her to stay. Alderman Hokin said she had been guilty of an offence in attempting to commit suicide, and he had no alternative but to send her to prison. She must find security for her future good behaviour, herself and one surety in 20/. , or go to gaol for two months. The prisoner was then removed to the lock-up, where she conducted herself very violently, and continued for some time screaming at the top of her voice. J,hn Barton, a foreman tailor, was brought up on a charge of robbing his employer, Mr. Robert Bousfield, wholesale clothier, P.Ni Houndsditch.  The prisoner bad been in the service of the prosecutor for thirty years, and his duty as foreman was to superin• tend the other eighty or ninety men employed in the tailoring department. Hitherto he bad borne a good character, but for a week past Mr. Bousfield had had reason to suspect him. In consequence of this he called in a detective, who searched the pnsoner as he was leaving the premises about 7 o'clock on Monday evening, and found concealed in his pockets and hat 21 yards of cloth and 4 yards of alpaca, value about If. His wages during the whole time bad been :His. a week. At his house there were several pieces of cloth, but the prosecutor could not identify them as his property. The prisoner, who admitted his guilt, was committed to the Old Bailey for trial.
The Express. — 1867-04-25 (London, England)

THE SUBPICIOUR DEATH IN THE RIVER COLNZ. On Tuesday afternoon the inquest on the human remains found in the old bed of the River Coins was resumed. It may be remembered that the clothes, together with certain documents, found with the fragments of the body, showed that the remains were those of Mr. R. Worswick, railway contractor, who disappeared some twelve months ago. Several heavy plows of iron, and pieces of wire, which appear to have been attached to the body, were produced, as well as the following papers found in the bottom of a ragged carpet-bag, raked out from the water with the remains :—A cheque for 491. la. ltd., drawn upon the bank of Messrs. Bacon, Cobbold, and C., of Ipswich, signed " R. Wonwick," and dated Jan. 25, 1861 ; an invoice made out by Messrs. Ransoms and Sims against Mr. Worswick for 411. Is. 111. ; several bills and receipts, and other papers. Evidence was given to show that on the last time deceased was seen alive he appeared to be is his ordinary health and spirits. Mr. John Worswiok was then called and said—l am now living at 8, Shrewsbury-road, Westbourne-park, Bayswater. Deceased was my father, and was 59 or 60 years of age. I was in partnership with him as a railroad contractor, and we contracted for the making of the line from St. Botolph's-street to East Gate and the Hytbe. That work was in progress in November, 1865, and my father was frequently backwards and forwards on the line. On the evening of the 21st or 22nd of November, 1865, I last saw him at his residence in Magdalen-street. He then told me he was going to Leicester to see a brother. He had a brother at Leicester. He told me this at night, just as be was going to bed. The witness then, in reply to the coroner, entered into a statement of the business affairs , ' of his father, so far as he was acquainted with them, and said he knew of nothing which would have been likely to ; induce the deceased to commit suicide. In reply to the foreman, the witness said his father might have had sonic money about him which he (witness) did not know of. He also said lie ascertained afterwards that his father spent two days at the Crown Hotel, St. Martin's-court, Lewes' ter.equare, in London, after he left Colchester, after which he never heard of him. He (witness) went to the Crown Hotel and made inquirin, but did not ask whether his father cashed any cheque. He paid his bill and sent it to witness on the Monday, which led to his going to the Crown Hotel (where his father was well known) and making inquiries. The jury returned an open verdict of " Found drowned."
The Express. — 1867-01-09 (London, England)

MELANCHOLY SUICIDE OF A BARONESS.—TIIO I mit' prude WY Beige contains the following account of the death of the Baroness Ds:standee :—" A fearful catastrophe has brought desolation upon the family of 31. Simon Oppenbeim, one of the heads of the great banking firm of Solomon Oppenheim and Co., of Cologne. His daughter, Mal Le. the Baroness Deslandes, who married one of the youngest and most distinguished of the sub-prefeets of the French empire, had come to spend the Christmas holidays in Cologne with her family, leaving her two young children, whom she did not wish to expo'e to the inclemency of the weather, behind her in France. On the 'pith of December, in the midst of the family rejoicings, she received • letter from her governess, informing her that her little daughter had been coughing for some hours, but that the doctor said it was of no consequence. On this news the imagination of the young mother became excited. She thought that her daughter was very ill, and she reproached:herself for having left her children behind. Her husband, father, and mother endeavoured to tranquillise her by representing that the letter was of a favourable character, but nothing could dissipate her fears, and she determined on leaving Cologne at once, to make prepsrations for which she went to her chamber on the second story, 'Ger husband following her, but on finding that he ' could not shake her determination to leave, he came down to give instructions for the journey. Shortly afterwards he returned upstairs, accompanied by his sister-inlaw. On entering the room they found it empty. A window was open. In a moment of frenzy, produced by over anxiety, the baroness bad flung herself out. On being taken up, she said in • feeble voice ' What have I done! I thought I had wings, and that they would take me to my children.' Alas ! she was never to see them more. There was a hope for some days that she might recover, but it was not realised, for she died on the 31st December, aged 24."
The Express. — 1867-04-20 (London, England)

THE NORTH-EASTERN RATLWAY.—An alarming collision occurred in a tunnel upon the Newcastle and Tynemouth branch of the North-Eastern Railway on Thursday afternoon. The tunnel runs under North Shields, and as the passengers at the station at that place were waiting for the 3 o'clock train from Tynemouth to Newcastle, to emerge from the tunnel to take them on, they heard a fearful crash, followed by a locomotive coming outof the tunnel. and they lied in all directions. They thought an explosion had occurred; this was not the ease, but a passenger train had run into a heavy goods train. It seems that a goods train left the Tynemouth station shortly before 3 o'clock ; bat from some cause—it is said for want of water --the driver had lost his steam, and the consequence was that the train, a long one, had stuck in the middle of the tunnel. Through some blundering of the signal men the tunnel had been signalled clear for the 3 o'clock passenger train from Tynemouth, and the result was that it ran with tremendous fore. into the standing goods train. Four goods wagons were completely " smashed up," and the line was entirely blocked. The goods engine by some means was got out of the tunnel, and the accident was telegraphed to Newcastle. A large staff of workmen were brought down and the line was cleared to allow the 5.10 train to proceed to Tynemouth. Several of the passengers in the train which ran into the waggons were hurt, but no Geneve injuries occurred. The signalman at the North Shields station has been suspended, and the cause of the collision is being carefully inquired into by the railway authorities, the accident being • very unfortunate affair for the company, on the ere of the Easter holidays and in the fevered state of the public mind with regard to the enene-drivers' strike.SUICIDE OP A FARMER Ill'
The Express. — 1867-10-25 (London, England)

ATTEMPTED MURDER AND SUICIDE.—On the leonine: of the 21st inst. a lodging.houso keeper of Epworth, Lincolnshire, named William Daniel Webb. attempted to murder his wife and then take away his ewn life. It appears the man doubted his wife's fidelity, and in order to be avenged he, About 6 o'clock on Monday morning last, commenced an attack upon his wife, beating her about the head and other parts of the body with a hammer so severely that he left her for dead. He then walked up the road leading to Iturithem, and there deliberately cut his own throat. Not bleeding sufficiently, however, to cause death, he walked to the police station awl gave himself up to Mr. Superintendent lieneon, stating that be had killed his wife and hail attempted to bleed himself to death. He was locked up, and Mr. IL W. Pullen, surgeon of Epwoith, was called in to attend to his wounds. He was afterwards taken before the lion. and Rev. C. Duodsa, who remanded him until Friday, the 25th Jesuit. It appears that Webb and his wife have always lived unhappily together, and about nine years ago he ran away, leaving her and her family chargeable to the parish. He returned about nine months ago, e hen lie was sent to prison for neglecting his wife and family. The poor woman's injuries were not fatal, but she now lies in a very precarious state. SH IPPINO Dieasenta.—lntelligence was yesterday received in Liverpool to the effect that a hurricane passed over the Antilles on the 7th October,and 11 easels are reported to have been lost. This news is brought by the French steamer Imperetriceßugenie which has wired at Nantes with the French West India mall. The Vortex, bound from Quebec to Waterford, timber laden, was spoken on the 4th October with ft feet of water in her hold, and bearing up for Sydney, Cape Breton. The Dutch barque Krinopemvaal, bound from Batavia to Rotterdam. is reported to have been wrecked on the '-':trd September in Alcoa Bey. A large number of spruce deals have been washed ashore at Portmailoc. The steamship Osiris, Captain Connolly, bound from Liverpool to Alexandria, his been compelled to put into Lisbon, with machinery till,. abled—it is said the blades of the screw have been carried away.
The Express. — 1867-09-17 (London, England)

MARLBOROUGH-STREET.  at raldine Merrice, described as a " lady," of the Villa Swanage, Dorsetahire, and havingthe allows of " Durant," Hope," " Grant," "Mrs. Somerset," the " Hon. Mrs. Menrice", &c., charged with obtaining an emerald and diamond ring, and divers other articles of jewellery, of the value of 1141., by means of false pretence, from Mr. Douglas Cave, jeweller, of Mount-street, Grosvenor-square, was again brought before Mr. Tyrwhitt. It may be remembered that on the last occasion it was stated that the prisoner, under different aliases, had been carrying on a moat successful system of fraud, and that she wan taken into custody at Wareham, Dorsetshire, on a warrant obtained through the exertions of Mr. Cave. She was remanded last week, that Sergeant Cole, of the C division, might proceed to Wareham, and take possession of the property obtained by the prisoner from the London tradesmen, a great deal being in her possession when she was taken into custody. Mr. Morgan, of the firm of Humphrey and Morgan, appeared for the prosecution ; and Mr. Edward Lewis, of Great Marlborough-street, for the defence. Mr. Morgan said by direction of his worship Sergeant Cole went to Dorsetshire, for the purpose of having the property obtained from the London tradesmen given up to him, but the superintendent of police there, for some reason or other, declined to let him have it, and he had, therefore, to ask that the case might be allowed to stand over till the superintendent could be served with a crown subpoena to produce the property. Mr. Tyrwhitt said he thought it was understood that the property was to be given up by the Dorsetshire gentleman—that was the property obtained from the Loudon tradesmen.  Sergeant Cole said that in Dorsetshire they could not underetand the giving up of property. They had an idea that all the property found in the prisoner's house belonged to her. Mr. Morgan said he would settle the matter by sending the superintendent a crown subpoena. He was prepared to go on with one case—that of obtaining goods from Madame Ruttens, milliner, of Berners-street the prisoner representing herself to Madame Ruttcns as the Hun. Mrs. Meurice. Madame Ruttens, believing that the prisoner was the Hon. Mrs. Meurice, entrusted her with goods. On a future occasion he should be prepared with other cases. Evidence in support of that case having been taken the prisoner was again remanded. Mr. Lewis—There is a story about that the prisoner while in custody at Wareham attempted to commit suicide. I wish to state that nothing of the kind really occurred. The prisoner put on a dress which had been altered, and a needle, which bad been accidentally left in it, penetrated the prisoner's breast. The prisoner, who was accommodated with a seat, and kept her face concealed from a large number of persons in court, amongst whom there were several tradesmen who had been victimised by her, was then again remanded.
The Express. — 1867-11-01 (London, England)

SUICIDE THROUGH ♦ HUSBAND'S BRUTALITY.  Mary Ann Edwards, an interesting young woman, of 22 years of age, was placed at the bar before Alderman Hale, charged with attempting to poison herself by taking laudanum.  George Grigg, 323, said that last night about 10 minutes past 10 o'clock, the prisoner came to him at the corner of Ironmonger-buildings and she sad she had poisoned herself with laudanum. He questioned her as to how much she bad taken, and why she did it, and she replied that she bad taken one pennyworth. She said she bad been married only three months, and she was driven to it, because her husband knocked her about so. She bad then two black eyes, which she said her husband gave her on Friday night. He took her to the hospital and the doctor who saw her said she had not taken much—not enough to destroy life. The mother of the prisoner, a very respectable person, here stepped into the witness-box, and, in answer to the magistrate, said her daughter had been married to a lazy brute of a fellow who would not work and knocked her about when she could not give him money. Since she had been married she had pawned all her clothes for him and yet he could not treat her well. On Friday last he gave her two black eyes, and on Saturday he struck her on the nose and made it bleed. _ _ _  Alderman Hale said she should have come to this court for protection, and the mildest course that would have been adopted towards him would have been to bind him oier to keep the peace. The mother said her daughter did not know what to do, she wu so much afraid of him.  Alderman Hale thought it was quite time that he was put into the dock to answer for his conduct. He asked the mother if she would t►ke ch►rge of her daughter and bring her up on a future day. The mother said she would. Alderman Hale then directed the prisoner to make the neoessav depositions, and issued his warrant for the apprehension of the fellow Edwards.
The Express. — 1867-09-09 (London, England)

MIL PROPERT. —The medical profession and the public will hear with regret of the sudden death of Mr. John Propert, of New Cavendish-street, Portland.plaee, who was of such eminent service in founding the Royal Benevolent Medical College at Epsom, and had the gratification of living to see it in full operation, and be►towing benefits upon tilt members and families of his less fortunate brethren. He was also a great supporter of the Welsh charities. He died yesterday, the Bth inst., after an apoplectic seizure.  - The Professorship of Natural History in the Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester, baa become vacant by the appointment of Dr. Traquair to the Chair of Zoo. locy in the new School of Science at Dublin. It is in the gift of the governor. From returns sent on Saturday to the Paddington Vestry-hall, it is shown that the Household Suffrage Bill will only affect three persons in the entire pariah. There are only three houses in the parish the tenants of which pay less than 10/. per annum. The lodger franchise, it is expected, will add about 5,000 to the constituency. - . .  A new promenade pier at New Brighton, estimated to cost about 20,000/., was opened to the public on Saturday. A regatta was held in the afternoon to celebrate the event. The repair of the landing stage and bridge, damaged by the recent collision with the screw steamer Galileo, is proceeding as rapidly as circumstances will permit. _ .  Benjamin Bullock, gamekeeper to Mr. Henry Nunn, of Broadbinds, in the Isle of Wight, committed suicide by shooting himself last week. He had been in a desponding state for some time in consequence of his ill success in rearing birds this reason on his master's estate through disease which prevailed amongst them. He was T 6 years of age, and was at one time a gamekeeper to Air Henry t)glander, Bart. _  - - -
The Express. — 1867-12-04 (London, England)

THE DEBATE IN THE CORPS LEGISLATIF. PARIS, Dw. 3, Brum.  In the Legislative Chamber to-day M. Chesnelong spoke in reply to the speech of M. Jnles Fevre. He maintained that the object of the expedition to Rome was the protection of a violated right. Now that the crisis had come it was neces' nary to guarantee efficaciously the existence and the safety of the temporal power. Italy had no claim upon Rome : she could not enter it without committing an act of suicide. M. Chesnelong concluded that the Roman question bears a European character ; the conference ought not to question the existence of the temporal power, but by an international act provide the means to guarantee it. France ought to perform that duty even without the aid of Europe. M. Simon denies that the temporal power is necessary for liberty of conscience. A catholic Pope protected was equivalent to a Pope a subject. It would be advisable, in his opinion, to separate the spiritual and the temporal power, and to carry out the formula of Cavour, a free church in a free State. M. Latour thanked the government for sending the expedition to Rome. He called upon the government always to maintain the temporal power of the Pope. M. Gudroult saw that whilst at Rome the influence of Roman ideas pervaded the French. Religion was simply in this case a political mask. The Roman question is not a rallying point for all those who regret the past. Leave the Pope to protect himself, and before the lapse of a fortnight he would have settled everything with Italy. Should the hope be relinquished that the French government should transform itself in a liberal sense, he (the speaker) declared that ho should become one of its most determined opponents. After a protest by M. Benoist against some expressions made use of by M. Gudroult, the Chamber adjourned. The Etendard of this evening says that the adhesion of the majority of the Powers to the proposed conference has arrived, including that of Russia and of Austria. England and Prussia alone adhere in principle, but make reserves. Belgium and Holland have not yet sent a reply.
The Express. — 1867-03-11 (London, England)

THE DREAD OF THE LASH.  On Saturday morning an inquest was held at Stafford Gaol, before Mr. Morgan, coroner, on the body of Joseph Thomas Hunt, 15, who committed suicide in his cell on the previous Thursday evening. Mr. William Mountford, on being sworn, said—l am deputy-governor of this gaol. Deceased was admitted here as a prisoner on the 31st January last, on a charge of felony. He was tried at the sessions, on Thursday List, and sentenced to three months' imprisonment and one whipping. By trade he was a printer, and his native place was New York. I believe he told the schoolmaster here that he had quarrelled with his step-father, and run away from home, coming over to England as a cabin-boy. He was once in Kirkdale-gaol for stealing. His disposition was cheerful, and his behaviour good, but the anticipation of a whipping has often a great effect upon the minds of prisoners. Henry Mills said—l am a warder. Last Thursday evening, at twenty minutes to nine o'clock, I unlocked deceased's cell door to get his belt and brush, sad felt something press against the door. Putting my head into the cell as far as I could, I saw deceased suspended from the gas-pipe by the hammock-belt. As the gas was escaping, I could not take • light into the cell, but called for assistance, and then broke the belt, laid deceased on the Boor, and took the belt from his neck ; but he was quite deed. He was placed in the cell at about a quarter to seven o'clock, and was not visited afterwards until I went to the dour. To reach the gas-pipe he must have stood upon the . . .  'llr. Robert Hughes, surgeon to the gaol—l have seen deceased very often since his admission. There is no entry in my notebook worthy of remark. On Thursday evening I was called to his cell, and found him lying dead, with marks of injury round his neck. I have no doubt, from what I saw and was told, that death was caused by strangulation. The jury returned a verdict to this effect, adding that deceased was at the time labouring under temporary Malty.