npedrazzini/19thc_murder_suicide_news huggingface dataset:
Widnes Examiner. — 1914-04-18 (Widnes, Cheshire, England)

BOROUGH POLICE COURT.  SATURDAY. Before Mr. R. T. Fairclough..(in the chair) and  Mr. A. J. Jolley. Absent Four Years.—Charles Jones, French polisher, 52, Frances-street, Chester, was charged with deserting his wife, Sarah Jones, Smith'sCourt, Winwick-road, in 1910.—The wife said she had not heard from her husband since he went way, and he had not let her have any money. She did not think he would send her anything if he could get out of it. She was earning 9s. per week at a tannery.—The Chief Constable said they could now find the man anywhere.—Jones said he had only been doing odd jobs.—An order was made for 10s. per week, and prisoner had to pay the costs of the case. Girl's Plight.—Kate Fleming, a domestic servant, of Wakefield-street, who had previously been before the Bench on a charge of attempted suicide, again appeared, and the Chief said the girl, who was in service in Wilderspool-road, was removed to the Infirmary and the Workhouse after taking the poison. The Medical Officer reported that she was weak, but thought she would be all right if under proper care and control.—The girl's parents promised to look after her, and she was placed under the supervision of Mr. Laws for 12 months. Man and a Knife.—A charge of wounding a 16-year-old girl, named Lily Lawson, of 3, Brackley-street, preferred against Albert Ernest Gough, who lodged with the girl's mother, was reduced to one of aggravated assault.—The girl said the man had lodged with her mother for three years, and he was violent when in drink. On Thursday evening she was nursing a baby, when prisoner came in and became quarrelsome. He picked up a knife from the table and said, "Give me the baby or I will cut its throat." She (witness) struggled, but prisoner deliberately struck her in the eye with the knife, inflicting a slight wound. When asked for an explanation, prisoner said it was an accident.— Mrs. Lawson said the man was decent and respectable and kept in his own place when he was sober.—P.C. Cooke said that when he saw the woman she said he (prisoner) would murder her. They were afraid he would do them some injury. —Prisoner said it was an accident. He would , pay all the expenses and sign the pledge.—He ' was sent to prison for one month. What the Sergeant Heard.—Michael Preston, 37, Bewsey-street, was charged with breaking into the lock-up shop of Mr. Ryder, jeweller, 11, Bewsey-street.—The Chief Constable said that Acting-Sergeant Whitby heard an unusual noise in Bewsey-street that morning, and on making a search found the prisoner at the rear of the premises with a long iron bar in his possession. Prisoner made a small excuse. The bolts of the door had been broken, but although prisoner had got into the back of the shop he had not reached the shop properly.—The case was adjourned for a week.
Widnes Examiner. — 1914-02-07 (Widnes, Cheshire, England)

CURIOUS DREAM. Some years ago a young man, the son of a Devonshire farmer, had a curious dream that if he went to London and would remain at mid-night on London Bridge he would find a fortune. As the dream repeated itself three times he resolved to tell his father the strange occurrence. But his father only laughed at the tale and refused to provide his son with the means of going to London. However, the vouth could not get the dream out of his lead and made up his mind to work his way up to the great city as best he could. After many days travelling he at last ar:ivcd weary and tired in the metropolis. The first night of his arrival saw him walking up and down London Bridge. Nothing happened save that he noticed that he was being watched by a constable on his beat. Again he came to the spot at mid-night, again nothing occurred. He now began to think that his father was right. What chance was there of finding a fortune on the bridge ? Still he decided to try once more. He was not there more than a few minutes when he was arrested by the solitary policeman. "Now come on, this won't do, I know your little game," said the custodian of the peace. The youth protested his innocence but the 'constable was deaf to the protestation of his prisoner, he had seen the likes of him before, suicide was his game and he should take him to the police-station as a suspected person. Upon this the boy told his story at which the man in blue had a good laugh. "Why, bless me," he said, "if I took any notice of them things, I should be wandering about now somewhere in Devonshire a-looking for my fortune. Why, do you know, I dreamed three times I was down there on a farm a-digging up heaps ot goal from under an old apple tree in the orchard," and the constable described minutely a peculiar old tree that actnally grew in the orcimrd of the very farm the youth came from. The Devonshire lad kept his own counsel and made the best of his way back to his home where he received a good jacketing from his father. He said nothing, but after all had gone to bed he visited the spot described by the constable, armed with a pickaxe and shovel. He had not dye down very deep wnen lie, Caine across a heap or goid coins that bad been buried there some hundreds of years before and which amounted to a large sum. But the most remarkable coincidence in this case came out at the enquiry over the _treasure-trove. Many years ago the farm had keen occupied by an ancestor of the policeman who had the dream and there is little doubt that the money was buried by ennui of his forefathers,
Widnes Examiner. — 1914-11-07 (Widnes, Cheshire, England)

WILLIAM 11. pretends to rule, but which he has betrayed into an act of national suicide. Whether by chance or design is immaterial, but the British Army finds itself directly across the KAISER'S path again. When he was rolling away so light-heartedly for Paris it was FRENCH'S contemptible little Army that retired before his hordes, anti, in retiring, took the edge off his sword in such a manner that it stubbornly refuses to be ground again. The British Army has now been spirited away from the Aisne, and is on the direct path of the KAISER to Calais, which " must be taken at all costs." As before, FRENCH'S contemptible little Army has exacted the full cost, but again the KAISER goes empty away. How severe the German losses have been in the last week or two, during which fresh armies have been brought up to hack their way through, the official dispatches have recently told us. We have not only learnt of their losses, but of the kind of men that have been opposed to us. Certainly it seems as though the German supply of first-class mends getting short, when, at the most critical point of the campaign, they employ such troops as those who have been heroically, but in vain, hurling themselves at our men. "Certainly," says our official chronicler, "the way their advance was conducted showed a lack of training and faults in leading which the almost superhuman bravery of the soldiers could not counter-balance. It was a holocaUst. The spectacle of these devoted men chanting a national song as they marched on to certain death was inspiring. It was at the same time pitiable." Since then the same graphic pen has described the. "prodigious slaughter" we have inflicted upon the enemy, and—paradox of paradoxes in 20th century civilisation—all continues as, we say, to go well. But if we have inflicted tremendous punishment upon our adversaries we have ourselves, in company with our Allies, both French and Belgian, suffered grievous loss. The same authority that tells us, first hand, of the way our Army has more than maintained-the glorious traditions to which it is heir, also tells us that final victory will rest with the side that can the longer bring up and "fling fresh forces into the fray." Are we prepared to say that Britain will be the one that shall bring up the last, and, consequently, struggle for national, nay, for domes
Widnes Examiner. — 1895-08-31 (Widnes, Cheshire, England)

THE SUICIDE OF A. WARRINGTON  TRADESMAN.  REPORT OF TFIE INQUEST.  Mr.S.BrighOuse,county coroner,nn— Tuesday conducted an enquiry at the Parade Room of the Police Station, relative to the death of Edmund Johnson, Wilderspoolroad, a master tinplate worker,who was found hanging, with a rope round his neck, from a beam in his workshop. Mrs. Johnson, wife of deceased, sai that to the best of her knowledge he was 61 years of age. She last saw him alive on Sunday about 2 o'clock, when he left the house and went across to the workshop. Ralf-an-hour later .he went to the shop and saw him hanging by the neck from the beam. The only reason she could assign for his committing the act was that of money difficubiss. He had also been strange in his manner for same time and more so during the three days preceding his death. During the Bank Holiday he had hurt his back and head with falling upon some boxes when leaving the Isle of Man boat. During the last week a number of bills had come dem an ding money, and these he destroyed. Money that he should have paid on an account to Mr. Spencer Wallhead, solicitor, he expended in going to the Isle of Man. She did not think he would commit the act hehad dose.  George Billington, barman at the Norton Arms, saw the deceased on Sunday a little after two. Saturday was the first time he had seen deceased take beer, ;and he had a pint on Sunday. Witness had no suspicion that he would take his life. He thought it strange that deceased was in his shirt sleeves at that time of the day. Edwin Sykes, who had worked for the deceased, and last saw him alive at dinner time on Saturday said he knew deceas-d was in monetary difficulties. He had done no hard work in the shop for about three months. He paid all his employes on Saturday. Witness thought him strange in his manner and inattentive to his work. Henry Ashton,landlord of the Bridge Inn, said that he was called into the shop at 2.30 on Sunday to cut the body down. Deceased was suspended from a beam having apparently mounted to his position by way of a packing ea.e. He was dead. Witness knew him well and had also noticed his strangen--as, especially on Sunday morning at 11 o'clock, the last time witness saw him alive. _  After a iihnrt coreiideration the jury returned a verdict of " Suicide whilst temporarily insane." Mr. BriAnwie mentioned that this was the third innn a suicide he bad attended during the day.  .31-_TR
Widnes Examiner. — 1895-02-02 (Widnes, Cheshire, England)

SAD SUICIDE OF A KELSEY ENGINEER.  At the Liverpool City Coroner's Court, before Mr. E. Sampson, on Monday afternoon, an inquiry was held touching the death of Carl Thomas Blanch-Brain, aged twenty-nine, electrical engineer, and manager for a firm of electrical engineers, who lived at the Poplars, tielsby. It appeared from the evidence of deceased's wife, who seemed greatly affected, that her husband was a great student, and as a result of his excessive study she was of opinion that he had overtaxed his brain. He was taking medicine for pains in the head. He left home on Friday afternoon to go.to Liverpool en. business. He then seemed to be in good spirits. As witness did not receive the usual telegram from her husband she on Saturday morning wont to Liverpool and called at the branch works,but wit hmt success. She returned hornetand then found a telegram awaiting her containing the news of her husband's death. She went to the North-Western Hotel, and there saw the body of her husband. The other evidence showed that deceased was found lying on the bed at the hotel, fully dressed, with a pistol grasped in his right hand Close to the e'er, and life was quite evinct.- A policeman was called in, and he found a visiting card on the dressing table,which bore the words" lam married. For God's sake break it gently to my dear wife." The revolver was a new one, five-chambered, and with one out of three cartridges discharged. The officer also found a box of cartridges in the dressing-room drawer.—Dr. Pusey attributad death to injury to the base of the shull, caused by the revoiyer shot. Death had occurred some time before the body was discovered—probably twelve hours.—Dr. Clegg said he knew the deceased, and had prescribed U.,. him. He suffered greatly from the effects of ever•stuuy—a cendition when the nerve power , was very easily exhausted—associated with head ache, pains and general depression. He was accustomed to sit up working with a wet towel round his head. Witness put a stop to it, hut he considered it had done him harm. Deceased was a very bright, intellig,ent man. but was easily exhausted.—The jury found a verdict of " Suicide whilst in a state of temporary insanity."
Widnes Examiner. — 1895-08-17 (Widnes, Cheshire, England)

THE STANLEY FORCE COLLISION.—JUDGMENT. In the Admiralty Court,London,mi Fridav,Mr. Justice Barnes, who was assisted by Trinity Masters, delivered his judgment in the action for damages brought by the owners of the Liverpool screw-steamer Stanley Force against the Manchester Ship Canal Company, whose twin-screw hopper Beta came into collision with the plaintiff's steamship on July 5, in the Eastham channel of the Mersey, with the result that the Stanley Force sank almost immediately,and her captain and four of her crew lost their lives. The Stanley Force was on a voyage from Weston Point to PetPrkeed with a cargo of salt and the Beta was returning to the canal after discharging her dredglngs at sea.—Sir Walter Phillimore and Mr. Butler Aspinall appeared for the plaintiffs,and Mr. Pyke, Q.C., and Mr. Hope for the defendants. In the course, of his judgment his Lordship said the points made by the defenoants against the Stanley Force had not been established. The Stanley Force kept to her proper side of the channel, and although placed at a disadvantage in not having her master and mate, who were on the bridge at the time of the collision, to give evidence, the pilot had given his evidence fairly and honestly, and the conclusion which he (the judge) had come to was that he acted properly in every respect. The Beta was solely in fault for not passing the Stanley Force portto port, for not stopping and reversing sooner than she did. On her own evidence she only stopped and reversed at the last moment. On these ernunda the Beta must be held alone. to blame. Judgment accordinely for the plaintiffs with costs, the damages to be assessed in the Registry in the usual way.  On Tuesday morning, Robert /lase!tine Fludson Wit& executed at, York Castle for the murder of his wife and child, whose bodies were found buried in Helmsley' Moor, Yorkshire.  • The petition against the return of Colonel Forster (Conservative) for the Lancaster division has been, lodged. Bribing and other illegal practices are alleged. According to a private telegraphic despatch received'. at Berlin, seventy arreQts were made on Monday night' at a restaurant in Odessa, and a large quantity of' Nihilist literature seized. At the earns time a number nf arrests were made at villas in the suburbs. The keeper of the restaurant committed suicide.  EPPS a
Widnes Examiner. — 1895-03-16 (Widnes, Cheshire, England)

TEA D RUN KA RDS.  A cry is being raised in America about the evil results ; of intemperance in tea-drinldaz. No longer (sacs the " New York Tribune ") may we speak of tea as the cup whigh cheers but not inebriates. It may, indeed, still cheer. It certainly does inebriate, with most deplorable effect, ranking as an intoxicant a good second to alcohol itself. To some, perhaps, the idea of a temperance crusade against the teapot will appear grotesque. Yet in all seriousnesstbaS very thing is urgently needed. According to statistics recently furnished to the'' Medical News " by Dr. James Wood, of Brooklyn, of all the patients applying for treatment at the chief dispensary of that city, no less than 10 per cent, are tea-drunkards. They are not aware of the fact. No one asks to be cured of what we may eall teaomania. But the symptoms of their cases point unmistakably to over-indulgence in tea and that presumption, on inquiry, is confirmed by their confessions. They suffer fro.n headache, vertigo, insomnia, palpitation of the heart, mental confusion, nightmare, nausea, hallucinations, morbid depression of spirits, and sometimes from suicidal impulses—surely a formidable list of symptoms. These patients are of both sexes and all ages, and confess drinking from a pint and a half to 15 pints of tea each day. Another interesting fact is that nearly one-third of them are of Irish birth. and it is safe to assume that of the nearly two-thirds of Amerioan birth a large proportion are of Irish parentage. For in Ireland itself tea-poisoning has long been recognised as a widely prevalent evil contributing largely to the number of inmates of insane asylums ; and here, as most housekeepers know, the most inveterate and inordinate tea drinkers are the domestic servants of Irish origin. The evil of tea drinking is due, however, not only to the amount consumed, but also to the manner in which it is prepared. An unmeasured quantity of the leaves, says Dr. Wood, is thrown into the teapot, aria an unmeasured quantity of boiling water ad Jed. In any time from ten to 30 minutes this infusion is used. Then new leaves are thrown in with the old, which have been left to soak, aod more water is added, and so on. Sometimes leaves are thus kept soaking for a day or more. The result is , that the decoction is loaded, not only with them, but , with from 7to 17 per cent. ot tannin, and with other even more deleterious substances. This form of preparation is almost universal among kitchen servants, and among shop and factory girls, who also are great tea drinkers, and is too often practised among other people of small means, who do not wish to waste a single leaf so long as there is any "strength" in it. There is serious reason to believe that many cares of suicide and insanity are directly duo to tea poisoning, While the number of chronic invalids from the saroe cause in this city alone is to be reckoned .by thousands. It is high time for the evil te be recognised and checked.
Widnes Examiner. — 1895-02-16 (Widnes, Cheshire, England)

ATTEMPTED SUICIDE BY A. YOU247G Max. At the Warrington Borough Court,on Tu-sday Charles Edward ForsterAllspwana-st., was charged with attempting to commit suicide on the previous day,hy taking a quantity of laudanum in Church-V. Mr.Ehint i.ail that the prisoner was only 21 years of age, and Ivedl with his uncle. He had been working off and on at Messrs. Rylands' works for four or five years, but on Saturday, he was paid off and told there was no more work for him. The fact of being disctarged ups,t him very much, and on SAturday, he went into Mr. Fault's chemist shop, and asked for a small quantity of laudanum. He went into the shnp again on Monday, and asked tor some oxalic acid,but the assistant not FP, ling satisfied with the prisoner's manner, refused to sop- I ply It to him. The pris.ner then went out of the shop. I and seemed to be in very low spirits. When he (Mr. Hunt) went home at ab.mt five minutes tonne he neti-ed the prisoner a the cr.rner of Gladstone Arms looking very distressed, but he did not say anything to him A 1 few minutes afterwards, Mrs. Bothwell who kerl a I stationer's shop near to saw him and a-kA him what he was doing there. He said that he was put abont, and I said something about an empty belly. Shp told bin, to I come into her house and she would give him a " hit of ' dinner." 44 he went into the shop, however, he tell down to the grotind, and it was blond that he hot taken a dose of laudanum. Inspector Spinka was called in and gave him a strong emetic and he vomited a great deal He was taken to the Infirmary and attended to, fr. (Mt. Hunt) had reason to believe that the prisoner had not a very good home and that was the reaminn that he had left it to go to his tincle.—The father who was in *curt was then a.ked why his son had left him, hut he replied that he did not know. He had never sp ken to him since he had left which was four months previonsly, --,Mrs. Smith, aunt to the prisoner, said that he came to her house to live because he was not comfortable at biome.. ,He paid her 109. a week for board and lodgings, tr_d.ws.* at present 15... el. in arrears,but had paid some. tbillitPWarla the arrears on Saturday. In reply to Mr. , Ftwoomi said that she was not troubled with toothache. Mensuriti Ai/et:Lined that the reason hp mat Ws cries.ion I prisynektold Mr. Paoli that the latirlarum was or blaSunt who'hi'd the toothache. —E ri dence was also r ' iiien by •Mrltt,;tallwho-said that the prisoner was evidently Suffering ifroin the effects of a dose of laudannm. The effector Is uflug-irtarty w ia to prod UCORIPPP,IIIIt if too mo eh were takenjt tro-dti6riiioirelting instead of death.—The magistrates adjimrneeltla4aad until next Tuesday.
Widnes Examiner. — 1895-02-16 (Widnes, Cheshire, England)

ATTIEMPTIM SUICID/I.—John Dickenson was charged with attempting to commit suicide at Golhorne, on January 21, by planing himself across the rails of the Imndon and North-WArtern railway. The prisoner had been remanded from the Warrington Petty Session s at which place it was stated that prisoner got on he railway at Goiborne and seeing a train coming, he placed his head on the rails. Two men who were on the bridge above saw him, and shouted to him. He thereupon raised him,elf to o,lt at them, and the train going past he escaped unhurt. —Superintendent Brassington said that the man had been drinking, hut he now promised to return to work.—Mr. Taylor, P.C.M., said that he would find the prisoner some work to do.—The prisoner's brother who was in court promised to look after him, and he was accordingly discharged. A JUDICIAL SRPARATION —George Cooper, Newton, was charged with assaulting and beating his wife Miry Cooper, on January 28. A separaCon order was also applied for.—Mr. lit. Stuart, who representori the wife, s iid that the parties had been married 18 years, and had several children. During the greater portion of her married lie, the complainant had had to maintain herself and her family, and she and her husband had not lived happily together. Matters culminated on January 26, when 'llooper kick d his wife violently. He was then drunk, and he wai in the habit of ill-treating his wife every time he was drunk, which was very frequently.—The complainant who was called corriihnrated her solicitor's statement, and said that she was in danger of her life. Her husband could earn 255. pr week. The magistrates considered that there was ample j.er ifieation for a, separation. They would fine deiendare 20a. and costs for the assanit, and grant a separation order, the defendant to pay Is. 61. per week to his wile. A Row to •