npedrazzini/19thc_murder_suicide_news huggingface dataset:
The Sun. — 1832-11-21 (London, England)

PARTICULAR EPIDEMIC DISEASE IN FRANCHE-COMTE.—For some weeks past a disease has prevailed in several communes which is considered to be a variety of ergotisme, and is attributed to an unusual quantity of raphanistrum in the rye crop of this year. The mortality hitherto has not been great, but recovery seems very slow and imperfect.—Medical and Surgical Journal. A female, about 35 years of age, named M'CLARE, the wife of a boot-closer in Nevill's-court, Fetter-lane, committed suicide yesterday, by cutting her throat with a razor. She left her own house about 11 o'clock in the morning, and went into her mother-in-law's house, which was in the same court, when she immediately pulled out a razor, and such was the determined manner in which she effected her purpose, that her head was nearly severed from her body, and she died almost immediately. No cause can be assigned for the act, as she was on excellent terms with her husband, to whom she had been married about 17 years, and her circumstances were easy. It was, however, remarked, that for the last few days she had appeared in a rather desponding state, and had even mentioned to a female about a week ago that something was always prompting her to cut her throat. The inquest will he held this day. We understand that on Saturday one of the principal military outfitting warehouses at the west end of the town shipped warlike accoutrements at the Customhouse for the entire French battalion, composed of 900 men, who are about to lend an active support to the Constitutional cause in Portugal. The vessels freighted for the purpose to which we have alluded, are the Lord of the Isles, a steamer that plyed during the summer between London and Guernsey, and the Industry and Jane Ingram schooners, which are expected to call off the French coast to convey part of the troops to Oporto. Another steam-vessel has been taken up, which will leave the river in the course of the present week, to embark the remainder of the French corps at (we believe) the port of Cherburg. The Lord of the Isles also carries out clothing and accoutrements for the Scotch brigade, which are now on their voyage from Glasgow to Portugal. The Lord of the Isles is expected to accomplish the voyage in six days. In order to show the judicious use to which the funds in the hands of the agents have been applied, it may be proper to state, that, on hearing of a fruit-ship proceeding to St. Michael's or any other of the Western Islands, they invariably freight her with warlike stores and other necessaries for the army at Oporto, by which the expenses of conveyance are probably reduced one-half. Don PEDRO is esteemed a punctual paymaster here, and we are told that, during the last nine months, ono military accoutrement-maker has received no less than 20,0001. of his money. Colonel CREIGHTON, who has been employed here in raising a regiment of cavalry, has left town on his return to Oporto, after having accomplished the object of his mission.
The Sun. — 1832-10-24 (London, England)

LAKE OF VITRIOL.— There is, in the island of Java, a volcano, called Mount Idienne, from which the Dutch East India Company have been often supplied with sulphur for the manufacture of gunpowder. At the foot of this volcano is a vast natural manufactory of that acid commonly called oil of vitriol, although it is there largely diluted with water. It is a lake about 1,200 French feet long; the water is warm, and of a greenish white colour, and charged with acid. The taste of this liquid is sour, pungent, and caustic ; it kills all the fish of a river into which it flows, cives violent cholics to those who drink it, and destroys all the vegetation on its banks.—Lardner's Cabinet Cyclopedia.  It is already generally known that Mr. GALT, author of the Annals of the Parish, &c., about three months ago had a severe attack of paralysis, which excited considerable alarm in the minds of his numerous friends and admirers. Subsequently, he recovered so far as to be able to resume his literary avocations, although the effects of the stt ohs upon his limbs were such, as in a great measure to confine him to his apartment. We regret now to he obliged to add that, according to letters from London, about a fortnight ago, he had another attack of the disease, of so serious a description that his recovery is completely despaired of.—Scotsman. THE POWER OF SATlRE.—Severe as was the satire of Jumus, it produced no such effects as the bitter iambics which ARCHILOCHUS, stimulated by re • . I I !_ • 7, - BULE, who had accepted the hand of a wealthier lover; they did honour to the eenius of ARCHILOCHU3, by hang ing themselves.—E. 11. Barker on the Authorship of Junius's Letters (a book replete with interesting and curious literary anecdotes). In his Anthologia (1. iii, c. 25) we are told that three daughters of LYCHAMBES killed themselves in consequence of AnctinocHtts's satire. He was so fond of slander, that when he had no other person to abuse, he satirized himself. The satire of HarvoNnx is reported to have produced similar fatal results. JELIAN informs us that POLIAGRUS committed suicide in consequence of his having been abused in a comedy. Well might PLATO advise those who are tender of their reputation, to avoid exasperating the poets.  If any thing were wanting to sicken one of law quibbles, it would be supplied by the futile objections which are making, and appear to be in some instances received, against registering votes under the Reform Act.
The Sun. — 1832-04-18 (London, England)

BOW-STREET.-(THIS DAY.)  THREATENED ATTEMPT ON THE LIFE OF SIR W. O WEN.  Tris morning a young man dressed in livery, lately in the service of the Lincolns' Inn Club, was brought before THOMAS HA Ll,' Esq, charged with having threatened the life of Sir W. Owen, and with having attempted to comm►t suicide last night at the Grange Coffee-house, in Carey-street, Lineolns-inn-fields,  A policeman stated, that about eleven o'clock last night he was called into the Grange Coffee-house, where he found the defendant in a state of great mental excitement. The landlord of the house informed him that he had come into the house and requested a bed for the night. He was told be could be accommodated, and he sat down and partook of some beef-steaks that some of the servants had ly:en served with for supper ; whilst sitting at the table, he took up a knife, and made a most desperate attempt to cut his throat, which he would have effected had not the persons present rushed upon him, and rescued the knife from his grasp. The witness conveyed him to the station-house, where every care was taken of him for the night. Mr. HALLS inquired if there were any persons present who knew any thing of the unfortunate man ? Mr. Evans, Superintendant of the Lincoln's-inn Chit), here stepped 'forward, and stated, that up to Monday last the defendant was in the service of the club, but, owing to a serious dispute thit had occurred between him and Sir William Owen, one of the members of the club, an elderly and very nervous gentleman, he was obliged to discharge him. On Sunday night, he abruptly entered Sir William's room, threw up the window, and was about to hurl him head foremost out, but fortunately the rest of the servants came to his assistance, who protected him from his violence. He had repeatedly threatened to blew his brains out, and be (witness) had frequently endeavoured to restrain his violence by remonstrating with bins upon the serious results that might accrue from his dangerous line of conduct ; and notwithstanding, hoever, on every occasion he has called upon the Deity in the most solemn manner to witness that he would have the blood of Sir William Owen the very first time an opportunity presented itself. Mr.
The Sun. — 1832-12-03 (London, England)

SUICIDE GIVEN UP FOR DISSECTION.—On Monday evening last an inquest was held on MARY ANN CHAPMAN, otherwise " Handsome Poll," aged about 22, a prostitute, who drowned herself on Wednesday night in a fit of mental derangement in the London Dock. It appeared that the deceased, who described herself to her associates as related to a coach proprietor at Rochester, was of sober and harmless disposition. Through inability to pay her rent she had been turned out of her lodgings on the morning on which she committed suicide. A verdict of " Mental derangement" was returned; and Mr. HOLLIDAT, the Churchwarden, asked Mr. BAKER, the Coroner, if he could legally give up the body to the London Hospital, as it was not claimed by any relatives. Mr. BAKER strongly advised him to do so, as an example to prevent suicides amongst loose women. Several of this class of women, who had conducted themselves with great decorum during the proceedings. here begged, with tears and the greatest earnestness, to be allowed to pay a mark of respect to their companion, by burying her in consecrated ground, for which they had already raised 3/. by subscription, and given to an undertaker. They described her as of the best and most inoffensive disposition, and incapable of injuring any one. The Coroner, however, replied that it was necessary to make an example. The spirit of the Anatomy Bill would not be acted up to if the body was not given up. Any resurrectionist might claim the body as a friend, and afterwards sell it. After some further discussion it decided that the body should be sent to the hospital. f t'c announcement tineoufthibsy hdteceisiownomweasn,rewcehivoedapred m weeitahth e mot bitter attached to the deceased.  " At 6 o'clock in the morning a brisk firing of musketry and artillery commenced, and at the same time they made a landing near the Furada, with the intention of flanking the left of the line, and making themselves masters of the said batteries ; but as the roads from Villa Neva were strongly intrenched, the rebels, in spite of the greatest efforts, were repulsed and routed at all points, and obliged, after three hours' firing, to fly in the greatest disorder, leaving on the field a great number of killed, a great quantity of arms,and above 50 prisoners. Our loss was very small compared with that of the enemy."
The Sun. — 1832-10-31 (London, England)

JUVENILE DELINQUENCY.—Yesterday a boy named the place he had mentioned, where the Burkers Bishop Vallis, of most miserable appearance, and whose age and Williams, and other body-snatchers, used to frequent. certainly did not exceed nine years, was committed for The service., of the body-snatchers being no longer want trial for stealing a pair of small copper scales, valued at ed, in consequence of the passing of the Anatomy Bill, two shillings. the greater part of them had commenced operations as The prisoner was an incorrigible depredator, and be- am ,shers. longed to a gang of young thieves, who nightly infest the The Magistrates directed that the Mint solicitor should New Cut, Lambeth. He was seen by a woman to enter be made acquainted with the merits of the case, and rethe shop of Mrs. Knowles, in James-street, New Cut, on mended the prisoner in order to give time for others to his hands and knees, and take the scales from the counter ; come forward against him. but finding he was perceived, he threw them down and LAW OF SUlClDE.—Yesterday a young woman, named ran off. A policeman followed him for about five hundred Morgan, aged 22, was charged with attempting to corn yards, when he lost sight of him. Knowing, however, mit suicide. It appeared that she had been unfortunate the prisoner could not be far off, the policeman continued for the last seven years, and lately lodged in the house of his search in a timber yard, when he heard some one a labourer in the London Docks, named Jones. Having sneeze, and being confident the sound issued from a water met some disappointment, she made on Sunday and Monbutt in the yard, he looked into it, and there found the day two attempts to destroy herself by means of oxalic young urchin secreted. Fortunately, there was not more acid, but the wife of the landlord watched her motions, than a foot of water in the butt, into which it would ap- and saved her life. Orr Monday evening she left the house pear the prisoner jumped at all hazards. secretly; tint Jones followed her, and was only in time to Mr. WHITE observed it was truly deplorable to be catch her as she was getting over the railing to the swivel. obliged to send such a child to prison. He, however, had bridge at the London Docks. no alternative, and should commit him. Mr. BALLANTINE said, the crime of self-murder was
The Sun. — 1832-08-04 (London, England)

TELLER.  CHARGE OF FORGERY AND AT TEMPTED SUICIDE.  Yesterday, John James Levein, a young man, 18 years of age, whose connections are highly respectable, residing at Wa'worth, was brought by Mr. Thomas, the Superintendent of Police, before F. A. Roe, Esq., at Bowstreet, charged with having feloniously uttered a forged cheque for 2001. purporting to have been drawn by Mr. William Gill Paxton, a wine-merchant, residing in Buckingham street, Strand, payable at his bankers, Messrs. Coutts and Co. The case excited a great deal of interest, and the office was unusually crowded. The accused, a very gente,a youth, seemed deeply afflicted. Mr. Edmonds attended for the prisoner. Mr. Joseph Partridge, one of the cashiers to Messrs. Coutts's bank, stated that between four and five o'clock, on Thursday afternoon, the prisoner presented a cheque to him for 200/., purporting to have been drawn by Mr. William Gill Paxton, a wine-merchant, who kept an account at the bank. On looking at the signature, he entertaintd suspicions that the sime was not in the handwriting of Mr. Paxton, and he asked the prisoner to take a seat. He showed the cheque to several of the clerks, and they were of opinion, on comparing it with other cheques, that it was a forgery. Witness took the cheque to Sir Edmund Antrobus, Bart., one of the partners, and left it in his possession. The prisoner soon afterwards left the bank, assisted by two men, and he appeared to be very unwell. He was informed that the prisoner had taken poison. Cross-examined—He did not know into how many hands the ch,qiie had gone ; he put no marks upon it when he received it ; he wrote his initials on it that morning, before he gave it to Mr. Thomas; he believed the cheque produced to be the same that he received from the prisoner, but he knew it merely from its general appearance; he could not distinguish it from any other cheque written in the same hand.  Sir Edmund Antrobus received a cheque for 2001., purporting to have been drawn by Mr. Paxton, on the bank of Messrs. Coutts and Co., on Thursday afternoon, from the atone witness, who informed him that the pri• saner had presented it for payment ; witness showed the cheque to Sir Coutts Trotter, and by inquiry among the clerks, ascertained that it was forged ; the prisoner was requested to take a seat in Sir Gnats Trotter's room, and soon afterwards, on passing by the door, witness saw the prisoner in the act of drinking the contents of a phial bottle; he exclaimed, " Good God, what are you doing!" the prisoner replied, " No matter." He sent for medical assistance ; on his person a phial, containing a spun quantity of laudanum, was found. Cross-examined—Witness showed the cheque to Sir Coutts Trotter, and left it with that gentleman while he returned to the prisoner. Mr.
The Sun. — 1832-07-10 (London, England)

SHIP- S TREE T.  On Saturday night, an elderly man, named Jame; Holt, was charged with attempting to commit suicide at a public-house. He had managed to make a slight incision in his throat.  When remonstrated with by the Magistrates, he said he would not promise not to attempt suicide again. Castlereagh had committed suicide, and the Duke of Newcastle had said, " A man has a right to do what he likes with his own." His throat was his own, and he had a right to do what he liked with it.  The MAGISTRATES then ordered him to be taken to the infirmary.  Yesterday, Mr. W. Washington, a respectable tradesman, attended before the Magistrates, and said that the prisoner had borrowed 10s. from a friend of his, named Hall, a saddler in Piccadilly, and not being able to return it on Saturday night, as he promised, and under the excitement of liquor, he made the attempt; but he (Mr. W.), in order to calm his mind, had that morning sent to Mr. Hall, and paid the money. He then produced the receipt. He had known the prisoner upwards of 40 years; he knew him as a respectable manufacturer at Manchester, and at one time he was worth upwards of 40,0001.; he also knew that he went to the same school with Sir Robert Peel, and was then equally as respected and as respectable; his pride prevented him from applying to his friends, and his distressed wife and daughter were outside of the office. The Magistrate then ordered the prisoner before him, and desired that the wife and daughter might be brought in. The scene that followed was truly distressing, particularly between the father and daughter, a young woman about 20 years of age. When the prisoner recovered a little, he begged God's pardon for the rash act he attempted, and said he felt sincerely thankful to the Magistrate for the kindness and attention paid to him at the prison by his orders; and to questions from Mr. BROUGHTON, he said he was formerly a rope manufacturer in Manchester, and the first cause of his misfortunes in trade arose from an embargo laid on all British ships in the Baltic by the late Empress of Russia. His cravat completely concealed the wound, and after apologizing to the police for his conduct, he left the office, accompanied by his wife and daughter.
The Sun. — 1832-10-15 (London, England)

ATTEMPTED SUICIDE.--011 Friday evening, between five and six o'clock, a young female, fashionably dressed, was observed to throw herself into the Regent's Canal, in near to Maida-hill. One of the Paddington boatmen immediately ran to her assistance, and succeeded catching hold of her clothes with a boat-hook, and dragging her ashore. She was directly conveyed to the house of a gentleman residing near the spot, where every suitable attention was humanely and promptly afforded her. She was afterwards induced to disclose the following particulars :—She is the daughter of a person of respectable property, residing in the vicinity of London. She had always resided under her parents' roof until unknown of taking to ;'lout five weeks ago, when she was inveigled from home by a gentleman whom she casually met with while taking in friends. a ride, and then drove so far into the country that it was too late to return that night. In the morning be preleads. walk, He and enticed formed her an out under acquaintance preten vaiied upon her, under pretence of marrying her as soon as he could arrange some affairs he had in hand, to remain with him, and took lodgings for her in the neighbourhood of Cheam, in Surrey. Here he effected her ruin, and, after remaining with her until about a week since, he deserted her, leaving her scarcely a shilling. Her mother was so affected, on learning her daughter's disgrace, that she took to her bed and died in three weeks after. The unfortunate girl, is seems, had come to town on Thursday last, to seek a reconciliation with her parents; but, having heard of her mother's death in the neighbourhood, she was seized with such poignant feelings of remorse that she resolved to destroy hairlf. She was afterwards taken home, where she was recewtd with the greatest kindness. She is only 17 vpare of
The Sun. — 1832-07-19 (London, England)

CONSCRIPTION IN FRANCE.  A French provincial newspaper contains an extraordinary case of simulated suicide, contrived for the purpose of evading the law of conscription. By the terms of th law the eldest eon of a widow is not liable to serve. is this case, the father of a young man, who had just been drawn as a conscript, concerted a scheme for the purpose of making it believe.l that he had destroyed bums in order to obtain the young man's exemption, as the son of a widow. The plan was laid with considerable ingenuity. A letter was written to announce his resolution and to assign his reasons for it, and, on the same day, his clothes were found on the banks of a neighbouring river, but a diligent search hiving led to no traces of the hotly. a was still alive, that there was really no corpus delicti, and that the whole was a mere contrivance to protect the son from the performance of his military duties. The attempt. however, proves what sacrifices the lower classes are willing to mike for the purpose of avoiding this compulsory service. In this case, a father was ready to abandon hi. home, and to separate himself for many years from his wi e and family, in order to effect not his own, but his son's liberation. The mutilation of the first finger of th right hand has in many places been resorted to for a similar purpose, but the young men of Paris have latterly adopte I a more ingenious contrivance, although originating in the same b ‘rbarous principle. By the means of spectacles id a high magnifying power, they are able, by constant use. to produce such an effect on the optic nerve, as to lank, then,selves incapable of serving in the army. By the regulations of the service, very short-sighted people are not in fact admitted into tite ranks. Availing themselves of this regulation, or rather of the principle of expediency by which it is dictated, there is, I believe, in Paris, a mucus greater number of young men who have made themselves short-sighted by this artificial process, than those who have become so in the ordinary course of nature.
The Sun. — 1832-11-29 (London, England)

BEAUCLERK. BEAUCLERK was brought up from Horsemonger-lane gaol for re-examination on Tuesday, about halfpast 12 o'clock, in a hackney•coach. His appearance was rather altered since he was first taken into custody, looking much paler in the face, and apparently more dejected in his spirits. He was told by Mr. MURRAY, that as the party in whose escape be had been concerned was not yet apprehended he would be remanded until next Tuesday. He was accordingly conveyed back to Horsenonger.lane in a coach. On being placed in his ward on Tuesday, BEAUCLERK was served with his dinner at the usual time, which he partook of, and at 5 o'clock was taken from thence and locked up in the cell which he had slept in since he had been a pri-over in the gaol. The next morning (yesterday) on the turnkey unlocking the cell where Captain BEAUCLERK was confined, between 7 and S o'clock, lie observed a stream of blood at the side of the bedstead upon which he was lying. On approaching the bed the turnkey discovered the wretched suicide covered up under the clothes, with the exception of his head, which was lying at the edge of the pillow on the left side in such a position that the blood which had issued from a deep wound in his throat, and which had severed the jugular vein, went on the floor of the cell, which it covered in the way described. The wound, it appeared, had been inflicted with a small penknife, and in consequence of the desparate nature of the given himself, lie must have expired almost in Y. He was quite undressed, and his clotheswere lying on a small form at the other side of the bedstead. When the deceased was first taken into custody a sum woundebti tt fa:h, ne e it of inyney, amounting to between 30/. and 40/., was found its his possession, besides two diamond rings which he had, on his finger a, and which are now in the handcf the neW police. When the deceased was first taken into custody small bottle of prussic acid was found in his possession by an inspector of the police,