npedrazzini/19thc_murder_suicide_news huggingface dataset:
The Sun. — 1868-06-26 (London, England)

OOO. The defendant knew that he was deeply embarrassed, and accepted some bills for him. Either in the spring or summer of that year he gave the witness the general authority, as he alleged, during an interview in his garden. The defendant had previously stated that he would go security for £3,000, and when he gave the authority witness understood that it was limited to £3,000 ; but no amount was mentioned. A number of letters were put into the witness's hands, and among them one with the date written upon it, 15th of August, 1865. He swore that the " 15th of August" was in his handwriting, but warmly insisted that the " 1863 " had been put to it since the last trial, and he protested against being held responsible for the figures. When writing the defendant's name on bills the witness imitated his handwriting as closely as possible. He wrote one of the two bills now sued on in Charles Bagot's presence. He simulated the defendant's handwriting. If the words " per pro " were on the Lills that would have given notice to the world. Before he went to London he wrote to a ftiendlo take lodgings for him for a mouth. During the bedroom scene between Mrs. Hinds and her son, in which she insisted that he should disown the bills, the witnes.q listened at the dobr, and looked through the keyhole. Ile afterwards made a memorandum of the transaction, and showed it to the defendant and others. Ile did not say at the last trial that he had made memoranda. Ile was not asked the question then. He had written Hinds's name for about £1,600 on bills, and the defendant's name up to £2,578 before he went away. Ia February, 1866, he had a pistol, which he had purchased two years before, and said he felt inclined to commit suicide in consequence of an offensive letter which he had received from Charles Bagot about money. One of the bills he had put Hinds's name on (Granly's) was coming due on the Saturday before he left the country. He note the name " Henry Hinds" on that bill, but the words " New Grove, Granard," were not in his handwriting, and were not on it when he passed it to Harris. He wrote the name of James Blake, his nephew, on bills for £
The Sun. — 1868-05-22 (London, England)

SUICIDE OF BARNES, THE PANTALOON.—An inquest has been held at the Salutation Tavern, Barton. street, Westminster, respecting the death of William Augustus Barnes, the well-known pantaloon. The first witness was Ann Grant, a cousin of deceased, who had been his housekeeper for about seventeen years. He resided in North-street, Smith-square, and he and his housekeeper were like brother and sister. "By profession, theatrically, he was a pantaloon, but otherwise was a pho• tographic artist." Since the stoppage of the pantomime, " Faw Fee Fo Earn ; or Harlequin Jack the Giant. Killer," at Drury--lane, in which piece he was pantaloon: the deceased lied been in rather low spirits. The season for pantomime was past, and his business as a photographic artist was not remunerative. On Sunday morning last lie sat down to breakfast with his housekeeper, but c.,mplained that he had a pain at his heart, and was so ill that he could not eat. He shortly afterwards left the breakfast-room for the purpose of preparing his camera and his chemicals for use, as six gentlemen ',yore about to wait upon him and have their portraits taken. In a short time lie called to his housekeeper, " I want to speak to Yon particularly ; come down directly." She descended, and found him sitting in his easy chair. Re seemed excited. lie took hold of her hand, and shaking it said, " God Almighty bless you. Good bye.' She saw that something was wrung, and ran out fur assistance. In ten minutes lie was dead. Other \sit. flosses were examined. One of them, David Gammon, had been a friend of deceased's for about twenty years, lie saw him nearly every day, and found him as a rule a jocular man. On Saturday night last the deceased kissed Gammon's little boy, of whom he was very fond, and said, " If I die before to-morrow morning, you must pray for me." The medical evidence shewed that he had taken a quantity of cyanide of potassium. A verdict was returned to the effect that he had committed suicide whilst in all unsound §tp.,te of IWO!
The Sun. — 1868-05-22 (London, England)

SUICIDE OF BARNES, THE PANTALOON.—AII inquest has been held at the Salutation Tavern, Barton. street, Westminster, respecting the death of William Augustus Barnes, the well-known pantaloon. The first witness was Ann Grant, a cousin of deceased, who haO been his housekeeper for about seventeen years. He resided in North-street, Smith-square, and he and his house. keeper were like brother and sister. "By profession, theatrically, he was a pantaloon, but otherwise was a photographic artist." Since the stoppage of the pantomime, "Faw Fee Fo Fum ; or Harlequin Jack the GiantKiller," at Drury-lane, in which piece he was pantaloon; the deceased had been in rather low spirits. The season for pantomime was past, and his business as a photographic artist was not remunerative. On Sunday morning last he sat down to breakfast with his housekeeper, but c-implained that he had a pain at his heart, and was so ill that he could not eat. He shortly afterwards left the breakfast-room, for the purpose of preparing his camera and his chemicals for use, as six gentlemen were about to wait upon him and have their portraits taken. In a short time he called to his housekeeper, " I want to speak to you particularly ; come down directly." She descended, and found him sitting in his easy chair. fie seemed excited. Ire took hold of her hand, and shaking it said, " God Almighty bless you. Good bye.' She saw that something was wrong, and ran out for af;sistance. In ten minutes he was dead. Other nitnesses were examined. One of them, David Gammon, bad been a friend of deceased's for about twenty years. lie saw him nearly every day, and found him as a rule a jocular man. On Saturday night last the deceased kissed Gammon's little boy, of whom he was very fond, and said, " If I die before to-morrow morning, you must pray for me." The medical evidence sheaved that be had taken a quantity of cyanide of potassium. A verdict was returned to the effect that he had committedo}44? !kip in au unsound state of mind. •
The Sun. — 1868-10-09 (London, England)

SHOCKING DEATH.  The obituary announcements in several newspapers record the death " from the effects of an accident" of Mr. Walford Greatorex, a gentleman aged only 40 years, and one of the partners with his aged father, Mr. Jeremiah Greatorex, in the well-known Manchester warehouse firm of Bradbury, Greatorex, and Beale, ofAldermanbury. The circumstances of this gentleman's death, as detailed at a coroner's inquest held before Dr. Diplock, coroner for West Middlesex, ace very painful. Mr. Walford Greatorex was a married man without children. A few weeks since he left London for Scotland on a tour of relaxation, and while in the Highlands symptoms of an affection of the brain were observed by his friends, and under medical advice he was sent back to London. On reaching his home no improve. ment was perceptible, and it became necessary to place the unfortunate gentlemen under medical care in a private asylum at Sudbury, near Harrow. This was only a few days since, and on Friday last his father, who resides in Cleveland-square, and has attained the great age of 85 years, sent one of his man-servants down to Sudbury to inquire after his son's health. While the servant was engaged in listening to the attendant's report of his patient's condition, Mr. Walford Greatorex contrived to leave the house through the garden unobserved, and without either coat or hat he immediately ran off across the fields in the direction of the London and NorthWestern Railway. His absence was immediately discovered, and chase was made after the unfortunate gentleman, who ran with great swiftness, and actually swam across the Grand Junction Canal in his efforts to escape capture. On reaching the railway he went on to the metals, and there stood with his arms upraised as if signalling the driver of an approaching train (the Bletchley ballast-train). Being accustomed to receive instructions from platelayers occasionally,"and believing, from his appearance at a distance, that Mr. Greatorex was a man of this class who wished to communicate something to him, the driver, without stopping the train, leant over his footplate and was in the act of listening for what he supposed would be instructions, when he observed the unfortunate man disappear under the leading wheels of the engine, by which his body was literally cut to pieces. The parties in search came up directly afterwards, and the circumstances of the calamity were at once apparent. The jury, on a review of the above facts, returned a verdict of "Suicide while in a state of temporary insanity."
The Sun. — 1868-10-09 (London, England)

SHOCKING DEATH.  The obituary announcements in several newspapers record the death " from the effects of an accident" of Mr. Walford Greatorex, a gentleman aged only 40 years, and. one of the partners with his aged father, Mr. Jeremiah Greatorex, in the well-known Manchester warehouse firm of Bradbury, Greatorex, and Beale, of Aldermanbury. The circumstances of this gentleman's death, as detailed at a coroner's inquest held before Dr. Diplock, coroner for West Middlesex, are very painful. Mr. Walford Greatorex was a married man without children. A few weeks since he left London for Scotland on a tour of relaxation, and while in the Highlands symptoms of an affection of the brain were observed by his friends, and under medical advice he was sent back to London. On reaching his home no improvement was perceptible, and it became necessary to place the unfortunate gentlemen under medical care in a private asylum at Sudbury, near Harrow. This was only a few days since, and on Friday last his father, who resides in Cleveland-square, and has attained the great age of 85 years, sent one of his man-servants down to Sudbury to inquire after his sou's health. While the servant was engaged in listening to the attendant's report of his patient's condition,-Mr: Walford iareatorex contrived to leave the house through the garden unobserved, and without either coat or hat he immediately ran'off across the fields in the direction of the London and NorthWestern Railway. His absence was immediately dia. covered, and chase was made after the unfortunate gentleman, who ran with great swiftness, and actually swam across the Grand Junction Canal in his efforts to escape capture. On reaching the railway he went on to the metals, and there stood with his arms upraised as if signal. ling the driver of an approaching train (the Bletchley ballast-train). Being accustomed to receive instructions from platelayers occasionally;and believing, from his appear. ance at a distance, that Mr. Greatorex was a man of this class who wished to communicate something to him, the driver,without stopping the train, leant over his footplate and was in the act of listening for what he supposed would be instructions, when he observed the unfortunate man dia. appear under the leading wheels of the engine, by which his body was literally cut to pieces. The parties in search came up directly afterwards, and the circumstances of the calamity were at once apparent. The jury, on a review of the above facts, returned a verdict of "Suicide while in a state of temporary insanity."
The Sun. — 1868-07-29 (London, England)

MURDER OF TW 0 CHILDREN.  A murder of two children and attempted suicide is reported from Rochdale. A man named Israel Whiteoak, residing with his wife and two children upon the Calf Hole Farm, Burnedge, near Rochdale, on Tuesday morning, in what is supposed to be a fit of insanity, cut the throats of the two children, a boy aged 8 years and a girl aged 3, and then attempted suicide by cutting his own throat. The wife of the unhappy man gives the following account of the occurrence :—" Twelve months ago my husband suffered very much from rheumatism, and I remember that he told me then that he had a good mind to commit suicide, but he did not know how I could get on with the children. I did not pay much attention to the remarks then, because I knew that he was suffering from great pain. Ho has not been troubled since with rheumatism. On 11Ion4y morning I was ill and vomited blood, which seemed to make him very uneasy, and he offered to stop at home from his work, but I would not let him. He told me that I must go and see a doctor on Tuesday. At night he returned from his work, and seemed very well, and there was nothing strange in his conduct. He eat a very good supper, and we retired to rest about eleven o'clock. About four o'clock in the morning I was awoke by hearing my youngest child cry, and I saw my husband kneeling on the children's bed, looking wild, and the youngest child, as it appeared to me, bleeding from the mouth. I then got up, took the child, and saw that it and its brothers' throats were cut. I said to him, ' What have you done ?' He made no reply. I ran down stairs with my youngest child, which was not quite dead, and my boy followed after me ; but I saw his father seize him at the top of the stairs, and again cut his throat with a razor. I put the child on the couch, and as I was unlocking the door my husband was coming down the stairs. I rushed out and gave the alarm to the neigh. bours." Both the children are dead, but the father is still living, though in a very dangerous state.
The Sun. — 1868-07-29 (London, England)

MURDER OF TWO. CHILDREN.  A murder of two children and attempted suicide is reported from Rochdale. A man named Israel Whiteoak, residing with his wife and two children upon the Calf Hole Farm, Burnedge, near Rochdale, on Tuesday morning, in what is supposed to be a fit of insanity, cut the throats of the two children, a boy aged 8 years and a girl aged 3, and then attempted suicide by cutting his own throat. The wife of the unhappy man gives the following account of the occurrence :—" Twelve months ago my husband suffered very much from rheumatism, and I remember that he told me then that he had a good mind to commit suicide, but he did not know how I could get on with the children. I did not pay much attention to the remarks then, because I knew that he was suffering from great pain. He has not been troubled since with rheumatism. On Monday morning I was ill and vomited blood, which seemed to make him very uneasy, and he offered to stop at home from his work, but.l would not let him. He told me that I must go and see a doctor, on Tuesday. At night he returned from his work, and seemed very well, and there was nothing strange in his conduct. He eat a very good supper, and we retired to rest about eleven o'clock. About four o'clock in the morning I was awoke by bearing my youngest child cry, and I saw my husband kneeling on  the children's bed, looking wild, and the youngest child, as it appeared to me, bleeding from the mouth. I then got up, took the child, and saw that it and its brothers' throats were cut. I said to Lim, ' What have you done?' He made no reply. I ran down stairs with my youngest child, which was not quite dead, and my boy followed after me ; but I saw his father seize him at the top of the stairs, and again cut his throat with a razor. I put the child on the couch, and as I was unlocking the door my husband was coming down the stairs. I rushed out and gave the alarm to the neigh, hours." Both the children are dead, but the father is still living, though in a very dangerous state.
The Sun. — 1868-10-29 (London, England)

BIGAMY.—A charge of bigamy, which was stated by Mr. Besley, the counsel for the prosecution, to be " one of the most romantic and astounding cases of that kind ever inquired into," has come before the police magistrate at Marlborough-street. The accused, a fashionablydressed lady, with some pretensions to personal beauty, is said to have married Major W. B. Lumley, and lived with •him as his wife for many years, during which time she had a former husband still living. The case of the prosecution is that Eliza Wright Haines, the daughter of a naval officer at Portsmouth, was married at St. Helier's to aFrench teacher of languages, Alexander Victor, of Versailles, in 1836. In 1842 they were living at Bristol, Mrs. Victor being in partnership with a schoolmistress there, and Mr. Victor teaching French in the school. In that year they were separated, and the lady resumed her maiden name. Victor was spoken to as being alive in 1848, but in 1847 she was married to Major Lumley as " Elizabeth Haines, spinster," and lived with him until 1864, when a separation took place. The present proceedings are instituted by Major Lumley. What renders the case additionally painful is, that the major has believed the lady to be his wife for over twenty years, and has only just discovered what he considers the proofs to the contrary. The details of the case are most romantic, and it is likely to excite great interest and to occupy a considerable time.  CHARGE OF MIIRDER,—A coroner's jury have returned a verdict of wilful murder against Mr. John Powell, King's-road, Chelsea, for procuring abortion in the case of Louisa Thomas, a married woman, living apart from her husband, and causing her death. From the following note, addressed to a friend, and produced in court, it is supposed Powell has committed suicide : " Dear Turner, she was in the family way, but not by me. She begged me to procure abortion, and I have tried to do so, when she suddenly fell down, and shortly afterwards, in spite of all my efforts, died. May God have mercy on my sinful soul. I loved her dearly. I shall be far from pursuit ere you get this. I cannot live, and shall take poison. You will hear of me in a day or two. Go to No. 3, Wellington-square, and say that Mrs. Thomas is dead in my consulting-room. I cannot bear to be hung. You know all the story. May God bless you for your friendship to me. Try and make the best of my dreadful story, but tell the truth to her family. I enclose her carte. Her hair I shall keep with me to the last. This locket she gave me. lam afraid to remain longer.—Your poor friend, PowELL.—I should like you to have, the picture, and tell her mother I loved and would have made her my wife if I could. Break it gently to my poor old mother. Can you run down to her ? I enclose £5 for your exuenses."  AN
The Sun. — 1868-08-17 (London, England)

THAMES.  TILE FREQUENCY OF SUICIDES AT THE LONDON DOM—Mary Ann Harris, a young woman, was brought before Mr. Paget charged with making an attempt to drown 11,?.rself in the waters of the London Dock, in Red Gravel-lane. A lighterman saw the prisoner get upon the railings of the. swivel bridge in Red Gravel-lane, Ratcliff Highway, and she was, about to plunge into the water when the lighternaan and others pulled her down and saved her.  The prisoner, in her defence. said that she was tipsy, and was very sorry for what she had done.  Mr. Paget said that there were a great many of those cases. Poor, wretched, drunken women had been continually brought before him and his colleague for making attempts at self-destruction. Many had been taken out of the water and saved. He asked the height of the railings. Mr. Livingston, the chief usher, replied four feet, and that they were upright rails.  Mr. Paget could not help thinking that the rails might be made much higher, and these attempts frustrated.  Mr. Livingston, the chief usher, said that there were bridges of a similar description, which were used as thoroughfares by the public over the locks at Foxe's-lane, New Gravel-lane, and Old Gravellane, and they were opened when required for the admission of ships paising in and out of the docks. At all those places there had been many attempts, and some of them had terminated fatally. There was another bridge lately constructed and opened and shut by hydraulic power, and the railings were of sufficient height to prevent any of those attempts. The Lighterman—That is a latticework bridge, and is moved backwards and forwards, and not swung like the others. The dock company employ men with boats to save life, and there are drags in constant readiness all over the docks and quays. Mr. Paget said the increase in the height of the railings would be much better, and prevent these frequent attempts. He should like to see a person in authority connected with the thck. He remanded the prisoner for a week.  Catherine White, who had been under remand for a week in the Clerkenwell House of Detention, and who made a similar attempt at the same place, was brought up, and Mr. Paget, having received a favourable report concerning her front the chaphat of the prison, dwcharged her,
The Sun. — 1868-08-17 (London, England)

THE FREQUENCY OF SUICIDES AT TIIE LONDON DOCK.—Mary An a young woman, was brought before Air. Paget charged with making an attempt to drown herself in the waters of the London Dock, in Red Gravel-lane. A lighterman saw the prisoner get upon the railings of the swivel bridge in Red Gravel-lane, Ratcliff Highway, and she was about to plunge into the water when the lighterman and others pulled her down and saved her.  The prisoner, in her defence, said that she was ,ipsy, and was very sorry for what she had done.  Mr. Paget said that there were a great many of those cases. Poor, wretched, drunken women had been continually brought before him and his colleague for making attempts at self-destruction. Many had Leen taken out of the water and saved. He asked the height of the railings. Mr. Livingston, the chief usher, replied four feet, and that they were upright rails.  Mr. Paget could not help thinking that the rails might be made much higher, and these attempts frustrated.  Mr. Livingston, the chief usher, said that there were bridges of a similar description, which were used as thoroughfares by the public over the locks at Foxe's-lane, New Gravel-lane, and Old Gravellane, and they were opened when required for the admission of ships passing in and out of the docks. At all those places there had been many attempts, and some of them had terminated fatally. There was another bridge lately constructed and opened and shut by hydraulic power, and the railings were of sufficient height to prevent any of those attempts. The Lighterman--That is a lattice work bridge, and is moved backwards and forwards, and not swung like the others. The dock company employ men with boats to save life, and there are drags in constant readiness all over the docks and quays. Mr. Paget said the increase in the height of the railings would be much better, and prevent these frequent attempts. lie should like to see a person in authority connected with the d)ck. He remanded the prisoner for a week. Catherine White, who had been under remand for a week in the Clerkenwell House of Detention, and who made a similar attempt at the same place, was brought up, and Mr. Paget, having received a favourable report concerning her from the chaplain of the prison, dischargeeher.