npedrazzini/19thc_murder_suicide_news huggingface dataset:
British Miner and General Newsman : — 1863-01-17 (London, England)

CHILD MURDER AND SUICIDE.  Mu.J. BIDLAKE, deputy coroner, held an inquest on Thursday, at the George Inn, St. George's, near Oakengates, on the bodies of Sarah Sydes and her infant child, who were killed on the Tuesday previous. The olio wing evidence relative to the shocking affair was adduced at the inquiry: Mary Ann Jones deposed The deceased woman and her child, together with her husband, have lodged with me during the last twelve months, but they have not lived very comfortable, in consequence of her habits. About a fortnight ago her left her husband and went away. Three months since they had a quarrel, and he struck her on the head. Since that time she has been in very low spirits. They have had several subsequent quarrels, and I believe she has not enough to live upon. Dr. Green said that he attended the deceased in November last, for gastric fever, but did not. perceive any symptoms of insanity about her. She was rather dull and heavy, but this he attributed to the fever from which she was suffering. Henry Wall deposed: On Tuesday morning last I was passing a pit at: the Nabb, when I saw the deceased with a child in her arms sitting on the brickwork at the top of the shaft. Her legs were hanging down the pit, and she was suckling the infant. I asked to come away, but she did not move. I was alarmed at seeing her in such a position, and I ran as fast as I could for assistance. When I came back to the spot in company with another man I directly perceived that the child was gone and Evans called, "Here, Sally, come here." She looked round for a moment, but immediately threw herself down the pit. Noah Blackmore was called, and deposed that he descended the pit in company with another man, and found the bodies of the woman and child laying at the bottom. They were both quite dead, and were removed to the bank as quickly as possible. The depth of the pit , would be from eighty to ninety yards. A verdict was returned to the effect that the child had been killed by its mother, and also that she herself had committed suicide whilst in a state of temporary 'insanity. The jury, through their foreman, also desired to express their opinion that her insanity had been occasioned by the cruelty and. neglect of ;her husband;
British Miner and General Newsman : — 1863-01-17 (London, England)

MELANCHOLY SIIICIDE.—On Sunday morning last very considerable excitement was occasioned throughout,the village of Great Munden, Hertz, by the report that the rector, the Rev. Henry Dawson, had committed suicide, and which unfortunately proved to be too true. It appears that on that morning, about 10 o'clock, the rev, gentleman had not come down as usual to the breakfast table, which led the servant to proceed to his room; but, not hearing any response to her call, she became much alarmed, and then obtained the assistance of the manservant, who, by the means of a ladder, was able to look through the chamber window, and then suspected that something wrong had occurred. A messenger was then sent to Puckeridge for Mr. Packman, surgeon, but before' that gentleman's arrival the man-servant had burst open the door of the room, and lying in the hip-bath he discevered his unfortunate master, sitting upright within it, quite dead. The rev, gentleman had committed suicide by opening the main artery of the arm with his razor, which was found lying open on the ground outside the bath, and his body was perfectly cold, so that he must have committed the act some hours previous to being.diS-covered. On Tuesday an inquest was held before the deputy coroner for Herts (Mr. M. L. Longmore) at the rectory, and after evidence had been given in accordance with the foregoing facts the jury returned a verdict that the deceased gentleman had " committed suicide while in a state of insanity." The rev, gentleman was greatly esteemed in the neighbourhood, and his loss will be mucJl felt by the poor, as he was particularly benevolent and kind-hearted. He \vas only 42 years of age, and was a nephew of the late Sir R. Peel, and the third son of the late Right Hon. George Dawson.
British Miner and General Newsman : — 1863-01-31 (London, England)

SUICIDE AND STRANGE CONDUCT OF A WIFE.—An inquest was held on Friday evening at Ombersley, near Worcester, before Mr. Hughes, the county coroner, on the body of Thomas May, a middle-aged man, the keeper of a beer house, who was found hanging in the hay-loft adjoining the house, under rather remarkable circumstances. It seems that May was much addicted to drunkenness, and, with the exception of three nights had gone to bed drunk each night for the past fortnight. On Thursday morning he rose as usual, and told his wife that he was going on business to Kidderminster. He drank a quart of cider, and then left the kitchen. Between ten and eleven o'clock, as the wife was in the garden, she heard something fall in the hayloft, and curiosity led her to go into the stable, get on to the manger, and so to look into the loft. She then saw her husband hanging by his neck from a halter tied round a beam. Instead of giving an alarm, however, she went into the house, put on her bonnet and shawl, and went to her son, a lad of fifteen, who was working with a horse and cart at a distance of nearly two miles. She told him to make haste home, as she did not know whether his father had hung himself, or was attempting to do so. He had returned with his horse and cart along the turnpike road, while the woman retraced her steps across the fields. They both arrived about twelve o'clock, when the son asked his mother if she would go and look first. The woman said she could not, and that the son had better fetch some one to see. Ho had, however, had a peep into the loft, and, seeing that his father was dead, ran for the parish constable, who, when he arrived, cut the body down. It was then stiff and cold. The wife of the deceased man further stated that, while going to fethh her son, she met several persons on the road, but did not say anything, fearing it would cause "such a norration in the parish." She said her husband was a very violent man, that he had attempted to hang himself on two previous occasions, on one of which she herself saved him, and that they did not live together very comfortably. The jury considered her conduct in this instance very strange, and they returned a verdict "The deceased destroyed himself by hanging, while in an unsound state of mind caused by drunkenness. '
The Miner. — 1863-05-02 (London, England)

SUICIDE OP A PRISONER.—EarIy on Saturday morning last, it was discovered that Patrick Manion, a militiaman, 21 years of age, convicted and sentenced at the late spring assizes to penal servitude for life, for a rape upon a young married woman on New Year's morning, had committed suicide by hanging himself in his cell, in the Newcastle-on-Tyne Borough Gaol. When locked up for the night on Friday evening, he appeared to be more cheerful than usual. Next morning, when one of the warders went to the prisoner's cell, its inmate not coming to the door as usual, the officer put his head through the aperture in the door, and was shocked to see the man suspended from the ventilator. The body was immediately cut down by the governor, but it was evident that the wretched man had been dead for some time, as the body was quite cold. It was found that he Iliad hung himself with the cord which ran along the edge of his hammock, and which he had detached. He had stood upon his stool, and, to prevent it giving the alarre by making a noise when he kicked it from under him, he had placed a rug on the floor, upon which it fell noiselessly. An inquest was held in the afternoon, and .adjourned for the attendance of a medical man to speak to the prisoner's state of mind before he committed the rash act. ' It appears that some doubt was entertained .of the prisoner's guilt, and the 21ayor of Newcastle had 'carefully inquired into the case, and forwarded the result to the Home Office. By a melancholy coincidence, s communication was received from the Home Office shortly after the discovery of the suicide, directing that an inquiry should be made into the charge under which the unhappy man had been convicted.  A
The Miner. — 1863-05-16 (London, England)

ALLEGED SUICIDE.—Mr. Raffles Walthew, deputy coroner, held an inquiry on Monday, at the Five Bells Tavern, Limehouse, respecting the death of William Revell, aged 39, who was alleged to have committed suicide. Eliza Head, wife of a mariner, said that she last saw deceased on Saturday week. Witness's husband had just returned from a long voyage, and finding deceased there gave him a beating and turned him into the street. He had been a workman at the Iron Ship Building works. For three or four years past he was in the habit of coming to witness when her husband was at sea. On Saturday afternoon he came to her and said that he wanted to speak to her, but she said she dared not. J. Walker, locksman of the Limehouse-lock of the river Lea, said that on Saturday week deceased came to the lock and spoke to witness. His face was damaged and he appeared to have been dreadfully thrashed. He told witness that the husband of the previous witness had returned from sea unexpectedly, and there had been a dreadful disturbance about his (deceased) cohabiting with her. He said that he would endeavourtosee her once more, and try toget her to leave her husband and children, and go with him to Bristol. He added thathhe would then die a happy man, but that afternoon he should destroy himself and end his misery. Witness said, "Well, if you are going to drown yourself', you may as well do so in my lock, and I will make some money by fishing you out when you are dead." Witness did not intend that he should act upon that advice. Deceased said that the woman's husband had hit him in one eye and kicked him in the other. J. Rouse, master of the Richard, on Friday evening saw the body of the deceased come to the surface of the water, near the lock of the Limehouse-cut of the Lea. The deputy-coroner having summed up, the jury returned a verdict "That deceased was found dead in the water, but how he came into the water there was not sufficient evidence to show."
The Miner. — 1863-06-06 (London, England)

DOMESTIC.  Mr. Willes, who writes in the Morning Post under the signature of " Argus," moved the Court of Queen's Bench for a rule calling upon the Earl of Winchilsea, who writes in the Sporting Gazette, under the signature of "John Davis," to show why a criminal information should not issue against his lordship and the publisher of the Gazette, for a libel charginr, "Argus" with taking bribes to praise or disparage arses or their owners, The Lord Chief Justice, however, declined to allow the court to be made the medium for settling turf squabbles, and left the applicant to his ordinary remedy by action for damages or by indictment. The inquest on the engine-fitter who died from the effect of some injuries he was thought to have received while on a drinking excursion with some companions in Epping Forest, was resumed yesterday. No further light was thrown on the cause of the poor man's death, and the inquest was again adjourned. A shocking case of suicide occurred in the course of yesterday in Whitehall-gardens. A respectably-dressed man was seen to sit down on the kerb stone in he open road with a pistol in his hand, and before fuly one could interfere he discharged it into his breut, and fell lifeless. He was about 40 years of age.  The Duke of Cambridge- presided —last evening at a meeting of the Society of Arts. Mr. Hawes read a paper on the results of the late International Exhibition, and after some smart discussion, the Duke of Cara bridge delivered an address on the general subject of international exhibitions. He approved of them highly, but expressed his opinion that in order to realise their highest results they should not be held to frequently, There was rather a stormy meeting of the National Society for Promoting the Education of the Poor in the Principles of the Established Church, yesterday The meeting was held at Willis's Rooms, the Archbishop of Canterbury presiding. The report stated that on various occasions grants had been refused by the Committee of Council to schools promoted by the society, and complained of the obstacles thus thrown in the way of the dissemination of education on Church principles. After a rather warm discussion, a resolution was carried asserting that the fact of a school being founded exclusively for Church teaching was not by the terms of union excluded from union with the National Society. An inquest was held yesterday on the body of John Salmon, the driver of the train to which the accident happened at Streatham last week. No evidence was given, however, which tended to show the cause of the accident, and the inquest was adjourned for three weeks to give time for the full inquiry which will be made at Streatham as to the death of the other sufferers.
The Miner. — 1863-06-06 (London, England)

SHOCKING SUICIDE.—A pairiful sensation was created in Peterborough by the rumour that Mr. J. F. Wilson, silversmith, of Narrow-street, had blown out his brains. It appeared from the evidence adduced on the inquest that Mr. Wilson had for the last ten days been suffering from great depression of spirits, but that he did not op-i pear worse on Tuesday, when he smoked his pipe and drank a little ale as usual, but bad not too much. Mr. Wilson was formerly a hard drinker. The following evidence was taken at the inquest.—Sergt. Scotney : I was on duty last night in Bridge-street. At 10. minutes to 11 I was standing against Mr. Clark's shop in the Market-place. Mr. Thurston, Ironmonger, came to me and said, "Come here; you are wanted at Mr. Wilson's." I went with him, and followed him into Mrs. Wilson's bed-room, Mrs. Wilson said a gun had been shot off in the next room. I said to her, "Do you know who is in the room ? " She said, "Mr. Wilson." I then tried the door, and found it fastened. I called out several times, "Mr. Wilson open the door," and getting no reply I ran at the door and forced it open. I saw Mr. Wilson lying on the floor, and a gun at his side. A portion of his brains and skull were under the table close by. I drew back into the room where Mrs. Wilson, Mr. Thurston, and a police-constable were standing, and sent the constable to Dr. Walker's. There was a candle standing on the table burning. He was quite dead.—Dr. Walker: I knew the deceased. I was his medical attendant. He was always on the verge of delirium tremens: his ailments were dependent on his habits—l mean drinking habits.—Verdict, "Deceased destroyed himself by firing a gun into his mouth while in a state of mental derangement."  .T/IN SUICIDE OF Mn.
The Miner. — 1863-04-11 (London, England)

SHOCKING MURDER AND ATTEMPTED SUICIDE IN LEEDS. —A dreadful murder was committed in Leeds on Saturday morning, the murderer afterwards cutting his own throat. John Gair a pensioner, at 50 years of age, had been living with a woman of 30, named Alice, surname unknown. On Friday night he found Alice sitting on another man's knee, and a irarrel ensued between them. They were lodging in the house of a person named M'Manns, a hawker, living in Hope-street, Leylands, Leeds. They quarrelled until four o'clock on Saturday morning, and then went to bed in the room in which WManus and his wife and a little boy slept. At six o'clock Mrs M‘Manus heard a noise, as she says, something like a ginger-beer bottle exploding, and on looking to the couch occupied by the Gairs, she saw marks of blood:on the wall. She aroused her husband, and he jumped out of bed, and tried to get a razor from Gair. He succeeded, but his thumb was cut in the struggle. Alice was quite dead, her head being nearly severed from her body. Gair, who is so dreadfully wounded that his life is despaired of, now lies at the Leeds Infirmary. EmnezzLEmENT.—Charles Clarke, a respectable looking man, surrendered in discharge of his bail, to answer three indictments, charging him with embezzlement. Mr. Kydd conducted the prosecution; and Mr. F. ii. Lewis defended the prisoner. The case occupied the Court a considerable time, but the facts, though complicated, were simple. It appeared that the prisoner had, in 1854, been appointed one of the agents (of which there were 500) of the "Friend-in-Need Life Insurance and Sick Fund Friendly Society," and his duties were to canvass for members, and to collect their subscriptions and contributions to the society, for which he was to account to the trustees. The offence alleged against the prisoner was, the receipt and appropriation to himself of divers instalments he had been paid by members. Mr. F. H. Lewis took several technical objections to the form of the indictment, contending that he being an agent, as stated in the terms of his appointment, he was not a servant within the statute relating to embezzlement by servants. The Recorder overruled the objection, but intimated that he would take the opinion of the judges, when they arrived on Wednesday if necessary. The jury found the prisoner guilty, and sentence was deferred.
The Miner. — 1863-05-09 (London, England)

MURDERER.  On Wednesday afternoon, Mr. J. Humphreys held an inquiry at Hoare and Co's Tap-hots, Lower East Smithfield, respecting the death of a man aged about 30, who is supposed to have committed suicide. Richard Reilly, examining officer in the customs, said that last Monday evening he saw the deceased floating off the St. Katherine's Docks. Witness assisted in getting the body ashofe. It was that of a man about 30 or 32 years old. The hands were tied together with twine, apparently by himself, The face had not the black appearance then that it had now. The coat, trousers, and waistcoat matched. They were made of brown and grey crossed Tweed. The coat was a lounging coat; the trowsers had a Russel cord. A red. shirt, a white all-round collar, and a black silk tie completed the dress. A fusee-box, a leather belt, two pieces of comb, and a handkerchief, were found in the pockets. Deceased was about 5 feet 7 inches in height, rather stoutly built.—lnspector Henry Beckett, of the Thames police, said he was present when the body was found. He thought it had been from eight to twelve days in the water. Witness should say deceased had been a clerk, and not a labouring man nor a sailor. Ile had small whiskers and moustache. There was a tuft of hair on the chin.—The Coroner said he should take the deceased to be a foreigner from his appearance. The boots had kid tops, and they were certainly more slightly fashioned than was usual with English ones. The witness, however, said he was inclined to think deceased was an Englishman. The boots-were side-springs, and were slighter than usual; the front of each was slit up for about an inch. Mr. Perry, coroner's officer, said that several detectives had been down to see the boAy, and they had brought with them Margaret Carling, the servant who had opened the door of the brothel in George-street, Bloomsbury, for Emma Jackson and her murderer, on the morning of the 13th April, and also William Stokes and Charles Henley, who had caught a glimpse of the suspected person. The deceased's face, however, had unfortunately become like that of a black man; and they were unable to identify it. Although they had been subpcenaed they had gone away without giving evidence. The Coroner said that it was essential that they should be sworn and examined, and he should adjourn the court for that purpose ; meanwhile the body should not be buried, but be taken to the workhouse, so that after a minute description of it had gained publicity, anyone might have the opportunity of identifying it. The comb found in deceased's pocket was marked, " Fauvelle, a Paris, caoutchouc." It was about six inches long, and was broken in two. A large white cambric handkerchief was also in the pocket; one corner was torn off, evidently by design, and with the view of getting rid of a name or initials. The Coroner directed that it should be shown to the relatives of the murdered woman.
The Miner and Workman's Advocate. — 1865-05-27 (London, England)

EXTRAORDINARY SUICIDE THROUGH LOVE AND MAD. NESS.—On Saturday morning, an inquiry was held by Mr. W. J. Payne, deputy-coroner for the City and Southwark, London, respecting the suicide of Mr. Frederick Robert Townsend, aged twenty-eight years. Thos. Hayes 82 V., said that he was called in, and found that deceased had committed suicide by cutting his throat. He searched everywh9re, but could not find the implement used. In deceased'spocket was a small kniie, butit was quite clean. Witness found a bundle of letters, which he handed to the coroner.—The Coroner said that to spare the feelings of the young lady to whom they referred he would not read them extemo. The first was a copy of one which the dace tsed had written to her, in which he said, "The respect wirch I had for you prevented my making known to you the devotedlove I have had for you for the last five years. I love you, and shall ever be unhappy without you. Daring five years I have been your silent lover, but.the knowledge that I was not in a position to marry prevented my making proposals to you. It pains me to say that I love you, but the pain is rendered still greater when I think that my love may not be returned. He finally said that he was then in a position to make proposals, and that his life was short. The young lady replied,' "In consequence of the strangeness of your manner I feel that I c•tnnot return your affection. But I know that there are many young ladies that would fe 1 highly honoured by your attentions," and she concluded by saying that she returned him a book, and by expressing her opinion that her candour in giving the reasons for not accepting his attentions would appear to many persons to be unfeeling. She declined to give him an interflew as it would be futile. The deceased evidently addressed another letter to her, for there was a slip of ;paper on which was written, in a lady's hand, the words, "My decision in my last letter was final."—Ann 'Monday, servant to Mrs. Townsend, said that the de,oeased was a very quiet gentleman until lately. At one o'clock on the morning of the dEtv he destroyed himself he called out, "A. light: be quid-E." Witness found him shaking violently, and be complained of his head and his heart. Witness said to him, "What have you been thinking about, Mr. Townsend ?" and he answered, " I have been thinking that I am going mad." Mrs. Townsend said that deceased been in ill-health and under the cam of a doctor. He never took witness into his,confideuce about the young lady respecting whom his mind was disturbed.—The Coroner having summed up, the jury returned a verdict of " Suicide whilst in a state of unsound mind."