npedrazzini/19thc_murder_suicide_news huggingface dataset:
The Sun. — 1845-08-20 (London, England)

SEDUCTION AND SUICIDE.  On Monday a long inquiry took place before Mr. Bedford, the coroner, at the White Horse, Rupert• street, Haymarket, relative to the death of Emma Whale, aged twenty-five, of No. 5, Upper Rupert-street, who poisoned herself with oxalic acid.  Martin Whale, the husband, stated that he came away from Winchester on the 28th of May last, in search of employment as a bootmaker, and having obtained work he wrote to his wife, whom he had left in the country, to come to him. A few days after her arrival he had certain suspicions, end asked her whether she had been true to him during his absence. After questioning her repeatedly, she told him that the wife of a sergeant in whose house he had left her, had asked her, shortly after heewent away, to accompany her to Portsmouth, saying that she was going to receive some money from her brother there, and that she would pay theexpenses of both of them. Deceased, without the least suspicion, went with her, and upon arriving at Portsmouth she was taken to a publichouse to have tea. After that, and while they were drinking wine, his wife asked the sergeant's wife when she was going to her brother's ? The woman only laughed, and his wife then saw that she had been deceived. A man known to the sergeant's wife, and described as a half-pay officer, then came in, and they all drank wine together. Mrs. Lynch then told them to go up stairs, and they did so along with her, but immediately they entered the room the sergeant's wife ran out, and the man locked the door. She.(deceased) then felt a kind of stupor, and in the morning recovered, and found herself in bed, lying by the side of the man, who was asleep. She cried very bitterly, until he awoke, and told her that he " was used to woman's tears," and that " Portsmouth women were not like Winchester ones." He offered her a sovereign and a gold chain, but she refused them both, and went down crying to the landlady, and asked her why she allowed such goings on in her house. The landlady said that was nothing to Portsmouth, and that if she (deceased) liked she might stay with her, and she would earn 61. or 71. a week. Deceased refused to stay another minute, and went back immediately to Winchester. The man had written to her several times, signing himself Charles Edward Stewart, and endeavouring to persuade her to leave her husband and go with him to India. He told her to write to him, addressing to Miss Louisa Edwards, Post-office, Hull. Deceased described him as a dark, tall, and stout man, but the husband had since been arable to find him. The husband continued to state that he promised to forgive his wife if he could, but the cir; cumstance was always preying upon his mind, and he resolved to send her back to Winchester, hoping that in a short time he would be able to receive her back. She was to have gone yesterday (Monday), but on the previous day she purchased and swallowed three pennyworth of oxalic acid. Verdict—Temporary Insanity.
The Sun. — 1845-12-17 (London, England)

DESPERATE ATTEMPT AT SUICIDE BY A RECRUIT. —John Smith, a recruit in the Royal Artillery corps, was taken before Mr. Thomas Jackson, the Mayor of Kingston, on Monday, charged with the offence of misdemeanour in having unlawfully attempted to destroy himself. Wm. Smith, another recruit in the same regiment, deposed that he was in company with the accused and some other recruits at a beershop in heathen-street, Kingston, and Smith, the defendant, wassvery drunk. In a short time he left the room, and very soon afterwards the servant came in and told him to go and look after John ; for when he went out she heard him mutter something about " and he would go and do it," and as he had been talking in the course of the day about destroying himself, she feared he make would an attempt to do so. Witness accordingly made a search, and on going to the water-closet he found the door fastened. He burst it open, and found the defendant hanging from the ceiling, blk in the face, and nearly dead. He cut him down immediately, and sent for a surgeon, but it was some time before the accused could be restored to consciousness, when a policeman was called in and he was sent to the stationhouse for security. The defendant said he was very sorry fur what .he had done, but it was through drink ; he had been drunk for three or four days, and had quite lost his senses, or he should not have done such a thing. Sergeant Wilson, of the Royal Artillery, who is at present recruiting in the town, in answer to a question from the magistrate, said that the accnsed had been recruited about a month, and latterly had given way to drunken and slovenly habits. He added that when he had been recruited six weeks he would be sent to head-quarters at Woolwich. The Mayor said that he considered the practice of keeping recruits so long before they were sent to head-quarters a very improper one, as the men had nothing else to do but to idle about and get drinking; and he wished to know why it was adopted? The sergeant said ho did not know; but it was the ordinary rule to send in drafts of recruits every six weeks. The Mayor then ordered that the defendant should stand committed to Kingston Gaol in order to give an opportunity to communicate with the commanding officer of the regiment ; and the sergeant was directed to report the opinion of the Bench upon the subject of detaining the recruits for SO long a period before they were sent to head-quarters, to the proper quarter, with a view to the alteration of the system.
The Sun. — 1845-12-17 (London, England)

DESPERATE ATTEMPT AT SUICIDE BY A RECRUIT. —John Smith, a recruit in the Royal Artillery corps, was taken before Mr. Thomas Jackson, the Mayor of Kingston, on Monday, charged with the offence of misdemeanour in having unlawfully attempted to destroy himself. Wm. Smith, another recruit in the same regiment, deposed that he was in company with the accused and some other recruits at a beershop in Heathen-street, Kingston, and Smith, the defendant, was very drunk. In a short time he left the room, and very soon afterwards the servant came in and told him to go and look after John ; for when he went out she heard him mutter something about " and he would go and do it," and as he had been talking in the course of the day about destroying himself, she feared he make would an attempt to do so. Witness accordingly made a search, and on going to the water-closet he found the door fastened. He burst it open, and found the defendant banging from the ceiling, black in the face, and nearly dead. He cut him down inimediately, and sent for a surgeon, but it was some time before the accused could be restored to consciousness, when a policeman was called in and he was sent to the stationhouse for security. The defendant said he was very sorry for what he had done, but it was through drink; he had been drunk for three or four days, and bad quite lost his senses, or he should not have done such a thing. Sergeant Wilson, of the Royal Artillery, who is at present recruiting in the town, in answer to a question from the magistrate, said that the accnsed had been recruited about a month, and latterly had given way to drunken and slovenly habits. He added that when he had been recruited six weeks he would be sent to head-quarters at Woolwich. The Mayor said that he considered the practice of keeping recruits so long before they were sent to head-quarters a very improper one, as the men had nothing else to do but to idle about and get drinking; and he wished to know why it was adopted? The sergeant said he did not know; but it was the ordinary rule to send in drafts of recruits every six weeks. The Mayor then ordered that the defendant should stand committed to Kingston Gaol in order to give an opportunity to communicate with the commanding officer of the regiment; and the sergeant was directed to report the opinion of the Bench upon the subject of detaining the recruits for so long a period before they were sent to head-quarters, to the proper quarter, with a view to the alteration of the system.
The Sun. — 1845-09-02 (London, England)

SUICIDE INDUCED DY EXCESSIVE STUDY.—An inquest was held yesterday, at the King's Head, Canterburystreet: York road, before Mr. Carter, on the body of Mr. William Alfred Barker, aged twenty-three, late editor of a Nottingham newspaper. Mr. W. A. Barker, also the editor of a I,rovincial newspaper, said that the deceased was his son, and about three weeks ago came to his (witness's) residence in Howley-street, York-road, to proceed from thence to r4outhampton, for the benefit of his health. He returned in three or four days completely altered. His memory was entirely gone, and he was unable to exercise his mental Vauds. On Saturday last witness intended to obtain a certificate as to the state of his mind, in order to place him under restraint, and went out telling the deceased to follow him, and meet him on Waterloo-bridge, but after waiting a considerable time he became alarmed at his long absence, and returned. He then searched all the rooms in the house for him' and afterwards descended to the coal-cellar, where he found him suspended by the neck by means of a rope fastened to the iron grating, and his hands tied ,tightly behind him. Witness immediately cut him down and sent for surgical assistance, but if deceased was not already dead he died in a tew seconds. Witness believed the deranged state of his mind to have been occasioned by illness brought on by excessive study. About fifteen months ago, when iu London, he used to devote so much of his mind to study, that he deprived himself of necessary ford and repose. He had made a previous attempt upon his life. Mr. J. E. Stahlsmidts, the editor of a weekly journal, having corroborated the previous evidence relative to the state of mind of the deceased, the jury returned a verdict—" That the deceased committed suicide whilst in an unsound state of mind." •
The Sun. — 1845-09-02 (London, England)

SUICIDE INDUCED BY EXCESSIVE STUDY.--An inquest was held yesterday, at the King's Head, Canterburystreet, York-road, before Mr. Carter, on the body of Mr. William Alfred Barker, aged twenty-three, late editor of a Nottingham newspaper. Mr. W. A. Barker, also the editor of a provincial newspaper, said that the deceased was his son, and about three weeks ago came to his (witness's) residence in Howley-street, York-road, to proceed from thence to Southampton, for the benefit of his health. He returned in three or four days completely altered. His memory was entirely gone, and he was unable to exercise his mental faculties. On Saturday last witness intended to obtain a certificate as to the state of his mind, in order to place him under restraint, and went out telling the deceased to follow him, and meet him on Waterloo-bridge, but after waiting a considerable time he became alarmed at his long absence, and returned. He then searched all the rooms in the house for him, and afterwards descended to the coal-cellar, where he found him suspended by the neck by means of a rope fastened to the iron grating, and his hands tied tightly behind him. Witness immediately cut him down and sent for surgical assistance, but if deceased was not already dead he died in a few seconds. Witness believed the deranged state of his mind to have been occasioned by illness brought on by excessive study. About fifteen months ago, when in London, he used to devote so much of his mind to study, that he deprived himself of necessary food and repose. He had made a previous attempt upon his life. Mr. J. E. Stahlsmidts, the editor of a weekly journal, having corroborated the previous evidence relative to the state of mind of the deceased, the jury returned a verdict—" That the deceased committed suicide whilst in an unsound state of mind."
The Sun. — 1845-09-04 (London, England)

MORTALITY IN THE METROPOLIS.—The number of deaths during the week ending Saturday, August 30, was 835, being 9 less than the preceding week, and 69 less than the average of five summers. With the exception of measles and violent deaths, there is a diminution or a very trifling increase under all the different heads. The total number of deaths from measles was 58, exceeding the average by 34, and those caused by violence amounted to 36, of which 22 were from fractures and contusions, 6 from drowning, 2 from suffocation, and 6 from burns and scalds. We find no cases of suicide. The deaths from small-pox were only 10. Two men died at the respective ages of 95 and 96, and two women at 90 and 91 years.  TWO PERSONS POISONED DT FuNGI.—A poor man and wife, named Walker, of St. Martin's-lane, Norwich, have during the last week been poisoned by eating fungi, instead of mushrooms. The man had been after work into the country, and, on his return, brought with him, as he thought, some mushrooms. They stewed and ate them for supper, and on the following morning were very ill. Mr. Firth, the surgeon, being sent for, found that the sickness had been occasioned by eating fungi. The poor woman died on Friday. The husband was at that time so bad that scarcely a hope of life could be entertained ; but on Sunday he was still living, and some hopes are now entertained of his restoration. An inquest was held on the body of the woman, on Saturday, before Mr. Mendham, deputy-coroner, when the jury found a verdict of " Died from eating fungi." Mr. Firth stated that, since the occurrence, he had walked through Norwich market, and had found on the stalls poisonous fungi selling for mushrooms. He told the sellers of the nature of them, and they readily allowed them.to be destroyed.—lpswich Express.
The Sun. — 1845-07-26 (London, England)

STEAM-BOAT BOILER ETPLOSIONS.--Yeslerday, between one and two o'clock, considerable sensation was created in the vicinity of Dyer's Hall steam-pachet wharf, Lower Thames-street, in consequence of a very serious explosion of steam taking glace on board the Wasp, Richmond steamer. It appears that the vessel had but a short time previous arrived at the wharf from Richmond, and the usual precautiohs were adopted to carry off the waste steam. The engineer and stoker were engaged in the engine room, when the former perceived what appeared to him the parting of the connecting steam pipe. He instantly cried out for his comrade to earape, at the same time darting up the steps to the deck. Before, however, he could accomplish his object, the steam burst from the pipe with considerable force, hurling the cinders and fire about in all directions. The engineer managed to escape with but trifling scalds to his legs, but the unfortunate stoker was unable to make his way out of the engine-room, and was consequently exposed to the full action of the steam. The poor fellow's cries are described to have been most heartrending, and his removal was rendered perfectly impossible until the vapour had dispersed. On that being effected, he was found, as may be Imagined, In a most horrible state of suffering. No time was lost in conveying him into a cab and forwarding him to St. Thomas's Hospital, where he now lies with but slight hopes of his recovery. Another serious explosion happened on board the General Steam Navigation Company's steam-ship Ocean, which arrived in the river on Thursday afternoon, from Rotterdam. It appears that as the Ocean, on her late passage trona London to Rotterdam, was passing the Briel, the bar of the Rotterdam harbour, one of the boilers exploded, to the extent, it is reported, of ail feet. Three . persons were the engine-room, and who are described to have been seriously mutilated; one so much so as to be left at the Rot.. terdam hospital. At th, Marylebone Police-office, Major Richardson was held to bail in 5001., with two sureties in 2501. each, to keep the peace towards Mr. Collett, .M.P. for Athlone. It 'appeared that a dispute, relative to a policy of insurance, had led to an angry correspondence between the parties, in the course of which Mr. Collett had received a letter from the Major, which he considered as calculated to lead to a breach of the peace,  SUICIDE BY A SOLlClTOR.—Yesterday an inquest was held at Upper Norwood, on the body of Edward Mantle, aged thirty-five, solicitor (place of business in Gracechurch-street), ,whe committed suicide on Tuesday afternoon in his own bed-room, at Norwood. It was proved that the deceased was subject to nervous excitement of the brain, and the jury returned a verdict that he had taken his own life, having been at the time in a state of temporary insanity.  - The Right Hon. Sir Robert Peel gives his last Parliamentary dinner this season today, to which above thirty Members of the House of Commons are invited,
The Sun. — 1845-11-03 (London, England)

SUICIDE OF MR. MOSS, SURGEON-DENTIST.—We regret to have to state, that Mr. Barnett Moss, surgeon-dentist, Piccadilly, Manchester, destroyed himself on Saturday last, by cutting his throat with a razor. The particulars of the distressing occurrence will be learned from the evidence given at the inquest, which was held before Mr. Chapman on Monday evening. The first witness called was Mrs. Moss, the deceased's widow, who stated that about half-past seven o'clock on Saturday morning she left the deceased in bed. He appeared thoughtful, and had been-low spirited during the whole of the week. About ten o'clock she went up stairs and found him lying upon the floor of the bed-room, apparently dead. She sent for medical assistance immediately, and Mr. Windsor, surgeon, and Mr. Cooke, assistant to Mr. Harrison, came in, and from them she learned that the deceased had cut his throat. For the last two months his business had been slack, and on such occasions he was always low-spirited. He had been speculating, but only to the extent of about 801., in Manchester, Birmingham, and Welsh Continuation Railway shares ; he held 25 shares, which he could not sell without great loss, and he was apprehensive of having 301. to pay in a short time, and had no immediate means of payment. This, and the slackness of business, gave him great uneasiness, and preyed upon his mind. He did not like to lose money by selling his shares. When witness entered the room she observed the dressing-table drawer open, and in it an open razor-case. Mrs. Gill, of Rosamond-street, Salford, aunt to the last witness, stated that she found an open razor on the bed-room floor, and the blade was bloody. Witness had known the deceased ever since his marriage, about twelve years ago ; he was a man of a lively disposition, but during the last week had been much dejected. Mr. J. J. Cooke, assitant to Mr. Harrison, surgeon, stated that he first saw the deceased on the bed-room floor. He had made a large incision in his throat with a razor, and was insensible from luss of blood. In about an hour and a half he became conscious, and everything possible was done to save his life; but the wound was too deep, and he expired about seven o'clock in the evening. Witness counted seven different incisions, and never saw a worse wound. The jury returned a verdict to the effect, That the deceased destroyed himself during temporary insanity. He was thirty-eight years of age. and has left a widow and four children.-Manchester Guardian.
The Sun. — 1845-11-03 (London, England)

SUICIDE OF MR. MO=S. SURGEON-DENTIST.—We regret to have to state, that Mr. Barnett Moss, surgeon-dentist, Piccadilly, Manchester, destroyed himself on Saturday last, by cutting his throat with a razor. The particulars of the distressing occurrence will be learned from the evidence given ' at the inquest, which was held before Mr. Chapman on Monday evening. The first witness called was Mrs. Muss, the deceased's widow, who stated that about half-past seven o'clock on Saturday morning she le, the deceased in bed. 31e appeared thoughtful, and had been-low spirited during the whole of the week. About tea o'clock she went ul, stairs and found him lying upon the floor of the bed-room, apparently dead. She sent for medical assistance immediately, and Mr. Windsor, surgeon, and Mr. Cooke, assistant to Mr. Harrison, came in, and from them she learned that the deceased had cut his throat. For the last two months his business had been slack, and on such occasions he was always low-spirited. He had been speculating, but only to the extent of about 801., in Manchester, Birmingham, and Welsh Contineaticn Railway shares ; he held 25 shares, which he could not sell without great loss, and he was apprehensive of havii.e.• 301. to pay in a short time, and had no immediate means of peyment. This, and the slackness of business, gave him great uneasine,ss, and preyed upon his mind. He (lid not Ilk., to lose money by selling his shares. When witness entered the roam she pbserved the dressing-table drawer open, and in it an open razor-c..ise. Mrs. Gill, of Rosamond-street, Salford, aunt to the last witness, stated that she found an open razor on the bed-room floor, and the blade was bloody. Witness had known the deceased ever since his marriage, about twelve years ago ; lie was a man of a lively. disposition, but during the last week had been much dejected. Mr. J. J. Cooke, assitant to Mr. Harrison, surgeon, stated that Ile first saw the deceased on the bed-room floor. Ile bad made a large incision in his throat with a razor, and was insensible from loss of blood. In about an hour and a half he became conscious, and everything possible was done to save his life ; but the wound was too deep, and he expired about seven o'clock in the evening. Witness counted seven diff,rent incisions, and never saw a worse wound. The jury returned a verdict to the effect, That the deceased destroyed himself during temporary insanity. He was thirty-eight veers of age, and has left a widow and four children.— Manchester Guardian.
The Sun. — 1845-06-09 (London, England)

POLICE INTELLIGENCE. (SATURDAY.) WORSHIP-STREET.  DISTRESSING CASE OF ATTEMPTED SUICIDE.—Jere miah Beach, an old man, sixty-three years of age, who was formerly a respectable shopkeeper, but is now in a very reduced condition, was placed before Mr. Broughton, the sitting magistrate, upon a charge of attempting to destroy himself by cutting his throat. The unhsppy man had his throat bandaged, having actually made an incision in it, and one of his hands was also wounded. From the evidence given it appeared that he had latterly endeavoured to obtain a livelihood for himself and his aged wife by dealing in fish, and Mr. Crawley, landlord of the Duke of Cambridge public-house, Hackney-road, sometimes lent him small sums of money to enable him to go to markt t. On Saturday morning he came and said, " Mr. Crawley, I hope you will forgive me." The landlord told him he had nothing to forgive ; but the prisoner reminded him (Nlr. Crawley) that he had borrowed ss. of him lately, but said that illness and ill-fortune had prevented his repaying it. Mr. Crawley told him not to mind it. and spoke in a friennly way to him, but a moment afterwards saw him with a razor in his hand in the act of mitring his ~hroat. With some difficult) the razor was wrested from him, but he grasped it so firmly, that his hand was much cut before he could be deprived of it, and he was bleeding from an incision which he had made upon the throat. Fortunately. however, he had not severed the windpipe, or wounded any of the prinhe was placed in the charge of the police and cipal blood vessels, and tho injury being surgically dressed, taken to the station-house. Dennis M'Carthy, police-constable 176 K, said the prisoner told him that distress had made him do it, fur he was five weeks in arrear with his rent, and owed Mr. Crawley 55., which he was unable to pay. At the stationhouse the letters now produced were found in his possession:— " Dear Harriet—It is hard to part ; but I find it impossible to get a living, as everything turns against me ; I can no longer bear it. I hope the Almighty will protect you, and forgive me my past sins. Give my best wishes to Hannah and family. I hope you wid not grieve after me—l hope yutt will bo protected by the Almighty.—Farewell for ever.  "