npedrazzini/19thc_murder_suicide_news huggingface dataset:
The Sun. — 1852-12-21 (London, England)

KIRWAN'S. The impossibility of any one else being on the island ; the cries heard being incompatible with suicide ; the clothes being found after KIRWA /*I had returned to the men, in a place where they swore they had searched before ; and then the adequate motive, his consciousness of having grossly wronged a beautiful young woman for twelve years, certainly present as strong a combination of circumstances as we can well conceive of to prove his guilt. Yet there remains the bare possibility of her having committed suicide. Some minor incidents were indeed incongruous with it ; it might have been expected especially that she would have done so in her ordinary dress, more clearly to show that cruelty and grief had driven her to it. Accidental drowning seems moss unlikely of all ; the bare possibility of suicide, however, does remain, and we doubt not that it was a trying doubt to some of the jurors. Perhaps some jurors would even have considered the case not sufficiently proved. The course we have suggested would have prevented even the hazard of an acquittal. No doubt, we shall be told that evidence has the same ...value and force whatever the results may be. It is sufficient or insufficient to convict, whether the conviction be followed by death or by a trivial fine. No doubt it is. So evidence may be sufficient to show a venture to be a good one, whether you would gain or lose Si. by it or 5,000/. Yet no one would make the venture in one case on the same evidence that he would in the other. Still less would he do so were his liberty or his life at stake. It is no more use to oppose legal theorising to people's intuitive perceptions in this matter than for Mr. GLADSTONE to oppose his mathematical theory of the Income Tax to the intuitive perceptions of men of common sense, and the practical habits of the actuaries. We throw out the above suggestion with not a little confidence, that, in practice, it would be found to work well. Letters in our columns prove that some intelligent persons would have ranuik from
The Sun. — 1852-12-21 (London, England)

KIRWAN'S. The impossibility of any one else being on the island ; the cries heard being incompatible with suicide ; the clothes being found after KIRWAN had returned to the men, in a place where they swore they had searched before ; and then the adequate motive, his consciousness of having grossly wronged a beautiful young woman for twelve years, certainly present as strong a combination of circumstances as we can well conceive of to prove his guilt. Yet there remains the bare possibility of her having committed suicide. Some minor incidents were indeed incongruous with it ; it might have been expected especially that she would have done so in her ordinary dress, more clearly to show that cruelty and grief had driven her to it. Accidental drowning seems most unlikely of all ; the bare possibility of suicide, however, does remain, and we doubt not that it was a trying doubt to some of the jurors. Perhaps some jurors would even have considered the case not sufficiently proved. The course we have suggested would have prevented even the hazard of an acquittal.  No doubt, we shall be told that evidence has the same value and force whatever the results may be. It is sufficient or insufficient to convict, whether the conviction be followed by death or by a trivial fine. No doubt it is. So evidence may be sufficient to show a venture to be a good one, whether you would gain or lose 51. by it or 5,000/. Yet no one would make the venture in one case on the same evidence that he would in the other. Still less would he do so were his liberty or his life at stake. It is no more use to oppose legal theorising to people's intuitive perceptions in this matter than for Mr. GLADSTONE to oppose his mathematical theory of the Income Tax to the intuitive perceptions of men of common sense, and the practical habits of the actuaries. We throw out the above suggestion with not a little confidence, that, in practice, it would be found to work well. Letters in our columns prove that some intelligent onions would have shrunk :from
The Sun. — 1870-04-28 (London, England)

THE TRAGEDY IN GREECE.  The Queen ,has addressed au autograph letter to the Countess de Grey and Ripon, expressive of her cordolence and sympathy on her sad affliction by the assassination of her brother, Mr. Vyner.  Her Majesty the Queen, with their Royal Highnesses Princess Louise and Beatrice and Prince Leopold, attended by the ladies and gentlemen of the Court, will, it is understood, leave Osborne on Wednesday next, and return to Windsor Castle. Their Royal Highnesz:es the Prince and Princess of Wales, attended by the Hon. Mrs. Stonor, Major Grey, and suite, honoured tilt) LycJuni Theatre with their presence yesterday evening. The Earl of Denbigh denies the statement that he was the proposer of a toast in favour of the Prince of Asturias, at a festive gathering at Rome, and disclaims all knowledge of any such banquet or any such toast. We understand that there is no foundation for the report that a daughter of Mr. William Cuthbert is clout to he married to a son of Mr. Gathorue Hardy. The Sell et Committ 'e of the House of Commons (Mr. Shaw Lefovro, chairman) to which the Tramways Bill has been referred, resumed tnOr sittings this morning with closed doors. The total woollut required for taking the, census of England and Wales in 1871 is estimated at £120,000; for the census of Scotland, £30,000; fur the census of Ire-; laud, £32,000.  A billiard match, 1,000 up. was played at Bury St. Edmunds last evening, between W. Cook, jun., and P. Roberts. The highest break made by Cook was 203, which included 51 strokes. Itoberts's highest break was 63. The game was won easily by Cook, his cpponent only scoring 664. Edward Wright, whose successful efforts among the thieves of London have lately drawn public attention, is announced to address working men next Sunday afternoon at the Agricultural Hall, [sliugton. A contract for the construction of a telegraph line between Constantinople and Odessa was signed on the 15th instant between Daoud Pacha and M. DomLique Gallotti. At the M:d ilesex Sessions yesterday a man allured Everett was convicted of attempting to commit suicide, by throwing himself into the river at Battersea Bridge, and was doubtless very much astonished to find himself sentence] to four months' hard labour The seeon.-I spring flower show, organised under the auspices of the Royal Botanic Soci ty, teak place yesterday. The large tent was, as usual, made the show room of exquisite flowers and plants; and the conservatory assigned to a display of roses, azaleas, and rhododend ons. Messrs. Lane took the prize for rhododendrons and deutza,, and a silver medal in the miscellaneous; the Messrs. Paul, of Cheshunt, the prize for roses; and for azaleas Messrs. Henderson. The show was attended yesterday by a numerous and fashionable company.
The Sun. — 1870-08-31 (London, England)

MAC MAHON'S POSITION.  In the aotual circumstances, the placing of head-quarters at Sedan nearly resembles an act of deliberate strategical suicide. We have said that the town is very close to the frontier ; and here, in the present campaign, lies its chief inconvenience. It possesses only a single line of railway communication with Paris— leading westward by Mezieres to Hirson, and thence south-westward through. Laon and Soissons, or by the long detour of St. Quentin and Compibgne. No doubt from Mezieres another line runs southward by Bethel to Rheims ; but that line is already fast and firm in the possession of the Prussians. We have seen already the great importance which the invaders attach to the interruption of railway communication, especially at points like Hirson ; and Hirson is only forty miles from Vouziers and Attigny, where we have already heard of their cavalry. Even if it were not true that Sedan and Mezieres had been chosen by MacMahon and the Emperor for their base of operations, the importance of Hirson would be the same ; for ' is the nearest available railway point to an army operating in the Northern Argonne and cut off from Rheims. But niit only is the railroad communication from Sedan precarious; the rugged region of the Ardenne Forest, stretching westward all the way to Hirson and Vervins, condemns the highway to follow the line of the railway, and affords only difficult cross-roads, the issues from which would certainly be occupied by an enemy seeking to cut off MacMahon's retreat. And that is precisely what the Germans are seeking to do—precisely what they have the most splendid opportunity and the strongest temptation to do. MacMahon and his 150,000 men have marched straight past the Crown Prince and his 250,000 men, away from the capital, to the very northern verge of the empire ; and the Crown Prince, who knows that he can reach Paris at any time—all the more easily and impressively indeed if first he should have put the second army of France hors de combat—has simply wheeled his advancing columns to their right, and marched nortlward upon MacMahon's flank and rear. Thus he now stands completely between the marshal and the capital ; and his advance, on a line parallel to the frontier, has already taken from the French a full third of the triangle within which the immediate theatre of hostilities is confined. The army of MacMahon now hangs to Paris by a single, undefended, and exposed route ; its proximity to the border hampers enormously its choice of defensive positions, and may dictate a most disadvantageous offensive ; while the advantage of the narrow space between the frontier and the Meuse, on the roads towards Metz, may be made to tell as powerfully for the Germans as for the French. And we repeat, that all we have said about the danger of an operation in the valley of the Meuse applies almost literally to the case of an operation partly or wholly through Northern Argonne.—Teleqraph.
The Sun. — 1870-08-02 (London, England)

THE• NEW YORK PRESS ON PREVOST PARADOI4.  The American papers just received contain some reference to the suicide of Al. Pr6vost Paradol. The New York Herald says that all must deeply regret  Le abrupt fatal termination of the career of this dis tinguished academician at the critical juncture of affairs which attended his mission to Washington. Many causes are suggested for the melancholy act. It has been supposed that M. Prevost Paradol was one more victim to the overwork of modern journalism. The mental toil to which he was subjected was great. It is also thought that he was excited by the responsibilities of his position, and irritated by the opposition which he encountered from various quarters. Another suggestion is that ho was shocked on his arrival in New York, to receive the news of an impending European war, and, finally, that the excessive heat which prevailed Droved too much for him, harassed as he was in mind and wearied in body• The .New York Tribune declares that the suicide of M. Prevost Paradol will shock educated and liberal men throughout the word. In political honesty and tact he was one of the foremost men in ate French Empire. The thoughtful and polished journalist was most formidable to the Tuileries, as he generally . contrived .to evade the press laws. The Tribune did not consider that Prevost Paradol forswore himself when he accepted the mission-to America, :but it can give no explanation of the awful event of his suicide. There can be little doubt that he was insane, and there were causes enough to overthrow his reason, as he was a man of sensitive mental and physical organisation. His loss may be a misfortune to America, as it cannot fail to be to France. It would have been a great advantage .to deal with a liberal minister during the many complications that the ensuing war will bring about, and M. Prevost Paradol possessed a complete know
The Sun. — 1870-05-23 (London, England)

DETRE:MI/NED AUICI.t.,-4. Yesterday'. Morning a; Moat' detiro4„...toft " s committed by a ship carpenter named AleXAnder Mackenzie, 44 years of age, raiding. at 3.4 .A.Eity-Siteet, Liverpool. He was of intemperate habiti,, and, having been out of employment, was pitiCh depreskd. Ike drove a nail into the wall in the back yard abotit three months ago, and said lid would hang himself on it. Abaft. one o'clock hi the morning ha went out to the back yard and hung himself from the riaill swinging himself off from the steps by which the dement into the Yaid effected'. Becoming frightened, a child went out after some tint; and, on opening the back door, knocked against the body. alarm was at once made, and Dr. Pierce, who attended the sClidoiniistress who had attempted suicide in the same locality a few dayS ago, was sent for ; but all his efforts to restore animation failed. The man leaves a fafrrily of six children. At six o'clock this morning his wife left the house, and has not since been heard of.  SUICIDE Or AN EXHIBITIONER AT OXFORD: Mr. Grey, of Balliol College, Oxford, who attempted suicide on Friday by cutting his throat.; dial last night at the Infirmary, and a coroner's inquest will be h 61,1 to-day.  Last night a number of undergraduates of Cambridge held an open-air religious serf ice in King-street, in that ;,own, one of the spirittudly destitute parts of Trinity parish. Several ur cbrgraduates preaelatdoild the service was kept up for upwards of two hours. The attention of a large crowd assembled was most marked. Two Hindoo gentlemen have gone into residence at Christ's College, Cambridge, this term—viz., Mr. Amanda Bosij of Calcutta, and Mr. Shripud Babage Thahen, of Bombay. • An aggregatcmeeting of the Jewish congregations in Manchester was held on Saturday, at Which petitions to Parliament were adopted in favour of the abolition of University Tests. Dr. Gottheil, who moved the resoldtion, regarded the Solicitor-General's bill as a proof of departure froth the old anti-Jewish feeling which was wont to characterise legislation. Religious dogmatic tests in the sense in which the Thirty-nine A 'Aides were put before candidates for the highest 116116E1.s were unknown in Judaism, ' and every attempt to. influence the teachings of Judaism within the bounds of a certain set of dogmas had at all .times met with a great oppoiition, and it had never been necessary to put any such tests to any candidates for any of the highest offices Which Jewish congregations or communities could Bestow. The petition stated that Within the last few years persons professing the Jewish religion had respectively retained the rank of senior' second and fifth wrangler, who had all been deprived of their chances of obtaining fellowships on account of conscientious objections to signing the articles.
The Sun. — 1870-02-02 (London, England)

TICE ST. PANCRAS DIRT-HEAP.  , . It is impossible to say when matters in bt. Pancras. will arrive at their worst. One would have thought: that stage had been reached long ago ; but each succeeding week reveals fresh treasures of they guardian mind" and fresh beautiei of locall management. It may be instructive to recapitulate' the various additions which have lately been made' to the dirt-heap of this famous parish. Everybody has heard of the outcry caused by the shocking state' of the St. Pancras Infirmary—the overcrowding, eel rats, the, foul closets, the bad ventilation. - The' Guardians found themselves unable to deny the facts: There could be no doubt that the state of the infir= mary was disgraceful. Therefore the parish functionaries straightway lodged a charge against Dr: Ellis, who had been strenuous in his endeavours to' reform the arrangements, to the effect that he, by, closing the ventilators, and by other expedientshhad. purposely brought about this discreditable state of things, in order to disgrace the guardians. An enquiry was ordered, which has just been concluded. The local magnates, however, have found ',fresh' matter for investigation. They charge Dr: Ellis' with immoral conduct with one of the infirmarynurses. Dr. Ellis charges them with pressino. her to extort a confession against him. Tife nurse attempted to commit suicide, and Dr. E_llis affirms that it was in consequence of her sham ,at! confessing to an accusation which was not true. ThQ guardians say that Dr. Ellis and his solicitor went' to the bedside of the nurse previously to her examina-' tion before the magistrates, and " virtually prevented a true account being given of her attempted suiCiae.", Such is the present position of affairs. The labyrinth of foulness seems perfect, but it would be hazardous P. say, after recent experience, that the men of Pancras are not capable of improving upon
The Sun. — 1870-07-22 (London, England)

LONDON, FRIDAY, JULY 22, 1870. 365. 365. 14s. 18s. 40s. 425. 15s. 6d. 21s. THE announcement of the deplorable tragedy 455. 48s. 17s. 6d. 245. occurring in America on Tuesday last, startled and 555. 525. 20s. 265. afflicted Europe yesterday, even though the news of it arrived in the very midst of the breathless susAlso at Also at Also at Also at other prices. other prices. other prices. other prices pease with which all observant spectators are await THE announcement of the deplorable tragedy occurring in America on Tuesday last, startled and afflicted Europe yesterday, even though the news of it arrived in the very midst of the breathless suspense with which all observant spectators are awaiting at this moment the commencement of hostilities. M. PREVOST PARADOL, a man of rare genius, one of the Forty of the French Academy, one of the most enlightened politicians in Christendom, a celebrity in the very flower and prime of manhood, being only in the fortieth year of his age, —suddenly, astoundingly, lamentably—destroys himself with his own hand upon the morrow of his installation, as it were, as the French Ambassador at Washington. A suicide so remarkable in every way cannot but excite upon the instant mingled feelings of grief and astonishment. An incident so astounding in its character, one so really exceptional in all its leading circumstances, cannot but give rise to conjectures as to the immediately existing cause by which it was originated. That cause—the source of M. PREVOST PARADOL'S deplorable suicide—we cannot but think is instantly recognizable. Political remorse we cannot but think was in his instance the provocative to self-destruction. Remorse, for what? For having only just gone counter to all his own radiantly conspicuous antecedents as a publicist, as a politician, as a consistent and persevering and devoted advocate of Parliamentary or Responsible, as contradistinguished from Personal or Despotic, Government ! For having—out of a conviction that a change had at last, indeed, come over the spirit of his dream, as a keen-eyed and unsparing critic of the Second Empire—foregone all his old antagonism to the Government of NAPOLEON and actually acceptei under the rule of that sovereign the high and responsible post of ambassador at Washington. He, of all men,
The Sun. — 1870-08-20 (London, England)

REPORTED SUICIDE OF THE EMPEROR.  A rnmour published in a special edition of the Manchester Examiner and Times of last evening, that the Emperor had shot himself on Thursday, at Rheims, caused great excitement, although the report was received in Manchester as doubtful. A correspondent of the same paper writing from Paris on Thursday says that his Majesty had a narrow escape from being captured while in the house of a Colonel Henrique, in the neighbourhood of Longeville. A bridge blown up in time by a company of engineers under a heavy fire at the moment of a skilful monceuvre of the enemy for surrounding the fields upon which the Imperial escort was encamped was the means of saving his Majesty from adjourning to Berlin. The correspondent goes on to say that the Emperor, forced to leave Longeville, passed the following night at a small farmhouse at Gravelette. By the advice of Marshal Bazaine, the next morning the Emperor and the Prince Imperial, in an open carriage, accompanied by the entire household, departed for Verdun, taking a northern route, not supposed to be occupied by the Prussians, passing by the small towns of Conflurs and Etain. Entirely unexpectedly, the advanced guard of the corps of General Steinmetz passed over the route taken by the Imperial party, and actually had luncheon at Etain, in the very neighbourhood where the Emperor had breakfasted an hour or so before. On the 15th the victory was declared in favour of the French, and a staff officer was detained to carry the triumphant news to the Emperor at Verdun, but too late. During this glorious affair, of which the Emperor was still ignorant, he was receiving the mayor and sons-prefect of Verdun and; giving them some little encouragement, he set out for the railway station with the Prince Imperial almost without escort, when he asked to have a train got ready for him. " Sire." said the  A. telegram from Berlin of yesterday morning (7 p.m.) says the Queen had received the following despatch from the King :  "Bivouac near Rezonville, Aug. 18 (9 p.m.) 14 The French army, occupying a very strong position to the west of Met; was to-day attacked under my leadership, and, after nine hours' fighting, was completely defeated, cut off from its communication with Paris, and driven back towards Metz.
The Sun. — 1870-05-17 (London, England)

MORE MURDERING.  A horrible affair became known in Hanley, Staffordshire, on Saturday morning—the murder of an infant and attempted murder of another child by their mother, and the atempted suicide of the murderess. The scene of the tragedy is Brownedge, a small namlet lying off the main road from Hanley to Leek. One of the inhabitants is James Goodwin, who with his wife, his daughter, aged ten years, and an infant of ten months, on Friday morning constituted an apparently happy family. Towards night, however, the daughter ran screaming out of the house, bleeding from a wound in the throat. Some of the neigbours went to the cottage door, which was found.to be fast. An entrance was effected, and on going upstairs Mrs. Goodwin and her infant, both with their throats cut, were seen lying on the bed. A surgeon was sent for, and he attended to the wound, but the little one's life could not be save. The self-inflicted wound of the mother was not so serious, and it is believed that the elder child will also recover. From the latter it has been elicited, that being asked by her mother to go upstairs, she did so, and was closely followed by her mother, who immediately seized her and cut her throat with a razor. She, however, managed to struggle away, and ran out of the house, as stated above. Goodwin was at once sent for from the colliery, and was naturally much affected by the deplorable circumstances. Mrs. Goodwin was nine years ago mentally affected to such an extent that she was placed under proper care in the Leek workhouse, but there had been no recent indication of aberration, and Goodwin states that when he left her on Friday morning there was no observable excitement or peculiarity of manner. The razor was found under the bed, and proved to' be Goodwin's. Mrs. Goodwin, as it was dangerous to remove her, was placed under police charge in the cottage.  A countryman, who had never paid more than 25c. to see an exhibition, went to a New York theatre one night to see " The Forty Thieve." The ticket-seller charged him 75c. for a ticket. Passing the pasteboard back, he quietly remarked, " Keep it, mister ; I don't want to see the other thirty-nine," and out he marched.