npedrazzini/19thc_murder_suicide_news huggingface dataset:
The Sun. — 1836-08-16 (London, England)

FEMALE REAPERS.—The practice of labourers' wives assisting in the harvest-field is becoming more general in this county than formerly, and, by increasing considerably the earnings of the poor, tends greatly to promote the comforts of their cottage-homes. The Chelmsford and Essex Agricultural Society are endeavouring to foster this spirit of industry, and we beg to remind the farmers that three prizes—one of 205., one of 155., and the other of 10s.—are given to the wives or widows of labourers (in the employ of a member), who shall have earned the most money during harvest by cutting corn. We are sure the farmers of the neighbourhood will further the object of the Society, by giving those who are willing an opportunity of competing for these prizes.—Essex Herald: It is stated, on the authority of evidence laid before a Committee of the House of Commons, that there exist in the metropolis no less than eighty thousand degraded females, for the most part under eighteen years of age. Is it possible that this statement can be read with indifference ? Can the reflecting mind look calmly on this vast amount of degradation and misery, and not bestir it to the great work of moral renovation ? From the various accounts which from time to time arc afforded by the daily and weekly Press, and other concurrent testimony, it appears that 8,000 of these wretched females are annually consigned to a premature grave ; and that by far the greater proportion of this number either die from disease in the hospitals, or seek a desperate relief from their sufferings in suicide. Some strong measures must be adopted to check this evil. A full-grown male sun-fish (the cepholug oblongata: of Naturalists), taken off Beachey Head last week, was exhibited on our beach by two Eastbourne fishermen, who had captured this curious inhabitant of the deep. It measured about six feet in length, and seven feet transversely from the extremity of the dorsal to that of the anal fin; its weight was estimated at between 600 or 7001bs. It was announced in a hand-bill as a " one-eyed sea devil." These fishes, called moles, or sun-fishes, have the jaws without teeth ; and the tail so short and high, that the fish looks as if a portion had been cut off, giving it a most singular truncated appearance. The skin is very hard, and divided into small angular compartments ; a thick layer, of a gelatinous substance, is spread under the skin. This species is not uncommon in the European seas, but is very rarely seen near our shores. —B righton Gazette. A
The Sun. — 1836-11-22 (London, England)

OLYMPIC.  A little one-act piece, called Emigration, was last night produced at this theatre. The plot, which is very slight, turns on the adventures (or rather adventure) of Mr. and Mrs. Shears (Oxberry and Mrs. Urger), who having been wrecked on an emigrating voyage, and suddenly parted, respectively imagine—the gentleman that he is a widower, the lady that she is a widow. As may be easily supposed, the unhappy couple have both 'provided themselves with an " intended ;" they, however, meet at a ball, where, after a mutual fright, each taking the other for a ghost, they rush with delight into each other's arms, while the lady's beau, and the gentleman's new flame, have dramatic justice done to them by the happy discovery that they were old admirers before their acquaintance with Mr. and Mrs. Shears. The piece was amusing enough, and in the course of it some very tolerable puns were let off ; but it mainly owed its success to the exertions of Oxberry and Mrs. Orger. The former is greatly improving ; his humour is losing somewhat of its breadth, but has gained much in polish. The archness which occasionally broke forth from his affected grief was irresistibly droll, while a gallopade danced by him and Miss Goward kept the house in a roar. Mrs. Orgcr's part was less important, but she portrayed to the life the Cockney lady with her fancied accomplishments, and scraps of bad French. The house was crowded.  Mrs. Gray of Rush Green, near Romford, recently destroyed her life in consequence of the intense grief occasioned by the decease of her infant. On Sunday, the 13th inst., a fishing-boat belonging to Auchmithie, swamped opposite the Red Head. The crew consisted of five men, and four of these were drowned. One of the sufferers, David Spink, has left a widow and six children. Another of them, David Beattie, has left a widow and three children.  Mr. Isaac White, a respectable baker and farmer of Allcannings, hung himself on Friday morning under the following distressing circumstances :--The unfortunate man had a daughter lying dangerously ill, when his house was set on fire, and great damage done to the premises ; this accumulation of misfortunes preyed so much upon his mind as to create a belief that ruin was coming upon him ; and under the pressure of this excitement he committed suicide. —Devizes Gazelle.
The Sun. — 1836-05-06 (London, England)

ATTEMPTED SUICIDE.--On Wednesday a respectablv-dressed, delicate-looking young woman, was brought before the Mayor .under the following circumstances:—.Mr. Foster, constable, said that he took the young woman into ,his charge ou the preceding evening on the Foreshore, in consequence of a gentleman now present informing him that she was there with intent to commit suicide. Mr. John llyett, the gentleman alluded to, stated that last evening, about seven o'clock, he was walking on the river side, towards Hessle, when, about half a mile above the Pottery, he saw the young woman standing within the tide-mark, looking towards the sea. About an hour afterwards, on his return, he saw five or six people standing together, with the same young person. One of them called to him, and asked him to endeavour to persuade her to go home. Ile in consequence reasoned with her, and tried to induce her to leave the spot, which she did not seem inclined to do. She did not say much, but refused to go Witness told her, if she would not go willingly, he should be under the necessity of applying to some one who had the power to compel her. She, however, still resisted. Witness then requested some of the young men present to watch her proceedings while he went for a constable. He eventually met with Mr. Foster, into whose custody he gave her. Mr. Foster said she would not frivc any account of herself; all the particulars he had been able to procure from her were, that she came from Preston, in Lancashire, and that she bad a sister named Mary Bristol, whose husband was a hairdresser at Brighton. The mayor evinced considerable sympathy in the young woman's behalf, and addressed her with much kindness of manner, requesting her to state some particulars in regard to her condition, and her motive for contemplating the committal of so rash an att. There was every wish on the part of the magistrates, he said, to do what kindness and humanity dictated, but it was necessary she should give some account of herself, to enable thorn to take the necessary steps to restore her to her friends. In a low faint voice the prisoner said (as we understood her) that she came from the Lancaster Asylum, and arrived here yesterday by one of the packets, th-at her name ;was Margaret Lense, that her father was a native of Ireland, and by trade a shoemaker; but, in answer to the question, of where be resided, she said she must be excused from answering. The mayor said it was necessary she should be taken care of, anti that the person she mentioned at Brighton must be written to. In answer to other questions, she said she had some money about her. Mr. Lee, keeper of the lock-up, said that she told the women who sat up with her, that she had been selling her clothes during her journey to this place. She had, during the night, several times threatened to strangle herself. The mayor ordered Foster, the constable, to take her to the poorhouse, with directions that every attention should be paid her, in order that a communication might be made to her friends of the melancholy circumstances under which sho was met with in this town.—Hull Packet.
The Sun. — 1836-04-13 (London, England)

POOLE LIBERAL.—A certain Gentleman (a Liberal--[This man is a Tory in disguise, who the better to carry em his swindling projects assumes the name of a party that xvpuld repudiate any connexion with a person capable of conduct such as is described]—canvassing for the office of Guardian in one of the suburban parishes of Poole, lately called on a Mr. 8., a livery-stable keeper, when the following dialogue, or words to the same effect, ensued—" Mr. 8., I've called to solicit your vote—l am offering myself for the office of Guardian— I hope you will—oh ! by the bye, Mr. 8., what would you charge for a hearse to go down into Devonshire ?" " When do you want it, Sir ?"—" Why, I don't—l don't exactly know ; but my poor mother, poor old soul, can't live long--she's going fast l"—" I suppose about a guinea a day, Sir, if you can lend us your horse."—" Well, but Mr. B. you will give me your vote ?" Suffice to say, that although assailed by so able a diplomatist, Mr. B. was un-" liberal" enough to refuse ; and the poor candidate afflicted with the prospect of losing both his " poor old soul," and the election to boot, walked off, frowning at fate, to plead his suit in another quarter. It will scarcely be believed, that this very identical gentleman, and most affectionate son, not less than a year and a-half ago, made the very same pathetic appeal to a well-known innkeeper in Poole ; and then stated that his mother " pour old soul," could not live long t It was intended then, however, that the defunct lady should travel in a post-chaise I—Salisbury Guardian. A few days ago an inquest was held at the Goat in Boots, Little Chelsea, before Mr. Stirling, on view of the body of a servant girl (in the employ of Mrs. Haverton, a lady residing in that neighbourhood), who had committed suicide by suspending herself to a bed-post. It appeared from the evidence that she had broken a valuable china vase, the property of her mistress, who was from home at the time ; and it is conjectured that, dreading the consequences, and not having the means of replacing it, she destroyed herself. She was discovered hanging by a policeman, passing at the time, who, it seems, possessing more timidity than wit, instead of instantly giving the alarm, hastened to a surgeon for assistance, but ere they had time to reach the room the young woman was dead. The Jury returned a verdict of " Temporary in3anity."
The Sun. — 1836-04-02 (London, England)

INCREASE OF CRIME.—The Assizes generally throughout the country, appear to be very heavy. Is this a part of the working of the New Poor Law? This harsh statute which refuses relief, and the extension of the Police system which prevents begging, the vending of matches, &c., will drive the puor, of necessity, to absolute crime. We are sorry to observe, that almost every law seems now directed to grind down and harrass the poor. Whatever may be the pa:it gress of political liberalism, the march of social liberalism is evidently retrograde.—Kent Herald. ',Our country friend ought to be better ;informed than to give currency to such arrant nonsense. What but "social liberalism" the liberally which provides politically for the happiness of the poor, who are the majority in every country—what but their permanent well-secured happiness is the object of " political liberalism." Surely it will not be denied by any sane man that the direct tendency and inseparable consequence of liberal politics are to increase the happiness of the poor. A singular wager was decided a few days since in a tavern at Gloucester, between a corn-dealer and a speculator in railway shares. The former, in the course of conversation, remarked that if a farmer were to bring a barleycorn to market one week, double it the second, and so on for every succeeding week for twelve months, all the ships which ever entered the port of Gloucester would not be able to convey it. A laugh went round the room against the party, and of course a bet was proposed. The railway speculator, however, speedily found himself minus 101., the amount staked, for on a calculation it appeared that it would require 1,099,511 vessels, each capable of carrying 1,000 quarters of grain, to stow the whole of the barleycorns on the fifty-second week. The parties present, it is understood, each set about a more diligent study of Cocker.  On Tuesday, about half •past twelve o'clock, a.m., a fire broke out in the premises occupied by George White, of West-street, in this town. Several hundreds of people were in a few minutes on the spot, and, by their extraordinary exertions in stripping the thatched roof, but little injury was sustained. Much credit attaches to the inhabitants for their hearty assistance, for a little .delay (or indifference, too often manifested at fires) would have involved in ruins many thatched buildings by which the fire was surrounded, the wind being very high at the time. The property destroyed was insured._ Sherborne Journal. A determined attempt at suicide was perpetrated in Carlisle goal after the assizes had terminated, Thomas Twed_ dell, who had been condemned to transportation for life, endeavoured to shorten his days, first by hanging himself from one of the bars of the cell, but the bar failing his purpose, he then sharpened the metal spoon allowed the prisoners for taking their food, and with it made several severe incisions in his throat, but being promptly discovered, the wounds were staunched, and he is now in a fair way of recovery.
The Sun. — 1836-09-05 (London, England)

CORONER'S INQUESTS.  On Saturday afternoon an inquest was held at the Guy, Earl of Warwick, on the body of Charles Frude, and 68, who was said to have committed suicide.—The deceased occupied apartments in Tower-street, Seven-dials, and had been in a desponding state of mind ever since the death of his wife, which occurred two months ago. He was found, suspended by a soldier's military sash, in his own room, on Wednesday last. Mr. Nation, the surgeon who was called in, stated he would not give his testimony without an order for the payment of the usual fee, which, by a late Act of Parliament, had been awarded to medical men summoned to attend inquests. In doing so he was only anxious to support the respectability of the profession.—Verdict " Temporary Derangement." On Friday night an inquest was held at the Rainbow Tavern, Bow-lane, Cheapside, on the body of a fine newborn female infant, alleged to have been destroyed by the mother, a young woman, named Margaret Spencer, a housemaid in the service of Mr. Robertson, surgeon, of No. 3, Bow-lane.  Margaret Spencer, the mother of the infant, had only been in Mr. Robertson's service for the last seven weeks. On Thursday evening the suspicions of Mrs. Robertson, the mother of Mr. Robertson, were excited in consequence of some circumstances that had occurred during the day. Mrs. Robertson being of opinion that the young woman, Spencer, had given birth to an infant, communicated the same to her son, who taxed Spencer with it. She at first denied that such was the case ; but, on Mr. Robertson insisting upon examining her, she confessed the birth of the infant, which was found in the chamber utensil. Verdict—" Found dead, but whether born alive or still,' born there was no evidence to the Jury.
The Sun. — 1844-03-20 (London, England)

UNION-HALL. Thomas Stiff and John Peacock, two young "sprigs of fashion," with riding whips and spurs, were charged with being drunk and furiously riding along the streets. The defendants, it appeared, had been at the London Docks, " tasting" wines, on leaving which they got on horse-. back, when one of them (Stiff) in riding along East-cheap, was thrown into the road. He was picked up, and having re-mounted his steed, they both galloped over Londonbridge, and when they got to St. George's Church, Stiff was thrown off again and stunned, and the policeman, seeing they were both under the influence of liquor and very abusive, took them into custody. Mr. TRAILL said that Stiff had been before him on three other occasions for furiously riding in the streets. He- fre.• quently had observed him gallopping along the town to the danger of the passengers. Stiff said that he lived on his property, and that he " tasted" rather too much wine at the London, Docks ; that his horse shied, and that was the way the accident happened. The other defendant said he would not visit the London Docks again for some time. Mr. Duni, held Stiff to bail to keep the peace ; and the other defendant was held in his recognisance to be of good behaviour.  Amelia Grant, a young woman, was charged with attempting to commit suicide. The defendant was supported by some of the Thamespolice into the Can't. From the evidence of two men, named Weller and Duncan,  bargemen, it appeared that about four o'clock this mprning they were aroused from sleep on board their barge, lying near Waterloo-bridge, on hearing cries of "a woman in the water," and had just time to jump into a boat alongside, when they rescued the defendant from drowning. It appeared that she had jumped off the bridge, and was, seen by two gentlemen who were at some distance from the spot from whence she precipitated herself. Mr. TRAIL', said the bargemen deserved the rewards from the Humane Society. He then held the defendant to bail, herself in 401. and two sureties of 20/., and in default committed her to the county gaol.
The Sun. — 1844-01-06 (London, England)

CENSURE BY A J U RT. —On Thursday morning, at ten o'clock, an inquest was taken before Mr. G. Mills, DeputyCoroner, at the Grev-hound, New Compton-rtreet, Soho, on ♦iew of the body of Jonathan Butler, aged 44, a tailor, who committed suicide.  It was proved in evidence, that the deceased, who, with his wife and six children, lodged at 17, Phenix-street, Soho, got up on the morning of Tuesday last, and hung himself, but was but down before quite dead by Mr. Hingwell, his landlord, who immediately sent for Mr. Cooper, surgeon, Moor-street, and that gentleman said he would be on the spot in a few minutes; but not coming fur some time, Hingwell sent again, and the reply was as before. Having waited fully twenty minutes 'Mr. Marshall, surgeon, of the same street, was called in, and he failed in restoring animation, remarking that if he had been sent for sooner the man's life might have been saved. It was shown that the deceased and his family were in great distress ; he could only get police work, and earned less than eight shillings a week, with eight mouths to feed and hacks to cover.  A good deal of indignation was expressed by the jury at the conduct of Mr. Cooper, and that gentleman was sent for. He said, when the first message arrived he was dressing up stairs, and that he had de•ircd the messenger to obtain other aid, as it would be some time before he could attend.  This statement was immediately denied by several witnesses. Mr. Addams (the foreman) then observed, that Mr. Cooper's explanation had but confirmed the. opinion entertained by, hist previously. He would ask Mr. Cooper whether, as an act of humanity, it was not his duty to have hastened with all iliee d, like Mr. Marshall, to render his assistance.. Had he done sO. the life of a fellow-creature would most probably have be e preserved. He (the foreman) was not disposed to eomprOnsi e such facts, and he should, therefore, recommend his bred her jurymen, by a show of hands, to manifest their abhorrence of such unfeeling proceedings. The jury assented to the proposition; and unanimously'ls ►1 i up their hands. Mr. Cooper, with considerable emphasis, yeßlied. _ . • The jury found, " That the deceased. hung himself, bet s the time in a state of mental derangemeitt
The Sun. — 1844-06-11 (London, England)

SUICIDE OF A POST-OFFICE CLERK.-- x eaterclay, Mr. Higgs held an inquest on the body of Henry Liddell Davis, a clerk in the General Post-office, aged twenty-one, sr iodaidn.g with Dh maott tt,h eaasbuorygoe oand,d rseasisd fdo at his residence, 29, Shaftesbury-terrace, Vauxhall Bridgeen weeks,te ercetasheedlashtafidvbee and that on Saturday morning deceased's mother called him (witness) upstairs. He responded to the call, and going up into deceased's bed-room he found him lying dead prostrate on the floor, in a pool of blood that had issued from. a wound in the throat, dividing the wind-pipe and carotid artery, and which was six inches long and two deep. Two razors, with one of which he had inflicted the fatal wound, were king on a chair close to the body. Deceased always appeared to him in a desponding state. Mr. Bloxam, a surgeon, of 59, Eburystreet, said he had attended deceased professionally, off and on, for the last two years. Just a year ago he had an attack of yellow jaundice, which, with the remedies used, left him so much debilitated, that he had been in a state of mental prostration ever since. In October, in consequence of symptoms of great excitement he exhibited, Dr. Sutherland was consulted, and ho was placed in that gentleman's asylum at Chelsea, but after the expiration of a month, becoming calm and rational, he was allowed to come home. He suffered from religious delusion, fancying himself unfit to receive salvation in the world to come. Verdict, " Temporary insanity." We understand, on the authority of a gentlennyt now in his 82d year, and an observer of the weather, that the present season has not been equalled in dryness since the year 1785, which is a lapse of 59 years. The meteorologists have as yet assigned no cause for this unusual phenomenon.— Berkshire Chronicle.
The Sun. — 1844-06-11 (London, England)

LAW AND POLICE. The sessions of the Central Criminal Court commenced yesterday at the Old Bailey. Johanna Carroll, a girl, above 17 years old, was charged at Guildhall with attempting to commit suicide at Blackfriars-bridge. She has no father or mother, and was given into the care of an aunt, with an admonition. Ann Berry, a distressed looking female, who was described as a shirtmaker, was charged at Clerkenwell with having embezzelled 65 squirrel locks, value 65., the property of Mr. Carpenter, furrier, of John-street, Clerkenwell. She was convicted in the penalty of twenty shillings for illegally pawning the articles, and ordered to pay six shillings their value, and in default she was committed to prison for fourteen days. Mr. Chapman was then charged for not having given the prisoner a duplicate, or "note," or "memorandum," for the pledge, and he was convicted in the penalty of 3/. James King, a lad, about fourteen years of age, was charged; at Queen• square, with embezzling various sums of money, the property of bis employers, Messrs. Obbard and Brown, of Little teorge-street, Westminster, news-agents. He was remanded. Mr. John Bailey, a gentleman residing in Brunswick-terrace, Hackney-road, and who holds a situation under Government, was charged at Worship-street with having assaulted with criminal intent a very pretty and modest-looking girl, named Sarah Amelia Barber, aged 13 years. He was held to bail. Frederick Macgy, a Russian sailor on board the St. James, American line of packet ship, was charged at Lambethstreet, with having on board that ship, with intent: to smuggle, 521bs. weight of foreign manufactured tobacco, for which offence he was liable to a penalty of 100/. He was convicted in the full penalty. COIIAT_PASSION LE. The Earl of Aberdeen gives a grand banquet, on Thursday next, at Argyll House, to the King of Saxony. The French Ambassador, Duke of Wellington, Sir Robert Peel, Lord Stanley, Duke of Buccleuch, and the principal members of the foreign corps ckplornaiique, are invited to meet his Majesty. Viscount and Viscountess Ponsonby received a distinguished party at dinner last evening, at their residence in Stanhope-street. Lord and Lady William Powlett had a dinner party yesterday, at their house, in Curzon-street. His Serene Highness the Prince Alexander de Gonzaga, Duke of Mantua, and her Serene Highness the Princess Maria Eliza de Gonzaga, Duchess of Mantua, have arrived in Grosvenor-square. The Dowager Viscountess Torrington, the lion. Miss Hilare Byng, and the Hon. James Byng, have arrived in Norfolk-street, Park-lane.