npedrazzini/19thc_murder_suicide_news huggingface dataset:
The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette. — 1858-07-20 (Dorchester, Dorset, England)

MURDER AND SUICIDE AT GRAVEARND.—During the past 10 days a man, aocompanied by a woman who passed as his wife, had been lodging at the house of Mr. Henry Bean, the Royal Standard beer-thop, Terrace' street, Gravesend. The parties appeared to be on the most amicable terms with each other, and were in the habit of leaving the house daily for the purpose of going into the country to follow their occupation as hawkers of artificial flowers. On Monday evening, after partaking of supper, they retired to rest in their usual chamber, the landlord of the house (Mr. Bean) occupying the chamber adjacent. About 5 o'clock Tuesday morning Mr. Bean was aroused by a scream and a strange scratching point at his chamber door. He immediately jumped out of bed, when he perceived, on entering the passage, that the outside of the door of his chamber was stained with finger•marks of blood, and he then, in consequence of the direction whence the screams proceeded, entered the adjacent chamber, where a frightful awns presented Waif. It appeared that the woman, from whom the noise had proceeded, had managed to get back to her own room when she fell down in a pool of blood, while the man was apparently reolining on the side of the bed, with his throat out in a frightful 'winner. Mr. Bean, perceiving the nature of the fearful tragedy, inWendy gave an alarm and sent for Dr. Russell, of the Terrace, who immediately attended, but found that his services with regard to the woman were unavailing, as life was extinct. The attention of Dr. Russell was consequently directed to the man, but the nature of his wound was such that he expired after lingering about 40 minutes. Mr. Superintendent White, of the Gravesend Police, subsequently searched the room, and was enabled to find such documents as led him to proceed to London and communicate with the relatives of the unfortunate man, and they immediately proceeded to Gravesend. At the legume on Tuesday evening it transpired that the woman had stated that else came from Windsor, and that her friends would not look upon her in consequence of her connexion with the man with whoni she was tieveiling. The deceased man was John Knight, aged 36 years, a dealer in artificial flowers, who had resided in Charlton-street, Somers-town. The deceased had recently attempted to eoinutit suicide by hanging. and was out down. by his sister. Insanity had prevailed in his family, as two of Ids sisters had died in a lunatic asylum, and another sister had been removed to a madhouse during the present week. The name of the victim was Jane Moore, and it appeared that both the mardeeer and the woman bad been cohabiting together for several months. The jury returned a verdict "That the deceased, Jane Mame, was wilfully murdered by John Knight, and that John Knight committed suicide Irbil* labouring umber temporary Waniti."
The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette. — 1867-05-07 (Dorchester, Dorset, England)

TRAGEDY IN LAMBETH.  A horrible murder and attempted suicide occurred ie Lambeth on Tuesday. The murderess was Elisabeth Belcher, aged 23, and the victim her infant •011, aged four months, wife and child of Samuel Belcher, respectable mechsnin. It appears that when the wretched woman was confined it was feared that puerperal mania would ensue. and her actions had been watched in consequence. On Tuesday afternoon, on the return of her husband from work, be found his wife lying on the bed with • fearful gash across her throat, and beside her the dead body of her little boy, whose throat had also been cut. The woman was not quite dead, and after restoratives had been applied she was conveyed to Westminster HoapitsL The following papers, written in straggling characters, were found upon the bed :—" You will find more comfort at the pablishouses, perhaps, where you so often take your grog. He is • deer angel in heaven. You think I was ea strong as is yours, nor was I not at all strong. . . I hope you will get the money you so much wished for and live to enjoy it. . . I cannot bear the get (join) I have to take of them every day. . . . More them enottsh. . . I would rather be cleared out of such a hovel. . . . I know I have proved to you. . . . God bleat you, my dear husband, and you deserve all you have. . . . I keep wanting to be sending him I away from all of us. . . . You were always groat with me. I did towards all as I could. . . . You emit your hand over his mouth to smother him. . . .0 Upon another Meat of paper were the following Itia. jointed sentences—" Please to be kind to my dear father and mother. They are all kind, and to comfort all my friends. . . . I cannot leave the baby behind, as I know you will treat it unkind, beating it about the head, so you shall not be food of yourself. . . . There are more silly and cold on the world than there are in heaven. . . . I hope you will leave to be • great man. You have told me to go, but lam not able to go without my baby, as I have hope of heaven." There was no ground for the insinuations of drunken. Delll which the poor woman made against her husband. The scraps of paper were written on while the woman was in a Matte of delusion arising from milk fever. The husband was away!' saber.
The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette. — 1860-01-31 (Dorchester, Dorset, England)

BURNHAIL—On Monday, the 16th just, the ceremony of opening the first Wesleyan Chapel in this rising little town took place. Two sermons were preached by the Rev. John 4attenbury, of Bristol, to overflowing and attentive congregations. It is a neat sad substantial building, with white stone dressings, and will seat about 200 persons, and is conveniently situated in the station road. Daring the heavy gale on Saturday week the cap. tam n and owner of one of the Bridgwater traders was drowned, and it is feared one of his crew also. Two vessels were driven ashore, but have since got off with little damage. FifinmovoN.—Diafreseing Suicide. —A most de• termined act of self•destruction was committed in this village on Monday week by a highly respectable farmer named George Burge. About three o'clock on the morning of Monday be was heard to I go downstairs, but was not observed to go back to his bedroom. On the brother subsequently makings search for him, about six o'clock, he was shocked at finding the body of the deceased suspended by • rope in the malt house. An alarm was instantly raised, the body cut down, and a medical man sent for, but life was quite extinct. WiNc•wrox.—Unimi.—E. GuLoon, Esq., Poor. Law Commissioner, paid • visit to this workhouse on Tuesday lad, 24th January, and inserted the fol. lowing in the Visiting Committee Book :—" I have inspected the workhouse, and have found everything in a satisfactory state."  lu:tin:rim—An inquest was held at the Dolphin Inn, Ha:rester, by Mr. Ashford, on Saturday, on view of the body of an aged woman named Betty Fudge, who came by her death in consequence of a fall whilst returning from church on the 9th inst. She imiradually sunk under the effects of the shock thereby, and died on the 16th, having lived jolt one week after putting out the shoulder joint. She was aged 87 years. &
The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette. — 1860-07-03 (Dorchester, Dorset, England)

ATROCIOUS MURDER. AND SUICIDE. The deceased had been suffering fnun a loathsome qualilicutii,llB re- , -The important 111 S. rendered vacant Isy the --sis dismiss..il by tit! inagiatdes.last week., went. C 6 Is. Oil. -On Moss lay evening a public meeting I triet, and possessing all Idle leg;tl dhow fur years, and Isis hands and Erma were covered ' father --(I ((laud nut sIIOR Iler so go iis, aim --_ was hail in the church. The Hee. H. Jetiner. in ; (mired. apidinl fur the ollice. A large mai„rity of elevation of the Ven, ,f, tt. wii;,.oto to ow some particulars oit a detennitied suicide in Hyde with." emotion ; but what is worse stall ion rveasY • - house of complains:lnt te Mils was Lance or a mile, t speuators e .he„ ete,,, t„ Nre. wiiiitee•. eumbent, presided. anii addresses in support of the , the Gmtnlians arc ileainsus Id continuing ' I:,,che..iter, has been conferred on the Pee. (....''aesii‘:ll Park appeared in the journals to., or three days ago, in twuaTeler-cillsies tbread,and icarrYiast daewesayn -critical cat, &lid other Church of England miseions were delivered by the the too.eic„., of the candidate pridcsAing tit.: one I •Ideol :.I•A•. reetorof Crawiey, and examiniugehap. which a Frenchman. lied committed self-iEstruction by tl body ' having gone out Her. D. llogarth. rector of Portland, ilse WV. A• • qualification only. :mil the leciiiiirdy for app. ;tiding I htita iii the lll..iri ishiip of the Dii ices e. co. peered to the uLortuary-roUOI at.the..cemeterv-a '-itosnt if she Hill, chaplain of the eiinViet eatahlialocent„ and the ' the new candidate possessing is. als. The itsieA ion is • I:, ns,:.:r.- rola Meer Mile Curio. -The 11th lof Claridge was 14aced en the Male truck and ' tts,-.1 Hey. H. Utility. who attended as a aorta:alio' fl 505 therefore fairly rui,d between the two candid:des, Ildiai,hite V.dunteere at in uniform for the It appears that about ten days ago t ~ . t: isobariang first two pistols at his head, but, failing in tarutckhatlof. ceedings will be taken s. ' A h h h Ho rd of same is All Lthemog, who wilt about A. years of kunst u rey yt e a the Parent Sanely. 'r he last named gentleman gave the profession. tool the ludslie, ana referred by the lird . tttle tni Tite-olay evening. and marched from his object, had afterwsnls cut Isis thrisat. he 02.0,1,. ttilloier by trade, accompanied by his a ife. a Health ; and his conduct has excited the warmest indig-- Pleasing ace suit of the state of the Siwiety's Guardians bs the Poor Isnr il.str Ifiir le pi decisiiin. the T,..-nball to their customary place of drill (Mr. 7.74 :man of 24, name I Carolin.,, an English- "Ii°o• -creme! parts of the world, and expressed 'ICitaWKER .-4: roothsor tic.'wo,.--Th.: at 1111 l v.'s's:Ley Ash. 4 The corim Is-is attained a ereilitable state tif iir°,1;,,:v...„1 eery good lookint. I took it top Iloi.r at the DuTCHrit'S
The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette. — 1860-08-14 (Dorchester, Dorset, England)

EXTRAORDINARY SUICIDE BY A CORONER.  An inquest was held on Monday at the Ship Inn, Bedeliff-hill, Bridal, before Mr. J. B. Grunion, city coroner, on the body of Mr. George Hayes Ilinclicliffe, one of the coroners for the county of Stafford. The circumstances attending the case were of a melancholy and almost romantic character. The deceased gentleman was married only as lately as Wednesday last at West Bromwich to a lady of equal position in society, to whom he lied been for some time past previously engaged, and in the course of that day the newly-wedded pair arrived at the Queen's hotel, Clifton, on their tiip for the honeymoon. Nothing strange was observed in the manner of the bridegroom until he went to his wife's chamber sometime after she had retired for the night, and shortly afterwards reappeared and requested to he provided with another bedroom. The house being full, Mr. Hinclicliffe was toll that he could not be accommodated, and lie then left the Queen's and proceeded to the Medan-chair Tavern, on the Broad-quay, where e slept for the night. His wife, alarmed at his strange behaviour, telegraphed for her brother, Mr. Fereday, of West Bromwich, who arrived in the course of the following day, and Mr. Hinehcliffe was sought out and prevailed on to return to his wife. He dined with her and her brother the same evening, but again left the Queen's, and there is reason to believe that he wandered about all night. On Satunlay he took lodgings for the night at the house of Mr. Price, grocer, of Thomas-street, and there committed suicide by dropping from the windowsash into the street, by which he sustained a fracture of the skull which caused his death. It appeared from the medical evidence, that deceased was suffering (rum hernia, but wax in no danger; nevertheless, there are many popular prejudices that hernia is more serious than it really is, and, if viewed in that particular light. a *Ullatire man's mind might be affected by this disease. The coroner having summed up, the jury without hesitation found that deceased destroyed himself while labouring under temporary insanity.
The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette. — 1860-04-03 (Dorchester, Dorset, England)

BLANDFORD.  FRIGHTFUL SUICIDE.  A maiden lady of the name of Lance, about 60 years of age, occupying a small house in East-street, cut her throat with a common ewe-knife, between the hours of seven and eight on Saturday morning last. It appears that the mind of the deceased hail been in a very excited, if not insaue state, for some considerable time previous to her committing the rash act. On the morning of the day named, she rose somewhat earlier than usual, and was observed bending out of her window and looking up and down the street with more than usual excitement of manner. Immediately on effecting her suicidal object she rushed, staggering, from her own house, a horrid spectacle, and, having reached the window of a near neighbour, looked through, pointed to her throat, and staggered back again into her own home, and dropped exhausted on the floor. Nlessrs. Daniel, surgeons, were promptly in attendance and skilfully administered that aid which the urgent nature of the case required. The effectual manner, however, in which the deceased had accomplished her dreadful purpose, rendered all surgical skill abortive, and death ensued in a few hours after the rash act had been committed. This circumstance has naturally created a very painful sensation lime, and as the deceased was a member of an old resident family in this town, and was well known, the sad event is generally and deeply deplored. A jury was onpanelled on the afternoon of Saturday, and our new coroner, W. H. Atkinson, Eaq., instituted his first official inquiry as to the cause of death in relation to , the most horrible event that has taken place in I Blimilford for many years. The medical testimony I was clear and satisfactory as to the wilful cause of ' death, and furnished other details as to the selfinflicted injuries, which left no room for doubt as to the determined character of the act. Very little other evidence was necessary to prove to the piStilfaction of the jury that the deceased was labouring lunder the influence of temporary insanity when she i destroyed herself.
The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette. — 1860-05-08 (Dorchester, Dorset, England)

PRUSSIA.  - - - The iterlin Cabinet is ask, to hsve addressed snother eir.inlar donate,' to the ' Governments of Germany warning them against the eonsequences of rejecting the proposal of an equsl division of the Genuan forces between Austria awl Prussia. "In the plaineat terms Frieheer von &Menai 4 tee the resolution of Prussia in no case, •id in no emergency whatever, to subject her trona to the command of • General elected by the re feral Diet; or, what is tantamount to the same thing, in every ease, and in every emergency, to had her troops to the battle-field without taking the advha or obeying the directions of the minor Princes." In • letter from Berlin dated April 27 we read "Uncertainty prevails here in polities. The negotiations between the different Csbineta continue. A wish 111 shown to settle the Swiss affair amicably, if possible, but they do not know exactly how to set about it. Freesia and England wish the proposed Conference to he held at Bruaels. However, you may be sure that Switzerland will not conclude a separate treaty with France. If such • project ever was !Marl...lined it lias been abandoned. The suicide of Baron Bruck is the enelusive topic of conversation. This tragic event throws a sail light upon the deplorable condition of Austria ; and Prussia has been asked to link her destinies with that empire, falling into decay ! We are asked to perform the part in Venetia which Russia performed in Hung-try, to her coat. Every true Prussian would blush with shame if he thought his Government capable of concluding mach • bargain. Conjecture is afloat swipe. ting a visit paid yesterday to &MN Souci by the Archdui hess Soohia of Austria. accompanied by the Q mean INisrazer anil the Queen of Saxony. They arrived quite privately yesterday moraine, and left the same night for Dresden. The Prince Regent did not meet them at Sans Souci, but be has gone there today."
The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette. — 1860-05-15 (Dorchester, Dorset, England)

TAUNTON.—C'ommiasione siyned by the Lord Lieutenant of Somerset. Crewkerne, or 29th Somerset Company of Volunteer Rifle Corps.—Juba James Tidcombe, put., to be Ensign. —Wellington. or Bth Somerset Company of Volunteer Rifle Corpi4 William Reynolds, gent., to be Hun. Assistant. Surgeon. An old man, named Richard Willie, aged 70. years, a retired farmer, residing at Bishopswood, near this town, eanunitted suicide a few days ago by cutting his throat.—" Temporary lasanity" was the verdict recorded at an inquest held on Monday. Our monthly County Court was held on Monday hut, before C. Saunders, Esq., judge. The following case was tried—Quirk v. Body, a claim for .C 4 being for doctor's bill, and t 3 for four weeks lose of time, paid and sustained by the plaintiff, a journeyman smith of Taunton, on account of injuries alleged to have been sustained by him on the 25th of February last, by being knocked down in the Taunton market by (as the plaintiff stated) a vicious and ferocious bullock belonging to the defendant, Evidence in support of the Laub having been heard Mr. Taunton for the defendant, submitted there was no case; the law clearly laid down that to fix damages on the owner of an animal it was necessary to prove that such owner had a previous knowledge of the vicious and ferocious propensities of the animal. Not only was there an entire absence of such proof in this case, but the defendant and his man, and the bailiff of the gentleman who purchased the cow, were in attendance to state that a more quiet or docile animal they never met with ; the cow had only been frightened at the bustle and confusion of the market, and at having lost her calf. His Honor held with Mr. Taunton, and, without troubling him for any lengthened argument, or to call any witnes, gave a verdict for the defendant. NOUTH Pcnotarox.—May Fair.—This fair for stock was held on Tuesday last, and there was a very numerous attendance. The tat beef was rather scanty, and prices ranged from lie. to 12s. per score lean beasts went off very heavily, in consequence of the scarcity of keep, and many remained unsold. Of fat sheep there was only a moderate supply, and the price asked was from Bd. to 9d. per lb. Poor sheep were exceedingly abundant, and were difficult to dispose oL Altogether, the fair was of a dispiriting character.
The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette. — 1860-07-17 (Dorchester, Dorset, England)

SUICIDES AN WOOLWICH.— A coroner's jury, presidtal over by Mr. Carttar, coroner for West Kent, having assembled at the Gun Tavern, Woolwich, on view of the body of Corporal Coombes, a bandsman of the garrison, who last week rominitted suicide by precipitating himself from a window of the Royal Artillery Infirmary, resolved on addressing a note to General Dacres, recommending that in. all cases in which patients exhibit symptoms of insanity they should be acconnuodated in that part of the hmpital which is secured by gratings at the windows, so as to prevent an occurrence now becoming frequent. The unfortunate deceased had made a former attempt at self-destruction • few days previously by cutting his throat with his razor. Four cases of suicide have occurred among the military at Woolwich during the past week, three of whom lay side by side in the dead-house, ready for interment, and they were all pronounced men of a disordered intellect, and suloyeet to Ma of temporary imanity. THZ LADIES AND THE VOLUNTEER MoVEMENT.—A day or two since a lady in deep mourning waited upon Mr. John Austin, the treasurer of the Regent's Park district for the North Jliddleset (St. Pancras) RideA, and stated that elle had observed the steady and attentive conduct of the effectives of the above corps on their Nisei/a to and front the Regent's Park Barracks for the purposes of drill, and she considered it the duty of everyone to contribute towards the support of such a noble institution as that of the Rifle Volunteers. The lady then handed the treasurer a donation, with tl•e further instruction that her name was to be registered as an annual subscriber or honorary nmember of the North Middlesex Rides. • On inquiring the lady's name and • Wrens it turned out that the benefactress was no other than Lady Franklin, the widow and relict of the lamented Sir John Franklin, the Arctic voyager. Lady Franklin is not the only patriotic lady of distinction who has contributed to the above corps. Miami Burdett Coutta, and one or two other ladies of standing have subscribed, and it is rumoured that a ladies' committee is about to be formed for the purpose of presenting time corps with some embroidered flags or some other token of respect and ailminition. Another remarkable instance—as showing time popularity of the movement in the district—is the following :—A young lady waited also upon Mr. Austin, at his residence, 28. Gloucester-road, and left in • letter, be being Irons home at the time, the sum of 11 Ils. 6d., the latter, which was dated "Victoria Wharf, Camden-town," stating that it was the proceeds of • subscription of pence saved up by the children of the neighbourhood, in aid of the objects of the St. Fulcra' (North Middlesex) Rifle Velunteers. These examples speak volumes as to public feeling, and are really worthy of emulation. Ilmrrtiedesi
The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette. — 1860-08-28 (Dorchester, Dorset, England)

WISTBUKV. and Determined Suicide. —The district of which Promo is the centre would seem to be labouring under an extraordinary fatality just now. On Sunday much consternation ensued from a report theta case of infanticide had been discovered, and on Monday the same district was startled by a report that a dreadful suicide, under peculiar distr....ailing circumstances, had taken place near the town of Westbury, a place some seven miles from Frome. The particulars as at present known are these :—On Sunday last the banns of marriage between a labouring man and a widow with a large family were published in the parish church. There seems to have been nothing peculiar in his manner; on Sunday he retired to reit, and arose next morning as usual. He went out on Monday morning, and after a short absence returned and went upstairs, where his mother soon after followed, attracted by an unusual noise. Her horror . can well be imagined when she found her son lying on the bed with his throat cut from ear to ear. So determined had been the fatal act, that life was already extinct, the vertebra having been completely severed. The horrid affair has cast quite a gloom over the district. On Tuesday the inquest ()lithe body of the man, whose name is Elkins, was held at the , Red Lion, Chalfont, before J. W. Sylvester, ' coroner. From the evidence of the man's mother ! and other witnesses it appeared that he was much addicted to intemperance, and when drunk was very wild. He had been drinking more or less for a week past, since his return from the country, where he had been in search of work for several weeks previously. Mr. ShoreLuid, surgeon of Westbury, was of opinion that the continued intemperance in which the man had indulged had impaired his intellect, and that in a temporary fit of aberration he committed the rash act. The jury, after the summoning up of the Cormier, returned a verdict accordingly.