npedrazzini/19thc_murder_suicide_news huggingface dataset:
The Sun. — 1842-12-20 (London, England)

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.  MANSION-HOUSE.-(THIS DAY.)  THE ATTEMPTED MURDER AND SUICIDE. Shortly before twelve o'clock the Lord Mayor entered the Justice room, when the prisoner, William Cam-tell, was placed at the bar. _ _ _  Mr. Wilkinson, a solicitor, attended for the prosecution.  The prisoner stood at the bar quite unconcerned at the awful situation in which he was placed. Police-constable Chapman, 648, deposed to being on duty nearly opposite the Auction Mart Tavern, on the night of the 12thinst., when he heard the report of fire-arms, and almost immediately afterwards a female called out "Mrs. Magnus is shot !" After making several unsuccessful attempts to effect an entrance he was let in by Mrs. Baker; he saw Mrs. Magnus lying on the floor near the bar, and Mr. Baker informed him the prisoner was up-stairs ; he went up, when the prisoner exclaimed " Here lam ;" he then charged him with shooting at Mrs. Magnus, and brought him down, when he instantly fell, and he then perceived he had cut, with a razor and clasp knife, his throat in two places. Mr. Adams, a surgeon, happening to pass by at the moment, be came in and strapped up the wound, after which he (prisoner) was conveyed to the stationhouse in Bishopsgate-street, and from thence to St. Thomas's Hospital. Mr. Adams, the surgeon, stated that he had been with Mrs. Magnus, ever since the act was committed, with the exception of two nights ; the ball entered at the back, passed through the lungs and came out within one inch of the heart (great sensation); he assisted in undressing her, and the ball dropped from her clothes. It was a most extraordinary case, and her recovery, up to that time, was astonishing. There was no immediate danger; but she still kept her bed, and would not be able to get down stairs in less than a week. The pistol, clasp-knife, and a razor, were here produced, the latter being very bloody. Mr. Wilkinson prayed for a remand. The prisoner was here asked if he had any thing to say, and exclaimed, " The policeman's statement is the greater part lies, but I have nothing more to say until Mrs. Magnus is here herself?' The prisoner was then remanded to the Compter for a fortnight, the Lord Mayor giving strict orders to have him watched night and day.
The Sun. — 1842-02-03 (London, England)

GREENWICH POLICE. Tuesday Mrs. Mary Hewitt, wife of a master waterman, residing in Greenwich, appeared to a warrant, obtained against her by her husband. The defendant appeared with her head bound with a handkerchief, spotted with blood, and was accommodated with a seat in front of the bar. Mr. J. Hewitt, the complainant, said the conduct of his wife' was so outrageous that he could no longer endure it. She had repeatedly threatened to destroy him, by throwing vitriol over him ; and several times had flourished razors (one in each hand) over his head, vowing she would take his life. Their matrimonial differences had been often brought under the notice of the County Magistrates, and at their suggestion, a deed of separation was drawn up, and he was relieved of her company, on allowing her Bs. per week. On Sunday morning he was awoke whilst in bed, by a noise of glass breaking, and on getting up he found the defendant had broken six panes of his bed-room window. He got up and found she had obtained access into the house, where she vowed she would remain, threatening if he touched her to bury a razor in his heart. It was stated by Harris, the officer, who served the warrant, that on taking her into custody, she went into a fit, and afterwards, on the road to the station, she fell down and cut her forehead. Whilst in the cell she attempted to commit suicide by cutting her throat in two places, with a penknife, and ultimately she went off in a strong tit that lasted two hours, and required six men to hold her. A more violent woman he had never seen in his life. Mr. May, solicitor, who appeared for the husband, advised him again to separate from her, and the complainant offered her Bs. a week, together with a room of furniture, fur that purpose. Mr. May had just inquired of her if that would suffice, and the defendant ( who evidently had a desperate struggle to restrain her feelings), had just replied " if I don't have better health, it won't," when she fell, as if struck with a shot, from her seat to the floor. The officers of the Court immediately raised her, and conveyed her in an inanimate state to the outer office, hen nearly half an hour elapsed before she returned to consciousness. The Magistrate ultimately allowed a private arrangement.
The Sun. — 1842-01-31 (London, England)

LOON., upon the life of the Rev. Mr. Borodaile, who was alleged by the defendants to have committed suicide by throwing himself into the Thames from Battersea-bridge, and thereby forfeited the insurance; it being expressly conditioned in the deed that the policy should be voided if the insured came to his death "by his own hand." The case was tried at Guildhall, before Mr. Justice Erskine, when it was contended for the plaintiffs, first, that there was not sufficient proof that the deceased threw himself into the river ; and, secondly, that even if he did so, that was not suicide in the meaning of the policy, or in law, as the unfortunate gentleman, who had suffered shortly, before some severe pecuniary losses, was not in a sound state of mind, at the time of the act. The Court left it to the Jury to say whether the deceased was insane at the time, and if so, they would find for the plaintiffs, as in that case the policy, notwithstanding the express words of the condition, would not be voided, the insane not being responsible agents. But if, on the other hand, they. thought the proof of insanity not sufficient, they must find for the defendants. The Jury were not able to agree to a finding that could satisfy the. Court or the Counsel on either side ; for they would go no further to determine the question of sound mind, than to say that the " deceased voluntarily- threw himself into the Thames with intent to destroy life, but that he did not know right from wrong at the time." To save the parties from coming down to a new trial upon the ambiguity of this verdict, it was agreed, on the recommendation of the Court, that a verdict should be taken for the defendants, with leave to the plaintiffs to move that the verdict should be entered for them, so that the Court might decide, without another Jury, whether the finding was tantamount to one of insanity. Sir T. WILDE this day moved ,accordingly, and ob tanned a rule nisi.  Sittings at Nisi Prius, at Guildhall, before Mr. Justice CRESSWELL and a London Common Jury.)
The Sun. — 1842-01-31 (London, England)

NAVAL AND MILITARY. The Delight, one of the old 10-gun brigs, just arrived from the South American station, will be paid off immediately, as will several others of that class as they arrive. Four Royal Artillery waggons, with an escort, left Woolwich on Saturday for Windsor, to be employed in removing the plate back to Buckingham Palace, and four other waggons will proceed on the same service this day.  LAW AND PO LICE, The case of Mr. Carew, the sculptor, came again before the Insolvent Court on Saturday, when Col. George Wyndham said he was present, together with Sir Chas. Burrell and others, at the opening of the will of the late Lord Egremout, and no paper or document whatever was found in which the name of Mr. Carew was mentioned. Mr. Carew•, who was afterwards examined at considerable length, stated that his annual income from Lord Egremont was 1,700/. a year for life, clear of labour and materials, at the same time Sir R. Westmacott gave him a salary of 1,200/. a year ; besides which, by his. own private engagements, he made from 500/. to 8001. a year. Showing his total annual inc►me to have been from 3,4001. to 3,700% per annum. The further hearing was postponed till next Saturday. A batch of omnibus drivers were fined at Marlboroughstreet, on Saturday, for loitering in Piccadilly. The tines were, for the first offence, 10s. ; for the second, 20s. ; for the third, 30s. • and so on. The 88th session of the Central Criminal Court, arid 4th during the present Mayoralty, commenced this day. It is supposed the number of committals will be nearly 300. An inquest was held, on Saturday, on the body of Jacob Simms, Esq., one of the Magistrates for the county of Essex, and an extensive shipowner and India merchant, who had-committed suicide on Thursday. No reason for the act could be assigned, and the Jury returned a verdict of—Temporary insanity.
The Sun. — 1842-03-07 (London, England)

MONDAY • V.EN AtA_Rc H. 7, 1842.  tided ; there they had concentrated their forces, determined to stand or fall by the result, but they never once calculated upon defeat. The lesson read to them that day was a severe one, and one which it should be thought would open the eyes of the Emperor. The loss sustained by them was very great, and included several mandarins , of rank. Yu-Kiang, the imperial commissioner of the province, the man who had been sent by the. Emperor to exterminate the barbarians, thunderstruck at the result of the fight; and afraid to meet his wrath, endeavoured to drown himself, but, being rescued by his officers, he finally terminated •his existence by swallowing. gold, the fashionable method of committing suicide in this country. He it was who had counselled the Emperor never to make peace with us, who had poisoned his ear by false reports, who had offered rewards for our heads—he it was who put Captain Stead, of the Pestomjee Bomajee, to a lingering death—who had beheaded many of the unfortunate Chinese who had been friendly to us at Chusan. He was a cruel, but he was a most talented, man. Under his eye had these districts been put in a state of defence, and the various improvements in warfare effected. The victory was complete ; the whole military materiel of the province fell into our hands. In Yu-Kiang's house were found all his plans, maps, and papers, the edicts of the Emperor— in fact, everything of importance. Amongst other papers they got one, a letter to him from the Viceroy of Formosa, to the intent that he had concluded a negotiation with the Portuguese at Manilla for the purchase of guns, arms, and military stores, and that a supply might soon be expected ; and another, a memorial to the Emperor, that he purposed saving the lives of all his English prisoners, provided they would teach them navigation, steam-boat building, and other things connected with naval matters. And now I have brought my history up to the occupation of Ningpo. "
The Sun. — 1842-06-06 (London, England)

BOY.—'Thursday afternoon Mr. Baker held an, inquest at the Cooper's Arm., Brick-lane, St. Luke's, on the body of Richard Wilson, aged 16, who committed suicide by taking poison. It appeared that the deceased, who was very lively and intelligent, was appren. ticed to Mr. Berry, hoot and shoemaker, of the City-road, but resided with his parents at No. 7, Rose-street, Eric':-lone. A few days since the deceased inquired of his master whether it was not two pennyworth of arsenic that Cooper, who shot the policeman at Ilighbury, took to destiny life, and whether that amount was sufficient to de so, and if it could not be taken on bread and butter, to the whole of which Mr. Berry replied that he did not know.. On Monday last he had a holiday, and, having played with other boys during the day, he in the evening partook of some ale with his brother, and all at once said he should go and get some salts and go- home, as he felt unwell. He was seen to mix up in a cup what was suppoSed to be salts, and drink the contents before he went to bed. He slept well until four o'clock in the following morning, when his groans awoke his parents, but he persisted that he had taken nothing but salts, which he declared he had purchased of Mr. French, chemist, in Bricklane. Mr. James, a surgeon, was sent for, but deceased died in excruciating agony an hour after. On opening the body a large quantity of arsenic was found in the stomach. Mr. French, the chemist, proved that deceased came to his shop on Monday, and asked for two-pennyworth of arsenic to clean leather. He objected at first to serve him, but ultimately did so. ' The word poison" was marked on the paper. He appeared very lively in spirits when he asked for it. Other evidence was adduced, which went to prove that deceased's father had been for 18 weeks affected with madness, as also other branches of the family. Verdict—" Temporary Insanity."
The Sun. — 1842-02-21 (London, England)

ROYAL INSTITUTION.—Mr. Richard King, the surgeon and naturalist, as well as for a great part of the time the sole conductor of the expedition in search of Sir John Ross, and author of the narrative of the journey, delivered a lecture on Friday evening at the Royal Institution, " On the Boundaries of the Polar Seas.' After taking a very rapid review of the progress of discovery from the 15th century to 1818, he dwelt somewhat at length upon the surveys made since that period by Ross, Parry, Back, and Messrs. Deese and Simpson. The survey of the latter officers, it appears, has fully confirmed the views the lecturer entertained in )836 of the polar coast south of the isthmus of Boothia, wherein he differed with Sir George Back. The melancholy suicide of Mr. Simpson has gives Mr. King an opportunity of again urging the Government to adopt his plan at a cost of 1,0001. only. This plan was given at length in TAe Sun of January 15, 1836 , but a part of the contemplated survey at that time has since been made, and a new line of coast has in consequence risen, in Mr. King's opinion, into importance in relation to the long-agitated question of a N. W. passage. ,Mr. King proposes that the Government should despatch an expedition, consisting of one officer and six men, towards the close of April, from Montreal, in Lower Canada, by the visual route of the fur traders to the Athabasca Lake, and, having obtained an Indian guide, make direct for the Fish River by a route well known to the Indians. on :the head waters of that stream It is proposed the expedition should winter, and having ascertained the position of a tributary to the Great Fish River, which takes its rife close to the proposed s% intering ground, in the ensuing spring follow its course, and afterwards the main stream to the Arctic Sea. By coasting along the eastern boundary of the Great Fish River e•tuary, Mr. K. is of opinion there will be no difficulty in reach ing the land of Boothia Felix, or, in case of its insularity, the Hecla and Fury Strait. In the latter case the northern eonfiguration of America will, he complete; but if the former should prove to be as Sir John Ross has described, it will be necessary b. follow that land to its northern limit, which will determine its connection with, or separation from, the land of Cape Walker. If separated from that land, and the dividing sea prove of any extent, the grand problem of a practical passage from the Atlantic into the pacific by the Arctic Ocean is at once solved. Then the tending of the coast line of the Gulf of Boothia is but of minor importance; nevertheless, if the season be not too far spent, Mr. King con. siders it desirable to add its boundaries to our knowledge. A fire, which consumed the house and all it contained, broke out on Tuesday morning at Mr. Peyton's, 5, Kent-tertacc, Old Kent-road. The family all escaped to the adjacent house. Mr. Peyton Is insured in the Pheenix. 'Fire origin of the fire is as yet undiscovered.
The Sun. — 1842-04-05 (London, England)

CORONER'S INQUEST.  An inquest was held on Saturday evening, at the sign of the Old Red Lion public-house, Knightsbridge, before Mr. Higgs, the Coroner for Westminster, on the body of Mrs. El►aa Spong, aged forty-two years. The Superintendent of the Royal Humane Society's Stationhouse, in Hyde-park, stated that at about five o'clock on Friday morning last, in consequence of information he received from one of the police-constables of the A division, he proceeded in a boat on the Serpentine-i iver, towards the eastern end, bearing to the south shore, and discovered the body of a female tossing up and down on the small waves, it being rough, and blowing very strong at the time. On reaching the body, witness attempted to grasp it to draw it ashore, but found the flesh gave way in his grasp, and he was ultimately obliged to tow it ashore. It appeared to be in a very advanced state of decomposition, and must at least have been two or three weeks in the water. There were not any marks of violence about the body. The deceased had on her bonnet and shawl. A trifle of money was also found in her pockets. By the Coaouza—The females who committed suicide generally threw off their bonnet-and shawl, and left it on the bank before they threw themselves in the water. No part of the dress of the deceased was torn, nor did she appear to have been engaged in any struggle. John Spong stated that he was footman in the service of Robinson, Esq., of No. 41 Lowndes•street, Belgrave-square ; the deceased was his wife, and the mother of two children, now living ; she resided in private lodgings, at Lisson•grove, and was a sober, industrious woman, and much attached to her family. Witness's family had, until the last nine months, been in very distressed circumstances, through his being a long time out of a situation. On the evening of last Thursday three weeks she called on witness, at his master's house, to bring his change of linen for the week, as she had been accustomed to do. They parted about eight o'clock in the evening, in good spirits, to return to her children, whom she had left locked up in the room they occupied. The following day witness learned that his wife had not returned to her home, and for several days after he was engaged, under feelings of the most painful anxiety as to her fate, but could hear no tidings of her until the finding of the body. the information of which he gained through his having given information of her being missing to the Humane. Society. Her way home on leaving him was to pass by the Serpentine, and he had no doubt but that she had walked into the water by accident, and was drowned in consequence of s doing. Verdict—" Found drowned."  HAMBURGH and
The Sun. — 1842-04-05 (London, England)

COLTMAN.) ATTI➢[PT TO POISON.—DISTAESSING SCILNE.—This morning Robert Pierce, aged 24, was plaw:l at the bar on three indictments, charging him with attempts to murder his wife by the administration of white arsenic.  Previous to the trial commencing, the prosecutrix, a young woman, apparently not so old as the prisoner, was carried into Court, and placed in the witness-box, the effects of the poison having had so great an effect on her, as to completely paralyse her limbs, and entirely destroy her health. It was evident, however, that she had previously possessed considerable personal attractions. She was attended by a medical gentleman, and cordia's were constantly resorted to in order to prevent her from fainting, but, notwithstanding, on casting her eyes at her husband, she appeared much affected, immediately swooned; and it was some time before surgeons could restore her to sensibility. She was then placed with her back towards the prisoner, and in a reclining position. The prisoner did not, on being first brought into Court, appear much affected at the serious nature of the charge, nor during the trial, which lasted from nine o'clock in ;he morning until eight in the evening, except turning paler when his wife fainted.  Five witne:ses were examined, who prov d the purchasing of the arsenic by the prisoner, and its administraticn to his wile_ _ .  The prisoner was found guilty, and sentenced to death. He was then removed to Flint gaol, on entering the cell of which in his occupation on Saturday morning, the gaoler found that he had committed suicide, by suspending himself from the bars above the door. He had made a noose of his braces. The unfortunate man had confessed to his having committed the crime, for which he was convicted, on the night after his condemnation.
The Sun. — 1842-02-01 (London, England)

SUICIDE OF JACOB SIMMS, ESQ., ONE OF THE MAGISTRATES OF ESSEX.Late on Thursday even • ing the inhabitants of Leytonstone, Essex, were fearfully alarmed by the announced suicide of Mr. J. Simms, who terminated his existence by cutting his throat. From what has transpired on the subject it appears that the deceased gentleman attended business as usual in the City on that day, at his counting-house, Georgeyard, Lombard-street, and after attending 'Change to meet his connexions as a shipowner, ordered his chaise and drove home with his groom. He reached his residence about half-past five, to join, as was supposed, his dinner-table, and before seeing any of 'his relatives went to his dressing-room to prepare for that purpose. His footman, who attended him, saw nothing marked or altered in his manner, and after having fulfilled the requirements of his master, left him at the washhand-stand. It was not long, however, before he heard a heavy fall, and proceeding to his master's room, from whence the sound emanated,' discovered, to his great horror the unfortunate gentleman lying on the floor bleeding profusely from a wound in his neck. lie could not at first discover the extent of injury his master had inflicted upon himself, as he did not wait to remove his cravat ; but having aroused the household, proceeded with all haste to the nearest surgeon to procure medical assistance. This was speedily procured, but unfortunately it was without avail, for on their arrival Mr. Simms had just expired; This sad calamity has not only spread a-gloom over the neighbourhood in which it occurred,- but also. in the City, where Mr. Simms was known as'a merchant of high character and integrity, and as a Director of several public companies. A circumstance that is supposed to have preyed on his mind, was the elopement of his only daughter with one of his nephews, now said to be in India. A reconciliation had,' however, been long since effected through the intercession of the friends of the family. Mr. Simms was a fine, hearty, robust-looking man, and about 53 years of age.
The Sun. — 1842-06-22 (London, England)

SUICIDE.— Thomas Fountain, aged 37, a baker, was indiettN I for unlawfully attempting to commit selfdcst ruction.  Policeman, R If ;3, stated that on the 6th June last, at about an hoed. after midnight, he saw the prisoner in the Greenwichroad with a bottle i n his hand. He was sitting down, and appeased in a despond .ing state ; the witness went up to him, and asked what he we s drinking, but he made no answer. Witness then took the bottle from him, and found it to be labelled laudanum and pois on. Witness asked the prisoner if he had taken what had lig Zen in the bottle, and he said that he had, and he expected t; o get rid of the troubles of the world ; and if he did not do so ':aen, he would cut his throat or drown himself. Witness took hi a:. into custody. When he was at the stationhouse a surges a was sent for and the stomach-pump applied, and a quantity of laudanum taken from his stomach. The prisoner Ea id, in his defence, that he did not intend to kill himself. We had been for a long time afflicted with rheumatic gout, ant h e was in the habit of taking laudanam for it. On the day iti qu( stion he had walked to Greenwich, think• ing it would do him good. Having had an attack of the flout that day while at Greenwich, he took a great deal to srink, and on col ning home he bought two-pennyworth of laudanum, thinkin g it would take off the effect of the drink, but he had no in tention of killing himself ; and he had often taken double the c uantity in the space of 24 hours. The Learned 3 t inGE having summed up the evidence, The Jury acqui .fled the prisoner. NE IV