npedrazzini/19thc_murder_suicide_news huggingface dataset:
Glasgow Courier. — 1862-10-16 (Glasgow, Strathclyde, Scotland)

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.—A meeting of the directors of this Chamber was held on Tuesday—Allan Gilmour, Esq., in the chair. An answer to the memorial regarding the sale of waste lands in India was received, in which Sir Charles Wood states that he sees no reason for altering his opinion on that subject. A letter4rom the Guardian Society folithe Protection of Trade, in reference to the Judgments Execution Bill, was remitted to committe. The other business was of no public importance. On the night between Saturday or Sunday last, during thick weather, the steamer Hamburg, whilst on her voyage from Kirkwall to Aberdeen, went ashore on the rocks at Rattray Haan, to the north of Peterhead. A considerable number of cattle were on board, bit little or no general cargo, and no passengers. The cattle were all safely landed, and no accident happened to any of the crew. The steamer is supposed to be slightly damaged; but tugs have left Aberdeen, and it is expected that she will be got off very noon. At Duntocher en Thursday, John Knox, a labourer, committed suicide by swallowing an overdose of laudanum. He had of late been imbibing too freely of whisky. In the absence of his wife, deceased sent his daughter, aged 9 years, for the laudanum, and after partaking it, ordered the girl to bolt the door, and not to allow any one to enter until her mother returned. When the condition of the unfortunate man was discovered, medical aid was called in, but it was of no avail, as he never recovered his senses. On Tuesday, a meeting of the heritors of Thitherglen was held in the church, for the purpose of appointing an assistant and successor to the Rev. Peter Brown. The Rev. Mr Stevenson, of St. Mathews, Glasgow, and the Rev. J. W. Davidson, missionary in the Parish of Rutherglen, were proposed and seconded. After some discussion the vote was taken, when 92 voted for Mr Stevenson, and 11 for Mr Davidson. At a meeting of the congregation the previous day, the Rev. Mr Davidson was unanimously recommended, so that the heritors have elected one in opposition to the congregation. A public meeting of the inhabitants of Moffat and surrounding district was held in the Baths' Assembly Hall, on Friday, for the purpose of considering the proposal of forming a branch railway, in connection with the Caledonian, from Beattock to Moffat. The meeting was largely attended. Mr James M•Millan, agent for the Bank of Scotland, was in the chair. Mr Miller, engineer, submitted plans and estimates, the costof formation, he stated, would be from .£7OOO to £
Glasgow Courier. — 1862-09-11 (Glasgow, Strathclyde, Scotland)

DARING HOUSEBREAKING. -About six o'clock yesterday morning, James Lindsay discovered that the house of Mr John Adam, bleacher, in Millburn Street, had been broken into by means of cutting a hole through the roof. While the family have been residing at the coast, Lindsay has been left in charge of the house, and was sleeping in it at the time, when he was disturbed by some noise in the top story. He at once got up, and proceeded to where the noise came from, and was in time to see a pair of legs going out of a hole in the roof, the burglar having taken nothing with him, but left his cap in his haste to escape. Subsequently, a man without a cap, named David Burns, was apprehended near the house by a constable. He will be remitted to the Sheriff to-day.  On Sunday morning, a woman named Ann Eadie or Barr, residing in Glasgow, committed suicide in Old Stonelaw Freestone Quarry, near Rutherglen, by swallowing a quantity of laudanum. An unfinished letter found on her person stated that deceased had committed self-destruction through starvation. A very melancholy and fatal accident occurred on Friday afternoon at Garrioch Mills, to a young boy about nine years of age, named John Williamson, while trying to catch some branches of trees which overhang the lead at Garrioch, Mills, when he lost his balance and fell into the water, and was drowned.  About five o'clock on Thursday afternoon, a house in Townhead, Stonehouse, occupied by James Cochran, weaver, took fire, and was partially destroyed, along with the furniture and looms inside. A severe thunder-storm took place at the above hour, and the fire was occasioned by the electric fluid entering the chimney, passing along the gas. pipe, shattering the meter, and at last lodging on the inside of and igniting the roof, which was thatched. •  On Thursday afternoon, as the 4.20 P.M. train from Bridge Street Station for Greenock was between Langbank and Port-Glasgow, near Parklee, a little girl who had been amusing herself with the handle of the door burst it open and fell out on the line. The passengers gave the alarm, and the train, which was at full speed, was stopped. The guard and the father of the child went back, and found the child on the side of the line very little the worse, and with only a scratch over the forehead. GREAT WEsTERN
Glasgow Courier. — 1862-01-23 (Glasgow, Strathclyde, Scotland)

THE NEW FRENCH CENSUS.—The Moniteur publishes a report of the Minister of the Interior on the recent census, from which it appears that, whereas in 1856 the 86 depaitments had a population of 36,039,361, the 89 departments, which the empire now comprises, numbered 37,382,225 inhabitants on the Ist of January, 1862. This gives a gross increase of 1,342.861. or 3.72 per eent, for the quinquennial period ending within the last day of 1861. The net increase, after deducting the 669.059 inhabitants of the newly annexed territories, is 673,802, or 1.86 per cent. The increase between 1846 and 1851 was 382,664, or 1-08 per cent, and that between 1851 and 1856 was not quite so much. In the latter period 32 departments showed an increase of population. and 54 a decrease ; for the period of five years just terminated these numbers are respectively 57 and 29. Tht highest rates of increase have been in the following departments :—Seine, 13 per cent. ; Nord, 7; Bouches du Rhone ; Rhone, Seine et Pise, and Corsica, each 5 per cent. There has been a decrease at the rate of 3 per cent. in Crease and in Correze, and of 1 and 2 per cent, respectively in nine other non-manufacturing departments.  Confeclerato  —The Commissioners hibiting the six days at t Popolo, bet( Will hardly . painting, sculpture, :Roman department wi. i aerrices of silver plate, ing to Roman princes. I.• The share which England the port of Havre ' 2,88.5 foreign entered that port in 1861, 4. , was not fewer than 1,232, -11X8;3:96 • and one of 2,763 of which Balled, 1,660 of 378.571 .. The United States wer , next in land; they had 472 • . entries, and 30- of Viscount r  received after. I The Annuaire Encyclopedique e • tics relating to suicides rin the cow-- ' last more than . Of 3,057 males; 1.. e; 38 men snail N• majority were bet wee" 'S a i c i d e s most frequent . and July. The means of death drowning, in 2,833 cases 271; shooting with cutting instruments, 110 93.
Glasgow Courier. — 1862-10-30 (Glasgow, Strathclyde, Scotland)

THE BARQUE CAMPBELL.—JaMeB Smith, carpenter, and only survivor of the crew of the barque Campbell, furnishes the following report of the loss of that vessel and crew:—The barque Campbell, Duncan Macdonald, sailed from Glasgow, March 25, 1862, for Bahia, and after a safe voyage arrived there in the summer. She left Bahia with a general cargo on Aug. 18, 1862, for Liverpool. On the 25th Sept, she sprang a leak, making seven inches water an hour, and still continuing to increase until Oct. 1, 1862, when they were forced to abandon her in hit. 48 N., long. 30 6W. The master then took charge of the longboat, with eight hands in her beside himself, the mate taking the pinnace with four hands beside himself (your informant was in the latter boat.) On the 2d of the month the longboat came athwart a sea, and capsized, when all hands in her, including the master, were drowned. On the 4th of the month, three hands died in the pinnace, and on the Bth your informant, and the mate W. Downie, were picked up by the American ship Janie* Watt, from New York for Amsterdam. The mate died the second day after being picked up, leaving your informant the sole survivor out of the ship'e company of 14. Smith was landed at Deal from the James Watt  A youth of eighteen drowned himself at Birtr;ing. ham the other day. Before committing suicide he wrote the following letter to a young lady co whom he had been paying his addresses :  My Dear precious darling Lizzie, &AL, ,¢4l, &43. &c.,—As this is the last letter I shall ever send you ptm.,e bear with me and COMPLY with my Law REOITIE3T; but first let me explain the obiset of my writing to you. You know that for five years and upwards I have toyed you with a worshipping love. I have Awn= you— looked to YOU Re my "pole star," ray guiding, and guaiding hnyel—have seen in you, and you ALONE that spark that caused me to love you more than my pallets —nay, eves more than 'God Himself. And, believe I die uttering a biasing upon you. When lam out al the way you will be happy again. God knows it is tinna I were, but to-night— • I have done the deed! Didat thou not hear a noise ?" I know this act will cause wane consternation, but that I cannot help. Now, firstly, I want you to break the fact to "say mother," ,for before tabus lheettretr rheacat lisliales you be Jafolunnede wrist Lambe (be:l,d [ D Bay wik bander the little bridge is in the [our] "Retreat" [Reservoir]. Secondly, that I may be buried with your locket over, my heart, where it has beealk) long ; aiid let the withering curse of 6`od Angels, men and devils rest upon, and say"iiihrrowiess bones" for ever encircle him or her who dants to ?MOM 111!! Thirdly and lastly, that you will forget the foul specimen of humanity that has led you astray, and return to the embraces of your mother from whom I took you; and now may God and anode ever keep you from the sins of this wicked world is the prayer of him whoa* only fault was " lovlisg4:l7 wili"111111111—Adial Adieu!! Adlini!l; 3, Bow
Glasgow Courier. — 1858-08-26 (Glasgow, Strathclyde, Scotland)

DREADFUL MURDER AT THE BRIDGE-OF-EARN  The inhabitants of this usually quiet and peaceful village were on Saturday afternoon thrown into a state of extreme consternation and excitement, by the perpetration of a most fearful murder. The partiulars, 80 far as we have yet been able to learn, are these:—Alexander Murray, who committed the deed, is a seaman, 23 years of age, and his victim was his grandmother, Mrs Campbell, who formerly kept the Post Office of the village, but who had been two or three years subsisting by letting lodgings to summer visitors. The grandson had been absent at sea for nine years, and only arrived in the village on Thursday. He had been drinking freely, and had frequently called upon his grandmother to assist him with money, which it seems she invariably refused to supply him with. On Saturday he was much excited, and had been seen frequently brandishing a knife in the forenoon. In that state he again called upon his grandmother for money or "drink," which she again refusing, he plunged the knife into the seat of the carotid artery, and almost severed the head from the body. The first discovery of the horible deed was made by a neighbour woman who had occasion to enter MIN Campbell's house. The shock she received on the frightful spectacle that presented itself may be imagined. Mrs Campbell was stretched upon the floor, her almost severed head and the upper part of her body lying in a deep pool of blood. The neighbour, breathless with agitation and terror, immediately called for assistance. Meantime the unfortunate homicide was wending his way to the river aide, when he was met by one of the teachers in the village, who, noticing blood upon his hands, asked the cause. He at once, and without any reserve or attempt at disguise, detailed all the particulars of the tragic story. From various expressions which fell from him, it is believed he was on his way to the river to add to his fearful crime by committing suicide. In a short time he was in the custody of two of the county constables, and conveyed to Perth. Many reports are afloat as .to a remote cause of incitement to the deed of a family nature, exclusive of his grand- '1 mother's refusal to give him money, but of which it would be at present premature to speak.  I'HE
Glasgow Courier. — 1858-04-10 (Glasgow, Strathclyde, Scotland)

SUICIDE OF A BOY IN PRISON.  On the sth March, a boy named Adam Commelin, said to be ten years of age, but probably somewhat older, wan I committed to the Dumfries prhon for seven days, having I been sentenced to that period of confinement and • whipping by the sitting burgh Magistrate for a petty ; theft of buttons and some other articles. He was liberated on the 12th March, and the next day was sent by I his mother to purchase a pennyworth of turnips at the New Markets; the market woman being absent the boy • pilfered six Swedish turnips. For this offence lie was apprehended and brought before the burgh Magistrate, who was advised to remit the case .o the Sheriff, which was done, with the view, it is said, of having the boy sent to a Reformatory School, but it does not appear that this was communicated to the Sheriff. On Saturday forenoon the boy was tried by Sheriff Trotter, found guilty of theft, and sentenced to forty days' imprisonment in Dumfries jail. He was immediately conveyed to the • prison, and placed in a cell at noon ; a turukey visited him in about half an hour, and again at one o'clock with dinner, On entering the cell the boy was found suspended by his neck handkerchief from the iron bar by wh'ch the cell window is opened and thus. He was immediately taken down, and the prison surgeon sent for, but life was quite exiinot. From the loose way in which the handkerchief was tiei to the bar and round the neck of the poor child, and the fact that the atofl by which he had climbed up so as to fasten the handkerchief had fallen towards to place of from the wall, it is infei red that the boy had not intended to commit asicide, but to pretend doing so, with the object of being removed from his solitary cell to one in which i he would And a companion, and that n this attempt the stool had slipped from below his feet, cod suffocation ortsued.—Ducotries Courier,
Glasgow Courier. — 1858-08-21 (Glasgow, Strathclyde, Scotland)

MURDER AND SUICIDE IN CARLISLE.  A painful occurrence took place here on Monday last, a little girl, seventeen months old, having been drowned by her mother, who afterwards destroyed her own life. About six o'clock P.M., a man employed at the water works, near the foot of the river Petteril, which flows into the Eden, observed sbmething like a bundle of clothes floating down the river Eden, near Petteril Foot. Upon bringing it to the shore he found it was the body of a female child. He conveyed it to the Turf Hotel, where it was afterwards identified by its father, Robert Irving, a bookbinder in this city. His wife having left her home with the child on Monday afternoon about five o'clock, and not returned again, he was unable to conceive where she had gone; but the finding of the body of the child gave rise to suspicions that she had made away with herself. The police were informed of the circumstances, and search WU made on the following day near the place where the body of the child was found. A dark object was observed about the middle of the river Eden. On a policeman reaching it, he found it was the body of the unfortunate woman, which had lodged against a rock. The body was taken to the Turf Hotel, where an inquest was held the same day upon the bodies of both mother and child. It appeared from the evidence that deceased and her husband had lived unhappily together, owing to her intemperate habits, and that they had frequent quarrels. The had some words on Monday at the dinner hour, but not of a serious nature. She had afterwards left her home, and no more was seen of her till she was found drowned in the Eden.
Glasgow Courier. — 1858-09-04 (Glasgow, Strathclyde, Scotland)

SUSPICIOUS AFFAIR AT EDINBI7RGII.  On Wednesday morning the police were informed that a young woman had committed suicide in a lodginghouse, 27, Brunswick Street, Stockbridge. On proceeding to the place, the unfortunate deceased was found lying on the floor, with her feet partly under the bed, her throat cut in several places, and the bed drenched with blood. At her side was a table-knife, with which the deed was supposed to have been committed. On making inquiry into the circumstances of the case, it appeared that the deceased had only occupied the apartments for a few days, and that she was not known to any one in the house, with the exception of an elderly person whom she had represented- as her 1 uncle, and who accompanied her to the house when she took the lodgings, and resided there, though, as we believe, in a separate room. Various stories are current as to the movements of the couple on Wednesday evening, but nothing appears to have excited the suspicion of any one, and it was therefore with the greatest alarm that the inmates of the house were summoned out of bed by the man telling them that his relative had died during the night. Finding her in the position already mentioned, the authorities were sent for, who at once set about the necessary inquiries; as a preliminary to which the male companion of the deceased was detained in the Police Office while the examination was being proceeded with. From the position in which the body was found, it was at first thought that the fatal wounds could not have been self-inflicted. This was the most suspicious feature in the case, but as nothing was heard by any of the inmates during the night that indicated foul play, and as the demeanour of the old man was perfectly calm and collected, it is but a fair conclusion to arrive at that the unhappy woman committed suicide from some as yet unaccountable motive. According to the statement of the former they were uncle and niece, and came from Leeds by steamer on a jaunt to Edinburgh. He calls himself Gray, and says that the name of his niece was Moffat; but as we understand the authorities have ascertained where he belonged to in England, some light will soon be thrown on this singular affair.
Glasgow Courier. — 1858-04-15 (Glasgow, Strathclyde, Scotland)

SUICIDE OF L SHEFFIELD MANUFACTURER. -Mr. Edward Hobson, formerly a cutlery mlnufacturer in Snighill, but lately retired, and living at Grove Cottage, Pye Bank, Sheffield, committed suicide on Sunday morning in a most determined manner. In the early part of last week Mr Hobson returned home from a short journey, and was surprised to find that during his absence his wife had left the house, taking with her certain property which she had brought with her on her marriage with the deceased, thereby indicating that it was not her intention to return. The circumstance appeared strongly to affect Mr Ilobson's mind, so much so that his friends found it necessary to place a restraint upon him, and remove from his reach any article with which he might make an attempt upon his life. Mr Hobson got up on Sunday morning as usual, and appeared to be more composed. At a little after eight o'clock he asked to be permitted to go out for a short time. Ile was allowed to do so, and ultimately went into a barber's shop, borrowed a razor, and it appears, found his way into a narrow passage which leads into a court, whore he out his throat. The jugular vein was nearly severed. He died a little before nine o'clock, about half-an-hour after this desperate act. Mr Hobson was in affluent circumstances, and bad only been married to the present Mrs Hobson a few months. He was one of the police commissioners of the borough.  HAIR STANDING ON END —The earliest notice of I this fact will be found recorded in Job iv., 13, 14, 15. I In thoughts from the visions of the night, when deep sleep falleth on men, fear came upon me, and trembling which made all my bones to shake. Then a Spirit passed before my face. The hair of my flesh stood up,' &c. The Rev Dr Andrews, of Beresford Chapel, Walworth, told me he once saw a remarkable illustration of this result from the same cause—excessive fear. One William Probert, who had been concerned in the murder of Weare, for which Thurtell was hanged in 1824, was indicted at the Old Bailey in 1825 f3r horsestealing„ and being found guilty, June 28, was there executed. Dr Andrews had been requested to attend this man, and found him in a state of stupor, which prevented reflection, almost indeed perception ; but on the morning of execution his mind cleared, and he was anxious to listen and join in the prayers. On leaving the cell, and going to the room where he was pinioned, he became somewhat excited, and the instant the executioner put the cord to his wrists to bind his hands, his hair—long, lanky, weak irongray hair—arose gradually, and stood perfectly upright, and so remained for some short time, and then as gradually fell down.—Notes and Queries.
Glasgow Courier. — 1858-10-23 (Glasgow, Strathclyde, Scotland)

SUICIDE OF A CAPTAIN AT SEA, AND LOSS OF HIS SHIP. On Wednesday the following deposition was received at Lloyd's, relative to the loss of the English barque Henry Porcher, while on a voyage from Quebec to Grangemouth, and the suicide of the master, Captain Simpson. John Calder, the late boatswain, states that "00 the 27th of August the ship brought up 10 miles below Quebec, where she remained several days, during which time the captain went on shore every clay, and returned the worse for drink. On one occasion he was away all night, and in the morning when he came on board his face was cut. The pilot left the ship on the Bth of September. The ship got to sea, and on the night of the 12th the captain shot himself. Hearing the report of fire-arms, he (Calder), with the mate, canto the captain's cabin and found the door locked. After a while it was opened by the captain, who was bleeding from a wound in his breast. He had shot himself with a revolver. The mate asked him what he had done it for. He made answer that he had done it, and would do it again for what he had done. There was no remedy for him, and he knew he must die. He died on the following morning, and his body was committed to the deep. Bore down for Thurso Bay, amidst thick weather, rain, and blowing hard. The ship was brought up off Littlehead, and the chain snapped. Let go another anchor, and the weather moderated. Next morning a gale from N.E. While sending down royal and topgallant yards the starboard chain parted. All hands called down from aloft when the other cb•-' went, and the ship drove ashore near Thurso. course of an hour a line was thrown from the shol by means of a cradle we were (15 in number) all safely." James Carlow, the steward, depones t deceased was labouring from delirium tremens committed suicide.  _