npedrazzini/19thc_murder_suicide_news huggingface dataset:
The Sun. — 1844-03-26 (London, England)

MAW AND POLICE.  At the Carmarthen assizes, on the 23d, John Jones, Evan Davies, John Davies, John Thomas, David Evans, Thomas Thomas, and another John Thomas, were charged with having burglariously broken and entered the dwelling house of one Daniel Harris, at Pontybenissar, on the 12th of August last, and with having stolen one sovereign, one shilling, and a promissory note therefrom. The case lasted a long time, and was terminated by the jury finding all the prisoners guilty. Mr. Alderman Wood, who sat at the Mansion-house in the early part of the day, said he had received a letter from the Lord Mayor, which had been addressed to him by Mr. Wedgewood, the commissioner of hackney carriages, complaining of a decision which he had come to in the case of a man named Death, whom he had fined for acting as a conductor, he only having a waterman's badge. The worthy Alderman said that he had looked into the case again, and considering the wording of the Act of Parliament and the evidence given upon the occasion, he saw no reason whatever for reversing the decision which he had given. At Union-hall, William Davis, who described himself as a surgeon, was charged with stealing a bullock's heart from a shop in the New-cut, and a further charge was preferred against him of attempting to commit suicide in the station-house. After hearing evidence, Mr. Traill said he had his ;opinion of the case ;lout, as the prisoner asserted his innocence, he should send it before ajury, if the prisoner wished, but, if not, he should deal summarily with the charge. The prisoner requested that he might be allowed time to reflect 'which of the alternatives ho would select, and, his wish being complied with, after an hour's cogitation, he rose up at the bar, and, addressing the magistrate, said his mind was made up, and that he preferred a summary punishment to a committal for trial. He was then sentenced to 21 days' imprisonment. A middle aged female, named Mary Farley, was placed within the felons' bar before Mr. Norton, at Lambeth-street, on a charge of murder, in having caused the death of George Farley, her infant son, aged eighteen months, and also with having attempted the additional crime of suicide by endangering her own life. The prisoner admitted both charges, and said she had been so comfortably off in her time that the idea of being driven to a workhouse, and having her children separated from her, and treated in so indifferent a manner, had driven her to such a state of distraction that death would have been a happy release to her, and she very much regretted that she had been rescued from a situation which must in a few moments have terminated her earthly sufferings. Mr. Norton remanded the prisoner for a future day, and desired that a note should be appended to the warrant that she should be taken particular care of.
The Sun. — 1844-10-19 (London, England)

MARLBOROUGH-STREET. Martha Lipscombe, the young woman who attempted to commit suicide by drowning herself in the Serpentine last week, and who had been sent to prison for a week in the hope that a short confinement would produce in her a proper sense of her heinous offence, was yesterday brought before Mr. Maltby for further examination. The young woman, who apparently had not been able to command her intractable temper, said all she wished now was to get her clothes and her character from her last place, and go into the country away from her sisters, whom she never wished to see or speak to again. Mr. MALTBY said she did not appear to show a proper feeling towards her sisters, the married one having even ran into debt to keep her when out of place. The girl replied that was true, but she had always repaid her sister as soon as she got in service. Mr. MALTBY inquired if she now repented of her wicked attempt on her own life ?—The girl said she would not tell a falsehood about the matter. She did not repent of what she had done. Mr. MALTBY said he had hoped that a few days' imprisonment would have produced in her a better state of feeling; but he found that no beneficial effect on her mind had been produced. The attempt on her life which she had made rendered her liable to be sent for trial for the offence. The girl said that she would promise thus far, that she never would attempt to take away her life on account of a stupid boy. It was because she had been knocked about by this boy, and treated with contempt by her sisters, that she had attempted to destroy herself. The sister said the defendant had never been illtreated lay any one. It was her violent and intractable temper which was her only enemy. Mr. MALTBY said he could not think of discharging the girl after what he had just heard. He should remand her for another week, and then determine how he would dispose of the case. An elderly man, of extremely respectable appearance, who gave the name of John Williams, but who refused to say what he was, or where he lived, was charged with stealing two books, worth 15s. 6d., from the shop of Mr. Sharp, book-dealer, No. 14, St. Martin's-court. George Young, shopman, said he saw the prisoner watching the shop in the morning. About seven o'C luck in the evening he saw the prisoner come to the window in which the books were placed. and take down the books and put them on a shelf. The prisoner went away, but returned almost immediately, and took up the books, placed them under his coat, and walked away. Witness fullowed and stopped him in the street with the books in his possession. The prisoner, who was very reserved during the whole of the proceedings, declined to say anything, and was fully committed.
The Sun. — 1844-07-19 (London, England)

COURTS OF COM: ON LAW. On the motion of Mr. CRIPPS, the Courts of Coin. mon Law Process Bill, and the Courts of Comnion Law (Ireland) Bill, went through Committee. The Parish Constable 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 csse 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 How 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 min was murdered and then carried out of the room, when his throat was cut., with the intention of waking it appear that he had committed suicide. On the •trial the jury deliberated twenty-two hours, and' then found the two women guilt); of wilful murder; one of them being the wile of the murdered man, and the other her sister. - The jury recommended them to mereyt 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 of 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 :leeping,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 else observe that the coroner was not accountable to the Government ; at the same time, he could assure the lion. Gentleman that the circumstances of the trial should have his best attention.
The Sun. — 1844-07-19 (London, England)

SUPPOSED SUICIDE.-SINGULAR CASE.  • Wednesday Mr. G. J. Mills, Deputy Coroner for the county of Middlesex, held an inquest at the Hammersmith workhouse of the Kensington union, in King-street, Hammer-. smith, on view of the body of a man unknown. It appeared from the evidence that about ten o'clock in the forenoon of Monday last, some bargemen, while navigating the Grand Junction Canal, discovered the body of the deceased in the water at that portion of the canal abutting on Wormwood Scrubs. The body was immediately got on shore, and conveyed to the Mitre beer-shop, close by, from whence it was removed to the above workhouse. - On an examination being made of the body, bricks were found in the deceased's pockets, weighing Vbs., and there was a mark of a cut across his throat, but which might probably have been made by the bottom of a boat passing over it. In one of the deceased's pockets Wl3 found a memorandum-book, in which was writ-_ ten, in a clear and neat hand, the following, which clearly shows that the deceased was labouring under delusions of a religious character:— "No murderer hath eternal life abiding in him. God suffers none but those predestinated to damnation to commit self-destruction No human worm has a right to take away human life—it is the prerogative of God only. Not even in murder; for God oftentimes makes use of murderers as his agents, his police who watches everything that passes, or is transacted, not only in England, but in the fixed stars, those beautiful orders ( f sisters. Not an atom can move without the observance of his old police, those gentlemen without clothing (I ask pardon, they have sometimes feathers) who report the secrets of the heart to the head commissioners or to the heads of the government.. " What is life? A poor stage player, who frets and struts upon the stage and then is seen no more. " BILLY, the Immortal. "Try half the world, you would hang them with the other half. " What I have done, I have done to show you that I am more than mortal, but do you suppose you can destroy me ? No; my flesh may be cut to atoms with a million knives, but I am a fallen archangel yet! and shall have employment to punish the great only who offend God. " There are agencies at work at the present time to destroy the holy religion of this country, founded on a pure and edifiable translation of the Holy Scriptures, or pure Word of God, a testimony which adheres to disbelievers, and which Deists laugh at, but which is a word of adamant." There was something also written in allusion to the late visit of the Emperor of Russia to .this country, but .the writing (pencil) was so illegible that it could not be deciphered. Deceased appeared to be between 40 and 50 years of age, and was dressed in a gambroon jacket, and black waistcoat and trousers, low shoes, and white stockings, and a black silk hat. Nothing whatever was found on him tending to lead to his identy. The jury, in the absence of any evidence as to how the deceased came into the water, or as to the state of his mind, returned a verdict of " Found drowned."
The Sun. — 1844-09-17 (London, England)

DETERMINED SUICIDE.  - -An inquest was held before Mr. Payne, on Saturday evening, at the Tower of London Tavern, Tows.street, Waterloo-road, on the body of Mr. Thomas Noy, aged fifty-two, late a clerk in the Army District Pay-office, Duke-street, Westminster, who committed suicide on Friday morning, by hanging himself in his bedroom, under the following distressing circumstances :  Police-constable 177 L stated that he was called in about nine o'clock on Friday morning, and found the deceased hanging by a rope behind the bedroom door. He immediately cut him down, and sent a brother officer for Mr. Sewell, surgeon, upon whose arrival, in about two minutes, life was quite extinct. Mary Noy (daughter of deceased) said her father had been very low spirited for some days. He was indebted to the landlord for rent to the amount of 71. 19s. 6d., who had threatened him to distrain on his goods, unless a portion of the money was paid on Friday. Deceased had recently been discharged from his situation ; but it appeared from the evidence of a clerk in the Recruiting Department, that hopes had been held out to him of a re-appointment, and he had received his salary up to the 30thofwthhiechprteh-e following present month. The police, on searching his room, found two leb• ters, written in pencil, one addressed to the coroner, thell wi otherng areto eAolpri. eLa e:_gge, his landlord, of  . " 14th August, 1844. 46Mr. Coroner—l a. min my perfect senses, therefore there is no occasion for. a jury. I wish you to my body to .Westminster hospital, if in your for I received good treatment from that institution 9 SsteintUdetrioll about twelve months since, and I have no other legacy to leave them. Pray comply with my wishes if in your power,  "
The Sun. — 1844-08-24 (London, England)

CHARNOCK—He heard the prisoner say it was trouble that had made her do it.  Emily Alfrey, the prisoner's mother, deposed that she was not married to the father of the children in question, but they had cohabited together for six years. tie had latterly deserted her, and she had in consequence become very ill, and was confined in a lunatic asylum for six weeks, and when she was discharged she went to live at witness's house. Before the Ist of July witness had observed symptoms in the prisoner's conduct of her head becoming bad again. John Busain, an inspector of police, proved that he received the prisoner in charge, and told her that she was accused of attempting to murder her children and to commit suicide, and she replied, in a faint tone, It is distress that drove me to do it." The witness then produced a letter found upon the prisoner when she was taken to the workhouse.  The mother was re-called, and she stated that the letter in question was written by the man French, and in it he expressed his intention to abandon her. (The letter was read.) The witness said that after the prisoner received this letter she observed the ymptoms in the prisoner's conduct that she referred to. In cross-examination the mother said that French had been charged with some offence, and the prisoner had exerted herself very much to obtain a lenient sentence for him. She appeared very fond of her children. Mr. CUARNOCK, in his address to the jury, said it was impossible for an advocate to do so upon a more distressing case than the present. He then proceeded to comment upon the facts, and said it was evident that the cruel manner in which the unhappy prisoner had been deserted and abandoned by the man for whom she evidently felt an ardent affection, had unsettled her mind, and that in a paroxysm of frenzy she committed the act imputed to her. Mr. Baron GURNEY, in summing up, remarked upon the distressing nature of the case, and said there did not appear to be the slightest ground for believing that the prisoner entertained any malice towards her children ; but if the jury thought that she went into the water with the intention of destroying them and herself, she would, in law, be guilty of the offence imputed to her. If they thought the facts proved, it would then be a question whether, at the time the act was committed, the prisoner was in such a state of mind as t,) be accountable for her actions.  The jury, after a very short deliberation; acquitted the prisoner on the ground of insanity, and she was ordered to be detained during her Majesty's pleasure. The first witness, the prisoner's brother, was then re-called by Mr. Baron GURNEY, who told him that the courage he had shown, and the manner he acted at the time, did him great credit, but he regretted to see, by the depositions, that he had not to-day stated all he knew.
The Sun. — 1844-11-01 (London, England)

THE FIFTH OF NOVEMBER.—As this day of juvenile rejoicing and prank-playing is near at hand, it should be remembered that the Act 3 Geo. IV., c. 126, makes it illegal to light a bonfire or discharge fireworks within a distance of eighty feet from the centre of a turnpike-road. 'We are gratified to learn that Lord Granville Somerset, the Chancellor of the Duchy, has nominated Mr. Horace Twiss Vice-Chancellor of the County Palatine of Lancaster, in the room of the late Mr. Holt, with a seat in her Majesty's council of the Duchy. It is not by his professional brethren alone that any distinction bestowed upon Mr. Twiss will be heard of with pleasure. Politicians of all parties, and literary men of all ranks, will derive satisfaction-from the success of a gentleman, who, in times of the greatest party heats and strife, could firmly and consistently maintain his own principles without asperity or wilful injustice to opponents ; and who has just crowned a literary life more laborious and more important in its labours than the world is perhaps aware of, by a biographical work, which, in point of interest and permanent value, is not surpassed by any of the class to which it belongs.—Morning Chronicle. SUICIDE OF A PARISH OFFlCER.—Yesterday forenoon Mr. Wakley, M.P., held an inquest on the body of Mr. Robert:Fairs, aged 49, at his late residence, No. 3, Charles- street, Northampton-square, Clerkenwell. It appeared from the evidence that the deceased held the office of registrar of births, marriages, and deaths, for one of the districts of Clerkenwell, as also that of a collector, which latter situation he had filled for a number of years, and was highly respected by the parishioners. On Tuesday morning the deceased got up rather before his usual time, leaving his wife in bed. From thence he proceeded to the servant's room, and told her to get up. Some time after this the servant went down stairs, and on entering the back kitchen she found her master lying on the floor weltering in blood, he having cut his throat in a shocking manner. An alarm was given, and medical aid procured, but life was extinct. The deceased had been very desponding of late in consequence of pecuniary embarrassments, and had only a few days before endeavoured to take poison, but was prevented. The jury ultimately returned a verdict of " 'Temporary insanity."
The Sun. — 1844-08-30 (London, England)

FATAL CURIOSITY.—TRYING WHAT THE SENSA• TION OF HANGING Is.—On Saturday night last, C. Swann, Esq., held an inquest at Mr. Smith's, the sign of the Wrestlers, Sneinton, on the ,body of Frederick Smith, 14 years of age. It appeared deceased was Mr. I Richard Morley's servant-boy, and was of a lively, cheerful disposition, happy in his place, and not at all likely to commit suicide. In the evening of the day Saville was executed, he asked Thomas Hallam, Mr. Morley's farming-man, if he had been to see the execution ; he told deceased he had not, and here the conversation ended ; but the same morning, he said to Wm. Keep, the farming-servant, " I wonder how that man will feel as he was goig to be hung. On Saturday last it seems he determine tr d . to a n gexratify this foolish and dangerous curiosity, by ying periment, which proved fatal to himself, as it has done to many other thoughtless lads. William Straw, Mr. Morley's gardener, deposed to telling deceesed to , water some trees about four o'clock in the afternoon of Saturday, and to discovering him hanging, under a shed, in the orchard, about an hour and a half afterwards ; he gave an alarm and the body was immediately cut down, but life was extinct ; his hands, face, and arms were quite cold. Mr. Burrows, surgeon, was soon in attendance, but of course all attempts to restore animation were fruitless. The witness Hallam saw the cord was is four or five doubles, but was not quite round deceased's neck, and the otherend was fastened round a spar of the shed. His shirt, acket collar, and j frock were between the cord and his neck, and the cord was not in a running noose. The witness Hallam said he believed deceased took the cord with which h e hung himself off a post, near to the shed. There is some timber lying near to the place where he was hanging ; witness thought, by some dirt which he saw, that deceased had stood upon the timber to tie himself up, and then swung himself off. The jury, having fully considered all the circumstances, returned. the following verdict:—"Hung himself accidentally, in trying what the sensation of hanging was, and not with an intention to destroy himself."—Nottinyhani Mercury. EDINBURGH Towx
The Sun. — 1844-11-29 (London, England)

THE BRITISH RESIDENTS IN JERSEY. Gentlemen and Friends,—Let not the apparently unfavourable news which arrived from London by this day's mail occasion you any anxiety. It has had no effect upon my spirits, nor upon my hopes, nor upon my conviction, that at the end of perhaps a long vista, more or less varied, we shall safely arrive at last at the Temple of Victory and of Peace. Before the week is closed I hope to offer to you for your perusal the affidavit of the Procureur do la Reine, on which his application to the Bail Court was based. In the mean time let us not prejudge its contents or its effects. " Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof." Remember how our foes chuckled, day after day, be• cause the habeas corpus did not arrive. Remember their looks when it had arrived. Did I prophesy falsely that it would come ? Judge me, then, for the future by the past. I prophesy again. I shall be discharged from this vile custody sooner than you expect. And I add to this prophesy, that I shall be discharged by habeas corpus, and by habeas corpus only—or in a coffin. Fancy not that I hold my life so cheap that I would commit suicide. Fancy not that I hold law to be so despicable that I would accept my liberty upon any terms but lawful terms ; or that I would, for a few weeks of disgraceful freedom, enter into a recognisance at the instance of the corrupt Royal Court in Jersey, or at the command of any court in London. It shall only be by a coffin, or by habeas corpus, that I will be removed from this custody. I have the henour to be, gentlemen and friends, your faithful servant,  CHARLES CARUS WILSON, A prisoner by lawless violence. Jersey Gaol, Nor. 24, 1844.