npedrazzini/19thc_murder_suicide_news huggingface dataset:
The Sun. — 1844-11-14 (London, England)

STANDARD.—There is a growing disposition on the part of certain pseudo-philanthropists to represent the higher classes of society as more insensible to the condition of the poor than they were wont to be in, what young Englanders are pleased to entitle, the "good old times." Every casualty to the poor that may happen to be recorded in the newspapers, is seized upon by these modern philosophers, as a fresh illustration of the correctness of their theory. One or more suicides had recently cccurred in the humblest walks of life, arising, it is said, from extreme destitution, and these catastrophes are referred to, ad nauseam, as instructive evidence of the insensibility of the rich to the condition of the poor. No inference can be less warranted. The columns of the daily press must have convinced all readers of newspapers of the fact, that no genuine case of distress is ever recorded in their columns which does not command instant and liberal relief. In the vast aggregate of human misery which is to be found in large towns, the most distressing cases of poverty' and destitution are often those which are most carefully concealed from public observation ; and men of wealth, however benevolent, most of whom are liberal contributors to public charitable institutions, have often neither the leisure nor means of hunting out such cases. We caw affirm, however, with the utmost confidence, that there is no nation on the face of the earth in which more of active charity fewhichn g set exhibitseu r fellow-creatures, lleawr e an e re a t uramountes whether t shyer m this to be found than in England, nor any city whatever paethyyhfoarvethaerissuefnfrom penury. or disease, than this same much-reviled City of London. Persons whose knowledge of the extent of public sympathy is derived from the columns of some of our Contemporaries, must have long ago inferred, that there is in England, and in London in particular, a most uischristian disregard of the feelings and comforts of the humbler classes. Yet is there hardly day in which meetings of its busiest inhabisants, of the higher and middle orders, are not convened for the purpose of forming permanent institutions for the relief of sufferers of all denominations. There is in Loidon alone, and we challenge contradiction to the fact, more money collected for the relief of the distressed in one year, than is contributed for any similar objects in any other city in the world. There is hardly a disease which has not given rise to some valuable public institution, where the poor, could they divest themselves of the prejudice which, unhappily, influences them on many subjects, may have the benefit of greater skill and more unceasing attention than can readily be .obtained by the wealthiest member of the community at home ; the combination of skill usually afforded gratuitously in a public institution, and the rigid system of attendance which is provided, being greatly beyong the advantages which any private establishment of moderate extent could by any possibility supply. Yet one of the most prevalent " vulgar er
The Sun. — 1844-08-07 (London, England)

WANDSWORTH. THE LATE ATTEMPT AT MURDER AND SUICIDE.— Monday was appointed for the examination of Amelia Alferry, the young woman who, on Monday, the 29th ult., attempted the murder of her two children and selfdestruction, on Wandsworth-common. Mr. Bicknell said, as the prisoner was then in a state of great nervous excitement, he thought that it would be politic before the prisoner was brought into Court to have the room cleared. The Court was accordingly cleared. The prisoner was led into the Court ; she is about twenty-seven years of age, was deadly pale, very weak, and had a vacant look. She was accommodated with a chair. The children, one a girl six years of age, and the other a noble looking boy, about four years old, were also brought into Court. The charge, as entered on the sheet against the prisoner, was as follows :—" Amelia Alferry, aged 27, single woman, charged with assaulting her children, Mary Anne, aged six years, and Henry, aged four years, withintent to murder them, by drowning, and also with attempting to commit suicide at the same time, to wit, on the 29th of July last." Mr. BURRELL approached the chair in which the prisoner was seated, and said, "Do you feel that you are capable of answering the charge nowmade against you?' —The prisoner, in a scarcely audible tone, said, " Yes, I do.  _ William Alferry, a lad about fourteen years of age, was then sworn, and stated, " I live near the White Horse, Water- side, Wandsworth, and am brother to the  prisoner. On Monday evening, the 29th of July, between five and six o'clock, I was crossing Wandsworthcommon, when I saw my sister sitting on the island near Mr. Wihon's. She had her two children with her. Their names are Henry and Mary Anne French. I wished her to go home. She said, You can go home ; I'm coming presently.' I went home alone, but came ba,ek shortly Afterwards to play at cricket- My sister was still sitting on the island, and the children were playing near her.' She called them to her and said, We'll go bome.' She then drew them to her, left the bench on which she had been sitting, walked to the water's edge and jumped in with them. The part into which prisoner jumped is called the Black Sea.' I went in after the children and held their heads up to prevent them from drowning. I hallooed for help, and kept the little children up until Mr. Steers came, and he walked into the pond and took the children out. Mr. Steers afterwards got my sister out with a great deal of trouble, and laid her upon the grass. The prisoner wo.* remanded.
The Sun. — 1844-04-25 (London, England)

LAW AND POLICE.  In the Consistory Court on Tuesday, the case of Dysart v. Dysart came on for hearing. This was a suit for restitution of'conjugal rights, instituted by the Earl of Dysart against his Countess, which was met by her Ladyship with a plea of cruelty charged by her against her husband The pleadings, which are of great length, occupied a considerable part of the day; the case was then opened on the respective sides, and the rest of the day passed in hearing and deciding upon objections to various letters offered as exhibits in the cause. The argument will commence next court day. At Union-hall Elizabeth Godfrey, a respectable-looking young woman, was brought befoi e Mr. Trail!, charged with attempting to commit suicide. Policeman 132 L stated that while on duty that morning, at one o'clock, he observed a young female walking along Waterloo-bridge apparently in a very dejected condition. He could hear her sobbing as she went along, and when she thought she was unobserved, she retired into one of the recesses, and commenced taking off her bonnet and shawl, and then ascended the seat, and was in the act of clambering over the parapet for the purpose of throwing herself into the river, when he hnmediately hastened up and pulled her back. The prisoner expressed her regret and promised to return to her sister, if permitted. The Magistrate, however, required sureties, and she was locked up. After the night charges had been disposed of, Daniel Dearlove, a young man, was placed at the bar before Mr. Henry, at Lambeth-street, ou a charge of entering the dwell.  ing-hOnse of his uncle, Mr. James ' Dearlove, and stealing therefrom bonds, bills of exchange, Bank of England notes, and other property to a very considerable amount. The circumstances of the robbery have already been described. The prisoner, with the advice of Mr. Pelham, who attended for him, declined saying anything in his defence, and was remanded to a future day.  Tuesday Thomas Horn, John Ruddick, William Southin, and William Smith, four " cads" or " hangers-on" of omnibuses, were brought up at Hammersmith Police-court, on warrants for having assaulted Robert Haggerstone, a conductor, in the employ of the Hammersmith Conveyance Company. The assault having been proved against Ruddick, Mr. Paynter said, such improper proceedings on the part of persons connected with omnibuses would lead him to determine, in all future cases brought before him, to impose the highest penalty the law allowed. There was not the slightest accusation made against the conductor Haggerstone. An assault had been clearly proved against the defendant Ruddick, whom he should fine 20s. and costs; but the other defendants must be discharged, there being no evidence against them. C
The Sun. — 1844-06-06 (London, England)

FORAGIGN.  Their Majesties, the Princess Adelaide, the Duke de Nemours, the Prince de Joinville, and the Duke de Montpensier again visited the exhibition in the Champs-Elysées, on Monday, arriving a little before two o'clock. Attended by the Minister of Commerce and the members 'of the Jury, their Majesties'and Royal llighnesses examined the many beautiful specimens of cabinet-work, crystal, porcelain,! jewellery, and goldsmith's work. They remained till half-past five, when they set out on their return to Neuilly. • The Messager officially contradicts the statement of Louis Philippe having had his watch stolen at the Exposition de  Commander de Araujo de Ribeiro, EnVoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of the Emperor of Brazil, in a private audience, delivered to the King the insignia of the Order of the Southern Cross, which his imperial master had conferred on the Dukes de Nemours, d'Aumale, and de Montpensier. The King immediately invested the Duke de Nemours and the Duke de Montpensier with the Orders. Two terrible fires took place on the 26th ult. in the department of the Aisne. One was in the village of Essigny ; the other at Grngies. The loss by the two fires is estimated at nearly 130,000 f. The fire at Lssigny is supposed to have been the act of an incendiary. M. de Lesseps, Consul of France at Barcelona is to succeed M. de Lavalette as Consul-General at Alexandria.  The Posen Gazette states that the Library of Count Titus Dzialynski, at Kornik, near Posen, possesses the autograph manuscript of a novel which Napoleon had commenced, under the title of " Clison et Eugenie,' and adds that the authenticity of it has been proved by a Committee composed of M. Charles de Montholon, Baron Fain, and BarOn Mounier. There is in the same library, says the Posen Gazette, the project of Napoleon for assuming the command of the army of the Sultan, with notes in his own hand. A letter from Venice states that, owing to the symptoms of discontent in that place, the whole of the garrison had been changed. The King of Bavaria arrived at Rome on the 23d ult. lie travels under the name of Count d'Augusta. He alighted at his palace (Giardino di Malta). On Monday, between one and two in the afternoon, a man about 25 years of age, said to be a tailor, threw Limself from one of the towers of tliaCatlicdral of Notre Dame, and killed himself. Be touched a female who was passing at the moment with sufficient force to knock her down, but she was not materially hurt. Disappointed love is said to have been the cause of this suicide.
The Sun. — 1844-11-26 (London, England)

DISTRESSING SUICIDE OF A YOUNG LADY.—OH Friday this neighbourhood was shocked by a report that Miss Jane Gulliver, daughter of Thomas Gulliver, Esq., of Bloxham, and sister to Mrs. Fisher, of Grimsbury House, with whom she bad been staying some time, had drowned herself. She was about twenty-six years of age, and had for a very long period been in indifferent health, and latterly her spirits had been greatly affected, so much so that her medical attendant had suggested the propriety of her not being left alone. On the Friday morning, she had, with one of her sisters, walked into I3anbury. On their return, she went into the kitchen, and then, as the family supposed, up stairs to change her dress. This was about one o'clock. At half-past two Mr. Robert Field, of Grimsbury Mill, saw a shawl floating at the mill-head, against the bars which are placed to prevent substances passing to the wheeL He remarked that a shawl had blown away from somewhere, and told his boy he had better get it out. The boy got hold of the shawl, and then found that there was a body under it. He gave an alarm, and Mr. Field and some of his men came and raised the body, which they found to be that of Miss Jane Gulliver, and took it out into the house. It appears she must have left Mrs. Fisher's, instead of going up stairs, immediately after her sister's back was turned. She then went to the back of Mr. Field's garden, a few hundred yards from Mrs. Fisher's house, and there, having taken off her pattens, and pinned her clothes tightly round her, she threw herself into the stream, which was very rapid and swollen by the profuse rains that had fallen for a few preceding days. It is supposed that she must have been very quickly carried to the spot where she was found, which is about forty or fifty yards from where she threw herself in. Her pattens were found on the bank by a man who was wandering by the river some time before the body was discovered. An inquest was held upon the body of the young lady the following day. It came out ii the course of the evidence that a report had prevailed that deceased was enciente, but it was proved, on medical testimony, that there was not the slightest foundation for this aspersion upon the character of the unhappy young lady. But to what cause the depression of spirits from which she had been suffering was attributable there was no evidence to show, and the jury returned a verdict to the effect That the deceased drowned herself whilst in a state of temporary insanity," at the same time all expressing themselves satisfied that there was no founda • tion for the report alluded to, but which, for the satisfaction of her friends, the Coroner had thought proper to investigate.—Abridged from the Banbury Guardian. Cow,
The Sun. — 1844-06-25 (London, England)

GREENWOOD—How many times have you been here? Prisoner (laughing.)—Can't say. Mr. GREENwoon—How many times have you been convicted at the Old Bailey? Prisoner—Exactly three. Police-constable 275 N heard screams of " murder " proceed from the prisoner's dwelling, Greenman's-lano, No. 10, and on reaching it was informed that he had murdered his child. It turned out that, whilst beating. his wife, who had the infant in her arms, he struck tile latter a violent blow on the head, and to all appearaneis the child was dead, Medical aid was obtained. The doctor said the injury was of a dangerous character, and the infant had been thrown into a fit by the blow. Mary Lee, the prisoner's wife, confirmed the above statement. She held the poor little babe in arms. In answer to questions from the Magistrate, she stated that the prisoner had been courting her for twentyseven months previous to their marriage, twenty-three of which he had been in prison. Mr. GREENWOOD (to the prisoner)—What punishment were you sentenced to at the Old Bailey ? Prisoner—One three and two sixes (months).—(Laughter.) He was remanded for a fortnight. A young man of delicate and melancholy look, named James Dav‘a, was charged with attempting to commit suicide. It appeared from the evidence, that the prisoner, who is an artisan, living in Greenhill's-rents, Clerkenwell, has been married lately to a female to whom he was greatly attached. On the :10th inst. he became jealous, and the green-eyed monster so completely possessed him that he drank a large quantity of laudanum in order to terminate his existence, He was taken to the North Londim Hospital by police-constable 92 E, who found him in Chiehaster-place, soon after ho had taken the poison, writhing with pain. lie has been since then lying in the hospital. The prisoner said he was very sorry for what he had done, and that he believed his jealousy was unfounded.  Mr. GREENWO6b said the offence hid become so common that the judges had come to a determination' to Punish with rigour all such rash offenders. The magistrate sent the foolish fellow home to his wife, who, it appeared, had been almost as ill from fright as he had been from poison. !'our agricultural labourers, named Beadle, Marshall, _ Poi'. and Gibson, were charged with begging. They were ragged, half-starved-looking, poor creatures. Rostock,' a Meridieity constable, saw them, with six others of the same class, begging le Woburn-square on that morning ; he offered them employment ut the Mendicity, but they declined. At a later period of the day he saw the whole ten walk abreast down Liquorpondr street, singing" The Farmer's soy," with Gibsonb au t voiceßeadle 4 t of dolorous pitch—he took. them into custody. no money ; Mayor, lid. ; Marshall, iod., had Its. lid, !won him. The prisoners dou-lgr,..d they tics ou.ld find no employment in their native places, and 8,4 a resorted to begging to save themselves from starving. They were di,. charged, with p. caution. QUgEN-
The Sun. — 1844-06-25 (London, England)

UNITED STATES  LIVERPOOL, SUNDAY. The fast-sailing ship Sea, Captain Edwards, arrived at this port to-day, after a quick voyage. She left New York on the 3d inst., and Sandy Hook on the 4th. The' Sea has brought five passengers only. The news is very barren of interest. At Washington, on the Ist inst , in Senate, the joint resolution of the House, to adjourn on the 17th of Juue, was Adopted. '  Mr. 111,1Dhffie'i tariff resolution, pronouncing the present rate of duties unjust and oppressive, was taken up and reject.: ed—ayes 18, noes 25.  In the House of Representatives, Mr. Adams broached the great principle of the Native American party, i. e., 'the alteration of the Naturalization Laws so as to require foreign.) ers to reside here twenty-one years, instead of five, before they exercise the 'rights and powers of native-born citizeni ; and he presented a petition from citizens of .Pennsyl7 vania, praying Congress to make this change in. the naturalization laws. In presenting this petition, he supposed an opinion would be expected froth him on the subject, and he therefore stated. that the petitioners being unknown to him, he did not feel bound to support the prayer of the petition. He moved that the petition be referred to the Judiciary Committee. Mr. Muiphy called for the ayes and noes. on a motion by Mr. Hammett to lay it on. the table. The question was ordered, and resulted in 104 votes in. favour of  • laying it on the table, and only 26 against so doing. A murder and suicide of the murderer, of a. very horrible description, had been committed at Philadelphia. The Philadelphia Ledger says, under date of Saturday, June 1 that a Frenchman named Jules Lesueur, early that morning, shot his wife in the right side, beiween the fifth and sixth ribs, and committed suicide by, shooting himself in the left side. The Coroner convened a jury about eight o'clock, when the wife was still alive. Augustus Esmoil, keeper of the French boarding-house, Dock-street, below Third, in which the deceased resided, knew of no quarrel between deceased and his wife, but papers and documents were found which madelt evident that murder and suicide were premeditated by deceased. In a letter to Mr. Esmoil, found on a table, Lesueur begs "pardon of God for his crime " he was about to commit, gives directions for the funeral, that both shall be interred in one grave, in plain coffins, the expenses to be defrayed out of 170 dollars left for the purpose. It ap pears that suspicions of infidelity on the part of the woman in refusing to live with deceased, produced this deplorable_ result. She was alive at noon, Saturday, but her recovery was impossible. She was suffering great pain. She says, he awoke her on Friday night, asked her to kiis him and on refusing, he shot her. She is a Creole, of Louisiana, where she has a sister. Mr. Barbace, of whom deceased was jealous, is her agent, and at' her desire assisted her to escape from the power of her husband.
The Sun. — 1844-04-05 (London, England)

SUICIDE.—An inquest was held yesterday at the Welch Harp, Essex-street, Whitefriars, before Mr. Payne, the Coroner, on view of the body of Louisa Matilda Gilligan, aged seventeen, a professor of music and dancing. Several witnesses were examined, but the substance of the evidence may be briefly stated. The deceased was the daughter of a coachmaker, residing at No. 10, Denmark-street, Soho, and obtained her living by teaching music and dancing to some young persons of both sexes, whom she met at Norris's Coffeehouse, Little Dean-street. About a year ago she became acquainted with a young man of the name of Webster, who frequented the same coffee-house. At her request he conducted her public balls, and very soon he paid her so much attention that their friends believed they would be married. The intimacy continued until about two months ago, when she gave a dress ball at some rooms in Oxford-street. 'Webster, in his evidence before the Coroner, said that his love for her ceased at that ball ; for though he was there in characteristic costume, she chose a young gentleman, a stranger to him, and in undress, as her partner, in the first set of quadrilles, and during the evening danced with a Mr. Capp, a mere acquaintance. After that he had some words with her, and the match was broken off. She was still in the habit of going to the coffee-house every Sunday evening to meet her pupils, and take part in what the witness called a "temperance conversazione ;" but after the discontinuance of her meeting with Webster, she was pensive and thoughtful. She often threatened to destroy herself, saying that her acquaintances had scandalised her; and on the night of Sunday, the 25th of February, she told Miss Appleby, one of her pupils, that she would have a watery grave that night. A young man, named Capp, walked home with her, but she immediately went out again, and going direct to Waterloo-bridge, threw herself into the water. The body was not found until Monday last, when a waterman discovered it floating at Templestairs. The following lines, supposed to be written in allusion to -her unfortunate quarrel with Webster, were found in her box :  "Fain, fain would I my grief impart, Yet dare not, for your anger ; But secret love will break my heart, If I conceal it longer." The witnesses said they thought that deceased's mind was affected, and the jury returned a verdict of " Temporary in. sanity." _ .