npedrazzini/19thc_murder_suicide_news huggingface dataset:
Stockton Herald, South Durham and Cleveland Advertiser. — 1886-11-06 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

SUICIDE THROUGH POVERTY.  A shocking case of destitution was revealed at the Birmingham Coroner's Court on Tuesday during an enquiry by Mr Hawkes into the cause et the death of George William Lock (25), iron safe maker, of 13 Court, Warwick-street. The widow, who is a mere girl, stated that her husband had been out of employment for some time, and ,-although he had striven hard to earn &livelihood, he had failed. This had troubled him greatly, and produced sleepless nights and despondency during the daytime. As a last resource she went out to work at the umbrella making, and earned 7s a week. Out of this small pittance she had to pay a neighbour 2s weekly tor nursing their child during witness's absence, and 3s 6d for rent. This left only is 6d to purchase provisions and other things with. At length they found it impossible to carry on any longer on such a small sum, and for a week or two they ceased paying their rent, and the thought that they were getting into debt affected the deceased's mind. On Saturday morning she went to work as usual, and, as on many previous occasions, without her breakfast. She returned home in the evening, and went out again shortly afterwards to buy food. As soon as she entered the house again she saw her husband suspended from the ceiling by a piece of string. The widow was greatly agitated whilst giving evidence, and narrated the circumstances of their destitution with tearful eyes.—A man named Thomas Ellesmere said he saw the deceased going in the direction of home on Saturday evening. Subsequently he heard that he had hanged himself, and went into the house and severed the string which held him by the neck to the ceiling. A medical - was . . .  man  brought in, and pronounced life to be extinct.—Mr Hawkes said there was not much doubt that deceased destroyed his own life, and they had to consider the state of his mind at the time. He could not imagine anything more likely to overbalance a man's mind than being in such a dreadful state of destitution with a young wife and child. With regard to the woman, she was an object of extreme compassion.—The foreman of the jury announced a verdict of "Suicide whilst temporarily insane," and he then made a collection, which was supplemented by Mr Ilitwkev, who handed to the widow 345, and informed her that it was for herself and child, and that the parish would bear the expenses of the husband's funeral.—The poor woman thanked them for their kindnue, and then left the Court.
Stockton Herald, South Durham and Cleveland Advertiser. — 1886-10-23 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

THE SORROWS OF GOVERNESSES.  At the Westminster Police Court on Thursday afternoon a tall, rather stylishly-dressed, young woman, who gave the name of Annie Hills, and described herself as a nursery governess, was charged before Mr d'Eyncourt with attempting to commit suicide. As the accused appeared to be suffering, she was allowed to be seated during the examination.—Lord Norrys deposed that at half-past twelve yesterday morning, while passing- through Be'grave-square on his way home, he saw the prisoner leaning against a lamp-post. She appeared to be in 'pain, and was groaning. He asked her what ailed her, and she replied, "You had better go away. I have taken poison." He proceeded to Chesham-place, and informed a constable, who conveyed her to the station. She was an absolute stranger to witness.—Mr D'Eyncourt told' Lord Norreys that he had acted very kiudly.—Dr. Thomas Neville, of 85, Pimlico-road, said he was called to see the accused, and was told that she bad confessed to taking laudanum. He administered an emetic, and she vomited. She had not been drinking. Dyson, a plain-clothes constable, stated the accused told him she took the poison because she was in groat distress, and had no money and nowhere to sleep. She also said that she had only had a bit of bread that day, and that her box was in the cloak-room at Victoria Station.—Mr d'Eyncourt asked her if she had any occupation, and she replied that she had been a nursery governess in Paris, and left her situation in March last. After that she worked as a dressmaker eight weeks, and since that had had nothing to do. She refused to give her correct name, or other particulars which might lead to identification. Mr D'Eyncourt remanded her for enquiry.—Annie Frances, 24, also described as a governess having no home, was then charged on remand with sleeping in a cellar at an empty house at St. Michael's-grove, Brompton, and 'having no visible means of subsistence. A constable found the accused in the cellar at an early hour one morning last week, and he had information that she had been there on previous nights, and that she obtained food in the day from charitably-disposed persons whom she solicited for employment. She declined to give any information which might lead to identification by friends, but stated that she had been unable to work lately owing to defective eyesight. A person connected with the Salvation Army now attended the court, and offered to take the accused to Mrs Bramwell Booth's Home at Dalston.—Mr  D'Eyncourt was inclined to further remand her, but the prisoner expressly sts,ted that she was willing to go to the home, and he then discharged her.
Stockton Herald, South Durham and Cleveland Advertiser. — 1886-07-31 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

OCKTON POLICE COURT ITEMS.—On ;day Martha Elwood was fined 5s and for assaulting Ellen Duffy.—Christo&Walla and John Keefe, young men, were ed with playing cards in front of the afield Arms Inn on the 23rd inst. As the had some doubt as to whether money ictually passing between them, they were *rged on paying 6e costs.—George Marand John Wm. Marwood, two boys, were ed with trespassing and refusing to quit 'adorns of the North Stockton railway n. They made a practice of frequenting :Mien and bothering passengers to employ to carry parcels. They were each fined as id 7. 6d costs—William Todd, a young from York, was charged with assaulting :es Clarke, a neat young woman, on Sunday She said she had never conversed with dendent in her life, but simply nodded to he passed. lte came up to her in Norton.. in Sunday night, and wanted to walk with but she told him to go away, when he. c her In the face. Defendant denied having her a blow, and called witnesses to prove he had been keeping company with • her to going to York. Theowt•  cittinina  ATTEMPTRib SUICIDE On Mayday Sarah Mackenzie was brought before the Stockton Magistrates on a charge of attempting to commit suicide on Saturday morning by throwing herself into a pond at Sedgeheld. It appears that the young woman had been in the domestic service of Mr Snowdon, farmer, and had been charged with stealing some articles belonging to her mistress. This had affected her mind, and she had thrown herself into a pond four feet deep at the low end of the village. When rescued and given into the charge of Sergt Sperritt she said she might as well be dead as be locked up for stealing. As she promised not to repeat the rash attempt she was ordered to be handed over to the care of her sister, who lives in Middlesbrough.
Stockton Herald, South Durham and Cleveland Advertiser. — 1886-07-31 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

EXTRAORDINARY TRAGEDY AT  ABERDEEN.  A discovery of a shocking nature was made on Monday at Old Aberdeen, when a man named William }dutch, residing at 47, High-street, was found lying in a chest with his throat cat. Deceased lived alone in the room, and had not been seen for a fortnight. It is believed that Mutch committed suicide, but an air of mystery surrounds the case, owing to the fact that the chest in which the body was discovered, and which locked with a spring, was securely fastened. The neighbours had become alarmed, at Match's disappearance, and entered the house. Their attention was almost immediately attracted by the closed trunk, from which it was evident that a considerable quantity of blood had been oozing. Their horror was subsequently increased by the stench from the decomposingcorpse, which forewarned them of the ghastly scene which they beheld when the wooden box was opened. The position in which the body was found at first naturally created an impression among the neighbours that Mutch had been murdered, but the fact that the door of the room had been locked from the inside seemed to preclude this theory. Besides this, there was also the fact that deceased was a man in poor circumstances, which made it impossible to conceive any motive for such a crime. It would appear that the unfortunate man had deliberately, after locking the door of the room, entered the chest, closed the lid, and then cut his throat. Deceased, who was well known in the locality, and was generally employed as a day labourer, was about 40 years of age. Previous to his disappearance, a fortnight ago, nothing was noticed in his demeanour by the neighbours to suggest that his mind was affected in any way. 'There can be little doubt, however, from the peculiar nature of the occurranee, that deceased must have been suffering from temporary insanity.
Stockton Herald, South Durham and Cleveland Advertiser. — 1886-12-24 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

ATTEMPTED SUICIDE OF AN  OPIUM EATER.  STRANGE HALLUCINATIONS.  The man, supposed to be a clergyman named Johnston, who attempted to commit suicide in Erskine's Hotel, Dublin, is still under treatment In Jervis-street Hospital. There is now some hope of his ultimate recovery. When he was taken in charge by the police to be removed to the hospital there was found stuck up against the hotel wall bends the bed where he was lying a piece of paper, on which the following was written :—May God forgive me if I have injured them in any way, and also ell others who have done mn to death, or worse than that That murderess m wife I can only leave to the hands of God, ad 1 pity the children with such smother. I was tu her always a good husband, and to them a loving father. Such treatment as I have received is unworthy of any savage nation; it is cruel and revolting. For three days I have scarcely had any food, and for two days had to stay without a bed. I never squandered my income, no was a drunkard. Of the charge brought against me I was never guilty, and if I am . . . All this I only heard from the others, who are constantly following me, and even now listening and reading as I write, sometimes pestering me. Had I money things would be different; but it is hard and cruel to condemn a man. The letters written for years past have inteeeented and _ than forwarded. The Post Office have no right to do this, or to allow it to be. lam willing to take no action in the matter if the felony case be withdrawn. I have suffered enough already. All the money will be paid to the hotels. I am willing to send you the agreement, but she does not deserve it, as my will shows. She will get nothing, and is responsible for the prosecution I have undergone, being bunted down like a wild beast.—The mind of the unfortunate man appears to be unsettled. He still refuses to disclose his name and history. Late on Tuesday night a dista.it relative called at the Hospital to make enquiries about him. It was then learned that his name was Johnston, that he had been a clergyman, but retired some time ago, and that he possessed several years ago considerable property, only a small portion of which is now, it appears, left. Helwas in the habit of taking opium; which would probably account for his present condition.
Stockton Herald, South Durham and Cleveland Advertiser. — 1886-01-09 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

EXTRAORWNARY ELOPEMENT OF  'JUVENILES.  An extraordinary case of elopement is reported from Aehford (Kent), the parties being mere juvenile. It appears that a lad of 1.3 years only, named Frederick Holman, the son of a man employed in the Gas Works, has given a very great deal of trouble both to his parents and to the School Board by his truant propensities. On Tuesday two members of the Board had an interview with him, and represented to him what his conduct would result in. The boy, whose conduct otherwise is very good, promised fairly, and the School Board officials thought the trouble would not occur again. In the afternoon, however, the lad went off with a girl between 14 and 15 years of age, named Rose Law, and the daughter of working parents. This girl, like Holman, has been the CallB3 of no end of prosecutions of her parents, owing to her playing truant and running away from home. The pair made their appearance at Charing, and, entering the King's Head, one of the principal inns in the place, they called for supper, and ordered a room to be got ready, representing themselves as man and wife. The landlord, Mr Marsh, noticing their juvenile appearance, questioned them, and they said they were on their way to Maidstone or Gravesend, where they intended to set up housekeeping together if the boy could get work. Mr Marsh communicated with the police, and enquiries were made, which resulted in their being taken back ignominiously to Ashford, escorted by two constables, in a carriage from one of the hotels, arriving at their honies at half-past two o'clock on Wednesday morning. All the cash with which the lad was about to start in life was sixpence.  SHOCKING SvlciDE.—A fearful suicide occurred on Thuriaay in Glasgow. David Reid, aged 42 years, unmarried, and a commission agent, jumped through his window, four storeys high, in Crown-street. He was picked up in an insensible state, and died on his way to the hospital.
Stockton Herald, South Durham and Cleveland Advertiser. — 1886-04-17 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

SUICIDE THROUGH WANT AT  HARTLEPOOL.  A MELANCHOLY STORY.  Mr J. Settle held an inquest on Wednesday at Hartlepool on the body of William Duncan, aged 44, a coal trimmer, who committed suicide the previous evening by jumping into the Victoria Dock.—Susannah Duncan, wife of deceased, said at dinner time on Tuesday her husband complained of a severe pain in the side, and remarked that he was fairly worn out. He bad only been able to work occasionally for the past twelve months, and the result was they had had to suffer great privations. He had a bit of dry bread and a cup of teii;f9, his dinner, and asked if it was the last bread in the house. Witness told him it was. He then asked if the children had had anything to eat, and she told him they had had their dinner in the Market. He was ill, and had a very strange appearance. About three o'clock in the afternoon she met him in Northgate. She told him she would be home directly, and left him proceeding in the direction of their house, 49, Hermit-street, Throston. She believed deceased was suffering from consumption.—Margaret Lacey, fish dealer, said she met deceased as she was leaving the fish quay about half-past four. When she got in front of him he suddenly turned round and jumped head first into the dock, and sank immediately. She called for assistance, and two seamen belonging to a vessel close by leaped into a boat, and after searching some time ultimately brought deceased from the bottom of the dock. He was quite dead, and round his neck, tied by a piece of rope, was a portion of an iron railway chair, weighing about 121bs.—The jury thought there was no doubt the poor fellow committed the rash ext through destitution. They returned a verdict, however, of "Suicide whilst in a state of temporary insanity."
Stockton Herald, South Durham and Cleveland Advertiser. — 1886-04-17 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

TRAGIC AFFAIR IN CHATHAM BARRACKS.  SUICIDE OF AN OFFICER.  An inquest was opened on Tuesday evening on the body of Lieutenant Evans, of the Chatham division of the Royal Marines, who committed suicide by shooting himself in his quarters at the barracks early the same morning. The deceased, who was twenty-two years of age, joined the Chatham division in 1881. The principal witness was a young woman Bessie Vaughan, who stated, that she resided at Ordnance-place, Chatham. She had known the deceased meet months, and was on terms of intimacy with him. The deceased stayed at her residence last Saturday and Sunday, and on Monday night she went to his quarters, reaching there shortly after midnight. He was lying On the bed, and As be appeared in a bad temper she asked him the cause. He replied that h 9 a-as angry with her because she had failed to keep an appointment with him. He had a revolver near him, and when she refused to remain with him he threatened her, and then said he would kill himself. She told him he woulcrnot put the revolver so close to his head ii it were loaded, and she had scarcely spoken when she saw a tis.sh, and the deceased fell to the floor shot through the head. Captain and Adjutant Congdon produced several documents, amongst them being ta o letters written by the deceased. Coe was as follows:  "To my dear mother,—Have killed myself solely because Bessie, the only girl I ever loved, has been untrue to me. Anything I have that she likes please give to her in remembrance of a man she appreciated only fore time. The second letter commenced, " Dear mother, I have killed "--n.ncl finished abruptly. The inquest was adjourned in order to enable the relatives of the deceased to attend, and wet resumed on Thursday, when the jury returned a verdict of "Suicide during temporary insanity."  THEFT OF £146 ay A
Stockton Herald, South Durham and Cleveland Advertiser. — 1886-07-17 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

TODD.—,On the 15th inst., at Meirone Cottage, Yarmroad, Stockton, Annie, wife of John Todd, 604 Yeezik •_   , - • , • ' LONDO! • _ . . . . lll'arix ' r eat snared bye out that this project Battenberg a commie lma not been &band* Referred to a more a probable that his net early in October. The Queen's Jul one sensible step, portrait on the coin date, and the Que sitting for the purr this was not done superscription of , ingless if not true, the coinage and p( tensions to be cot forty years past al Lord and Lady field on Tuesday where they have ken days at the E is taking a course Wo have heart vale's long Hines down by it, and that he will fortl order that he me have leisure to " • who is at Caplet and I hear that I participation in Spencer oontem and it is possil travels to India Lord liosebei in the House o which he is mc @pacts. A painful f Somersetshire suicide of MI Court, the owl the western di was drinking . Crowcombe i lie suddenly' a word to an his rifle, and had been so there was n Carew, who engaged to b Major yang It is asserl can paper ti engagement Grant was t on Mr and £2,000 a yet the weichn quired to p for the con when the I mated his all the jos parents, I packed up and despa Cairns we perempto tions. The rat last week sion that is £21,10 five lots i one was and it Ivo per cent hands, a snorting the best Holly skins b last we gutted. The It ago by old ha burnt. which river. only a A r Dows thorp menc Duct the by p. 0t4,( as t has to C C I3oe Lcs hot cid BI th( Az pr wl he 01 II b n t t t • 1 , , li I.' 1 ' .., ' , I !  lIMMIIMIIMM
Stockton Herald, South Durham and Cleveland Advertiser. — 1886-10-16 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

OOO. He has evidently combined business with pleasure during his short career as a Russian agent,  • Germans all do well in colonies and foreign countries. They are like the Russians, whose own language is so difficult that they master all others easily. It is so hard for a German to make money in his native land that he can make it easily anywhere else._  . The East London Water Works have been supplying their customers wirh dead eels. An eel was found in one of their water pipes, killed by the turning of the tap. Mrs Jugging says she now understands for the first time when J. ond his friends are having glasses round, and they say "No 'eeltaps," they refer to the refreshing purity of the water they are Imbibing.  - • From Paris I receive a parcel. It contains all the comic almanacs for 1887. It is too cruel ; 1887 already I No, no. And the Christmas numbers I They have been written in the heat of July and printed in August. In a few days they will loom out upon us from the bookstalls. This over-anticipation of everything is the curse of modern civilisation. We have strawberries in January, peaches in March, oranges in July, and Christmas annuals and Christmas numbers end the almanacs for next year it September. You can but have each of .these things for the first tune once; why not wait until the proper season? I merely sok the question. I don't presume to answer it.  - • There are one or two good things in the almanacs. A gentleman in nothing at all, about to proceed to the sea, is stopped by the policeman :  PoLicerdas : What do you mean, sir? You are bathing without a proper costume from a prohibited portion of the shore. THE GENTLEMAN : Bathing! Nonsense. I'm going to commit suicide. .  ParCEMAN : 0h,.1 beg your pardon; that alters the case!  • • •
Stockton Herald, South Durham and Cleveland Advertiser. — 1886-02-06 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

STRIKING GHOST STORY.  Many years ago Lord Castlereagh, afterwards the Marquis of Londonderry, went on a visit to Knebworth, the seat of Mr Bulwer, 'father oE the first Lord Lytton. Knebworth could boast, even in those days, a haunted room, and this apartment was set aside for Lord Castlereagh, without any unkind intention on the part of his host, however, as the ghost which was supposed to visit this chamber very seldom made his appearance. So rare; in fact, were his visitations thatlis existence was not even suspected by any of the servants then in Mr Bulwer's employ. Lord Castlereagh arrived at Knebmath late in the evening, retired early o :rest, and went quickly to sleep, only noticing before closing his eyea that A comfortable wood fire had been lighted in the quaint, old•fashioned fireplace, opposite to which stood the foot of his bed. Suddenly he woke, with the unpleasant coneilionsnees that he was not alone in his room, and, looking up, he saw, to his great amazement, that someone was sitting by the hearth, resting his head upon his hand as ho leant forward in his chair, and apparently gazing intently into the fire. Greatly surprised at seeing a stranger in his room, Lord Castlereagh sat up in bed, and was further astonished to see that the figure W 8.9 dud of a young boy, with a profusion of long yellow hair, and clad from head to foot in yellow garments of a picturesque and mediaeval fashion. While Lord Castierezgh was still wondering how so strange a figure could possibly have gained access to his room, the Yellow Boy turned slowly round, looked at him steadfastly for an instant, drew his right hand rapidly across his throat, and vauished. Next day Lord Castlereagh related to his host his curious experience of the night before. Mr Bulwer I appeared somewhat horrified at what he he rd, but he endeavoured to make light of the matter, carefully concealing from his visitor the popular superstition that the trition of the Yellow Boy not only forea vielent death to the man who saw also left no doubt as to the manner whioh he should die. Strangely , a few years later Lord Castlereagh committed suicide by cutting his own throat a bA, country :residence in Kent, a fact taken in connection with the appari' the Yellow Boy, was certainly a coincidence, if nothing more. Kars COSSPOLIND EilBolloo Of  die!  I that  I throat,  I experience.