npedrazzini/19thc_murder_suicide_news huggingface dataset:
The Warwickshire Herald. — 1889-10-17 (Birmingham, West Midlands, England)

ROMANCE IN REAL LIFE.  A case of mistaken identity, involving elements of dramatic interest sufficient to make the fortune of a sensational novethas just occurred in Switzerland. A young couple, named Favre,belonging to the working class, had lived happily together for some years at Neuchatel, when the husband, a working mason, began to give way to habits of drinking. Efforts were made to reclaim him, and he became an abstainer for a time. Some months ago, however, he broke out again and left his home. His wife had heard nothing of him for three months, when one night she was awakened by a voice calling her repeatedly from the street outside, and which she felt sure was that of her husband. She rose, dressed, and went into the street, but found no one. A few days afterward. sheread an account in the newspapers of a man who had committed suicide on the railway at a small village near Bale. From the description of him she suspected it might be her missing hus• band, and became full of the idea that the voice she had heard was a communication from him at the moment of death. She was corroborated in her belief by learning that he had made application for work at a neighbouring quarry, but being in drink at the time had been roughly refused by the foreman. The body had now for some time been interred, but in order to put an end to her suspense the poor woman, having got together a little money, started off with the determination to have the body disinterred. She reached the village, and after some delay secured permission to open the grave. With two or three men as assistants she set to work. When the coffin was opened the effluvium was so terrible that her companions ran, and left her alone with her dead. For 20 minutes, unaided, she pursued her ghostly task. The body had been decapitated by the train, and the head, horribly mutilated, was wrapped II itself in a cloth. She uncovered it, and recognised it by the teeth. One of the stockings also she knew again from having mended it with a particular kind of worsted. Her worst fears thus confirmed, she ' returned home in the depths of sorrow. The aged mother of the man was informed of the identification, and mourning was being prepared for the whole family, when the crowning act of the drama was furnished by a letter which has been just received from Fevre himself, announcing that he is at Winterthur alive and well! The wife had, after all, identified the wrong 111110 Who it is that actually I lief in that lonely grave no one knows.
The Warwickshire Herald. — 1889-10-17 (Birmingham, West Midlands, England)

TRAGIC SUICIDES.  Mr. Thomas Rayne Orme, nail manufacturer, of Derby, committed suicide in his bedroom early the other morning. The .deceased, who was a prominent politician in Derby, had been nominated to fill a vacancy on the Derby Town Council. He, however, withdrew his candidature, and allowed hut opponent to be elected. He was greatly excited by these events, and during the night he committed suicide by cutting his throat with a razor. There was a terrible struggle in his bedroom with his wife before he succeeded in overpowering her. Mre. Orme's screams aroused the household, and a doctor was sent for. Mr. Orme when depth cd of the razor tore open the wound with his fingers, and when the medical man arrived he was dead: John Watson, signalman at North Shields Rail. way Station, has committed buicide by hanging himself in the signal cabin. The affair was discovered through a passenger train from Newcastle to North Shields and Tynemouth being delayed entering the station for some time owing to stopping signals not being changed to allow the train to enter the station.  A case of suicide of a very singular nature his been discovered in a dwelling-house at Port Glasgow. James Clark, a holder-on, returned home from work at the usual hour, and found his wife uncle. the influence of liquor. He went out, and about two hours later his little boy met him in the street and said his mother was not in the house. Clark went home, and after searching the house he opened the lid of a chest for some articles he vi.unttd, and WU horrified to find his wife doubled up in the chest suffocated. Clark got the assistance of some of the neighbours, and had the body taken out and placed upon the floor. Dr. DrEtryde was in immediate attendance, but the woman had been dead for fully an hour before she was disvovered, death having resulted from suffocation.
The Warwickshire Herald. — 1889-08-22 (Birmingham, West Midlands, England)

SHOCKING DOMESTIC TRAGEDY.  DOUBLE MURDER AND SUICIDE.  A German gentleman named J. Lachmann von Gamsenfels shot two persons, supposed to have been his wife and child, and then shot himself at a private house at Stratford-on-Avon on Monday. Lachmann, accompanied by a woman supposed to be his wife and a 'girl about 4 years old, took apartments a few days ago at a cottage occupied by a widow named Freeman, near the River Avon. The three appeared very happy and comfortable, and occupied their time in strolling about the town and neighbourhood. On Monday morning shots were heard in their bedroom. The door was burst open, and the man was found lying on the floor, and the woman and child were in bed, the clothes of which were saturated with blood. All three were dead, and all three had large bullet wounds on the left temple, and a revolver And pistol, both recently discharged, were found near the roan, who was wearing only his shirt and drawers. The woman and child were undressed. The room presented the appearance of a slaughterhouse, and the floor was covered with pools of blood. The man had in his possession a Press pass for the Spanish Exhibition and some guidebooks, but only a halfpenny in money has yet been found. A bunch of keys had affixed to them a metal label bearing the name of the National Safe Deposit Company,ttueen Viotoria-street,E.C.,and the number 27,434. The man had intimated to his land. lady that he intended returning to London during the day. His supposed wife had the appearance of an actress, and was a fine. looking woman, 29 years old. The deceased, whose full name is Johann Lachmaiiin von Gamsenfels. is a native of Prague, 40 years old, and was formerly an artillery officer in the Austrian army. About 12 years ago he founded the Londoner Journal, and is described as a singularly reticent man.He was a man of high education and striking appearance, married, with one child, a boy, to whom he was devotedly attached. He had been estranged from his wife for a long time, and had been in the habit ot making an allowance of 17s. 9d. per week, for which the boy called every Saturday. On Saturday he made his call as usual, and was told that his father had left town on Wednesday. Nothing more was heard of the boy or his mother, and on the receipt of the news of the terrible tragedy it was conjectured that Gamsenfels' wife and child had followed him to Stratford.  The inquest was opened on Tuesday, and adjourned for evidence of identification. This, it is understood, will be given by the wife of Herr J. Lachmann von Gamsenfels. The surgeon who examined the bodies said his theory was that the woman and child were shot in their sleep, and that the man then turned the revolver on himself.
The Warwickshire Herald. — 1889-01-31 (Birmingham, West Midlands, England)

LOVER'S TRAGEDY.  Some sensational disclosures were made at the inquest on Harry Lowe, the young Birmingham board school teacher, who was found on the railway at Acock's-green with his head cut off. The following letter to his mother was read: "Dear Mother,— pray you forgive me for what I am about to do, for I have resolved to end my life. I cannot live to be always regarded by you as a disgrace to you and to my family. I would sooner die ten thousand times. I have been cruelly deceived by Evelyn. I know, I declare upon my honour, that if Evelyn is with child lam not the father. You will say, 'Why have I acknowledged it to Mr. Westwood ? ' The reason was that fearing he would do some violence on hearing the newel was determined to shelter Evelyn, even though she had deceived me. I trusted her so implicitly, so entirely, that I could not believe she would play me false, and now the blow has come I am almost out of my mind. I scarcely know what lam writing. The reason I have always denied any intercourse was because none has taken place. There has been a little more freedom between us than has been proper; but I say with perhaps the last words I utter, that there has never been that between us which could result in Evelyn being in the condition she is. Once more I repeat, I swear lam innocent. May God help you to bear this, and may He forgive me for bringing it on you, but I cannot live to disgrace you. It will be better for you that I should die. You will find me on the railway, run over, between Acock's Green Station and Olton. God bless you, mother, and help you to bear it is the prayer of your broken. hearted Harry." The legal gentleman who repesented the young woman's father pointed out that the young man had frankly admitted that he was the father, and intimated that he would consult his mother. According to information received the mother opposed the idea of a marriage,. and the result was that he went and committed suicide. It was added that the young man, when he discovered the condition of the girl, suggested that he should shoot her in the lane and then shoot himself. The girl said, "There is no reason why both should die. I shall be sufficient." He then said, "You do it." He gave her cartridges and instructions what to do. He then wrote on a piece of paper, "Harry is innocent," but afterwards said, "I cannot do that," and there the matter dropped.—The jury declined to hear the young woman give evidence, and returned a verdict of auicide,while of unsound mind.
The Warwickshire Herald. — 1889-03-07 (Birmingham, West Midlands, England)

PIGOTT'S CAREER. The story of Pigott'e life has been to a very large extent told by himself in the witness-box, and if he had had the assurance to stand the fire of Sir Charles Russell's crose-exarrination several chapters which are now missing would no doubt have been added. He was born 54 years ago, and at an early age he entered on a career of journalism and duplicity. lie became proprietor of the Irishman in April, 1865, and was soon afterwards sworn in as a member of the Fenian Brotherhood. In February, 1868, he won the martyr's crown by being sentenced to 12 months' imprisonment, subsequently reduced to six, for pub lishing an article on the Manchester executions , and soon afterwards he gained further distinction by four months' imprisonment for contempt of court. Journalism was too exciting for him, and in 1879 he opened negotiations for the sale of his paper, which ultimately passed into the hands of Patrick Egan. It was about the time of the disposal of the Irishman that Pigott wrote the piteous appeals to Mr. Forster for monetary assistance of which we have recently heard so much. The most generous and unsuspecting ef men, Mr. Furstes, was easily imposed upon, and he made Pigott several advances from his private purse, and promised to introduce him to Mr. Knowles, the editor of the Nineteenth Century. When at last the stream of Mr. Forster's charity ceased to flow, the gratefill Pigott turned round noon him and  savagely abused him. About this time Afacm,llares Magazine published an article bearing Pigott's signature in which he endeavoured to justify the then c mimon argument that the Land Act of 1881 bad left Ireland nothing more to wish for. His no :t public appearance was in the Contemporary of April, 1883, when he denounced what he called the "Land League Fenian Invincible Confederacy." In June, 1885, he contributed an article on the " Parnellite Programme" to the fortnightly Review, the object of which was to excite distrust of Mr. Parnell in Ireland. Pigott next played the part of forger, foisting on the Times, as the productions of Mr. Parnell and others, letters which he subsequently confessed to have fabricated. After forgery, perjury' was easy. His suicide has been • tragic end to a singularly dramatic episode.
The Warwickshire Herald. — 1889-03-07 (Birmingham, West Midlands, England)

MYSTERIOUS SUICIDE OF A COLONEL. On Thursday,Mr.Wynne E. Baxter held an ii spiky at Shadwell into the circumstances a tending tke death of Arthur Benjamin Clare, late Lieutenant. Colonel in the 16th Bengal Native Infantry. Mervin Archdale Clare, of Chelsea, clerk in holy orders, brother of the deceased, identified dee body by papers found on it. He last saw deceased. who was in sbatternd health, in December. A few days before Christmas witness went to his brother's lodgings to invite him to dinner on Christmas Day, but found that he had been missing for seseral days. In the early part of January witness received a letter from deceased's bankers, saying that he had been there but they refused to give him any money as his account was overdrawn. Witness heard no more of him until he was informed that the body had been found. At one time deceased was out of his mind. Francis Curtis Ryan, of Wandsworth Common, brother-in-law of deceased, stated that deceased came home from India in 1885 on account of his health. He remained in England about 12 months, and then, having passed the Medical Bard, returned to India, and joined his regiment at Burniah, returning home in 1882. Deceased's memory was very deficient, he forgetting what he did the day before. Witness identified the clothes on the body as those of the deceased, and also recognised the body by the build.—Edward Davies, lodging-house keeper, said on the 9th January the deceased went out and witness missed the carbine. George Banks, inspector Thames police, deposed to finding the carbine with a discharged cartridge in it. He also found the cleaning rod of the carbine and the umbrella produced.— Charles Lilley,sub-inspector Thames police, stationed at Wapping, gave evidence as to finding the body ie the Thames off Wapping. It had been in the water five or six weeks. The face was entirely blown away, or otherwise mutilated beyond recognition. Amongst the articles found on the body was a cartridge (produced) which fitted the carbine.—Mr. Michael McCoy, acting divisional surgeon of police for 'Wapping, stated that on the forehead and temple of the deceased were bluish black marks, such as would be produced by the explosion of _gunpowder. The face was completely shattered. There was a circular hole at the tip of the tongue as well as a lazerated wound which might have been caused by a bullet. Witness was of opinion that all the wounds were caused by a large fowling piece held quite close to the face. The poet mortem examination shewat that the lungs did not reveal the usual signs of by drowning. Death was due to shock caused by a gunshot wound.—The jury returned a verdict of suicide whilst of unsound mind.  des*  The oomplicated marriage affair at Ridgway, Derbyshire, has been satisfactorily settled by the uniting of the lady to the seeond of her suitors. The arrangements between the rival candidates appear to have been mast amicably settled, the father of the gold love giving the bride away to No. 2.
The Warwickshire Herald. — 1889-03-07 (Birmingham, West Midlands, England)

THE WEEK.  PIGOTT'S TRAGIC FATE. Ems those who condemned in the strongest terms the infamy of Pigott's conduct must have felt a thrill of commiseration when they heard that the wretched creature had put an end to his owa life. When the game was up, and he saw that sudden flight was the only course left open to him, he made every effort to raise  enough money to carry him beyond the pursuit of justice. But the Times was not likely to continue its contributions, and from Mr. Labouchere he could extract nothing but a half satirical, half good-natured wish that better luck might attend his efforts next time. It seems however, that he had a packet of obscene literature in his possession; he had subsisted on the profits derived from this trade for some time past; and he succeeded in selling a portion of his wares for twenty-five pounds. With this sum in his possession he made his way through France into Spain, being well aware no doubt that extradition treaties are lax in that country. He appears to have miscalculated, however, for, very soon after his arrival in Madrid, a police inspector presented himself and took the wretched man into custody. But the officer bungled over his work. Pigott asked permission to go to his room, and his request was rashly granted. No doubt the idea of suicide was familiar to his mind. Without friends or money, destitute and disgraced in his old age, there was nothing for him to look forward to. He required only a moment to pet his design into execution. Drawing a revolver from his bag before ttie police officer could rejoin him,he placed it to his mouth, fired, and one of the most remarkable careers of crime the world has ever known was at an end. Pigott was a man of undoubted ability. He conducted the Irishman with considerable skill, and was at one time fired by no contemptible ambition. He aspired to a seat in Parliament, and some twenty years ago contested a borough in Ireland. But he was linable from the first to "run straight," and his innate moral baseness prevented any chance his intellect might have had of asserting itself. The last scene of the drama has been a tragic one ; it cannot be said that he hats atoned for his crimes by the final act, but he has placed himself out of the reach of human condemnation. In the presence of death the pep of the most relentless critic is checked.
The Warwickshire Herald. — 1889-03-07 (Birmingham, West Midlands, England)

AFFAIE—" NOWADAYS "—As in the name of 240,000 membered the keague ageinet i ' derstond that the considerations by which the ... IC were mainly. actuated in coming to this was found that the house had been stripped of The feature of the day was, therefore 'Trims ssit Us. the treatment of e Atchinoff inissionf' .4.4,14. Ifwneh furniture valued at MO. The prosecution_ alleged the cheerful endurance on the part of 'hen the game was up, and Government. The suicide of Pigott has caused some aur-wood 11 be as near London as Wimbledon' that -tht was the only course the "Great Russian nation " the regrets of thethat the prisoners t deal' beratelyaetOrs wtomith_e bonn ensue than the enjoyment of & holiday. ' le every effort to raise prise' Nobody expected that he would have League, and to opens subscription on behalf of the its proximity to Aldershot will greatly facilitate for the prrrpose o h destruction. which . would —NI ' visitors could not obtain bed th n s, °near and which would cover their depredations. r. t families f the Cossacks killed and wounded at 0 or operation between the regular iorces and the sufficient resolution to put an end ohimself, p t tolunteere ; and that permanent ranges can be Justice Field sentenced the male prisoners to seven o procure a decent meal, and t, , beyond the pursuit suSagallo, contributing thereto . the sum of I,ooof. was not likely to He might have organised a bogus suicide, and On Thursday a Cabinet Council was held erected on the new site for regular practice by and the woman to five years' penal servitude, paraded the streets all day wet to ed from Mr. La- then set himself to acquire Spanish for the at the the London volunteer Elysee, and was followed by a con- . •corps. A correspondent gives a come details about Bisley Common by Brookwood.
The Warwickshire Herald. — 1889-06-06 (Birmingham, West Midlands, England)

STRANGE CHARGE OF MURDER.  At Liverpool Charlotte Sobell and Malcolm M'Quarrie have been committed for trial for the wilful morder of James Darker Harris, electrical engineer, of London. Harris, whilst on a visit to Liverpool, met Sobell at a music-hall, and went to a house with her. The male prisoner lived in the house the woman being his paramour. About 1 o'clock in the morning the police were talled, and found Harris lying on the bed dead with a revolver by his side. The case was at first believed to be one of suicide, though no reason could be assigned for the act. The deceased's brother visited Liverpool, and the effects, including the revolver, were handed to him. He threw the revolver into the river. Subsequently it transpired that the deceased had received money shortly before from his relatives, and that he had in his possession £4 or whereas when he was found only 7d. was in his pickets. Immediately after the female prisoner had left the house she was noticed to take out unwarily a quantity of money, some of which was in gold. 'When one of the witnesses ran up the stairs .she noticed that M'Quarrie was standing on the landing. He had in his hand a revolver which was smoking, and lie put this into the witness's hand, saying, "She has shot him with my pistol. It is hot now." He was advised to put the pistol back where he found 4, and helaced it by the dead man's side. The prisoners made considerable efforts to get away, and two men were kept in the house to watch. When on the way to the detective office, the woman re-marked to M'Quarrie, "You nearly put the rope round my neck by owning to that revolver," and when they got home again Sobell said, "By saying it WAN your revolver you nearly got me transported." 1112naiTie replied, "I was drunk at the time, but I soon made it all right when I got down to the de. tective office." The medical evidence was antagonistic to the theory of suicide.
The Warwickshire Herald. — 1889-04-11 (Birmingham, West Midlands, England)

SENSATIONAL ACT OF A GIRL.1  A sensational ease of attempted suicide is reported from Birmingham. The daughter of a man named Hall, 14 years of age, went a few days ago to fetch a brooch that had been entrusted to a man named Dugmore, to be repaired. Dugmore, the girl alleges, committed an assault upon her. She did not tell her parents that day, but made a confidant of another girl who worked with her. She was advised to tell her parents, but at first refused to do so, remarking that she was afraid. However, at last she made, as her relations state, a clean breast of the matter to her mother. The latter at once decided to have her daughter examined by a doctor, and announced her intention,if the doctor's statement bore out the girl's, of informing the police. She sent her daughter upstairs, telling her to change her clothes, but the girl was absent so long that the mother's suspicions were aroused, and she proceeded to the room. She was alarmed to find that the door was fastened, and at once summoned the rest of the family who were at home. The door was broken open, and the girl was found huddled in a corner of the room, bleeding from a terrible wound near her left eye. y the side of her was found a small revolver, kept in the loom as a protection against thieves, and on examination it was discovered that two of the chambers which had been loaded had been discharged. It was seen that one bullet had penetrated her left eye, and a cab was called and she was at once conveyed to the General Hospital. It was there found that the bullet had entered the eye, completely destroying the sight, and had penetrated into the head. The eye was removed, but it was deemed advisable not to attempt to extract the bullet, which is thought to be imbedded in her brain. When the mother first went to the room she heard, so she states, her daughter exclaim, "Oh, Mr. Due:more, you've made me kill myself," and this statement was repeated both in the cab and at the hospital. Dugmore hams been arrested.