npedrazzini/19thc_murder_suicide_news huggingface dataset:
The Sun. — 1859-08-24 (London, England)

HEALTH OF LONDON DURING THE  TVEEK.  (From the Registrar:General's Report) The population of London is apparently more movable than any other city population. It senCs out emigrants, it is recruited to a large extent by immigrants, and in the changing seasons of the year thousands come and go. In the present week many of its visitors are gone; thousands of the inhabitants are away, yet these waves of the vast population produce little disturbance in the vital phenomena. Deaths and births suffer no interruption. 1,188 persons died; 1,781 children were born in the week ending Saturday August 20th. The deaths, it is gratifying to find, are below the average. In the corresponding week of 1849 and 1850, 2,230 and 1,883 of the people perished ; but the deaths in the corresponding weeks of other years, after due correction for the increase of population, were 1,885. The deaths have decreased since the last of the two hot weeks (July 17-23 d) from 1,605 to 1,888 ; but still exceed by nearly 200 the weekly deaths in June.  Diarrhoea is decreasing ; the deaths in the week were 240. The east and south districts suffer most severely. Ten persons died of cholera, eight children and two men. One, the collector of the Kent Water Company, living in Bowater-crescent, Wool% wich Dockyard, was 68 years old, and died on the 17th of August, of cholera, after two days' illness. A compositor, aged 34, en the 15th of August, at 9, Adelphi-terrace, Bethnal-green ; his death is said to have been by cholera without diarrhoea, after 43 hours' illness. The absence of premonitory diarrhoea may well be questioned. Twenty persons, including 14 unhappy children under five years of age, died of small-pox, 14 of measles, 51 of scarlatina, 17 of diphtheria, 23 of whooping-cough, and 37 of fever. 140 persons, of whom 63 were of an age 20-40, died of consumption. 28 persons died by accident or negligence ; namely, 12 by mechanical injuriis, 4by burns, 1 by poison, 10 by drowning, and 1 by suffocation ; 1 person was murdered, 5 committed suicide, 3 died suddenly without stated cause. Last week the births of 917 boys and 864 girls, in all 1,781 children, were registered in London. In the ten corresponding weeks of the years 1849-58, the average number was 1,555. The mean temperature of the week was 63.9 deg., or nearly the same as it was in the two previous weeks. The means of the daily highest and lowest temperatures were 76.6 deg. and 55.6 deg.; the range 21.0 deg. The Thames remained at 67.6 deg., and, fluctuating only one degree, was was 9 deg. cooler in the day, and 12 deg. warmer than the air at night. The barometer rose from 29.666 in. on Monday to 30.005 in. on Tuesday ; it was 30.020 in. on Saturday, when the air was excessively dry. Saturation being 100, the humidity of the air in the week was 77. The wind was variable. Rain fell in small quantities (0.22 in.) on Monday and Wednesday. Haze and fog prevailed at times. Electricity was positive but weak, except on Saturday, when the tension became strong.
The Sun. — 1859-09-14 (London, England)

LONDON DURING 7HE WEEK.  (From the Registrar-General's Report.) Much has been done to improve the health of London, yet 1,111 persons died within its limits in the week bending on Saturday, September 10 ; that is, rather wore than 158 daily. About 50 persons are destroyed every 24 hours in London by sanitary defects that we may hope will be to a large extent removed by thy' Boards of Works. The mortality is now near the average rate which, exclusive of the weeks of 184) and 1854, when cholera was epidemic, would have' demanded 1,102 lives. Scarlatina and diphtheria became more fatal, but the deaths by fever and diarrhcea decreased ; so that the details by z)vmotic diseases amounted to 386, the same number tls last week. Of diarrhcea 148, of cii.olera two persons died. A retired plant-broker, aged 69. died of cholera, said to be Asiatic, at 24, :Princes-street, Mile-end Old Town. A merchant's wife, of the age of 36, died of cholera on board of the Moselle, shortly after it had passed Gravesend. The attack was fatal in twelve hours. She had suffered from choleraic diarrhcea at :Rostock, and left the place in rather a weak state ; went on board the steamer at Hamburg on Friday night at twelve o'clock; was attacked by cholera on Sanday morning at about eleven o'clock, and died soon after eleven o'clock at night. This death, on August 28, has not been registered. The uselessness of quarantine in such cases is evident, but it would be satisfactory to know the real sanitary state of the steamers which ply between Hamburg and London. The deaths of 24 persons by accidents or negligence were registered in the week ; 11 by mechanical injuries, 1 by burns, 7 by drowning, 5 by suffocation. One murder or manslaugter and one suicide were recorded. In the week the births of 875 boys and 826 girls, in all 1,701 children, were registered in London. In the ten corresponding weeks of the years 184958 the average number was 1,531. The mean temperature of the air, 58.0 degs., differed only half a degree from the tempera:ure of the air in the week preceding; but it fell on Saturday to 55.1 degrees, the lowest having been 47.2 degrees on that night. The temperature of the air was 61.5 degrees on Thursday, and the thermometer in the sun rose to 91 degs. on Monday, when the thermometer on the grass fell to 38.0 degs. Th• Thames was six degrees warmer than the air. The wind was calm in the beginning of the week, but rose and passed, chiefly from the south-west, over Greenwich on three days at the rate of seven miles an hour, making 41 miles an hour on an average during the week. The sky was often overcast and cloudy. 0.35 inch, or above the third part of an inch of rain, fell on three days. Electricity was feeble generally, but was strong on Tuesday. positive during the morning ct,nd negative during the afternoon. Volleys of sparks and galvanic currents were observed, and it lightened and thundered between four and five o'clock p.m. on that day.
The Sun. — 1859-09-14 (London, England)

HEALTH OF LONDON DURING THE  WEEK.  (From the Registrar-General's Report.)  Much has been done to improve the health of London, yet 1,111 persons died within its limits in the week ending on Saturday, September 10 ; that is, rather more than 158 daily. About 50 persons are destroyed every 24 hours in London by sanitary defects that we may hope will be to a large extent removed by the Boards of Works. The mortality is now near the average rate which, exclusive of the weeks of 1849 and 1854, when cholera was epidemic, would have demanded 1,102 lives. Scarlatina and diphtheria became more fatal, but the deaths by fever and diarrhoea decreased; so that the details by zymotic diseases amounted to 386, the same number as last week. Of diarrhoea 148, of cholera two persons died. A retired plant-broker, aged 69. died of cholera, said to be Asiatic, at 24, Princes-street, Mile-end Old Town.  A merchant's wife, of the age of 36, died of cholera on board of the Moselle, shortly after it had passed Gravesend. The attack was fatal in twelve hours. She had suffered from choleraic diarrhoea at ;Rostock, and left the place in rather a weak state ; went on board the steamer at Hamburg on Friday night at twelve o'clock; was attacked by cholera on Sanday morning at about eleven o'clock, and died soen after eleven o'clock at night. This death, on August 28, has not been registered. The uselessness of quarantine in such cases is evident, but it would be satisfactory to know the real sanitary state of the steamers which ply between Hamburg and London. _ _  The deaths of 24 persons by accidents or negligence were registered in the week ; 11 by mechanical injuries, 1 by burns, 7 by drowning, 5 by suffocation. One murder or manslaugter and one suicide were recorded.  In the week the births of 875 boys and 826 girls, in all 1,701 children, were registered in London. In the ten corresponding weeks of the years 184958 the average number was 1,531. The mean temperature of the air, 58.0 degs., differed only half a degree from the temperature of the air in the week preceding; but it fell on Saturday to 55.1 degrees, the lowest having been 47.2 degrees on that night. The temperature of the air was 61.5 degrees on Thursday, and the thermometer in the sun rose to 91 degs. on Monday, when the thermometer on the grass fell to 38.0 degs. The Thames was six degrees warmer than the air. The wind was calm in the beginning of the week, but rose and passed, chiefly from the south-west, over Greenwich on three days at the rate of seven miles an hour, making 4 miles an hour on an average during the week. The sky was often overcast and cloudy ; 0.35 inch, or above the third part of an inch of rain, fell on three days. Electricity was feeble generally, but was strong on Tuesday. positive during the morning and negative during the afternoon. Volleys of sparks and galvanic currents were observed, and it lightened and thundered between four and five o'clock p.m. on that day.
The Sun. — 1859-07-21 (London, England)

SUICIDE.  On Tuesday morning a fearful crime was perpetrated at Jarrow. A man, named John Shafto Wilthel;v, murdered his wife by cutting her throat with a razor, and afterwards made a similar attempt on his own life Wilthew and his wife occupied two small rooms in Drewett's-buildings, near the Railway Station, for which they paid a rent of 3s. per week. Residing with them were three of their children, namely, a girl, 17 years of age, and two boys, one 12 and the other 13 years of age ; and a brother of the deceased named George Charlton. About four o'clock on Tuesday morning, Charlton, who slept in the kitchen, was ' greatly alarmed on seeing his sister enter from the other room in her night-dress, holding her hand to her throat, from which the blood was flowing profusely. She was unable to speak, and presented a most fearful spectacle. He instantly jumped out of bed, when she caught hold of his right arm, and made signs that she had received a severe wound on her throat. Presently her husband, having only his tronsers on, came running into the kitchen, and passed quickly through into the yard. In a few moments he returned, when Charlton, suspecting from his appearance that he had done or meant to do himself some injury, left his sister for a moment, and followed him into the other room, where he found him lying on his face in a pool of blood. He returned to the kitchen to attend to his sister, who was sitting on the floor, 'with her head resting on a stool. Blood was flowing very fast from her. By this time several of the neighbours entered the house. Dr. Saunders was sent for, and on his arrival he immediately attended to the deceased, who was considered to be in the more dangerous condition. He found that she had received a severe wound in the throat. On Dr. Saunders commencing to dress the deceased's throat, she looked imploringly to him, and gasped rather than spoke the words, " Oh, Doctor Saunders, I didn't deserve this !" She was getting weaker, and a few minutes after the doctor had stitched and bound up the wound, she expired. The attention of Dr. Saunders was then directed to the husband, who was lying in a pool of blood in the bedroom. It was found That while in the yard he had inflicted a wound on his throat between three and four inches in length. He had cut through to the windpipe, but fortunately the windpipe was not injured, although the external jugular vein was cut. His wounds having been dressed, he was placed in bed. We understand that he voluntarily confessed to having cut his wife's throat. He afterwards spoke of the fearful occurrence in a cool and collected manner, and even sat up in bed and smoked his pipe. He is fully expected to recover.—Manchester' Guardian.
The Sun. — 1859-12-06 (London, England)

DOUBLE SUICIDE.  Last evening Mr. J. Humphreys, coroner for East Middlesex, presided over a jury at the Three Crowns Tavern, East-road, City-road, for the purpose of inquiring into the circumstances connected with the  death of Edmund Shirley, a photographisi, aged 24, and Rosetta Greenwood, aged 18, who died from the effects of poison. Ellen Mills deposed—l assist Mr. Simmons in his business at the Railway Coffee-house, City-road. On Wednesday evening last, about half-past 10, the two deceased came to my master's house and engaged a bed. They had nothing to eat or drink. They had engaged a bed on two other occasions, and retired as soon as they came. They brought nothing with them. On the Wednesday night the young woman appeared very lively, but the young man not so. They gave no instructions as to when they required to be called on the following morning. I showed them upstairs to the room in which their bodies now lie. In consequence of what Mr. Simmons told me I went up to their room about a quarter to 12 on Thursday morning and knocked at the door, but obtained no answer, and I then tried the door and found it was locked on the inside. A policeman was then sent for by Mr. Simmons. Mr. Simmons, proprietor of the Railway Coffeehouse, corroborated the evidence of the witness Mills. He added—On the arrival of a policeman the door was forced open by Sergeant Harvey. We entered, and found the deceased gill lying on her back with her arms over the bedclothes, with a white handkerchief in her right hand, as though she was asleep. The man was on his right side, with his right arm round the woman's waist. There was a white foam on his lips. The clothes were slightly disturbed, drawn to the right side. On the man's side of the bed was a tumbler and a bottle labelled  " poison." Those now produced are the same. The stopper was not in the bottle, as now ; it was on the dressing-table, with two letters. The bottle was nearly empty, and the tumbler quite so. They were then left until the doctor came. Both were lying apparently asleep in their night clothes. Their day clothes were in the room.  Police-sergeant John Harvey, 9 G, produced the letters, which were read by the coroner. The first, addressed to the deceased man's father, was as follows  "Dear Father,—l must now say farewell to the world. Your dutiful wife has driven me mad, and as to live to be so unhappy I cannot. If I had not made up my mind to destroy myself I should hare shot Sarah out of revenge for my sister's death, which she was the cause of. I know she has been the cause of another deed too frightful to mention. You may think I hare lost all my senses, but I can tell you that I am as sensible as you are at the present moment. Ido not die alone, but the one I lore dies with me. My last wish is that we may be buried together. If you wish to find us it will be at —. I remain, your disobedient son, "
The Sun. — 1859-12-06 (London, England)

LAMARTINE'S DEBTS. -- The Journal de Saone-at-Loire of Maeen, of the 30th, says :—" M. do Lamartine left yesterday for Paris. No purchaser having come forward for his estates, and the national subscription having only produced about 160,000 f., to pay more than 2,500,000 f. of debts, M. de Lamartine was obliged to ask for time. He called all his creditors (more than 400) together at the Chateau of Montceau, and proposed to give to them his estates, the value of which exceeded his liabilities. He also stated that, notwithstanding the insufficiency of the national subscription, he had paid to his creditors, in 18 months, out of the produce of his literary labours, a sum, of 1,200,000 f., and engaged to pay, in January and February next, a further sum of 300,000 f ; so that his debts would be reduced to 1,000,000 f. He therefore solicited the indulgence of dividing his payments into three or four instalments, hoping, he said, by labour and economy, to pay every one in full. However inconvenient it might be for several among the creditors to have their debts settled in these small payments, yet not one of them opposed the proposition."  DELIBERATE ATTEMPT AT SUlClDE.—Yesterday morning, between six and seven, considerable sensation was created in Caroline-street, Princes-road, Lambeth, in consequence of a dreadful attempt at suicide made by Mr. Qeorge Garcy, aged 56 years, who resided at No. 5 in that street. It appears that the unfortunate man got up shortly after six o'clock, and went downstairs into his garden, when he deliberately drew a razor across his throat, inflicting a most frightful gash, by which he nearly severed the windpipe and carotid artery. He then walked into the bask kitchen and sat down in a chair. On his son coming down stairs he was horrified at discovering his father in a pool of blood. He was instantly conveyed to St. Thomas's Hospital, where Mr. Thos. Nloreton, the house surgeon, rendered every assistance, but no hopes are entertained of his recovery. No cause is assigned for the suicidal act.
The Sun. — 1859-12-06 (London, England)

DOUBLE SUICIDE.  Last evening.Mr.LHuMphreys, coroner for East Middlesex, presided over a jury at the Three Crowns Tavern, East-road, City-road,.for the purpose of inquiring into the circumstances connected with the death of Edmund Shirley, 'a pbotographist, aged 24, and Rosetta Greenwood, aged 18, who died from the effects of poison. Ellen Mills deposed—l assist Mr. Simmons in his business at the Railway Coffee-house, City-road. On Wednesday evening last, about half-past 10, the two deceased came to my master's house and engaged a bed. They had nothing to eat or drink. They had engaged a bed on two other occasions, and retired as soon as they came. They brought nothing with them. On the Wednesday night the young-woman appeared very lively, but the young man not so. They gave no instructions as to when they required to be called on the following morning.. I showed them upstairs to the room in which their bodies now lie. In consequence of what Mr. Simmons told me I went up to their room about a quarter to 12 on Thursday morning and knocked at the door, but obtained no answer, and I then tried the door and found it was locked on the inside. A policeman was then sent for by Mr. Simmons. Mr. Simmons, proprietor of the Railway Coffeehouse, corroborated the evidence of the witness Mills. He added—On the arrival of a policeman the door was forced open by Sergeant Harvey. We entered, and found the deceased girl lying on her back with her arms over the bedclothes, with a white handkerchief in her right hand, as though she was asleep. The man was on his right side, with his right arm round the woman's waist. There was a white foam ou his lips. '['he clothes were slightly disturbed, drawn to the right side. On the man's side of the bed was a tumbler and a bottle labelled " poison." Those now produced are the same. The stopper was not in the bottle, as now; it was on the dressing-table, with two letters. The•bottle was nearly empty, and the tumbler pito so. They were then left until the doctor came. Both were lying apparently asleep in their night clothes. Their day clothes were in the room.  Police-sergeant John Harvey, 9 G, produced the letters, which were read by the coroner. The first, addressed to the deceased man's father, was as follows:  " Dear Father,—l must now say farewell to the world. Your dutiful wife has driven me mad, and as to live to be so unhappy I cannot. If I had not made up my mind to destroy myself I should have shot Sarah out of revenge for my sister's death, which she was the cause of. I know she has been the cause of another deed too frightful to mention. Yeti may think I have lost all my senses, but I can tell'you that I am as sensible as you arent the present moment. Ido not die alone, but the one I love dies with me. My last wish is that we may be buried together. If you wish to Rua us it will be at —. I remain, your disobedient son, "
The Sun. — 1859-01-07 (London, England)

SUICIDE IN ST. JAMES'S PARK.—Yesterday morning a determined act of self-destruction was committed by a man, name at present unknown, who shot himself in a place for public accommodation recently erected in an enclosure of St. James's Park, opposite Marlborough House. It appears that about half-past 12 o'cldek, a lad, named Walters, going into the place mentioned, found the deceased lying on the ground, deluged with blood, through which his face was scarcely discernible; a discharged pistol lying at his side. Assistance having been procured the man was found to be quite dead, his lower jaw having been completely shot away, and the upper part of his face frightfully mutilated. A stretcher having been procured he was conveyed to St. Martin's Workhouse, to which, although there is a dead-houseuttached, the porter refused to admit the body, telling the bearers to carry it to the church vaults To the sacred office they accordingly repaired, but could only get access to the portico, on the stones of which the stretcher was placed without any covering to the body beyond a handkerchief over the head, the traffic of St. Martin's-lane being consequently completely stopped by hun dreds of persons who assembled on hearing of the shocking occurrenee. At length the son of the beadle having been communicated with, deceased, under his direction, was taken to Charing-cross Hospital, where the inquest will be held. Deceased seemed to be about 45 years of age, 5 feet 3 inches in height, stoutly built, sandy hair, bald forehead, and small whiskers. He was dressed in a dark green cutoff coat, brown mixture trousers, black waistcoat, black hat, and leather side-laced boots. In his pockets were found the ticket of a watch, pledged the previous day in Aldersgate-street, for £2 10,5., in the name of J. Weekley, Norway, street, a farthing, a pair of brown worsted gloves, a knife, a tobacco-box and pipe. He wore a clean white shirt with the inititials A. W. The pistol, which had a plain cowmon veneer handle, was single barrelled. Information of the occurrence has been forwarded to Mr. Bedford, the coroner.
The Sun. — 1859-01-07 (London, England)

SUICIDE IN ST. JAMES'S PARK.—Yesterday morning a determined act of self-destruction was committed by a man, name at present unknown, who shot himself in a place for public accommodation recently erected in an enclosure of St. James's Park, opposite Marlborough House. It appears that about half-past 12 o'clock, a lad, named Walters, going into the place mentioned, found the deceased lying on the ground, deluged with blood, through which, his face was scarcely discernible ; a discharged pistol lying at his side. Assistance having been procured the man was found to be quite dead, his lower jaw having been completely shot away, and the upper part of his face frightfully mutilated. A stretcher having been procured he was conveyed to St. Martin's Workhouse, to which, although there is a dead-house attached, the porter refused to admit the body, telling the bearers to carry it to, the church vaults To the sacred office they accordingly repaired, but could only get access to the portico, on the stones of which the stretcher was placed without any covering to the body beyond a handkerchief over the head, the traffic of St. Martin's-lane being consequently completely stopped by hundreds of persons who assembled on hearing of the shocking occurrenee. At length the son of the beadle having been communicated with, deceased, under his direction, was taken to Charing-cross Hospital, where the inquest will be held. Deceased seemed to be about 45 years of age, 5 feet 3 inches in height, stoutly built, sandy hair, bald forehead, and small whiskers. He was dressed in a dark green cutoff coat, brown mixture trousers, black waistcoat, black hat, and leather side-laced boots. In his pockets were found the ticket of a watch, pledged the previous day in Aldersgate-street, for £2 10s., in the name of J. Weekley, Norway-. street, a farthing, a pair of brown worsted gloves, a knife, a tobacco-box and pipe. He wore a clean white shirt with the inititials A. W. The pistol, which had a plain common veneer handle, was single barrelled. Information of the occurrence has been forwarded to Mr. Bedford, the coroner.