npedrazzini/19thc_murder_suicide_news huggingface dataset:
Blandford Weekly News. — 1886-08-28 (Blandford, Dorset, England)

LUNATIC MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT. Strange as it may seem, and difficult as it is to predicate anything of our voluminous Statute book with absolute certainty, there is, says the Laza Timcs, no indication that a member of the House of Commons has been in any way disqualified or caused to vacate his seat on hemming insane until the present year. It is, to say the least of it, difficult fora lunatic to apply for the Chiltern Hundreds. If, then, a member's faculties had failed him before the 10th ! May, 1886, it would have been hard to see any way out of the deadlock. Now, however, "if a membez of' the House of Commons is recei ved,or committed into, or detained in any asylum, house, or other place as a lunatic," six statutory steps will have to be taken. First, the court which commits to an asylum, the medical practioner upon whale certificate the committal takes place, and, the superintendent of the asylum, are one and all bound to certify the committal to the Speaker. Then, or in the alternative, two members, presumably the Government Whips, may certify the Speaker that they are credibly informed that a member has gone to an asylum. The certificate is then to be transmitted by the Speaker to the Lunacy Commissioners, who are without delay to visit and examine the member to whom the certificate relates, and to report to the Speaker whether he is of unsound mind or no. Should they report in the affirmative, six months must elapse, and then they will visit and examine the member again. If they report that he is still of unsound mind, both their reports will be laid en thltable of the House, and "thereupon the hu tht of member shall be vacant.' The sixth and last step in t e proceedings is to be the Issue of the Speaker's warrant to the Clerk of the Crows "to make out a new writ for electing another member en the room of the member whose seal has so become what." 1  On the arrival of the midnight a:probe from London at Lei-nester on Saturday morning, the dead body of • gentleman was found in • first-elms carriage under cireumstanees which point to suicide. A sixchambered revolver was found on the step of the Garr*" and the decessed had been shot in the left side of the head. season ticket found on the deccased born London to Manchester bore the MSC addrassof Jaunt G.l.owe. Manchester.
Blandford Weekly News. — 1886-09-25 (Blandford, Dorset, England)

PERSONALLY CONDUCTED PAUPERS. Some interesting disclosures are made in a report just presented to the St. Pancras Guardians, skewing Vie number of paupers removed under justices' orders for the five years ending August, 1886, the cost at removal, and the perneltoi who were in charge of the limper.; removed. The removals, which number 1,486, should have been conducted by the two office-mess mgers who are appointed for the purpose. Instead of that the master, matron, assistant master, and ether (4:ficers of the workhouse, the superintendent of the schools at Leavesden, the steward of the Highgate Infirmary, the vaccination officer, and three guardians appear to have accompanied the paupers, and thus to have had some outings at the expense of the ratepayers. The cost of these removals amount to nearly £7OO, and the following items w ill chew how some of the money was spent. On September the 17th, 1881, one of the principal olicers of the guardian board removed a female limper to Edinburgh, the railway fare costing Et 18s., another conveyance 45., officers refreshments 18s., piuper's refreshments 35., total £6 3s. On February the 27th, 1882, another officer removed a pauper ti Athlone : railway fare £5 2s. 6d., conveyance Bs., officer's refreshments £l. 12s. lid., pauper's refreshmsnts 65., total £7 Its. 6d. In October of the sarne year a guardian, lately deceased, removed a man and his child to Dublin, the railway fare amounting to Ell 14s. 4d., conveyance 10s., officer's refreshments £l, pauper's refreshments 12s. 6d., total £l6 16s. 10d., and then the settlement was not effected, as the p.mper evaded his custodian when at the hotel and again became chargeable to the parish. In 1883, on the Ist of June, a member of the board of guardians took a man to Cork at the cost of the ratepayers amounting to £6 4s. 6d. ; the same guardian, in September, 1885, took a pauper to Glasgow, the railway fare being £4 2s. lid., conveyances 65., officer's refreshments kl,and pauper's refreshments 3s. total £5 Ds. 6d. Another guardian, recently deceased, had also conducted the removal of an imbecile to Kanturk, his native place. The railway journey cost 4:0 10s. 2d., conveyances 125., and officer's refreshment £2 16s. ; while the imbecile's allowance was 7s. 6d. for four days. Through the absence of the officers of the guardians their work got into arrears, and temporary assistance and money ha.s been granted on account of the supposed pressure of work.  John C. Westwood, an under•master at Prior Park Roman Catholic College, Bath, has cmiiiiiitted suicide by ciitting his throat from ear to ear with a razor in the headmaster's bedroom. He was under notice to /evivilh
Blandford Weekly News. — 1886-04-24 (Blandford, Dorset, England)

THE SUICIDE OF LORD SHAFTESBURY. On Thursday an inquiry WAS held at the Mid. dieser Hospital into the circumstances of the death of the Right Hon. Anthony Ashley C oper, eighth Earl of Shaftesbury.—Lionel Ashley stated that the deceased, his brother, was Vi years of age. Witness last saw him alive on Sunday evening, when he was suffering from depression and talked of life being miserable. This despondency caused so much anxiety to his friends that they bad him watched.—Andrew Witt, butler, said he had been directed to keep a watch on the deceased, who for the last two months had appeared very much depressed. On Tuesday he went out and witness followed him, but at Stafford House lost sight of him. Hel saw him again, however, at the Army and Navy Club, but missed him a second time. The next time he saw him he was dead. He did not know that the deceased had a revolver, nor had he any knowledge that he had previously made any attempt on his life.— Robert Garden, guninaker, oh Piccadilly, stated that on Tuesday, at three o'clock, the deceased came into his shop and purchased a revolver and some carts vidges for £3. His manner was very peculiar. He loaded the revolver in the shop, and left seine of the cartridges on the counter. The revolver produced was the one sold. Dr. Sims, of Harley-street, Mayfair, said that the deceased, since his return from the country, had been much depressed. Witness had consulted Sir William Gull,who agreed that there was no ground for anxiety. Dr. Bashford was aho consulted, and found the deceased suffering from melancholia. On Monday the deceased spoke to witness of suicide, but remarked that he did not know that his removal from the world would do any good. He was under the delusion that he was suffering from physical disease. There was no ground for this.—samuel Wakeling, cabdriver, deposed that on Tuesday afternoon the deceased got into the cab near York House, and, at his direction, witness drove up and down Regent-street several times. When near the Polytechnic witness heard a shot and jumped down to see what was the matter. The de. ceased said it was "a in stake," and offered witness "a fiver" tu drive on. Witness declined, and said he should wait for a prdeeman, when the deceased raised a pistol and shot himself in the head. —The police-constable who arrived on the spot just as the act was committed, stated that he searched the deceased and found some papers. One bore these words " God Bites you, dear Harriet, you are too good for me. I cannot live any longer; forgive me." —Dr. Hedley Bartlett stated that the deceased died three minutes after his admission into the hospital. A bullet wound in the head caused death—The jury returned a verdict that the deceased committed suicide whilst of unsound mind.  The Gothard Rsilway Company will make trrankements on the let June to save 14 hours in the, journey from London to Brindisi over their line. Tray-liars will appreciate this charm., as it not only offers the advantage of a quicker journey than the Mont Cents route, but also the attraction of finer scenery.
Blandford Weekly News. — 1886-10-16 (Blandford, Dorset, England)

SUICIDE OF A GAMBLER PRINCE.  Prince Melissano, a member of one of the best Neas politan families, has committed suicide in Paris on returning from his club, where he had seen his name posted up as a defaulter. As the tribunals do not recognise gambling debts, the Paris clubs, whose chief revenue is derived from their tax on gambling and gamblers, have adopted a rule which strikes at the honour of the gamblers. When aplaycr does not meet his obligations in the time allowed him by his creditor his name is written on a piece of white paper pasted on a mirror. The defaulter is thus debarred from taking his seat at any gaming table until the disqualification ceases. In some clubs rehabilitation is surrounded with insuperable difficulties and formalities, while in others the mere payment of the debt is sufficient for the recovery of all privileges, the chief object being to keep up the credit and resources of the club. Prince Melissano lest, at the club more than £20,000 within two or three years. lie had often applied for time, and made payment at the date promised. Some time ago he lost £6O for the payment of which small suns he had asked and obtained time. The time having expired without the amount being paid, the fact was published. Prince Melissano himself it appears was not thinking about it, for he en. tered the club in the best of spirits. Suddenly he noticed his mane stuck up against the mirror. lie went close to the glass, looked at it, and then without saying a word, took up his hat and went home. There he placed a loaded revolver against his right temple, discharged it, and fell dead. The Prince was only a little over 40 years old. Gambling does not appear to have been the cause of his suicide. The Timer correspondent says that snore than six years ago the Prince had spent his last farthing, yet sinew then had lived like is man worth £15,000 or £20,000 a year, without doing anything rendering him amenable to the tribunals, lie had made the business of getting into debt a science, and most of his creditors allowed their claims to increase, in order not to have to confess that the money was sunk, and that so channiiir a nobleman was hopelessly insolvent. To such a length did he carry the art, that he created fresh resources, partially paying off a fraction of the army of old creditors at the expense of new ones.
Blandford Weekly News. — 1886-05-01 (Blandford, Dorset, England)

SCENE AT A GAMING TABLE.  At last there has been a genuine attempt at suicide at "the tables" at Monte Carlo. A correspondent of the World happened to be amongst the many English eyewitnesses of the occurrence, which took place only a few minutes before the closing of the Casino, in the large central mile de jeu, in which the three reulettetables were crowded at the time. The first report of a pistol-shot created general consternation, and as it was quickly followed by two more in rapid buccession, the alarm and confusion became very great. There was a general stampede from the tables and rush to the spot whence the reports proceeded, but any further attempt on the part of the would-he suicide was prevented by an Englishman, who seized a chair, and, using it as a means of offence and defence, checked further danger by knocking the fellow off the sofa on to the floor. He was then disarmed of his revolver, and on examination by a retired English army surgeon, who happened to be present, two wounds were discovered on the left side near the heart, which did not turn out to be serious, however, as the victim was removed to the hospital at Monaco during the night; and is reported to be going on, all right. It is necessary (adds/ the World) to use the term " reportad," owigg to the secrecy which has been maintaine I resp?cting the affair, which has not found it way into a single newapaper. During the consterAtion occasioned by the pistol reports, it became a case of saute qui peat amongst the punters, and one Englishman took shelter under the roulette-table at which'he was playing, only to discover that 47 lotus which he had won had been raked in or otherwise appropriated during ,his temporary retreat.
Blandford Weekly News. — 1886-05-29 (Blandford, Dorset, England)

THE NEWINGTON TRAGEDY.  On Monday the coroner for East Surrey •.ionclude,f his inquiry into the death of Annie IJltham, otherwise Burke, and James William Clarke, wh 3 were discovered dead with their heads nearly severe' from their bodies, in a house in Newington.—Susan Hobbs, the servant who could not give her evidence on the previous occasion in consequence of being seized with hysterical fits, was now recalled, and said that on the evening of Sunday, the Pith, Clarke left the hoase about 7 o'clock and went to a public-house, where he remained drinking the whole of the evening. He returned shortly after 11 o'clock, witness and Ultham then being in conversation together in the kitchen. Ultham was sober, but Clarke was the worse for drink and out of temper. Clarke asked witness to fetch some pickles, which she did, and on her return Clarke and Ultham had gone up to their room. Witness took the pickles to their room, when Clarke asked Ul tham to have some supper, but she refused, whereupon Clarke took up a table - knife and sharpened it on the fender. He then n:ade a rush at Ultimo, caught hid of her and drew the kink, anise her throat. She fell to the floor. Clarke then knelt down by the side of her and exclaimed, "I have done it." He then drew a knife across his own throat and witness becoming alarmed rushed out of the room. Mr. George Frederick Furr, police surgeon, deposed that he was called to the scene of the tragedy and found Clarke and 'tritium lying on the floor in a pool of blood. Clarke's throat was cut from ear to ear. Great force must have been used to inflict the injury, and death must have been instantaneous. The woman had received a wound in the throat of a similar character. —The jury returned a verdict of wilful murder against James William Clarke, and found that he had committed suicide while in a state of temporary insanity brought on by drink.
Weekly News. — 1891-06-11 (Blandford, Dorset, England)

TWELVE ATTEMPTS AT SUICIDE.  A remarkable case of suicidal mania has just occurred at Syracuse, N.J. A girl (19 years of age and of very prepossessing appearance) named Bertha Kittel was to aav,. been married to a farmer named August Waggoner. It appears that a year ago the girl tried to commit suicide by taking morphine, but failed. Since then she has made 11 attempts upon her life. Her courtship with Waggoner only commenced after the second attempt, when she took a dose of sugar of lead. Her love affair temporarily effected a change in the despondent view of life she had hitherto taken, and she became happier and more animated in her mariner. But 'the old feeling of despair returned, and in April last she tried to cut her throat with a razor, and subsequently attempted to hang herself. She was caught on each occasion in time to prevent the attempt proving fatal. She afterwards took a dose of the rat poison but the stomach pump was resorted to and again her life was saved. Twice she placed herself on the railway metals on the approach of luggage trains, but was perceived by the drivers and the trains were stopped. In consequence of thee attempts her lover came to dwell at her house, hoping that his presence would bring about a change in his sweetheart's frame of mind. Unfortunately lie was the possessor of a revolver, and on Monday last Bertha was missing from the house. On search being made she was found in a wood-shed near by with a bullet in her head and her lover's revolver at her side. She was senseless, but when she regained consciousness she said: "I am sorry, but you can't help it now. I wanted to die." The girl is undoubtedly insane. Her mother died mad, and one sister and two of her brothers are at the present time in lunatic asylums.  A reward has been offered, a Constantinople correspondent telegraphs, for the discovery of the body of the Rev. W. M. Ainsworth is believed to have fallen overboard in the Bosphorus from a Russian steamer while returning from Palestine.  There was a horrible scene at the execution of a man named Laroque at Ottawa. lie had been found guilty ot assaulting and strangling two girls named 11Ic6onigle. While he was hanging and slowly choking to death, for the drop was short, the father of the children rushed to the scaffold, grabbed Laroque's arm and shook it, and at the same time striMtig the dying man with his fist and shouting, Now I have got satisfaction at last." McGonigie was removed with difficulty, shouting his delight as he was dragged awaJ,  Cause and effect.—Husband : "My stars !:what has happened ? Here's £lO worth of bric-a-brac smashed all to pieces." Wife (helplessly): "I —don't—know. I've been taking a nap. Has there been an earthquake this afternoon ?" Husband: "No." Wife: "Then Bridget has been dusting."  A tramp Who had a dog, being asked what hp wanted a dog for, replied that the animal was the only friend he had, and that he was very dear to him. "Then why don't you take bets cr care of him He's so thin he can hardly walk." framp: "Yes, 'taint my fault. Pour fellow: he can't eat the kind o' grub people gives me."
Weekly News. — 1891-08-20 (Blandford, Dorset, England)

DISTRESSING SUICIDE THROUGH WANT. On Saturday morning, at Putney, Mr. A. Braxton Hicks held an inquiry touching the death of William Cutting, aged 53, a journeyman baker, lately residing at 24, Rock-avenue, Fulham, whose body was found on the foreshore of the Thames, at Putney.—Edwin Hobbs, a baker, Kensington, identified the deceased as his brother-in-law. About three weeks ago deceased came to him, and as he was out of work, witness gave him some money and some food. On the 12th inst. deceased came to witness at the bakehouse and asked for work. Witness said he could not employ him, because he always quarrelled with his sister before he had been in the house 24 hours. Witness, continuing, said it was an arrangement, made 10 years ago, that deceased should never sleep under his roof, but that witness would always pay for a bed for him. Deceased was addicted to drink. He had never threatened to commit suicide, although for some time past he had been very despondent. Witness identified the writing in the book produced, which was found upon the body of the deceased, as that of deceased. This letter was addressed to an old friend, and ran as follows: "Dear old Dick,—Take my aprons and caps. I want you to carry me to the grave. Goodbye all. The reason I have done this bad deed was my bad master, for he drove me out of my mind. William Cutting." Then followed: "My sister might have kept me if she liked. This has preyed on my mind. I hope the Lord will forgive me for what I have done."--Richard Marchant, the friend alluded to by the deceased,deposed to knowing the deceased for the past 20 years. On the night of the 10th inst. deceased slept upon the steps of the bc.nk at Walham Green.—Reuben Chapman, the late master of the deceased, gave evidence, and stated that he had to disharge the deceased because he was not a competent workman.—Evidence was then given as to the finding of the body.—Dr.H. B. Thomas,assistant Divisional surgeon of police, stated that he had made a post-mortem examination, and death was due to syncope and asphyxia from drowning.—The jury returned a verdict of suicide whilst of unsound mind.
Weekly News. — 1891-12-17 (Blandford, Dorset, England)

SUICIDE AT BOURNEMOUTH.  An inquest was held at the Mortuary House at the Bournemouth Cemetery, on Tuesd.sy afternoon, by Mr. B. Hatfield and a jury, of whom Mr. J. Gunning was the foreman, on the body of Henry Shipway, who was found dead on Monday morning at Monkchester, Bournemouth under the following circumstances:— Herbert George, footman in the service of Dr. J. Roberts Thomson, of Monkchester,Manor Road,Boutne-' mouth, said that the deceased was butler in the same service. He last saw him alive on Sunday evening at 10.35 p.m., as he was golly into his room to bed. Witness slept in the next room during the night. At seven o'clock on Monday morning he went to Shipway's room to get the keys of the pantry. The bed clothes were turned down, and the room was dark. He saw no one, and concluded Shipway tad gone for a walk. At 8 o'clock he went again to the room, but did not see anyone. Dr. Thomson came into the dining room, and, after asking if anything had happened to Shipway, went to his room, and returned saying that he was dead, shot through the head. Shipway was very quiet. He was not aware that be had a revolver. During the night he heard noises that he thought were doors banging. Dr. J. Roberts Thomson said that the deceased came into his employ on the 10th inst., and was 42 years of age. On going to his room on Monday morning and drawing up the blind, be found the deceased lying on his face on the floor close to the bed. His head rested on his left forearm, and in his right hand he had a revolver. The deceased was in his night shirt. The bed had not been slept in. Finding he was quite dead, he telephoned to the police without moving anything. On looking round the room with a police sergeant, they found an open letter to deceased's wife and one to himself (Dr. Thomson). The Coroner read the letters. That to Dr. Thomson was as follows :—" Sir,—l ask you to forgive me for the wicked thing lam about to do. I feel I cannot live any longer. Do send to my dear wife.— Haney
Weekly News. — 1891-12-17 (Blandford, Dorset, England)

ALLEGED ATTEMPTED SUICIDE.—At the Wimborrie Police Court on Monday, before Captain Glyn (chairman) and General Truell, C. 8., Charles Allen, 28, Bourne Valley, was charged with taking poison with intent to commit suicide at Bourne Valley on November 30th,—Mr. H. W. Dibben defended.— William Arnold, a joiner, stated that on the evening of the cl•ly named, the defendant came into the Conservative Clubroom at Bourne Valley, looking strange and excited. On witness asking him what was the matter, he said he had taken poison. He asked him if that was right, and he said, "No, lam only joking." He then put his hand to the back of his head and said, "My memory is gone; I can remember nothing." He afterwards repeated that he had taken poison, and asked witness to go with him to the Woodman Inn. When they got outside defendant began chewing something, which he said, in reply to witness, was loaf sugar. Witness searched his pockets and turned out more stuff on the ground, which felt like rice, bet he didn't see it. Witness afterwards fetched a doctor, and the defendant continued to be very excited. He was taken to the hospital.—Evidence was also given by William Burroughs, a wheelwright, and by Mr. W. H. Green, brother-in-law of the defendant, both of whom saw defendant on the night in question, and to whom he stated that he had taken poison. When the doctor arrived, he stated that he had eaten oxalic acid. —Other evidence was given by Mr. Robert Denman, M.R.C.S., of Poole Road, Bournemouth, and Mr. G. H. Wickham, house surgeon at the Royal Victoria Hospital, Bournemouth, to the effect that the defendant was admitted to the institution on the night of the 30th ult., suffering from the effects of poison. Emetics were administered, and he remained a patient of the hospital until the Bth December, when he was arrested. —Evidence was given to show that the defendant had served in the Egyptian campaign with a regiment of Hussars, and for the defence it was urged that the defendant, having become unduly excited over the election, was not responsible for his actions at the time he took the acid.—The Bench, however, committed him for trial at the Quarter Feisions, and offered to accept bail.