npedrazzini/19thc_murder_suicide_news huggingface dataset:
The Warwickshire Herald. — 1893-04-20 (Birmingham, West Midlands, England)

WIFE MURDER AND SUICIDE IN PARIS.  The murder by a M. Lucas, a professor of the Rollin Lyceum, of his young wife, followed by his auicide, creates great excitement in Paris, says a correspondent in that city. She was only 18, and the daughter of an officer's widow who kept a tobacco shop in the Avenue Trudaine, where, in buying cigars, he fell in love with her. She was pretty and winsome, but had no fortune. The marriage, owing to his j ialous temper and also to inebriety, did not promise happily, and the honeymoon was not over when the husband began to beat his wife. On Monday morning, at 10 o'clock, lic came home from the Lyceum two hours before lie was expected, and met on the landing Madame Lucas, with a basket on her arm, going to market. The concierge heard high words, and then a scuffle and the slamming of a door, followed by more scuffling and cries of "Help" from a fifth•floor balcony. Running out to see what was the matter, the concierge saw Madame Lucas, with a gash in hex throat, hanging on to the top rail of the balcony, and Lucas trying to push her over. She held on with one hand, and had the other fastened in hex husband's cravat. A rush was made by some of the spectators upstairs to help her, but ere they could climb the five flights Lucas had completed his murderous work, and, tearing her hands from the iron railing, lifted her bodily over it and cast her into the street below. A crowd of spectators quickly gathered at the spot and witnessed a horrible sight. Lucas looked down from the balcony as if hesitating. He then stepped over the railing and hung on to it with his hands for a few moments, looking down as if to gauge the depth. He then let go and struck the balcony of the first floor and the sun-blind of the shop below, and, coming down head first, dashed out his brains on the pavement. Death in his C 269 was instantaneous, but his wife was conveyed in a dying condition to the Lariboisiere Hospital, where she expired during the afternoon, It appears that Lucas was an absinthe drinker and that he carefully concealed the fact from his parents during the time he was engaged to her.  BUSINESS 'MEN Of sedentary habits should use, and Doctors should  _ recommend, THE "IDEAL" CATHARTIC,  which may be freely given. to children, married  women and the aged. A
The Warwickshire Herald. — 1893-10-26 (Birmingham, West Midlands, England)

TRAGEDY IN CARDIFF.  On Tuesday morning an innkeeper named David Jones, who kept the Blue Anchor Inn, Cardiff, murdered his wife and afterwards committed suicide. The domestic servant, a young woman named Bessie Haagen, awoke about 8 o'clock. Thinking it strange that her mistressluid not called her as usual, she went to the door leading to the bedroom, and knocked. Failing to get an answer, she informed the barman,William Quick, wbo broke open the bedroom door and entered. A ghastly scene then preeented itself. Stretched on the floor was Mr. Jones, the landlord. A double•bairelled gun was by his side, and in the region of his heart was a terrible wound,from which blood bed flowed. Lying on the bed, which wak.fin fire, was his wife, also shot through the Milt Quick gave an alarm, and Superintendent Taroblyn. together with several detectives and constables, were soon on the spot,and Dr. Illoebeosseistant police surgeon, was sent for. After a cursory examination he pronounced 'life to be extinct in both cases. The bodies were yet warm, and death, it is supposed. had not taken place more than two or three hours before. Mr. Jones had, it seems, been suffering from erysipelas in the left eye, which was quite black, and bad been attended by Dr. Tachell. H.. was extremely irritable, and for the last threo months had rendered the life of his wife almost intolerable. Only the previous day the doctor told him that he ought to be confined. In the opinion of Dr. Roche the disease had affected the brain of the unfoitunate man and rendered him temporarily insane.  In the course of an interesting article in the November number of the Youny Man Mr. Hall Caine repeats a good story of Wilkie Collins's. Whilst the novelist was once staying with his mother, a lady-visitor cams. This lady said to Collins: "You seem to have made a great success with your villain in The Woman in white.' I have read the book, I have studied this villain; but he is not half a villain; you don't know a real villain—you have imagined this villain. / A• 019 • villain, and the next time you want to do a villain, come to me. lam very close to one; I have got one constaLtly In my eye—in fact,it is ay own husband!" Wilkie Collins often told this story, but withheld the name et the lady. It was the wit' cf Butwer Lytton.  An eitraordinary suicide has Leen investigated by the Birmingham Coroner. Oswald Barber Adams, aged 40, manager of a large provision store, after IniEerieg for several days in tie old cemerery, where he said he had relatives buried,went secretl3. into the basement of the cemensry chapel and poisoned himself with carbolic acid. Nearly £4O was found in his pocket when the body was discovered. The evidence *hewed that the deceaseu had lately been giving way to drink, and had been strange in his manner. A verdict of suicide whilst insane was returned.
The Warwickshire Herald. — 1893-08-24 (Birmingham, West Midlands, England)

DOT:CERN' WAGES.  From the reports to the Royal Commission on Labour, which have now been published, it does not appear that the condition of toe agricultural labourer is so unsatisfactory as many feared it might be. Indeed, there is a kind uf relief in lind• ing the evidence so favourable. It has not beers pl3arant to hear of wages i 3 some districts being only 10s. per week. We now know that this sum does not by any means represent the full average of the weekly earnings. 'fake Dorchester, in Dorset, where w .ekly wages are 103., and it is reported that 14s. represents the average of the weekly earnings throughout the year; or Pewsey, in Wilts, where 10s. per week is extended to an average of 12s. 6d. to 16s. It is a rule which farmers have always asserted, but which the public have not always believe I, that where the weekly wages are the lowest the perquisite. are the highest, so that in the end the difference between the high wage and the low wage district is but small. This has been proved correct by the Sub-Commissioners' reports; and there is the further circumstance brought out that where the wages are the lowest the cottage rents are also the cheapest, so that scarcely any differeuce remains.  A terribly sudden death occurred on Sunday at Bournemouth. While a lady was hurrying to catch a 'bus, she staggered and fell dead. Heart disease w s the cause of her death.  Bid times still exist on the Stock Exchange. One of the larg st and moat wealthy firms in Capel-court huleed so disgusted with the position of affairs that its partners are seriously contemplating a retirement altogether from business.  Allhrt Serdoe, a bill-poster employed by the ady.,:isernent department at Captain Boyton's Water Show, very early on Saturday morning undressed and plunged into the lake there with some more employes. He gut out of his depth, and, being unable to swim, was drowned. A subscription has been started at Captain Hoyton's show on behalf of the family of the deceased.  The Canard steamer Umbria, which arrived at Qu-enstown on Friday night from New York, brings intelligence that the large three masted schooner Helen Blom, while engaged in the sealing trade, has been lost with all hands, numbering 25 men. The vessel, while in company with another sealing sch otter, the Alexander, was struck by a furious snowstorm when off the Zerninvski Group, and foundered with all on boa  Henry Atkins, a convict at Parkhurst Prison, Isle )f Wight, his committed suicide by hanging himielf by his braces from the bars of his cell window. William Stewart, merchant. Bennington, Lt', an been committed for trial at Leith charged wirii :suiting a vessel to be sunk off Caithness, w,U: ,utent ro defraud insurance companies. During the progress of some works at Vyruwy , runnel, Llanforda, near o.3w.mtry, in connection ! with the Liverpool waterworks, on Saturdal, Thomas Mitchell, of Oswestry, deputy foreman, was accidentally drowned. Deceased, who was 54 years of age, leaves a wife and 10 children.
The Warwickshire Herald. — 1893-09-14 (Birmingham, West Midlands, England)

THE EARLIIIST CASE 01 SCICIDE.  The suicide of Nitocris, Queen of Egypt, recorded by Herodotus, is generally supposed to be the earliest recorded case of suicide. She succeeded her brother, who had been assassinated by conspirators. The punishment she devised for the murderers was unique. She invited them to a banquet, and, while they were feasting, she let in upon them the waters of the Nile, and drowned the whole gang. Knowire, that the friends of the assassins would avenge their execution by her own murder, she anticipated them by committing suicide. The mode of her death was as peculiar as her vengeance. She smothered herself in a chamber filled with ashes. The exact date of this event cannot be fixed with certainty. Queen Nitocris belonged to the sixth of the 26 dynasties that reigned over Egypt up to the conquest by the Persians in the year 527 B.C. Abraham sojourned in Egypt not earlier than the 11th dynasty and perhaps as late as the 18111. The suicide of Nitocris must, therefore, have preceded the time of Abraham by a considerable interval: and since that patriarch cliEd about the year 1,800 it.(., it would hardly be rash to inter that the earliest recorded suicide to.k place between 4,000 and 5,000 years ago.—Pearson  01: ENLARGING DRAWINGS DS SQL7AItE, A favourite mfthod of enlarging or reducing plans, 6c., and one which is veiy useful where great accuracy is not required, is by means of squares in the following manner: Suppose it is desired to reduce to one-half its size a portion of a map. The original drawing is to be covered with a series of squares drawn lightly in lead penci4. Another series of squares, half the size of those on the original drawing, must now be constructed on the clean sheet of paper prepared for the new drawing, and the details can then be drawn square after square by observing wh...re the irious features of the map occur in each sq.l ,rc of the original. For the purposes of reference, i.. :3 necessary to number or letter both sets of squares in the same order. The course of the various lines may be traced through the squares of the original plan and drawn in the same positions in the reduced squares until the whole of the plan has been thus reproduced. For large cartoons „, aT-1 wall plans. which are nct tended to be use.: scaling measurements from, this is an excellent .. ethod of quickly producing an enlarged plan. When the original is ton valuable to permit of the squares being drawn on it in pencil a series of black threads may be stretched across, fastened to pins outsid.l the border of the plan, or the squares may be drawn on a sheet of traeing-paper,which can be placed over the original drawing.—Wirk.
The Warwickshire Herald. — 1893-02-09 (Birmingham, West Midlands, England)

THE RELIEF RETURNS.  The following was the relief return for the week ending February 4 :—Arneant of out-door relief, £5O 15s. 9/4., corresponding week last year. £57 17e. d. ; numbor of out•door poor relieved 1,053, corresponding week last year 1187; paupers admitted into the Workhour.e 29, born in Workhouse 0, discharged from Workhouse 40, died is Workhouse 4; remaining in Workhouse 1,204, corresconding week kat year 1,126; children in Workhouse Schools 199 (boys 98 girls 101), corresponding week last year 191 (boys 105, girls 86); children boarded out 105 (boys 54, girls 51), corresponding week last year 105 (boys 54, girls 51); vagrants relieved in workhouse 103 (men 85, women 12, children 6), corresponding week last year 94 (men 85, women 8, children 1); vagrants relieved out of the workhouse 0, corresponding week last year 27; lunatics in asylum 363, corresponding week last year 351 ; children in certified schools 55 (boys 30, girls 25) ; corresponding week last year 51 (boys 32, girls 19).  SINGULAR DEATH OF AN ASTON MANE  --An inquest was held on Saturday, by Mr g._ Docker (coroner for East Worcestershire at the Swan Inn. Wythall, touching the death of Wm. Reeves (64), of 121, Queen's-road, Aston, who had been miemin4 from his home for a fortnight. It was stated that for some yens; past deceased had been in ill.bealth. His eyesight was very bad, and unless he wore a shade over hie eyes he could see a great many objects instead of vise. Deceased left his home on January 22rd, at about 3.30 in the afternoon, and was never seen alive again. Mr J. Smith. brickinaker, Wythall, stated that on February 1 he found the body of the deceased lying in a disused pit at the brickyard where he worked. The pit is mostly covered with grass ' and rushes. The face of the deceased was not under water, Viere being only about 12 inches in the pit; but the right foot of the deceased was entangled in a blackberry briar, Mr C. J. B. Johnson, eurgoon, of Kings Heath, stated that he had made a post-mortem examination of the body. Death was due to exhaustion and drowning. He should not think that deceased had been totally immersed, but in trying to extricate his leg from the bramble, had gulped down a (pautity of water. There was a loz•mge in his mouth. The Coroner remarked that a man meditating suicide would not put a lozange its° his mouth just before nor would he have kept his face above tile water. The jury returned a verdict of "Accidental death," on the ground that deceased had walked into the pit through the failure of his eyesight.  ST.
The Warwickshire Herald. — 1893-08-03 (Birmingham, West Midlands, England)

PIANO HIRING.  One of the applicants to Mr. Lane at the North London police-court on Monday was a pianoforte dealer, who asked for &summons against a man who had hired a piano from him, but had gone away with it, leaving many instalments unpaid.—Mr. Lane: Do you know where the man is 7—The Applicant Yes.— Mr. Lane: What is there to prevent, him removing the piano from one house to another? The applicant: The agreement says he may not do so without notice. But, I understand, he has not get it. Mr. Lane: What has become of it? The applicant It was distrained upon. Mr. Lane: If that is so nobody has commited any offence. The landlord was justified in seizing what was upon the premises, and your client couLl not resist the seizure. But, if the hirer has any money, and is worth going against, you may sue him in the County-court for the value of the piano.  An extraordinary murder trial has just ended at Rheims. The prisoner, a man named Alfred Fenaux, who is deaf and dumb, was charged with the murder of his mother. The young man had been constantly ill-treated by the latter, who hal spent money accruing to him on a son by a second marriage. An attempt to set fire to a barn in which Fenaux was sleeping was supposed to be the work of his younger brother, instigated by his mother In the end the deaf mute, exasperated by this continuous barbarity, was alleged to have shot his inhuman mother, afterwards attempting to commit suicide. The prisoner's version, conveyed thrmezti an interpreter, was that hi mother was about to fire at him when he snatched the revolver from her. The jury acquitted Alfred Fenaux.  A sad suicide is reported from Bexley Heath. On Saturday Edward George 'rate, a market gardener, living in Church-road, who is well-known in musical circles at the village, asked his brother Frederick, who is also a musician, to try a few tunes with him in the kitchen. While his brother was playing the cornet, the deceased left the room, fastened the door, and shot himself. On the room tieing entered he was found lying on the floor with his heed completely blown off. Deceas, d was a married man, living anart from his wife. A faw days ago ho told someone he was uot responsible for his actions,
The Warwickshire Herald. — 1893-11-30 (Birmingham, West Midlands, England)

LOVE-LORN LOVER'S LOUD LAMENT. HE ATTEMPTS SUICIDE, BUT FAILS.  Thomas Skidmore, a young man whose home is in Wattville-street, Handsworth, lies in a precarious state at the General Hospital, having on Monday night attempted to kill himself with a revolver. Skidmore was in a hurry to be married to the lady ot his choice, but 89 both pasties are minors the parents refused to consent to the ceremony. A year was suggested as a suitable waiting-time, and the young lady , sensibly fell in with the wishes of her elders in the I matter. Not 80, however, the ardent swain, who talked nonsense, wrote doggerel, and even went so far 89 to be " called "in church. Whilst having tea. on Monday afternoon Skidmore referred to his love affair, and told hie mother "it would be one way or the other before the day was over." He called later at the girl's residence, and, being left alone for a few moments in the sitting-room, was heard to exclaim, "Domino!" The report of firearms followed, and on the occupants of the house hurrying into the apartment they found that the youth had shot himself in the abdomen. Medical aid wan summoned, and the nufferer was afterwards removed to the General Hospital. Skidmore left the following lines a, a legacy to his sweetheart Days pie.; on, and still you come not, Would that we had never met Than my love had been saddened With this lung and sad regret ! Was it fair to come and woo me, Win my young and true heart; Then so soon neglect neglect and leave me, Without a word that we should part ;To cloud my life, that before was happy, With this sad gloom; My kindest hope With the darkness of the tonal)? Those thy friends commend, Did-it thou act a womanly part? Could'st thou think that man was noble, Trifling with a young scan's heart? Let the silent grave be mine. I fear thy life may not be happy, Sorrow's path's may yet las thine. Directly clouds may yet ocetake th.ee, Drear in life thy path may be; Though when friends forsake thee, Thou, perchance, might think of me. But I've done, my words are idle; It's vain and useless to regret; In the midst of worldly pleasure, Thou mayeet, but I never can, forget.
The Warwickshire Herald. — 1893-07-20 (Birmingham, West Midlands, England)

INSANITY IN PARIS.  Either owing to the recent abnormal heat, or from other causes, there seems to be of late a marked tendency on the part of a considerable 'umber of people living in Pang to go mad or to make sway with themselves. Suicides, says the Paris correspondent of the Daily Telegraph, are o"d.s.ubtedly on the increase. On Wednesday a well-dressed yuLlag woman threw herself from one of the galleries round the tunas of Notre Dame; another woman flung herself under thc wheels of an omnibus; and there have also been severel fatal jumps from the ornamental heights of the Chaumont Buttes. The lunatics are likewise 0,1111361C.US One commissary of police in a leading district ha had to deal with three of them in a day. His first experience was with a young Englishwoman, who had gone mad in an hotel. Hardly had he sent her off in charge of an inspector to the Dip.lt than he was accosted in his office by a wild-eyed man, who informed him that he wanted to disown President Carnot for rent due. "M. Carnet," added the lunatic, "has not paid me for the pa 4 three years, and he owes me 175,000 f." This lunatic was also conducted to the Dept 4 infirmary, the commissary making him believe that he was being conveyed straight to the Elysee, there to see his debtor. As soon as the man had been disposed of an Oriental madman entered the office and insisted on saying his prayers before the commissary with his face turned towards Mecca. The recent riots have likewise been responsible for other and more dangerous freaks than these. A man was arrested on the Boulevard du Paris, near the Prefecture of Police, as he was in the act of demolishing a gas lamp. He said that he had been late for the demonstrations against the police which took place last week, and that he therefore wanted to organise a revolution on his own account. The solitary rioter was, of course, soon found to be a candidate for Charenton madhouse.  A good story is told in connection with the examinations now being held at Edinburgh University. A certain student was being examined in physiology. His knowledge of the subject was soon gauged by the professor, who rather surprised the young man by asking if he had his card. The professor in question is one of the most genial men in the University, and the young "med." fancying that "Bilirubin," as he is familiarly styled, proposed to take some personal interest in him, replied that he had, and at once presented it. "Thanks," said the Professor blandly; "now will you kindly write on that all you know about physiology."—Pall Mall Ga:ette.  The new novel by Elizabeth Stuart Phelps, author of .“The Gates Ajar," is entitled "Donald Marcy," and is published this week in a single volume by Mr. Heinemann.  Dr. Grant Bey, of Cairo, is said to have reported to Sir William Geddes, Principal of Aberdeen University, the discovery at Alexandria of the tombs of Alexander the Great and of Cleopatra, with several chambers full of rolls and parchments, that is, a library of ancient books. Further details will be awaited before much faith fa giveni Le report.
The Warwickshire Herald. — 1893-08-10 (Birmingham, West Midlands, England)

SHOCKING SUICIDE AT HANDSWORTH.  On Tuesday evening a suicide of a painful nature occurred at the New Inns, Holyhead-road, Handsworth. It appears that a youth named Benjamin Allen (15), whose parents live in Birmingham, committed suicide by -hooting himself through the heart with a double-barrelled breech-loader gun. Deceased had been in the employ of Mr. Adam Powell, pro. prietor of the inn, for more than five years, and he had always been of good habits, cheerful servant. On the the evening in question he ahsented himself from his ditties for some time, and on a search being made, it war, discovered that his bedroom door was locked. When it had been forced open a ghastly sight was brought to the view of the searcher. Lying on the la-d with a hideous shot-wound gaping in his chest was Allen, and on the floor wax the double-bunt.' I gun with which he had shot himself. He had actually discharged the gun bymeans of a stick which he had , placed against the trigger, and which was also lying I on the floor. The shot had passed clean through his heart, and made a hole of considerable •-ite. He wa. quite dead when found, and Dr. Parkes on his arrival could do nothing whatever. A strange part of the affair is that no one heard the report ef the gnu, and it cannot he distinctly statist when the affair took I place, although the body was finmd about half-past seven in the evening. The reason for this strange and deliberate act as far as can be gathered at present, is that deceased had been reading lately a lot of novelettes., or what are more generally known as penny horrible.' It is thought that theme had made a deep impression upon him, and that his suicide may be attributed to their baneful effect. That there is a strong probability of this being the case is given colour to by the fact that one of these Woke was found beside him in bed.