npedrazzini/19thc_murder_suicide_news huggingface dataset:
The Birkenhead News and Wirral General Advertiser. — 1879-12-13 (Birkenhead, Merseyside, England)

LED ASTRAY: BAD REVELATIONS OF DOYESTIO LIFE. —)iargaret Jordan, • youPg woman eighteen years of age, was brought up in custody charged with having threatened to commit suicide. The evidence disclosed some shocking facts in connection with the Eartip§ concerned. It appeared that the prisoner was the wife' Of • quartesate R 13q.r4 •it American steamer, but she had taken up with a married urn named McCabe, •ho had represented himself to her mother as • widower with one child. It was stated that McCabe, who is a shunter in the employ of the London and North-Western Railway Company, had paid his attentions to the prisoner against he. mother's wish for some time put, and daring his courtship an old sweetheart—a young man named Joplaq,name from sea and they were married. In spite of the Prqtestiptions of the mother—a Mrs. Morris, who lives in kinmel-street—McCabe still came after the prisoner, Jordan having gone back to sea the day after the wedding. The result of McCabe's attentions was that the prisoner, who seemed very much attached to him, left home aith the intention of getting marrieil to him. ~ticabe tdok her to Liverpool, but evident y regretted his promise, but secured his wife's mar Inge lines ad when the young couple returned in a few days afterwards, these were shown to the girl's mother es also • paper in which notiee of tit, marriage appeared. Prisoner, who was subject to fits, then became unwell and had to remain at her mother's house. Daring the time she was there a woman, who represented herself as McCalre's wife, came to the house and hiackgnarded her bat was got away by Mrs. Mune!, Only, howev,g, to oonie again Isith• eouple of Children. Shb was very excited, said that McCabe was not married to prisoner; whom she would like to run thropgh with a knife, and then the quarrel seemed to have stopped by the woman sendirrg out for sixpennywortn of whiskey. The prisoner would seem to have partaken of it against the wish of her mother, and to have dashed out of the house. A little time afterwards she went up to a policeman in Hamilton-stmet and requested him to lock her up, saying that f he did no she yoqld go down to the river and drown herself. "Raying added that she had already attempted to strangle herself the officer looked her up for safety. In the bridewell she bad several fits and Dr. Jeuett had to be called In to attend to her. She mow ssid she would not do as she had threatened, and Mr. Preston, saying that she had acted very foolis .Iy, discharged her, and asked the police to warn McCabe not to go near the house again.
The Birkenhead News and Wirral General Advertiser. — 1879-12-13 (Birkenhead, Merseyside, England)

BRIDGET WARD.—Bridget Ward was again brought up to be dealt with as a would-be suicide, she having attempted to commit suicide by taking phosphorous. - Mr. Supt. Clarke said that the prisoner had been seen by Dr. Laidlaw, the medical officer of the workhouse, and he, after a very careful oross-examinatiou, had come to the conclusion that she was not insane, and that her attempt to commit suicide must have been brought on by excitement or drink. She was perfectly sane, and would not to be obtained in a lunatic asylum three days. Mr Preston (to the prisoner's sister) : had she been drinking? Witness: I think she had some, she said she wanted some drink and that she had a glass of wine. -Mr. Clarke, this woman now knows the address of prisoner's husband, and where to communicate with her. Mr. Preston: Where is he? - Witness: In London. -Mr. Preston: And how:long has he left her?Witness : Since July last.-Mr. Preston: He is a painter by trade, and has gone to London.-Mr. Preston: How is it that he has not come back to see after the prisoner ?-Witness: I cannot say.- Mr. Superintendent Clarke: Was it not in consequence , of her attempting suicide a second time while she was living with him.-Mr. Bell: What is the use of asking all these questions if you are going to discharge the woman ?-Witness: The prisoner lived with her husband a month after she took the poison. His last employment was in Dublin, and he left there and went to London.-Mr. Preston: Were there any signs of drink on the prisoner when she was locked up 7-Mr. Superintendent Clarke: I could not see any, I could only smell the phosphorus.-Mr. Preston (to prisoner's sister) I thought you said you would sea your sister gent to her friends-her father and mother ?-Witness : I don't think she would be as happy there as with her husband. I will see that she is sent to her.-Prisoner : I am sorry for what I have done. I did not know what I had dens till I was More your worship.-Mr. Superintendent Clarke: She says she is perfectly well now. Mr. Preston addressing the prisoner, told her that she was liable to be sent to the Sessions , as she had had a term of imprisonment before for attempting to commit suicide. He however believed that she had made this attempt on her life when she was not responsible for her actions, and as he did not wish to deal severely with the prisoner he would caution her against being so foolish in the future. He hoped this would be a lesson to her. She must be discharged. Prisoner thanked his Worship and left the ooze in company with her sister.
The Birkenhead News and Wirral General Advertiser. — 1879-06-07 (Birkenhead, Merseyside, England)

PHEBTON."—Bachard Mills, newsvendor, residing at 26, Comus.street, Liverpool, appeared in answer to an adjourned summons, charging him with obtaining Sd. from Mr. Donald Fraser, ooal merchant, 2, Abbey.street, by means of false pretenoes.—Mr. Thompson, who appeared for the prosecution, said he was justified, by the fade, in calling this one of the most impudent oases of fraud it was possible to conoeive. For some time it had been the habit of sneh men as the defendant to go into the suburbs of Birkenhead, and, for the purpose of gaining • larger sale for their papers, to cry out false news. On the evening of Friday, the 23rd ult., the defendant was in Union.street, Tranmere, and was crying out, "The Sad and Lamentable Death of Mr. Preston, the Stipendiary Magistrate of Birkenhead." He was charging a penny each for the papers, and Mr. Fraser bought two, as he did not see an se. count in the first paper he purohaeed.—Mr. Donald Fraser said he went up to the defendant, who was shouting out "Special Edition of this day's Evening &press, giving a full and detailed statement of the Horrible Suicide of Mr. Preston, the stipendiary magisirate of Birkenhead." (Laughter.) He gave the defendant a penny for the paper, but, not finding what the defendant called out in it, he bought a second one from a man whom Mills said was working in oonjunotion with him. Not finding anything about the learned stipendiary in either paper witness went after the defendant, when he toned up a penny and said "I've got your money, you've got my paper, and what the h— more do you want," A policeman came up and took defendant into custody, but not on his (witness's) Bacon:lL—Mr. Farlam, draper and excise officer, Union-street, said that the defendant came into his shop on the evening in question and called out "Sad Suicide of Mr. Preston, the well-known stipendiary magistrate of Birkenhead." Witness said "Is it Mr. Preston of the Town Hall, Birken. bead ?" and the defendant replied "Yea." Witness then asked "When did he commit suicide P" and defendant said "At half-past two o'clock this afternoon." (Laughter.) A Mn. Barns was in the shop at the time, and she said to him "Don't buy the paper. It isn't our stipendiary." He, how. ever, said to the defendant "If it is in give me a paper," and be handed the defendant a penny. When Mrs. Burns made the remark about it not being the borough stipendiary the defendant called her a liar.—Mrs. Burns having given corroborative testimony, Mr. Thompson asked the magistrate if it were necessary to call Mr. Preston, to prove that he was alive P (Laughter.) Mr. Bell (the magistrates' clerk) : No, no ; Mr. Fraser has seen Mr. Preston alive shwa. (Laughter.)—Mills was committed for trial.  A
The Birkenhead News and Wirral General Advertiser. — 1879-07-19 (Birkenhead, Merseyside, England)

SAD SUICIDE OF A CLERK. —On Monday Mr. Churton, coroner, held an inquest at the Victoria Hotel, touching the death of James Fisher Shelton, a clerk in the employ of Mr. W. J. Little, shipbuilder, Cleveland-street. From the evidence it appeared that about twelve o'olock on Saturday night Mr. Little went to the north end bridewell there, and said that he thought there was something wrong in his premises. An officer went with him to his house, and on going upstairs found deceased hanging by the neck and quite dead. A verdict to the effect that deceased committed suicide whilst labouring under temporary insanity was returned. Mr. Shelton was collector to the Birkenhead Borough Hospital; but no irregularity whatever has been discovered in his accounts.  PIC -NlC.—The employes of Mr. Samuel Williams, upholsterer and cabinetmaker, Argyle-street, Birkenhead, held their annual plc-nio on Saturday last, the 12th inst. They went to Chester in three of the firm's commodious vans which were kindly placed at their disposal, and after a pleasant drive arrived at the Pool Inn, where the proprietor, Mr. Townsbend, gave them a hearty welcome. After a few minutes (allowed for refreehm-nts) had elapsed they retired to the grounds attache.; to the hotel, accompanied by their band, and, under the influence of its spirited strains, indulged in the exercise of dancing. After they had partaken of a dinner, which in every way reflected great credit on the worthy host's management and taste, and tho usual loyal toasts had been gone through, Mr. Williams' health was drank and responded to in a manner which denoted that thorough good feeling existed between employer and employes. The party were then conveyed by boats to Eaton Ferry, on the Dee, where they partook of a substantial tea, after which dancing and various games were the order of the day.
The Birkenhead News and Wirral General Advertiser. — 1879-12-06 (Birkenhead, Merseyside, England)

LIPE.—A respectably dressed and good looking woman named Bridget Ward was brought up charged with attempting to commit suicide under circumstances reported in our last week's issue. The prisoner, who. it was stated, belonged to Dublin, appeared in a very weak state and had to be supported in the box. It may be remembered that she was found on Thursday night in a precarious condition, she having taken poison—either phophorous or vermin powder. She was removed to the borough hospital and had now been disoharged. The first witness called was a bailiff named Edward 'Edwards, who stated that on Thursday night he saw the prisoner and a young man go into the "Glass Barrel" publichouse in Market-street, where they stayed a short time. When they came out the prisoner seemed very peculiar in her manner and parted from her male friend. She went down Chester-street, and on getting into Abbey-street witness saw her take something out of her dress and pat it into her month, which immediately possessed the appearance of being on tire. When witness spoke to her she said "Let me alone; rii do it." She afterwards went away and began running when she found that witness was after her. She had evidently been inking phosphorous and her clothes seemed to be on fire from the light of it.—P.O. Potts described finding the prisoner in Chesterstreet with two women holding her up. There was smoke issuing from her mouth, which seemed to be on fire with phosphorous. Witness had her removed to the hospital, where an emetic) was given her.—Dr. Boaoher now said the prisoner was out of danger but seemed out of her mind and not responsible for her actions.—Mr. Superintendent Clarke said prisoner had served nine months imprisonment in Dublin for attempting suicide. In June last she married • pensioner named Ward, and they lived in Dublin, where she againjtried to poison herself in the streets. She was locked up but eventually discharged. When liberated she fonnd that her husband had gone to London and she had left Dublin to follow him. Getting to Manchester she again attempted to commit suicide by jumping from the window of a house in Lower Bridge-street. Subsequently, she came into this neighbourhood and went to her sister's house. Whilst on the visit she had been found drunk and sent to the workhouse.—Mr. Preston remanded the case for a week, directing that in the meantime the prisoner should be sent to the workhouse hospital.  IN
The Birkenhead News and Wirral General Advertiser. — 1903-06-03 (Birkenhead, Merseyside, England)

ATTEMPTED SUICIDE. PRISONER BOUND OVER.  At the Birkenhead Police Court on Saturday, before Messrs. k)dward Williams and James Morris. a man named John Williams, a 10:ourer, of Napier-street, was charged on romand with having attempted to commit suicide, on the 4th May. P.C. 13D (Stringfellow) said lie arrested prisoner on the 4th May, at his house. Prisoner's wife said she was out at the time he cut his throat. She found the bedclothes stained with blood, and a razor was taken from prieorer. She did not know why prisoner should have a..tempted to take his life.  Sort. Bennett: Was there some queetion about money for beer—Yes; he wanted me to give him a gill of beer. I think he is a habitual drunkard?—Yes. sir.  You have to work to keep hien and the four okildren f —Yea, sir.  ----ind—WlTiti--Mone;ilW-c.an get he spends on drink ?—Yes, sir. Isn't is chiefly through drink he has had the illness he complains of P—Yea, sir. Continuing, witness said prisoner had been very strange at times. He had frequently broken their property, and on the Sunday before his attempt at suicide, ho had thrown all the food in the fire, because he wanted more drink. Witness would only allow him two gills of beer on that occasion. She was sure he was not drunk on the day he cut his throat, because she would not let bins have any drink. The Chairman, We are inclined to bind you over to be of good behaviour for the next six months, and we hope that will be a lose= to you to keep from the drink. Your troubles arise from taking too much•drink, and we hope you will benefit by the experience you have had. We bind you ovex in the sum of 45.
The Birkenhead News and Wirral General Advertiser. — 1903-10-24 (Birkenhead, Merseyside, England)

EVIDENCE OF PROSPERITY.  Re could give illustration after inners...l tion of the way in which capital and industry was coming into this country as a result of Protective tariffs. Was not .0,000,000 to be spent on the improvement of Liverpool docks to cope with the increasing trade? . Was that an evidence of decline. As to the! sugar trade, he would give them a few figures. In 1851 there were 2,026 men employed in refineries, in 1861 there were 2,800; 1871, 2,700; 1881, 3,300; 1891, 3.733, and 1901, 2.416. So that they would see the maximum number ever employed was 3,733, and there had been a decrease of 1,000 workers by our policy in the sugar trade But what had we gained? In chocolate making we had 7,000 workers; in confectionery 72,000, as corn- . pared with 12,000—in fact, our sugar industry employed nearly 75,000 more people while there had been a lose of only 1,000. There were other figures there that tore out that argument, and he therefore suggested to them that for them to give up the opportunity of getting those cheap commodities, which gave our people employmekt under healthy conditions, was suicide and stooping in the extreme (hear, hear). They might say ' Oh! but what about the .hottoand men who lose their employment?" it 1456 only reasonable to conclude that they would find some employment at any rate in the growing new industries. But apart from that, the cost that this Government, by its folly, had placed on the users of sugar, because of the agitation of this small group ef interested manufacturers, had beea enormous. e could have Pensioned off every men in.  the sugar industry with a thousand a year, and then have been in pocket rather than to have adopted the policy of the present Government tapplause).
The Birkenhead News and Wirral General Advertiser. — 1903-07-18 (Birkenhead, Merseyside, England)

WOMAN'S DREADFUL SUID!DE.  NAVY PENSIONER'S SAD BEREAVE.  MENT.  On Thursday afternoon the Birkenhead Coroner (Mr. Cecil Holden) presided over an inquiry touching th death of Margaret Sa,vward, aged 38 years, :t married woman, who resided at 12, Woodville-road, Tranmere.  -.The facts of the case, as stilted by the Coroner, were that the deceased woman's husband, Percy l'iayward, who was a naval pensioner at present employed at the Custom House, Liverpool, left home about halfpast eight on Tuesday morning, to go to his business at the Custom House. On the preceding evening his wife complained to him that she was suffering from severe pains in the head, and accordingly he got up and got the breakfast in the morning. On his return shortly before five o'clock on Tuesday evening Sayward could get no answer to his knocks, and getting in by a window which was unlocked he searched the house, and at length found his wits in the bathroom; with her throat terribly cut, and a razor lying near her. She was then etiff, as if she had been dead for some considerable period, having bled a great deal from the wound. Dr. Anderson was called in, and information given to the police. Dr. W. H. Anderson said the cut in the throat was a long and deep one, and likely to cause instantaneous death, and from its 1 nature he thought it was self-inflicted. In I his opinion Mrs. Sayward had been dead' about eight hours when he saw her at five o'clock, death being due to hemorrhage from the wounds.  Percy Sayward aaid he had been in the Navy 24 years, and was at present in the employ of the Customs authorities. For two years past his wife had made complaints about her general condition a health, but none of a serious nature. She had seen Dr. Wilson, and he had prescribed for her. On the morning of her death she went/pout for about an hour before witness left home. He offered to stay at home that day, but she said she felt better.  Polioe-oonstable 19E. also gave evidence, and the jury returned a verdict of "Suicide while of unsound mind."
The Birkenhead News and Wirral General Advertiser. — 1903-04-29 (Birkenhead, Merseyside, England)

MONDAY.—Beiore Messrs. Bancroft, Cooke. and Samuel Cross. A Triple Charge.—A powerful-looking man named Richard Jones, of Apple-grove, was charged with having been drunk and disorder i ly. n Church-road, also with having assaulted Police-constables 17C.(Bassett) and 168. MitaPtcoot; further, with having been drunk on the licensed promisee of John Philip Harrison, the Black Horse, Churchroad. The evidence showed that on Saturday evening prisoner was staggering along the footwalk, Tinder the infiuence of drink. J{ e went into the Black Horse, but Bassett drew tho licensee's attention to him, and he was refused. He then became very disorderly. used bad language, struck Bassett in the chest. and Knapton in the ribs, also kicking the latter about the shins severat times.—Prisoner pleaded that he was cirunk. end stated that be had served in the army. and bore a hitherto irreproachable enaracter.—Fined 20s. and costs, or fourteen days' imprisonment with hard labour. I Ileged Felonious Wounding.—John Doyle was charged with having feloniously wounded and assaulted Peter Donnelly. of Orderlyresidence. A man named William 3fealor spoke to having, on Sunday night, heard shouting in Doyle's house. He went in there and found Doyle hammering Donnelly (his hrother-in-law), who was on his bands and krces, with a brush. Donnelly's bead was cut, and blood was running all down his face. Ile was taken to the hospital on the ambulance.--Superintendout Bennett said that the wound, he believed, was rather a! serious one, and the prosecutor was unable to attend court—Prisoner was therefore remanded until tomorrow attursday). Interfering with a Cr.eket Match.--James Atherton, of Nelson-street, was charged with drunkenness and disorderly conduct, and also with assaults upon Police-constables, 5E (Taylor) and 4C (Griffiths. Prisoner, it' appeared, was drunk and creating ii disturbance in the Birkenhead Park, while the premier cricket club was engaged in a match.] When arrested he struck the officers. Mr.. Holden interceded for him.—lle was fined 2s. 6d. and costs or five days' imprisonment for the first, offence, and is, and costs or seven days' imprisonment for each of the assaults. _  Bound Over.—A man named Arthur Myers —charged with having attempted to commit suicide on Saturday, by haring jtisoped into the West Float Dock—was bound over in ..1:5 to be of good behaviour for six months.
The Birkenhead News and Wirral General Advertiser. — 1903-01-28 (Birkenhead, Merseyside, England)

OXTON-ROAD CONGREGATIONAL  cHusar.  On Saturday evening a debate took place at the literary society held in connection with the above church, the subject being "Is Free Trade Practicable?" The affirms= tire was taken by Mr. Soper, and the negative by Mr. White. Mr. Soper, in opening the debate, said that the mere success of a definite policy for a period of 50 yeas, though presunipti:e evidence in its favour: could not be considered a conclusive reason for its retention in its perpetuity. At the time of the inception of our free Trade policy, when commercial men in other cons. tries either stood aghast at our courage, or smiled at what they deemed our madness, and, as they thought, our fiscal suicide, the prevalent conditions which affected oar commerce was vastly different to those which are now current. !Co one would dream for a moment of establishing internal tariffs between the counties of our country. Such a I thing would evidently be absurd, and even should public opinion approve such a step it would be deprecated by the easy mobility of capital and labour in such a restrioteil area. The principal ground which yrs., quoted by the advocates of the abandonment of Free Trade was the advance of the trait* of such countries as Germany or America; where under a system of most rigid Protec lion great strides have been made during the last two decades. In making comparisons between the United Kingdom, Germanr,and the United States of America, we should bear in mind the area and population of the three countries. We must bear in mind that as we were discussing international trade, we bad mainly to consider our own country as one of the competitors for the world's commerce. Was it too sweeping an awl-. tion to make when he stated that it was is spite of Protection and not as a natural re. suit of its operation that America and Germany bad made such rapid strides. Surely it seemed almost incredible that in the present day after the prosperity we had enjoyed and would yet enjoy under Free Trade, we were asked to lower the banner of our 'freedom, and to gird our country in the hour of her need with shackles and fetters which she alono among the great nations of the earth had had the courage to cast of. Mr. White's paper dealt chiefly with the prosperous state of America and Germany, and advocated the adoption of Free Trade with our colonies. A debate then followed in which Messrs. Blackburn, Roberts, and Horlick took part, their criticisms being replied to by Mr. Soper and Mr. White. The voting resulted in favour of the affirmative side.  Laok in et Glaesey'e for the best value in Groceries and Provisions.  BIRTH, MARRIAGES & DEATHS  FIIIDSWELL, . _ vaaaVatlTON