npedrazzini/19thc_murder_suicide_news huggingface dataset:
The Sun. — 1851-12-09 (London, England)

POST-OFFICE NOTICE.  ROYAL HUMANE SOCIETY.  Oa Sunday morning a sermon in aid of the funds of this valuable institution was preached at St. Philip's Church, Regent-street, by the Rev. F. Hessey, D.C.L., in the presence of B. Hawes, Esq., :en., the treasurer, and several of the supporters of the society, as also Lady Otwey, Sir 'l'. Cochrane, &c., &c. The Rev. Gentleman took his text from 16th chapter of St. Matthew and 27th verse—" For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father, with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works." He commenced by stating that ho should have occasion to appeal to the congregation on behalf of one of the noblest and most useful of the many metropolitan societies. In his opinion there was no period of the year more fitting for such an appeal as the present, for in a short period the basins of ornamental waters in the Royal parks would probably be covered with ice, and many parsons who ventured thereon would be in danger of losing their lives suddenly. There was, however, a society which had for nearly a century been actively engaged in preventing such calamities with the most signal success, and that was the Royal Humane Society for the recovery of persons apparently drowned or dead. After alluding to the vast numbers who resorted to the Serpentine for the purpose of bathing or skating, according to the season, the Rev. Gentleman eulogised the prompt and energetic measures which the society, at considerable expense, invariably adopted to prevent accidents, in addition to those for the restoration of suspended animation. As a proof of their great success in prevention, out of no less than 200,000 bathers this season there had been but 24 accidents, and of these, from the prompt attention and medical skill, but one fatal, while no fewer than 18 persons who had attempted suicide had been rescued. He exhorted each of the congregation to feel as though some one of those who had been saved were their nearest and best friend or relative, who might be exposed to danger, and he felt assured they would not hesitate to contribute to their funds. But if by withholding such support the society should be compelled to contract the sphere of its usefulness, and a single life of any friend should be thereby lost, the omission to contribute would doubtless be an endless source of regret. The eloquence of the rev, minister produced a liberal collection.  OPTIONAL PAYMENT of
The Sun. — 1851-06-23 (London, England)

DIORAMA OF TUE HOLY LAND, EGYPTIAN HALL.—The following members of the aristocracy and gentry have recently visited the above sacred painting :—The Duchess of Buccleuch and party, the Duchess of St. Albans, accompanied by the youthful and Lady Diana Beauclerk, the Duke of Northumberland (fourth time), the Duke and Duchess of Sutherland and party, the Duke of Newcastle, the Marquis and Marchioness of Douglas, the Marquis of Worcester, the Marquis and Marchioness of Salisbury and party, the Earl of Cardigan, Earl Howe, the Earl and Countess of Morley and party' the Earl of Carlisle, the Earl of Clare, Earl Jermyn, :his Excellency M. Constantine Messuris, the 'Fir kish Ambassador, accompanied by Prince A. Vogorides and Hussein Effendi (Mufti) ; Lady Combermere and party, Lord Campbell, Lord F. Egerton, Count I'ossenti, General Djetnaleddin Pacha, Lord Radstock, Lady Kbaloch, Lady Crewe and party, Lady Stopfurd, Lord John Hay, Lady Stanley and party (third time), Lady Forster and party, Hon. Mr. Harcourt, lb Mrs. Sneed and party, Lady Bathurst, Hon. W. E. Gladstone, M.P., and Mrs. Gladstone, Sir Charles and La ty Nightingale and party, the Dean of Canterbury, Sir Edwin Landseer, RA., Sir W. and Lady Eden, Dr. Pettigrew, Professor Ansted, Sir Gardner Wilkinson, Lady Beckett and party, Colonel Statham, Cu!. I ovell andeif 0 ur, party, M.A., HWright,.a tel,t e .JA. ie n Missri c Burdett u rd eßev.t G.H. BM CCoaputtat S. C Captain Charteris, Rev. tr. Col. rammoed and party, in Wood, autley, Rev. E. ' 51 D. Wyatt, Esq., tic. LONDON Plumptre, Francis Ainsworth, Esq., Colonel Rawlinson, II: W. Pickersgill, . . LONDON TO BIRMINGHAM IN Two HOURS AND A are to run express trains between London and Birmingham Messrs. Fairbairn are constructing the engines which feet in diameter, and the tanks of the tenders minglaam in two hours and a half. The driving wheels are to be seven he engine can ran 60 or 70 miles without stopping for are each to hold 2,000 gallons of water, so that, if it is necessary, water.—Herapath. SUICIDE or A
The Sun. — 1851-08-22 (London, England)

SUICIDE AND ATTEMPT TO MURDER.  The neighbourhood of Tottenham has been in a state of the most painful excitement since Wednesday evening, in consequence of a desperate attempt to murder two respectable women, mother and daughter, by a German named Carl Ragelaek, who afterwards destroyed himself. The unfortunate deceased, who is stated to be of highly respectable connexions in his own country, came to England some twelve months since with a recommendation to Mr. Broad, clerk in a bank in Lombard-street, and has since resided with that gentleman's family at Tottenham•hale. He is ' said to have had an attachment for Miss Broad, whose father, however, objected to their union, chiefly on account of the disparity of their age, the deceased being 35 years old and the young lady only about 20 ; added to which the deceased had on several occasions evinced symptoms of a disordered mind. About three months back he disappeared from home in an extraordinary manner, and nothing was heard of him for a considerable time, until at length he wrote from Liverpool to Mr. Broad, who went to that place and brought him back. On Wednesday, after having been in London during the day, he returned about eight o'clock in the evening to Tottenham, and had scarcely entered the house when screams and cries of " Murder" were heard, and immediately afterwards the two women, who were alone in the house, ran out bleeding from various wounds. Mr. Ryan, the railway station-master, having entered the place, found Carl Ragelaek lying dead in the parlour, and a dagger covered with blood lying beside him. It appeared that be bad attacked Miss Broad with the dagger, inflicting a slight stab upon her body, and a more serious wound upon her hand, with which she had endeavoured to ward off the blow, and her mother on hastening to her assistance, hearing her cry out, was attacked, and received a rather severe stab in the chest. The two women then ran out, as already stated, and fell fainting in the road, and the deceased, turning the weapon against himself, plunged the weapon into his abdomen five or six times, and terminated his existence in less than two minutes. Mrs. Broad and her daughter were placed under the care of Mr. May, a surgeon, who reported yesterday evening that they were progressing favourably. The deceased was conveyed to the White Hart, near the railway station, to await the inquest, and on stripping the body yesterday to place it in the coffin, a belt was found round the waist containing upwards :of 1001. in German money, besides 71. 17s. English in the pockets of his clothes. The dagger with which he committed the crimes is eight or nine inches long, with black handle, apparently of foreign make, and it is stated that he had another instrument of the same kind, but more handsomely mounted, in his possession.
The Sun. — 1851-07-24 (London, England)

CROWN COURT.—(Before Jr. Justice CRESS WELL Sarah Ann Roberts and Sarah Archer, two young girls, were arraigned on the coroner's inquest, charging them with aiding and abetting Anne Sutton to commit suicide.  The prisoners having pleaded not guilty, Mr. Couch stated that as the grand jury bad thrown out the bill for, murder which had been sent up against the prisoners, and all the facts had been laid before that body, he, on the part of the prosecution, did not propose, with the sanction of the Court, to offer any evidence against them on the Mr. Justice CRESSWELL quite agreed with the propriety of this course; and the jury having according), returned a verdict of Not Guilty, His LORDSHIP addressed the weeping prisoners in most kind and yet solemn terms, They had, it seems, united with the unfortunate girl whose death they had been charged with compassing, in a common design to commit suicide. She had fallen a victim to the poison she had taken; but they had survived the portion which they had swallowed. In joining thus to put an end to ots be lkseenoowf twehinoncgse utirnnvait that eetdhe eyhyeasdn idn. Go t ood n, lbyu tt attemptedhhea had thereby their lives all three had committed a great offence, and g gg ra en adt eeasxnt opu soi esshde themselves to the risk and danger of being tried for the murder of their companion. The jury had very properly found them not guilty, under the circumstances; but they ought to repent bitterly of their misconduct, and determine to amend their lives for the future. For the present they might be discharged. The prisoners, who were deeply affected during the address of the Learned Judge, each dropped a curtsey as she quitted the dock to revisit and enjoy again the busy scenes of a life from which, under a perfectly unaccountable impulse, they had formed the common purpose of withdrawing for ever. July 23. (Before the
The Sun. — 1851-07-24 (London, England)

CROWN COURT.--(Before Mr. Justice CRESSWELL Sarah Ann Roberts and Sarah Archer, two young girls, were arraigned on the coroner's inquest, charging them with aiding and abetting Anne Sutton to commit suicide.  The prisoners having pleaded not guilty, Mr. Couca stated that as the grand jury had thrown out the bill for murder which had been sent up against the prisoners, and all the facts had been laid before that body, he, on the part of the prosecution, did not propose, with the sanction of the Court, to offer any evidence against them on the inquisition. Mr. Justice CRESSWELL quite agreed with the propriety of this course; and the jury having accordingly returned a verdict of Not Guilty, His LORDSHIP addressed the weeping prisoners in most kind and yet solemn terms. They had, it seems, united with the unfortunate girl whose death they had been charged with compassing, in a common design to commit suicide. She had fallen a victim to the poison she had taken; but they had survived the portion which they had swallowed. In joining thus to put an end to their lives all three had committed a great offence, and those who survived had not only the pang and anguish of knowing that they had attempted the greatest possible offence in the eyes of God, but had thereby exposed themselves to the risk and danger of being tried for the murder of their companion. The jury had very properly found them not guilty, under the circumstances; but they ought to repent bitterly of their misconduct, and determine to amend their lives for the future. For the present they might be discharged. The prisoners, who were deeply affected during the address of the Learned Judge, each dropped a curtsey as she quitted the dock to revisit and enjoy again the busy scenes of a life from which, under a perfectly unaccount. able impulse, they had formed the common purpose o withdrawing for ever.  July 23. (Before the
The Sun. — 1851-04-25 (London, England)

JAMES., for tho defendant, commented upon the Blackfriars-bridge, and that she was then an inmate of Smith's friends and his professional adviser, went up to such recommended letter. eef o postal pre-payment is Netherlands may send closed mail mender Sir Godfrey Webster, dec., She., were present at sively to 9, 12, and 18 persons. Five deaths occurred effect of the testimony which had been produced in sup- St. Thomas's Hospital, where he subtequently saw her, the unfortunate gentleman's residence ; but they found allowed. The the dejeuner. It is said the Turkish vessels will not last week in the Smallpox Hospital at Holloway, one bags to the colonies via Prussia, and Prussia may send that of a fairl of 20 months on the 15th • two of men 7 7 7 port of the plaintiff's case, which he contended had not but she did not discluse to him the reasun she attempted that owing to his dreadful state of mind it was utterly to, and receive from, England, America, and Bel- Ineg:riti,llntspwed.aErtirliyv;lxopfeeth(ei aged 37 and 30 years, on the 17th ; and two of men, gone to establish what was the state of the premises at to commit suicide. impossible to take the usuel steps consequent upon such glum, via Rolland. 12,1112ttrig?“78Ftuenirt aged respectively 23 and 20, on the 19th. Two of the the period when the defendant had taken possession of While the defendant's husband was making the above a verdict of the coroner's jury. --- ---- -- ------ - at Southampton, as it is expected she will bring dispatches for Commodore Mehemet Bey. men had been vaccinated when young; the three other them in the year 1830-a fact of the utmost importance statement, she held down her head and appeared anxious After we left the village we understand that Mr. TuE
The Sun. — 1851-06-25 (London, England)

DELIBERATE SUICIDE.—PLYMOUTH, TUESDAY.—• Yesterday morning at eleven o'clock, as the up express train, which leaves Plymouth at 10.20 A.M. was passing over the Battery incline of the South Devon Railway, about a mile and a quarter this side of Totnes, it cut off the head of a man who appears to have deliberately put himself on the rail. The train was in_ charge of Marlow, the guard, and consisted of three carriages only, drawn by the Stromboli engine. At the point mentioned there is a considerable turn in the road, and a person like the deceased was on the approach of the train observed in an adjoining field running towards the line. When first seen on it he was only 30 yards off, stooping over the left hand rail, apparently putting something on the plates or picking up something from the road. The train was at full speed, and, the descent being severe, it was impossible for Dickenson, the driver, to stop it at the moment; he, however, sounded the whistle, but the man kept his position, and his head was instantaneously severed from his body. When the train returned it was found that the head had been flung 60 feet forward from the point of decapitation; the bedy was in a ditch about 40 feet in advance with a left arm and left leg broken. The mutilated remains were delivered to the brother of deceased, Mr. Bidlake, a gentleman farmer, who resides at Whitley farm, through which the railroad is constructed. Deceased was about fifty years of age, a bachelor, possessed of some property; he was subject to fits, and within the last ten days has been afflicted with a severe seizure. Just before the approach of the 6.50 up train in the morning a person resembling him was seen at the same spot apparently laying something on the plates, but he suddenly absconded when detected by the policeman on duty.
The Sun. — 1851-06-25 (London, England)

DELII3FRATE SUICIDE.—PLYMOUTH, TUESDAY.-Yesterday morning at eleven o'clock,' as the up express train, which leaves Plymouth at 10.20 A.M., was passing over the Battery incline of the South Devon Railway, about a mile and a quarter this side of Totnes, it cut off the head of a man who appears to have deliberately put himself on the rail. The train was in charge of Marlow, the guard, and consisted of three carriages only, drawn by the Stromboli engine. At the point mentioned there is a considerable turn in the road, and a person like the deceased was on the approach of the train observed in an adjoining field running towards the line. When first seen on it he was only Si) yards off, stooping over the left hand rail, apparently putting something on the plates or picking up something from the road. The train was at full speed, and, the descent being severe, it was impossible for Dickenson, the driver, to stop it at the moment; he, however, sounded the whistle, but the man kept his position, and his head was instantaneously severed from his body. When the train returned it was found that the head had been flung 60 feet forward from the point of decapitation ; the body was in a ditch about 40 feet in advance with a left arm and left leg broken. The mutilated remains were delivered to the brother of deceased, Mr. Bidlake, a gentleman farmer, who resides at Whitley farm, through which the railroad is constructed. Deceased was about fifty years of age, a bachelor, possessed of some property; he was subject to fits, aad within the last ten days has been afflicted with a severe seizure. Just before the approach of the 6.50 up train in the morning a person resembling him was seen at the came spot apparently laying something olt the plates, but he suddenly absconded when detected by the policemanon duty. Tits
The Sun. — 1851-09-10 (London, England)

SOUTH WARK.  Mary Ann Payne, a girl of 17 years of age, the daughter of a tradesman residing in Upper Groundstreet, Blackfriars-road, was placed at the bar before Mr. A'Beckutt, charged with attempting to commit suicide.  The complainant, a rather interesting looking girl, was obliged to be supported into court, owing to the extreme exhaustion produced by the poison she had taken and the remedies administered to neutralise its effects.  Mary Payne, a respectable woman with an infant in her arms, stated that the prisoner was her daughter, and that she had been latterly in service. On the previous day, however, she retur❑ed home from her situation and complained of illness as the cause, and said that she had a severe pain in the chest and was recommended to apply a musard plaster over the part affected. She (the mother) was about preparing the remedy when her attention was directed to her daughter, whom she observed in the act of swallowing something from a teacup, which she then placed on the table, and exclaimed, '• I have taken poison." Witness, on hearing the avowal of her child, immediately left the house for medical aid, and the assistant of Mr. Bull, a surgeon of Blackfriars-road, having been immediately called to the case, he at once discovered that the prisoner was labouring under the effects of oxalic acid, a portion of which he found in the cup out of which she had taken it. The quantity she had swallowed was excessive, but owing to the administration of antidotes, and also the stomach-pump, the poison was neutralised in a great degree, and the patient although much debilitated, was still so far recovered as to be enabled to be brought up to this court on the present occasion. Mr. A'BECKETT said that at present he should decline putti❑g any questions to the girl as to the cause of her having made so determined an attempt at suicide, for if medical assistance had not been speedily procured, she would in all probability have been destroyed, owing to the corrosive nature of the poison. The magistrate then inquired as to whether it was ascertained where the girl had procured the poison. The mother replied that she had told her that she sent a little girl for it, who was served at once from a shopkeeper in that neighbourhood.  ATECICETT said that an Act was now in operation which made it a punishable offence for any person to sell poison under certain restrictions ; and that if it was purchased by any person under a certain age the seller was liable to a penalty of 201. The magistrate added that he should remind the prisoner for a week, with directions that she should be properly attended to in the infirmary of the gaol ; and in the meantime the policema❑ had orders to ascertain, if possible, where the oxalic acid was bought, in order that the person, whoever he might be, that sold it might be brought there to answer for the offence. The unfortunate girl was then carried out of the court in the arms of a policeman.
The Sun. — 1851-04-12 (London, England)

MARCH 31.—The alarming explosion at the church of Santa Prassede, in this city, Last week, was followed up by a scene of another but not less singular kind in the ancient Basilica of Santa Maria, in Trastevere, where a preacher of the order of missionaries succeeded in working up his hearers to an unwonted pitch of fear and contrition at their misdeeds, and informed them that a collection of such miserable sinners had no longer any right to insult the Divinity by appearing in his holy house and presence. He, therefore, invited them all to leave the church, and, setting them the example himself, he came down from the pulpit, and led his wondering congregation into the Piazza, where some time was occupied in prayers nmgo tihnetroo ft the church, or processions. Finally, he informed them that by the intercession h, hopedand they accordinglyw er e m ohr ee knocked at the door (whichhad been shut meanwhile) and dmittance tor himself and his flock, who were stirworthy obtained a of the t hree returning a large image of the Virgin Marysurrounded prised to tapersfinL exactly opposite the entrance. iI usuale by lighted .colo" saluted this change of place on the part cry of " Mira and salutary effects are asserted to have already of the statue, .consequence amongst some hardened shown themselves in Trasteverini offenders, s, .. hose consciences have been touched by so great 4 pro,ligy% CASE of SUICIDE -on Tuesday an inquest was . hold at the Sussex Hotel, near the terminus, before W. J. Cooper, highly respectable jury, upon the body of James, Ford, aged 46. The deceased had been for Es coroner and a some years in the employment of Mr. J. F. Pratt, Queenstreet, but had not enjoyed goo, health latterly. He became too unwell on Friday last to attend to his work, and in went home. On Monday morning he was discovered the house in a sitting posture in a rain-water tub, behind which he lived. After some difficulty he was released from , his perilous place of confinement. After lingering about an hour, he expired. The jury, a'ter considering the evidence, returned a verdict of T Insanity.—Portsmoutli Temporary Guardian.
The Sun. — 1851-07-31 (London, England)

POLICE INTELLIGENCE. MARLBOROUGH-STREET. Robert Johnson, a Scotch lad, was brought before Mr. Hardwick, charged with attempting to pick pockets at the Great Exhibition in Hyde-park. Police-constable Capping, H 379, said he was on duty at the Exhibition yesterday atternoon about five o'clock, when he saw the prisoner, in the south gallery, put his hand to a lady's pocket. The prisoner soo❑ afterwards went and stood by a gentleman and put his hand into the gentleman's pocket and drew his handkerchief nearly out. Witness went forward and took the prisoner into custody. The prisoner protested his innocence. He had only come from Scotland with his father, who was a baker, about a week ago. Ho was looking at the articles in the Exhibition when he saw a gentleman's handkerchief partly hanging out of his pocket, and he touched the gentleman fur the purpose of drawing his attention to the circumstance, when the constable came to him and took him into custody. The constable was positive that he saw the prisoner attempt to steal the handkerchief. He had seen the prisoner about the Exhibition, on the outside, a day or two previously. Mr. HARDWICK sent him to prison for three months. After the prisoner was removed to the lock-up cells information was given to the gaoler, Parkin, that the prisoner was attempting suicide. On entering the cell the prisoner was discovered in a state of strangulation. He had tied one end of his handkerchief to his toot and the other round his neck, and had drawn the noose so tight that he must have died had not the gaoler made his appearance. The handkerchief was taken away and the prisoner, after being brought to, was left. In a short time afterwards an alarm was given that the prisoner was a second time attempting to destroy himself. Oa entering the cell the prisoner was found with his braces round his throat, nearly strangled. The gaoler was informed that the prisoner had offered a lad who was in the cell with him 4d. for a clasp knife to cut his throat with. Parkin reported the circumstance of these repeated attempts at belt-destruction to Mr. Hardwick, who, atter sending for a medical gentleman, decided upon requiring the attendance of the lad's father, in order to ascertain his previous character and conduct. The prisoner was remanded for that purpose. W