npedrazzini/19thc_murder_suicide_news huggingface dataset:
The Sun. — 1844-01-23 (London, England)

MELANCHOLY SUICIDE. An inquiry of a very painful character took place before Mr. C. J. Carttar, the Coroner for West Kent, on Saturday evening touching the New Farm, Beckenham, near Bromley, tci the death of Edward Cranfield, Esq., the proprietor of the farm and the adjoining estate, who destroyed himself by discharging a horse-pistol into his mouth, and literally blowing his upper which presented a dreadful of the head having been head to atoms. The jury having been sworn proly bhieleowwn the away . b° partay and nothing remaining of it cc spectacle,oeemd pe lde t et view but a portion of hair and skin hanging to the lower jaw. Witnesses were then examined, from whose evidence it appeared that the deceased had been poorly for some days, but on Thursday morning he appeared somewhat better. He had been to London on the Wednesday and brought thence with, him a large horse-pistol which he told his wife he had bought in Smithfield for the purpose of giving to a boy to frighten away the crows. On the Thursday morning after breakfast, a servant, upon going into the breakfast-room, saw the deceased standing before the looking glass with the pi3tol in one hand, and he at the time appeared to be picking his teeth with the thumb nail of the other hand. •gpon observing the servant looking at him he immediately quitted the room, and went to the water-closet, tend directly afterwards the report of a pistol was heard, and the unfortunate gentleman was found in the state above described. Mr. Flett, a surgeon at Bromley, was sent for, and he speedily attended, and from the examination made by him it appeared that the pistol had only been loaded with powder, but the charge was so heavy that it appears wonderful the pistol did not burst, as it was evidently loaded completely to the muzzle, and in the act of discharging it the right hand and arm of the deceased were very much scorched. Upon. these facts, and after evidence, as to the state of mind of the deceased had been adduced, the jury returned a verdict —That the deceased destr9yed himself while in a state of temporary mental derangement.
The Sun. — 1844-01-23 (London, England)

MELANCHOLY SUICIDE.  An inquiry of a very painful character took place before Mr. C. J. Carttar, the Coroner for West Kent, on Saturday evening at the New Farm, Beckenham, near Bromley, touching the death of Edward Cranfield, Esq., the proprietor of the farm and the adjoining estate, who destroyed himself by discharging a horse-pistol into his mouth, and literally blowing his head to atoms. The jury having been sworn proceeded to view the body, which presented a dreadful spectacle, the upper part of the head having been completely blown away and nothing remaining of it but a portion of hair and skin hanging to the lower jaw. Witnesses were then examined, from whose evidence it appeared that the deceased hid been poorly for some days, but on Thursday morning he appeared somewhat better. He had been to London on the Wednesday and brought thence with him a large horse-pistol which he told his wife he had bought in Smithfield for the purpose of giving to a boy to frighten away the crows. On the Thursday morning after breakfast, a servant, upon going into the breakfast-room, saw the deceased standing before the looking glass with the pistol in one hand, and he at the time appeared to be picking his teeth with the thumb nail of the other hand. Upon observing the servant looking at him he iinmedialely quitted the room, and went to the water-closet, and directly afterwards the report of a pistol was heard, and the unfortunate gentleman was found in the state above described. Mr. Flett, a surgeon at Bromley, was sent for, and he speedily attended, and from the examination made by him it appeared that the pistol had only been loaded with powder, but the charge was so heavy that it appears wonderful the pistol did not burst, as it was evidently loaded completely to the muzzle, and in the act of discharging it the right hand and arm of the deceased were very much scorched. Upon these facts, and after evidence, as to the state of mind of the deceased had been adduced, the jury returned a verdict —That the deceased destroyed himself while in a state of temporary mental derangement.
The Sun. — 1844-10-30 (London, England)

SUICIDE OF A LITERARY CHA RACTER.  NEWCASTLE-ON-TYNE, MONDAY NIGHT•  A melancholy suicide has just been discovered in this town. Mr. William Gill Thompson, a name well known as a poet, and the author of some excellent pieces in our periodical magazines, has just been found in the water-closet of the Literary and Philosophical Society, in our town, with his throat cut in several places, and evidently had been dead for some hours. Mr. Thompson was reporter for the Newcastle Chronicle, and had held the situation for 20 years or more, and on the occasion of Mr. Hutt being entertained at Gateshead the week before last, he was required to attend and report the proceedings. He attended, but after the dinner was over he repaired to a public-house and enjoyed himself, so that he was incapable next morning of copying his notes. That day and the following passed over without his preparing copy, and as the paper is published on the Friday morning, the proprietors were under the necessity of procuring a report of the proceedings elsewhere. Thompson was accordingly discharged. He subsequently applied to be reinstated, promising amendment, but his application was refused; and on the Monday following he left the office of his former employers, the Messrs. Hodgson, of this town, went to a public-house, known by the name of Hill's Kitchen, where he drank some beer; from thence he proceeded to the Literary and Philosophical Society, and, having taken out a book, went home with it ; returned again to the Society, and obtained the key of the water-closet from the librarian. Ile repaired thither, and with his pen-knife inflicted several deep wounds on his throat, which caused his death. Ile lay from Monday night, last week, till to-night, H hen he was discovered through his daughter having returued the book, and the librarian asked her for the key of the water-closet, saying her father had taken it away a week before. The child replied her father had been missing for a week, and then the suspicions of the librarian were excited, and search made, when the body of the deceased was found in the watercloset, dreadfully cut about the throat, and the blood flowing in all directions. A jury was immediately summoned, and after viewing the body the inquest was adjourned till the following day.
The Sun. — 1844-10-30 (London, England)

SUICIDE OF A LITERARY CHA,  RACTER.  NEWCASTLE-ON-TYNE, MONDAY NIGHT,  A melancholy suicide has just been discovered in this town. Mr. William Gill Thompson, a name well known as a poet, and the author of some excellent pieces in our periodical magazines, has just been found in the water-closet of the Literary and Philosophical Society, in our town, with his throat cut in several places, and evidently had been dead for some hours. Mr. Thompson was reporter for the Newcastle Chronicle, and had held the situation for 20 years or more, and on the occasion of Mr. Hutt being entertained at Gateshead the week before last, he was required to attend and report the proceedings. He attended, but after the dinner was over he repaired to a public-house and enjoyed himself, so that he was incapable next morning of copying his notes. That day and the following passed over without his preparing copy, and as the paper is published on the Friday morning, the proprietors were under the necessity of procuring a report of the proceedings elsewhere. Thompson was accordingly discharged. He subsequently applied to be reinstated, promising amendment, but his application was refused ; and on the Monday following he left the office of his former employers, the Messrs. Hodgson, of this town, went to a public-house, known by the name of Hill's Kitchen, where he drank some beer; from thence he proceeded to the Literary and Philosophical Society, and, having taken out a book, went home with it ; returned again to the Society, and obtained the key of the water-closet from the librarian. He repaired thither, and with his pen-knife inflicted several deep wounds on his throat, which caused his death. He lay from Monday night, last week, till to-night, when he was discovered through his daughter having returned the book, and the librarian asked her for the key of the water-closet, saying her father had taken it away a week before. The child replied her father had been missing for a week, and then the suspicions of the librarian were excited, and search made, when the body of the deceased was found in the watercloset, dreadfully cut about the throat, and the blood flowing in all directions. A jury was immediately summoned, and after viewin? the body the inquest was adjourned till the following day.
The Sun. — 1844-07-20 (London, England)

COURTS OF COMMON LAW.  On the motion of Mr. CRIPPS, the Courts of Com. mon Law Process Bill, and the Courts of Common Law (Ireland) Bill, went through Committee. The Parish Constables Bill was read a third time. CRIMINAL JUSTICE (IRELAND).  Mr. BRIGHT, seeing the Noble Lord the Secretary for Ireland in his place, wished to direct his attention to a case which had occurred at the recent assizes in Ireland. Two women had been lately found guilty of murder in the county of Roscommon, and were now left for execution on the 31st of this month. The crime was committed in the month of June, 1843, when, on the Coroner's inquest on the body, a verdict of suicide was returned. Since that time, a woman who slept, or said she slept in the same room where the murder had been committed, had given evidence which proved that the man was murdered and then carried out of the room, when his throat was cut, with the intention of making it appear that he had committed suicide. On the trial the jury deliberated twenty-two hours, and then found the two women guilty of wilful murder; one of them being the wife of the murdered man, and the other her sister. The jury recommended them to mercy; but he was informed that the judge refused to transmit that recommendation to Dublin. There was reason to believe that the chief witness in the case, was a woman of extremely bad character, and that her evidence was doubtful. Altogether it appeared that the whol4arty were in a very low state of civilization, for when the occurrence took place the murdered man and his wife slept in one bed, and the woman who gave the evidence was sleeping with her own father in another bed. The third woman, who was a servant, sleeping in an adjoining room to which there was no door. It appeared that all of them were of a class that rendered it necessary to receive their evidence with great caution. Under all circumstances, it seemed one of those cases worthy the attention of Government. If the man was murdered an inquiry ought to be made into the conduct of the coroner, as it was stated that he examined but one witness, and called no surgeon—the inquest being thus of a most unsatisfactory character. Lord ELIOT thought the object of the Hon. Gentleman would have been equally well attained, had he merely called his attention to the matter. He could not help thinking he had rather exceeded the limits allowed in asking questions. He must also observe that the coroner was not accountable to the Government ; at the same time, he could assure the Hon. Gentleman that the circumstances of the trial should have his best attention.
The Sun. — 1844-07-20 (London, England)

COURTS OF COMMON LAW. On the motion of Mr. CRIPPS, the Courts of Common Law Process Bill, and the Courts of Common Law (Ireland) Bill, went through Committee. The Parish Constables Bill was read a third time. CRIMINAL JUSTICE (IRELAND). Mr. BRIGHT, seeing the Noble Lord the Secretary for Ireland in his place, wished to direct his attention to a case which had occurred at the recent assizes in Ireland. Two women had been lately found guilty of murder in the county of Roscommon, and were now left for execution on the 31st of this month. The crime was committed in the month of June, 1843, when, on the Coroner's inquest on the body, a verdict of suicide was returned. Since that time, a woman who slept, or said she slept in the same room where the murder had been committed, had given evidence which proved that the man was murdered and then carried out of the room, when his throat was cut, with the intention of making it appear that he had committed suicide. On the trial the jury deliberated twenty-two hours, and then found the two women guilty of wilful murder; one of them being the wife of the murdered man, and the other her sister. The jury recommended them to mercy; but he was informed that the judge refused to transmit that recommendation to Dublin. There was reason to believe that the chief witness in the case, was a woman of extremely bad character, and that her evidence was doubtful. Altogether it appeared that the whole party were in a very low state of civilization, for when the occurrence took place the murdered man and his wife slept in one bed, and the woman who gave the evidence was sleeping with her own father in another bed. The third woman, who was a servant, sleeping in an adjoining room to which there was no door. It appeared that all of them were of a class that rendered it necessary to receive their evidence with great caution. Under all circumstances, it seemed one of those cases worthy the attention of Government. If the man was murdered an inquiry ought to be made into the conduct of the coroner, as it was stated that he examined but one witness, and called no surgeon—the inquest being thus of a most unsatisfactory character. Lord ELIOT thought the object of the Hon. Gentleman would have been equally well attained, had he merely called his attention to the matter. He could not help thinking he had rather exceeded the limits allowed in asking questions. He must also observe that the coroner was not accountable to the Government ; at the same time, he could assure the Hon. Gentleman that the circumstances of the trial should have his best attention.
The Sun. — 1844-07-20 (London, England)

COURTS OF COMMON LAW. On the motion of Mr. CRIPPS, the Courts of Common Law Process Bill, and the Courts of Common Law (Ireland) Bill, went through Committee. The Parish Constables Bill was read a third time. CRIMINAL JUSTICE (IRELAND). Mr. BRIGHT, seeing the Noble Lord the Secretary for Ireland in his place, wished to direct his attention to a case which had occurred at the recent assizes in Ireland. Two women had been lately found guilty of murder in the county of Roscommon, and were now left for execution on the 31st of this month. The crime was committed in the month of June, 1843, when, on the Coroner's inquest on the body, a verdict of suicide was returned. Since that time, a woman who slept, or said she slept in the same room where the murder had been committed, had given evidence which proved that the man was murdered and then carried out of the room, when his throat was cut, with the intention of making it appear that ho had committed suicide. On the trial the jury deliberated twenty-two hours, and then found the two women guilty of wilful murder; one of them being the wife of the murdered man, and the other her sister. The jury recommended them to mercy; but he was informed that the judge refused to transmit that recommendation to Dublin. There was reason to believe that the chief witness in the case, was a woman of extremely bad character, and that her evidence was doubtful. Altogether it appeared that the whole party were in a very low state of civilization, for when the occurrence took place the murdered man arid his wife slept in one bed, and the woman who gave the evidence was sleeping with her own father in another bed. The third woman, who was a servant, sleeping in an adjoining room to which there was no door. It appeared that all of them were of a class that rendered it necessary to receive their evidence with great caution. Under all circumstances, it seemed one of those cases worthy the attention of Government. If the man was murdered an inquiry ought to be made into the conduct of the coroner, as it was stated that he examined but one witness, and called no surgeon—the inquest being thus of a most unsatisfactory character. Lord ELIOT thought the object of the Hon. Gentleman would have been equally well attained, had he merely called his attention to the matter. He could not help thinking he had rather exceeded the limits allowed in asking questions. He must also observe that the coroner was not accountable to the Government ; at the same time, he could assure the Hon. Gentleman that the circumstances of the trial should have his best attention.
The Sun. — 1844-07-02 (London, England)

SUICIDE BY POISON.—On Saturday afternoon a most singular case of death, from wilfully taking poison, was discovered at the White Hart public-house, White-Hartstreet, Drury-lane. On Monday last a young man, dressed in a dark blouse or upper coat, and black trousers, applied to Mr. Vaughan, the landlord, for a chamber to be let to him, in which he might stay during part of the day, and sleep in at night. His desire was complied with, and for four nights he slept there, taking his meals with the family, going out very little during the day, but sitting in his room and re-• tiring to rest early, where he laid till eleven or twelve o'clock each day. On Friday be ate a hearty dinner and tea, and seemed quite cheerful when he retired to his room at night. No suspicions were excited the next day at his not coming down before twelve o'clock, but after that hour the landlord began to be fearful that something had happened to prevent him rising. He went up stairs, and on trying the door, found it locked inside, when, determined not to enter without some responsible authority, he proceeded to the station-house in Bow-street, it being then about three o'clock. Sergeant Montgomery, F 4, was dispatched to the spot, and on placing his nose to the key-hole, immediately became aware of the existence of a dead body, which was clearly proved on the door being burst in. The unfortunate man was lying quite naked on the bed, with his clothes on the floor, and his boots placed carefully underneath the bedstead, having evidently been dead many hours. Mr. Walker, surgeon, of Drury-lane, was fetched, but could render no assistance. nor could he give any opinion as to the cause of death, without a post mortein examination. A bottle was, however, found near him, with a label on it, which denoted opium, and being empty with the cork out,, there is no doubt ho took the draught. The most singular part of the story is, that he is totally unknown to Mr. Vaughan or his family, nor is there any clue by which he can be discovered. He had 15s. 6d. in his pockets, and three address cards, with •' Mr. Fea, 25, Wardour-street, Soho," on them, but they were evidently not his own. He had also on his person part of a proof of a newspaper, with corrections for the printer in the margin, the purport of it being the rejoicings at Court on the Queen's birthday. Further nothing is known. Information has been forwarded to the Coroner, who holds an inquest this day.
The Sun. — 1844-11-27 (London, England)

MARKET NEWS.-(THIS DAY  THE LATE DOUBLE SUICIDE AT MILE-END.  INQUEST ON THE BODIES.—(THIS DAY.) This forenoon, at half-past eleven o'clock, Mr. Baker' the Coroner for East Middlesex, commenced an inquiry at the Fox Tavern, Rupel-street, Mile-end, respecting the melancholy deaths of Charles William Duckett, aged 21, and. Elizabeth Williams, aged 27, who committed self-destruction on the night of Sunday last, in the arms of each other, from the effects of prussic acid. The jury having been duly sworn in, they proceeded to view the remains of the unfortunate couple, which laid in about the same state as when the shocking occurrence was discovered, both bodies being stretched on the end of the bed. That of the female was rather pleasingly attired, having on a black silk dress, dark rich shawl, her hair done up in ringlets, and otherwise neatly clad ; her bonnet was off, lying behind her head on the bed, as if it had fallen there at the moment of her taking the deadly draught. The body of the young man was also very well dressed, having on a black frock-coat, light waistcoat, with a black jatin stock, fastened by a pin, and a pair of dark trousers. Both countenances appeared quiteplacid. On the return of the jury the evidence was gone into.  The principal facts connected with the sad affair adduced before the Coroner, were almost the same as those that have already appeared in this journal. The deceased, Duckett, was, as has been before stated, most fervently attached to the young woman. On Sunday evening, at half-past five o'clock, he proceeded to her mother's residence, and took her out for the purpose of going to church. At this period it is almost certain that they had determined upon committing suicide, for they must have returned to his own home, and having entered unknown to his family, and secured themselves in his bed-room, took the deadly draught, and were discovered, as has already been described. Dr. Letheby, the surgeon at the London Hospital, proved that they had died from the eft'ects of the acid. As regard their state of mind, it appeared that the deceased for some time past had been out of employment, and been rather in a desponding state of mind, and thinking his prospects respecting his union with the deceased were blighted, it had affected him so much as to induce him, who no doubt persuaded the unfortunate girl, to commit self-destruction.  The letters spoken of in another part of this journal were read by the constable, and both from their execution and the extraordinary nature of the language, excited considerable interest.  The inquiry was proceeding when we went to press,
The Sun. — 1844-11-27 (London, England)

SUICIDE IN A STATION-HOUSE.—Yesterday afternoot Mr. Higgs held an inquest at the Chequers, Tuthill. street, Westminster, on the body of Sarah Ed.usalV. aged 34, who destroyed herself in the New-way stationE house of the B division, on the night of Saturday last. ! Abraham Wright, police-constable 99 B, deposed that about a quarter before eleven o'clock on the night of Sal turday last he took her to the station-house, and charged her with being drunk and disorderly. She was locked up, as she had been before hundreds of times; To the best of his belief deceased had been drunk for the last seven weeks, and she told him herself that she had not been in bed for three weeks. She occasionally worked at the Nag's Ileid, and during the interval of the house being closed and the opening in the morning she wouldke goa and sit on the pavementim the Almonry and smo pipe. William Glimpson, police-constable 163 B, stated that he locked the deceased up in the cell of the station-hou:e shortly before eleven o'clock. On visiting her at a quarter before twelve he found her hanging by her apron from the top of the door which leads from the cell into the yard. He cut her down instantly, and she was at once conveyed to Westminster Hospital, where bleeding was attempted, but without effect,as she was quite dead, Verdict—The deceased hung herself whilst in a state of intoxication.  That a memorial to the above effect be prepared for signa. ture, and that the Members for the Western Division of this County, and the Members of the Borough, be requested to accompany a deputation, far the purpose of presenting it to her Majesty's Board of Trade; and that they be a'so requested to give, in Parliament, to " the London and Norwich Direct Railway," their strenuous and undivided support.  On the motion of F. K. EAGLE, Esq., seconded by Captain