npedrazzini/19thc_murder_suicide_news huggingface dataset:
The Sun. — 1847-10-12 (London, England)

MARLBRO'-STREET—(THIS DAY.) ATTEMPTED SUICIDE. Mary Ann Oddy, a middle: aged woman, of respectable appearance, was placed before Mr. Hardwick charged with attempting to commit suicide, by jumping from off the bridge int° the Serpentine River, Hyde•park. John Chitty, one of the men employed by 06 Royal Humane Society, stated that on Friday after" noon last about four o'clock he heard an alarm given that a woman had thrown herself from the bridge into the water. He immediately got the boat 00 and rowed to the spot, where he just arrived as one of the watermen who ply on the Serpentine had pulled her up. She was then to all appearance quite dead. He took her to the receiving-house, where the usual remedies in such cases were applied, and after some length of time animation was restorea, and she was removed to St. George's workhouse, but was not able, owing to the shock she had received, to be brought efore the magistrates till to-day. ge had f ound eunp ovne r yh er, frointimatelym which con' netted with a Mr. Barwise, watchmaker, for the long period of twenty-seven years, and received a weeldi allowance from him, which was for some -cause or other stopped in May last. She hal repeatedly sr plied to Mr. Barwise, who refused to do anything for her. Her wearing apparel was detained at her lodging for arrears of rent, and she had become in such t! destitute condition that she was determined to end her troubles by committing suicide. The witness added that she had attempted to drown herself once before. They had then the greatest difficulty in re' storing her. In reply to Mr. HARDWICK, the prisoner said It was quite correct and true what the last witness had stated. She thought it very hard to be turned out en the world after being for twenty-seven years eon' fleeted with Mr. Barwise. Mr. HARDWICK, after talking to her upon the wickedness of the act she had attempted to commit, ordered her to be detained till the relieving officer et St. George's parish arrived, who no doubt would take her into the house and make inquiries into her statement.
The Sun. — 1847-12-20 (London, England)

SUICIDE.—An inquest was held on Saturday, by Mr. Bedford, at the Lord High Admiral, Vauxhall bridge-road, as to the death of Lucy Sparrow, aged 42. The deceased woman was the wile of a drayman, in the service of Messrs. Thorne, the brewers. She had been in a very bad state of health lately, and was attended by the landlady of the house. On Thursday morning her husband went to his work as usual, at five o'clock, and it would seem that the deceased got up and fastened the room door, for on the landlady going at eight to see if she would have her breakfast, she could obtain no answer. Her husband went up, but was afraid to break open the door, and though he got a ladder he could see nothing through the window, as the blinds were down. He sent to the police sta• tion to say that he sespected something wrong, but the answer was, if he broke open the door it would be at his own risk. Ultimately the husband was sent for from Chelsea, and on his arrival about ten o'clock, the door was forced, and the deceased was found lying in the bed with her throat cut in a dreadful manner. She had been dead some time. A knife was found near her right hand, with which she inflicted the wound; and on her left was a steel, which she apr eared to have used for sharpening the weapon. Mr. Atkinson, a surgeon, who was called in, was of opinion that she had sat up in the bed to inflict the wound, and then, from loss of blood, had fallen back. He had seen her professionally, and had no doubt her mind was affected from the pain she suffered. The Coroner said it seemed very strange the police did not interfere in the matter, and there was a possibility the life of the deceased might have been spared. He hoped that some inquiry would be made, and that a report should be had. The inspector said that he was not on duty at the time, and could not tell what the message sent was, but it should be inquired into. The jury returned a verdict of " Temporary inattnity.".
The Sun. — 1847-12-20 (London, England)

COMMISSION OF LUNACY.  Saturday a commission de lunatic() inquirendo was opened atßethlehern Hospital, beforeMr.Commissioner Winslow and a special jury, relative to the state of mind of Fanny Gunyon, aged fifty-two, widow of a gentlemen connected with the Anglo-Mexican Mining, Company. The commission, which was unopposed, was taken out by a brother-in•law, Mr. Thomas Gunyon, of Mr. Warren's Hotel, Regent-street. In its support Mr. Sparke appeared as solicitor. From the evidence of Sir A. Morison, physician to the Hospital, and other witnesses, it appeared that Mrs. Gunyon's husband died on the 30th of December, 1844, after which, as early as the 10th of February following, while residing at Clapham, e/e began to exhibit a diseased mind, by throwing her things about in disorder, and saying she had by her misconduct and neglect caused her husband's death, though she was known to have acted otherwise. She was constantly crying out that her children a boy and a girl, would be murdered; that nothing but poverty was before her, although she had 1501. a year, beside money in the funds. Though previously religious, she became irreverent and blasphemous. She would not leave her house for fear of being robbed ; attempted to commit suicide by throwing herself into a pond at Clapham, and became. so .un_ manageable as to render it necessary, on March 13, 1845, to convey her to Cowper House, Brompton, where she became worse, but since her removal to Bethlehem, which was on August 14, 1845, she bad , become more calm. .At Cowper House she thrice attempted to commit suicide, once by hanging herself with the strings of her strait waistcoat, a second time by tearing open the chief vein of the left arm, and a third time with a table-knife, which she concealed up her sleeve. The remaining testimony tended to show that she was still imbued with similar delusions.  This was confirmed by her conduct when introduced to the jury. On her entering the room she flew to her son, a youth about 15, clasped him *vio.. lently round the neck, bedewed him with tears,' calling him by the most endearing appellations—refused to sit down or answer any questions if he was -removed: The scene was altogether so affecting that several of the jury shed tears. She was at -length induced to allow her son to be removed, and • then answered several of the Learned Commissioner's questions, some of them very strangely, bat continually calling out, "My child, my child!" She constantly expressed a desire to go home to her children, said she had always paid her way, and never did any harm, but admitted the attempted suicide, assigning as a reason that sh 3 was " jacketted" at Cowper House. She occasionally complained that 011 r. Nicholls, the governor, and other gentlemen in the room, were laughing at her, and once said, " You seem to have brought Doctors'-commons, the Lord Chancellor, and all to laugh at me." She said she thought " the whole world was in a blaze when her husband died."  On her retirement the jury expressed themselves satisfied, and returned a verdict, dating the unsound.. ness of mind from " March 13, 1845."
The Sun. — 1847-02-11 (London, England)

ROYAL HUMANE SOCIETY.  The anniversary dinner of the Royal Humane Societe• took place last evening at the Freemasons' Tavern. The Right Hon. Lord Lincoln occupied the chair. The efforts made by the officers of the Humane Society in rescuing the submerged from destruction continue to be most satisfactory. The cases brought under the notice of the Society during the past year amount' to 179. Of this number the report of the committee announce the successful treatment of 174 persons, and the death of `26, who were beyond recovery. In effecting this great object the exertions of many individuals have of necessity been called into action. Fourteen, honorary silver medals have been awarded for extraordinary courage and risk of life, and thirty-one honorary bronze medals for cases of less importance. The thanks of the Society, inscribed on vellum, have been presented to nine individuals, and three other persons have received similar testimonials on paper. Sixty-two other claimants have received pecuniary rewards. From the report of the Society it appears. that during the past year, the number of persons who bathed in the Serpentine exceeded 350,000,42 of whom were rescued from drowning by the Society's boatmen. Sixteen individuals were prevented from committing suicide by the watchfulness of the boatmen during the daytime. Since the commencement of the present skating season 79 persons have been immersed in the water by the breaking of the ice, but were all saved by the vigilant exertions of the Society's icemen, and only one fatal accident has occurred, which, unfortunately, betel a noble-minded youth who had plunged into the water in St. James's Park to the rescue of two persons who were immersed, and was himself drawn under the ice out of the reach of assistance.—(Report ) Among the recipients of the medals were Mr. George Clifford, a French sailor named Pierre Victor Trotel, Mr. Edward P. Green (of Exeter College, Oxford), Mr. Mitchell, Lieutenant Fisher, R.N., Captain Finch, R.N., Lieutenant Newman, R.N. (of the Coast Guard), and Jobn Wright (of Brighton). The subscriptions of the evening amounted to 8101.
The Sun. — 1847-02-11 (London, England)

ROYAL HUMANE SOCIETY. The anniversary dinner of the Royal Humane Society took place last evening at the Freemasons' Tavern. The Right Hon. Lord Lincoln occupied the chair. The efforts made by the officers of the Humane Society in rescuing the submerged from destruction continue to be most satisfactory. The cases brought under the notice of the Society during the past year amount to 179. Of this number the report of the committee announce the successful treatment of 174 persons, and the death of who were beyond recovery. In effecting this great object the exertions of many individuals have of necessity been called into action. Fourteen honorary silver medals have been awarded for extraordinary courage and risk of life, and thirty-one honorary bronze medals for cases of less importance. The thanks of the Society, inscribed on vellum, have been presented to nine individuals, and three other persons have received similar testimonials on paper. Sixty-two other claimants have received pecuniary rewards. From the report of the Society it appears. that during the past year, the number of persons who bathed in the Serpentine exceeded 350,000, 42 of whom were rescued from drowning by the Society's boatmen. Sixteen individuals were prevented from committing suicide by the watchfulness of the boatmen during the daytime. Since the commencement of the present skating season 79 persons have been immersed in the water by the breaking of the ice, but were all saved by the vigilant exertions of the Society's icemen, and only one fatal accident has occurred, which, unfortunately, betel a noble-minded youth who had plunged into the water in St. James's Park to the rescue of two persons who were immersed, and was himself drawn under the ice out of the reach of assistance.--(Report ) Among the recipients of the medals were Mr. George Clifford, a French sailor named Pierre Victor Trotel, Mr. Edward P. Green (of Exeter College, Oxford), Mr. Mitchell, Lieutenant Fisher, R.N. Captain Finch, R.N., Lieutenant Newman, R.N. (of the Coast Guard), and John Wright (of Brighton).  The subscriptions of the evening amounted to 8101.
The Sun. — 1847-10-22 (London, England)

DENIS LE MARCHANT. " P.S. These patterns had better be submitted through the Lady in Waiting, and not transmitted to the Secretary of State.—D. LE M.  "Mr. Thomas Graham, Secretary of the Block Printers' Society, Rhodes, Middleton, near Manchester."  .n old man of seventy-seven, named Martinet, and a middle-a;.ed woman, named Meunier, were on Friday tried before the Court of Assizes of the Seine for rubbing and wounding a person, named Marlf..-3, carrying on business as a watchmaker and grocer at Belleville. The female prisoner had lived with Nfarit.. and his wife as servant, but carried on a criminal intercourse with her master. At length the latter drove his wife from the house, and lived publicly with the woman. After a while she persuaded him to receive Martinet into the house as a lodger, and it appears that she carried on a connexion with both. This led to constant quarrels, which resulted in blows, and in one of these encounters the female inflicted a peculiar mutilation on her master. She, however, had such an empire over him that she persuaded him to declare he had done it himself, with the intention of committing suicide, owing to his inability to pay a bill. Notwithstanding this kindness of her master, she acted contrary to the advice of the medical man called in, by administering strong and exciting drinks and drugs to the sick man. At length he died, after cruel suffering, and the prisoner immediately laid hands on everything the house contained, and, carrying it away, went to live with Martinet at Charonne. The latter was a party to the robbery. The details of the wound inflicted by the woman rendered it necessary for the public to be excluded from the Court during the trial. The jury declared both the prisoners guilty, and the Court condemned the woman to twelve years' imprisonment with hard labour, and exposure on the pillory ; and the old man to six years' reclusion. Being very deaf, the sentence had to be shouted in his ear, and, on learning it, he cried " Six years' reclusion ! I should have have preferred death !"—Paris Paper.
The Sun. — 1847-10-22 (London, England)

DENTS LE MARCHANT. " P.S. These patterns had better be submitted through ;he Lady in Waiting, and not transmitted to the Secreary of State.—D. LE M. Mr. Thomas Graham, Secretary of the Block Printers'  Society, Rhodes, Middleton, near Manchester, 'Manchester Guardian.  An old man of seventy-seven, named Martinet, ani a middle-ai..,ed woman, named Meunier, were on Friday tried before the Court of Assizes of the Seine for robbing and wounding a person, named Marl6J, carrying on business as a watchmaker and grocer at Belleville. The female prisoner had lived with Marle.l and his wife as servant, but carried on a criminal intercourse with her master. At length the latter drove his wife from the house, and lived publicly with the woman. After while she persuaded him to receive Martinet into the house as a lodger, and it appears that she carried on a connexion with both. This led to constant quarrels. which resulted in blows, and in one of these encounters the female inflicted a peculiar mutilation on her master. She, however, had such an empire over him that she persuaded him to declare he had done it himself, with the intention of committing suicide, owing to his inability to pay a bill. Notwithstanding this kindness of her master, she acted contrary to the advice of the medical man called in, by administering strong and exciting drinks and drugs to the sick man. At length he died. after cruel suffering, and the prisoner immediately laid hands on everything the house contained, and, carrying it away, went to live with Martinet at Charonne. The latter was a party to the robbery. The details of the wound inflicted by the woman rendered it necessary for the public to be excluded from the Court during the trial. The jury declared both the prisoners guilty, and the Court condemned the woman to twelve years' imprisonment with hard labour, and exposure on the pillory ; and the old man to six years' reclusion. ' Beiug very deaf, the sentence had to be shouted in his ear, and or learning it, he cried " Six years' reclusion ! I should have have preferred death !"—Paris Paper.
The Sun. — 1847-02-01 (London, England)

DETERMINED SUICIDE OF TWO LOVERS. A most lamentable affair took place in Wakefield during bai created a great sensation two respectable families the night of Friday last, in the neighbourhood, and h a state o the deepest distress. A whwichereh have been thrown idnto Georg G e Hampson, 'about twenty-five young man, named his addresses to a young woman of the years of age, had p Morton for about three years. Both the parname of Susan Morton for about three years. Both the parin Wakefield, the young man being a whitesmith, ties resided in Wak e Hampson, also a whitesmith, ikc., in and son of Mr. Georg On the evening of Friday last, Hampson went that town. he house of his lover and at that time it would as usual to t well, for she sent for her younger appear the girl was not very sister, Fanny, Susan, who came to her, but when she arrived Susan was better.however, had, a fainting fit during the evening, but it appears she had been subject to them for some time. About ten o'clock, Susan feeling better, was persuaded by her sister to go out walking for a short time, and advised her to go and see her mother, who was in a different part a the town. They all three went together, and after walking round St. John's, and afterwards into the town, Fanny left them, as she slept at the house of a friend. It seems Hampson and Susan returned to the house of the latter, and Susan's brother left them in the house together when he went to bed. Nothing more was seen or heard of them until the following (Saturday) morning, when two coats and a hat, and a bonnet, shawl, and boa, were found on the banks of the Barnsley Canal, near the bridge which crosses it in some fields near Heath Wood, about a mile and a half from Miss Morton's home. Search was afterwards made in the water, and the bodies of Hampson and his lover Susan were found near the place where the clothes had been discovered. The suicidal determination must have been strong in each, for their bodies were firmly tied together with four handkerchiefs, which must have been fastened by Hampson, as the knots were tied behind the young woman. In his pocket was found a pistol loaded with ball, and two bullets, some powder, caps, &c. ; and in her pockets was found a soft substance, like paste, which has not yet been analysed, but which is supposed to be poison. What tends to make the affair more mysterious is the total inability of any one to find a reason for the commission of such a rash act. There were no marks of violence on either of the bodies, or anything to lead to the belief that either of them had come to their death by unfair means. The deceased young woman was about 21 years of age, a fine figure, and very pretty. An inquest was held on the bodies on Saturday, before Thomas Lee, Esq., Coroner, when the jury returned the following verdict:—" Found drowned, without any marks of violence; but how, or by what means, they got into the canal, there is no evidence to show."
The Sun. — 1847-02-01 (London, England)

ATTEMPTED SUICIDE IN A COURT OF JUSTICE.— At the Chester sessions, last. week, three prisoners, Philip Dixon, H. Conley, and Eliza Dixon, were indicted for burglary. Dixon pleaded guilty; the other two prisoners not guilty. The Recorder—You are charged, Dixon, with having committed this offence after having been previously convicted of felony. I caution you that pleading guilty will not make any difference in the sentence that may be awarded to you. Dixon—lt's no use. sir, telling a lie about it; I am guilty. While this conversation took place between the Recorder and the prisoner, Dixon stood up, resting on his elbow on the front of the dock, and apparently adjusting his neckerchief. He then laid his head on the partition, and in the course of a moment or two fell backwards into the dock. It was at first supposed that he had fainted, but his wife and other females who were is the dock uttering a frightful scream, it was immediately ascertained that the prisoner had drawn a razor across his throat, and attempted to commit suicide. An alarm was given, and the court, which was crowded with spectators, was in a great state of excitement. A surgeon was called for, and the Mayor (Dr. P. Jones), who happened to be in the adjoining court, immediately came forward to render assistance. After binding up the wound, the Mayor intimated to the Recorder that it was not of a serious nature, or such as was at all likely to endanger life. It was a flesh wound, just over the larynx, which fortu• nately it had not penetrated, or fatal consequences would most probably have ensued. The prisoner was then removed from the dock. He expressed his sorrow that he had not succeeded in destroying himself, but intimated his determination to take the -first opportunity of putting a period to his existence. The prisoners were placed at the bar ou the following day, when the case being clearly proved, the female prisoner was acquitted, Dixon and Conley being found guilty. The former was sentenced to fifteen and the latter to ten. years' transportation. VENTILATION or
The Sun. — 1847-05-04 (London, England)

ATTEMPTED MURDER AND SUICIDE.—A wretched woman, 26 years of age, named Sarah Deller, was brought up at the Police station Court-house, at Newport, Essex, by Superintendent Clerk, before Captain Byng and Mr. Birch Woolf, county magistrates, for final examination, charged with attempting to murder her illegitimate child, Sarah Ann Deller, aged seven years, and seeking to destroy her own life. It appeared that she had for some time cohabited with a man in the village of Hayden, near Royston, by whom she had the child. Some time ago ho deserted her, and she supported herself and offspring by needlework. Being reduced to a very distressed state, she was compelled to seek the union. There she partially recruited her health and strength, and fine weather setting in, she left. The principal witness against her was her own child. She stated that she accompanied her mother to Royston, and there she was requested to go to Mr. Matthew's and purchases sixpennyworth of laudanum. This was refused. Tier mother then demanded it, and it was furnished. On their way home, the mother went be.. hind a haystack in a remote f a plantation, and pouring some of the laudanum rnaraup desired the child to drink it. She tasted it, and t o finding it bitter, declined to take it. Her parent told her she would run away if she still refused. The child would not drink it, and the prisoner then poured the whole of the poison into the cup and swallowed it. She lay down by the side of the stack, and in half an hour she became insensible. Her sufferings became most intense. At five o'clock the little girl wended her way to Royston, and gave information of her mother's state ; assistance was rendered,) and, after some hours, the effects of the dose she had taken were somewhat suppressed. The poor creature„on being asked by the Bench if she had anything to state, did not deny that she had attempted what had been stated; she did it to end the misery she and her child were suffering. The Chairman then told her that she was committed for trial at the next assizes for administering poison to her daughter with intent to kill. MR.