npedrazzini/19thc_murder_suicide_news huggingface dataset:
The Herald of Wales. — 1888-09-01 (Swansea, West Glamorgan, Wales)

VOICE FROM THE GRAVE.  A wild-eyed man was observed,in the Sq uare Monge, wri:es the P4ris correspondent of the Times, trying to tie babies' nursee' legs with a rope. The women screamed no loudly that the men went away to another pert of the square, where be found an elderly female asleep on a seat. Me immediately began operations with his rope, and eucceeded no well that he bound the old lady tightly to the bench without waking her up. Toe polioe however, were, by this ume on the alert, and they conveyed the man, the old woman, and the rope, to the st.ition. It was then apparent that the offender was a poor lunatie, who had lost his reason owing to the recent death of his wife. He said that his deceased spouse had appeared to him in a dream ,A told him to tie her down to earth with a z pc no as to prevent her from ascending to he..v n. Accordingly he had gone around to look for her, and not finding her among the nurses he tried the ancient female.  Sir John Rose, formerly Finance Minister of Canada, died suddenly on Tuesday, while in the act of firing at a stag in the buke of Portland's deer forest in Cantanese.  John °roam,. an old man of 86, oommitted suicide at liolbeinch,on Monday night, by hang. ing himself. Deceesed had been worried by a threatened low action.  The steam tug Keats, of North Shields, form dared of the Durham COtlet on Bunn:lay morning, owing to her boilers giving way. roe crew were rescued bye fisting boat after much djth.ulty. While the steamship New Hiniston was pro. needing down the Thames early isn Friday morning she collided with the steam collier ziouthmoor, cutting her almost in two. The Southnsoor now Iles ashore at Cookies Point.  Three outters working in rlettou Colliery, liOdr Suuderlaud, oniiday, were crushed between a full tub and the roof. One of them, named Beet, was killed, and the other two stverely injured. A football match took place at Ipswich, Queensland, between the English team and local fifteen. The game, which was played nuder Rugby rules, reaulted greatly in favour of the visitors, who made two goals and five trite, the home team only scoring ono try.  The Paris correspondent of the Daily News on Monday states that the minister of Finance preparing a scheme of income tax which he wdl lay before the chamber early next session. The probable assessment appears to be 2il. in the pound on earnings. At Blackburn, on Monday morning, Pierce Hargreaves, moulder, was charged with causing the death of his wife on Saturday, by throwing a parsffin lamp at her, and setting her on are. The woman, who was shockingly burnt, died on Sunday. The Pall Mall Gazette says that the Bev. T Fowler, president of Corpus, has resigned the professorship of logic at Oxford, which he has held since 1872. The next holder of professorship will, under the new statutes, be an ex -oflicio fellow of the new college.
The Herald of Wales. — 1888-05-26 (Swansea, West Glamorgan, Wales)

COMPENSA.  TION  A correspondent sends the the foilowing with regard to the licensing Matisse of the Local Government Bill:—" While the question of compensation to holders of licensee for the sale of intoxicating liquors when their licenses are withheld under the new County Council scheme excites more interest than any other point is Mr Ritchie's Local Government Bill, and arouses the emphatic opposition of the temperance party both in and out of Parliament, a fresh torn will now be given to the discussion by the placing on the paper of the House of Commons, by Mr W. S. Caine, M.P., of additional notices of amendment to the bill, which will raise the other aide of the compensation case by proposing to make the publicans responsible for the effects of their business. Mr Caine's principal amendments propoae—(l) That whenever at any licens.ed premises any person is furnished with drink to exeest, and afterwards such person while ,n a state of intoxication from such drinking has come to his death by suicide or drowning or other accident caused by such intoxication, the keeper of such place shall be liable to prosecution by the representatives of the deceased, who may recover from £2O to .f2OO as compensation. (2) That any person injured in person or property by one intoxicated may enter an action for compensation against either or both the inebriate and the person or persons who furnished the liquor. (3) That the relatives, guarding, or employers of any inebriate may wive notice to say licensed person not to serve such inebriate with intoxicants, and may recover from £5 to £lOO compensation from such licensed person if he furnishes the inebriate with intoxicants during one sear after such notice. ";It has several tunes been contemplated to bring in a 'Civil Damage' Bill before Parlia. meht, and advanced sections of the temperance party, such as the good Tempters, have more than once suggestrd it. Indeed at the reeent session ef the Grand Lodge of England, held at Sunderland, the Executive was instructed to take steps to that end The National corn Temfit perinea Federation, co rising 24 of the largest temperance orga ations, has also moved on the subject. A finite proposal for the introduction of such a bill has received the approval of Mr W. B. Caine, M.P., Mr H. Coesham, 1f.?., Mr McLagan, M.P., Dr. G. B. Clark, M.P., and others, some of whom are willing io back such a bill while several others, including Mr T. Burt, are said to be inolined to support it. ...It ie contended thst should some such amendments as those named become law they would transfer some of the ooit now borne by the ratepayers to the shoulders of the liquor traffie, do justice to the community, and afford a proper basis for 'equitable' compensation. They certainly present an interesting alternative to Mr Ritchie's proposed vested interest in licenses, and are calculated to give a new and piquant turn to the discussion on the question , which alrea3y waxes hot and strong."
The Herald of Wales. — 1890-06-07 (Swansea, West Glamorgan, Wales)

MONMOUTHSHIRE.  That the body of the missing girl Meads, whose father keeps a theatre at Chepstow, has bean found in the River Wye. That at a cricket match played at Tonyrefail on Monday, one of the players inflicted s terrible cat on his own forehead by kitting himself with the bet.  That after, and probably as a result of a drinking bout, a Calynen Colliery haulier, I ving at Crumliu, comtnitted suicide on Saturday night by hanging hbusulf in one of the 'cadrsoms. That akewmnool Pit,Ctrmaman, Dd. Jeffries, [ a fireman, was found in a manhole, in a dying state, and at the inquest the jury brought in a verdict of" Death front natural causes, doubtless arising from over-ezerdon in his Labour." The deeelitsd leaves a widow and large family to mourn hitless.  That in a family feud at Chepstow a woman acknowledged breaking two brush handles over the head of one :of the male combatants. That a law suit followed, and the Bench ordered payment of it lie. Od. tines and costa between the several parties. That an inquest has been held on the body of Ellen Dagger, otherwise Meths, whose body was found a the Wye at Chepstow. That there was no evidence to show that the girl was harshly dealt with by her parents, and a verdict of Found Drowned was returned.  That two bullocks made their escape: at Chepstow on Tuesday, and ran amuck through the streets. They knocked over a baker, turned a :pony and trap up on end,l and joaused general confusion. The wife of the Chepstow postmaster was overtaken by one of the animals, and she wee gored severely about the head. That whilst the animal WWI attacking the unfortunate woman, several men armed themselves with shovele that were hanging outside the shop of Mr. J. P. Proctor, ironmonger, and valiantly prepared for the infuriated Waste' attack. tpon the animals making for their direction, however, discretion got the better part of their velour, and they threw down their weapons aml ignominiously fled for the nearest shelter. The bullocks were ultimately captured. -IN
The Herald of Wales. — 1890-06-14 (Swansea, West Glamorgan, Wales)

FEARFUL DEED  TII4OIJGH TROUBLE.  Tbe4PA ur der and Attempted Weide by a Chemist and His Wife.  A Pitiful Story Unfolded et the Inquest on the Child.  The inquest opened at Holloway on Tuesday, on the body of Arthur Oakes, aged eight, who died a darently from strychnine poisoning at Grove load, Holloway, on Sunday. The father and niggler are in the hospital owing to wounds initiated in attempted suicide. The witzesses said the father had been a ye, out of emplo7ment, and the family was conrequently, in great distress. Mrs. Oakes told her landlady that they could not pay the money they owed and bad decided to take their lives The police inspector deposed that when he arrived at the house Mrs. Oaks said "We have been oat of our minds for nights, and did oat know what we wen doing. We agreed to die and to strychnine. Finding the poison was not affeetnal I took a razor and cut my throat, and gave it to my huaband and he cut his." A letter written by Oaks was found, iu whieh be , said 'Twelve months have I now put in of a moat miserable and struggling existence. I really cannot stand any more; I am completely worn out, and my relations who have assisted me can do so ire more, for such was ray uncle's intentions. Never mind, he may be in the same boat hinuelf some day. I cannot face poverty and degredation any longer, and would sooner die than go to the workhouse. Whatever the awful sense. qvenees ma,- be of the step we have taken we have, God forgive us, taken our darling lamb Artie with us out a pure love and affection, so that he mar not be scoffed at and taunted with his heart broken parents' crime. My poor wife Les done her best at needle-work, washing, etc.; in fact at everything and anything which would bring no in a shilling, but it would only keep us in semi-starvation. I have now done six oveeks travelling (Oakes bad been canvassing for an insuranoe company), from [morning until night, and have not received • farthing for it. If that is not enough to drive one mad—wickedly mad—l don't know what is. No bright prospects anywhere, no ray of hope, nothing can avail us; we must abide by our lot. Dear sister, try and forgive us. Our bed—that will pay the rent, and the sale °lithe furniture will he enough to bury us cheaply.—Your licsaA-broken brother, Ricrux atm." _ _  Dr. Cowen had no reawriable doubt that the child's death wee dos to poisoning. The mother had • very serious woand in her throat, but the man's wound was not so severe. Dr. Wright stated that lock-jaw, eonsequont upon strychnine poisoning, had occurred, for the boy's body , was so contorted that the foot was in his mouth. I The enquiry was adjourned for an analysis of I, the stomach to be made.
The Herald of Wales. — 1890-11-08 (Swansea, West Glamorgan, Wales)

UNEQUAL TO TLUF. TROUBLES OF LIFE.  Some suicides have welcomed death as the only refuge from otherwise inevitable shame ; others have snatched a deoperate resolve under i the pressure of woolly troubles • but poor Clara Weston, whose body has been found in the waters of the river at Leamington seems to have been a pernon of exemplary conduct, and her troubles, as appeared clearly by the evidence , in the coroner's court, were merely the phantasy of an overwrought brain. Mad else could hardly be called, though the jury in tendor compassion for her sorrowful fate have found it so, for the letter which she left behind her "In a clear, bold band," was calmly and rationally written. But it is clear that she had broken down under a haunting conviction that she was unequal to the responsibilities she had undertaken as head bookkeeper in a large hotel in the town. After expressing a hope that all will forgive her, °epochally all my dear ones at home and George," she goes on to say, "I seem to give satisfaction here, and yet I feel myself that I am not experienced. I have always been trust. worthy and iitraightforward in all the business. and that I am sure everyone who knows me will say. . . Yet I feel overcome with myself. I thought I had more knowledge of the world than I have. I feel more every day that I have no knowledge of the world, and I cannot go on without it. It is so hard to think of this, but I cannot go on any longer. Nobody is to blame for anything. Everybody has been kind." This whole history of her mental condition is told in these last words, supplemented by the tastrnony of her employer to her respectability and faithful eervice. it is sad, indeed, to think that if she had but opened her mud to one good woman friend a word of kindly advice and sympathy would in all probability have rescued her from a cruel death, and spared the little home circle. of whom she wrote so lovingly m the last hour of her distress, from the heavy affliction that has fallen upon them.
The Herald of Wales. — 1890-08-16 (Swansea, West Glamorgan, Wales)

MYSTERIOUS DROWNING CASE. Tho Body of a Woman found in the Swansea Canal.  Circumstances point to Suicide through Starvation.  Shortly after midnight on Wednesday, some (Imagela-Merthyr workmen employed in discharging coal from the canal-boata into the fuel works were startled at discovering the body of a woman floating past their barge. One of their number, • man named William Williams, caught it as it floated towards the bridge that crosses the canal at the bottom of Pottery - street, and having succeeded I in bringing it ashore, seat for P.C. I West, who removed it to the mortuary. The I gas maths in the road alongside that part of the canal where the body FM found, are undergo. ing repairs, but although there was a large Bre and a watchman in charge, to one knows how the poor woman got into the water. From papers found in a small leather wallet upon her, and a black leather handbag discovered on the esnal bank about forty Tads from where the body was found, it is clear that the woman was a licensed pedlar, and that her name is Mary Jane Wright. P.S. Gill, who has the matter in charge, has discovered that at a quarter to eight o'clock on Wednesday night the deceased went to a house in Waterlon-street, with the occupant of which the had previously lodged. She complained bitterly to that good lady a Mrs. Silvey) of the nature of the life she was compthed to lead. —complaint., it is supposed, having reference to her husband leaving her in Swansea, and going to Milford Dock. She said: "I really don't know what to do. I can't stand this any longer. I had to sleep in a common lodging-house last night, and lam just starving. I have • good mind to go on tramp, and try to get home to my mother, or do away with myself, or something." Mrs. &Ivey told her to cheer up, and she then left, and was not again seen until her body was discovered in the canal. From a marriage certificate enclosed amongst the papers in the wallet, it appears that deceased is the daughtrr of a Mr. Smith, a baker, living in a respectable quarter of Bath, and from an affectionate childish letter addressed in a schoolgirl's hand to " My dear mother," and signed "Beaty," it seems as though she has three children. "Beaty" announces gleefully that her little brother "can speak little word, now," and that }walla me •B, Bemis 'Bet,' and Liaise:: 'me.' " She also gives her mother the information that "There is a wonderful man in Bath who sells medicine called Pmrie Flower and rubs cripples and makes them dance, and penis out teeth just like a pantomime." There is also a latter from the husband at Pembroke Dock, but there is no date given in it He enquires after her health and, regretting that he has been able to earn much money, encloses seventeen penny stamps. The police have very little doubt that the poor woman carried outlier threat of "doing away with herself." They have telegraphed to Bath for some of her relatives, and an inquest will be held to-morrow.
The Herald of Wales. — 1889-01-05 (Swansea, West Glamorgan, Wales)

MISUSE OF THE REVOLVER.  A record gathered from the columns of the daily ,iewspapers thews that during the year just closed the revolver was responsible for at least 92 deaths in great Britain. Of these, ten were those of people inurdered, and three those of murderers who expiated on thescaffold crimes committed with the revolver. rwo m*derers have been sentenced to death for the runbridge Wells shooting case, and two others—Dr. Burke and a man who shot his sweetheart at Barnet —were sentenced to death and reprieved. During the year there were no fewer than 69 cases of suicide, Including those of ten men who had committed or attempted to commit murder, and four clergymen. 'he fatal "accidents" numbered ten. Numerous oases of shooting with intent occurred. The prosecutions under the Gun Licence Act have been very few, and as it is unreasonable to expect people to pay 10s. a year for a licence to carry a pistol, the act is evaded wholesale. The Chancellor of the Exchequer, in introducing his Budges, threw out hints of legislation to meet ths.evil, but nothing has been done. In the meantime an enterprising trader at Birmingham is turning out cheap revolvers at the rate of 12,000 additional every year.  i 01111011  William Lane, an engineer's fitter, of Chelsea, felt ill. His wife went to the ehemist'a for some medicine. Before her husband could pat his lips he fell back dead.  ,---- -A convict named Harry Wyndham Carter, from Chatham prison, has appeared in the bankrupte& eourt as Chatham. He was brought to the court to a cab, handcuffed, and in custody of two weeders. He is described as late of Piccadilly and Kennington Hall, Ashford, and the petitioning creditor claims £29,000. The debtor not only refused to answer questions, but even to be *worn. He seemed much effected, and sobbed out that the proceedings were ILA attempt on the part of • brother to rob him of his state, and he would do nothing to promote the scheme. The proceedings ware adjourned. Among the missing.—Poor marksmen. The Mystery of a Hansom Cab.—What is the fare? A young lady being recommended to exercise for her health, said she would jump at an offer, and rue her own risk. She (vindictively); "You need not hope to escape me thus. The wounded heart never forgets. I shall follow you to your grave." He (with bravado) : "Not if you the first I" A lazy fellow, who was idling away his time, was asked by a minister where he expected to go when he died. "I shall not go," was the reply; "I expect to be carried."  He was rich, and had many pictures. "Li that a Landseer, Mr. OTONRIS ? "asked the visitor, pausing before one of the paintings. "No," replied the host, "reckon ii is a Durham. See how braid it s between the horns, and see the colour and the ourl on its forehead. That's a genuine Durham. That ain't no C Per Good and Cheap Printing go to the Cambria Da& Leader 01110., Swanstat.
The Herald of Wales. — 1889-01-05 (Swansea, West Glamorgan, Wales)

DETERMINED SUICIDE OF  A LAD.  A SAD NEW YEAR FUR HIS MOTHER.  Edward Clempson, driver of a luggage engine on the London and Morth-Weetern Rail. way, was driving some trucks near Dunkirk Bridge, about 300 yards from the Albion station on Tuceday. Be imagined the engine had passed over something, and on reaching the station he stopped, and seeing Alfred Morris and Thomas Breeton, both pointaman in the employ of the railway company, he Baked them to go down the line and see what it was he had driven over. Upon doing so they found the body of a young man, with the head out clean off, on the left hand side of the line. The police were communicated with and the body was removed to the mortuary. Subsequently the body was identified as that of Arthur Merman, age 16, residing at 44,,Sand street, Great Green, West Bromwich, and as far as can be ascertained the facts points to suicide; It had been stated that the previous day deceased asked his mother to buy him some new clothes, and she refused to do so, and it is thought this led him to commit the rash act. He left home about 6 30 am. to go to work ' at the A.ibion Iron Works, and it is thought he must have (gone strait to this spot, for it would not be the way to his work, there bang • nearer one on the main road. In his pocket was found part of a note written in pencil which said :—..Lear Mother, against you read this I," and here the note ends, and it it tumefied that he must have been writing the note when heheard the goods train ipproaching and put it in his pocket before plaoing himself on the line. The driver was not 661cl:ogee him owing to the fog.
The Herald of Wales. — 1889-07-13 (Swansea, West Glamorgan, Wales)

COMPANY PROMOTERS  DUPE.  DISTRESSING SUICIDE. At the C ty Coroner's Court, an inquest was held concerning the death of William Harry Jervis, a clerk of Rinford-road, East Putuer, who shot himself at 158: Fleet.street.—Ttie widow of the deceased stated that her husband, whose age was 41, was a clerk in the employ of a printing and publishing company. He had paid a deposit of £l5O, and of late bad been very much depressed, as he was afraid that he would be unable to get his deposit back, and he could not get his salary. The anxiety appeared to have thoroughly unhinged his mind.—ln reply to Mr. Todd, a local gentleman who represented the deceased's friends, the witness said her husband was to have receite i a salary of £2 10s. a week, but as a matter of fact since Fehrnary last he had only received four weeks' salary. The whole of the amount had been borrowed from him by a promoter of the company, who had only paid him-back a coo* of pounds. Deoeased had frequently applied for his money, but could not get it. The result of this was that he had to sell nearly all the furniture in his home to provide a means of livelihood. The assistant-editor in the service of the company deposed that a few days ago, in consequence of what he had been told by the deceased, he convened a meeting of the directors of the company to consider the promoter's conduct. The latter did not put in an appearance until after the meeting, when he turned up in a state of intoxication. On Monday another meeting of directors was held, which deeaaaed attended. He was requested to wait , outside the board-room while some pee- I luminary business was disposed of. Witness, I who solid as secretary, was reeding the minutes of the last meeting, when he heard the report of a pistol, and on going outside he saw the deceased on the floor, with a revolver in his hand: he wall shot in the head.—By Mr. Todd: Witness had Mao been taken in, and £3O wee owing to him. An execntior had been put in, and the goods in-the office were sold. The jury returned a verdict of "Suicide vilnle- teMporatily insane,".. and added a rider that they cormidered the Public) Prosecutor should take up the matter.