npedrazzini/19thc_murder_suicide_news huggingface dataset:
Brighouse & Rastrick Gazette. — 1883-02-03 (Brighouse, West Yorkshire, England)

THE INQUEST. On Monday afternoon, Mr. William Barstow, district coroner, opened, at the Royal Hotel, Brighouse, an inquiry into the circumstances attending the death of the &forenamed. The jury comprised the following gentlemen : Messrs. Thomas A. Elam (foreman), George B. Jessop, John Denham, Frederick Waddington, Briggs Hepworth, Alfred Duckworth, Benjamin Howe, Thomas Hackett, James S. filaddin, George Hepworth, Thomas Joy, and Frederick Rogers. The jury having been sworn, proceeded to view the body, which was laid out in an outbuilding connected with the hotel the first witness examined was Joseph Bailey, who stated on oath: I Om a labourer, and reside at Elland. The deceased was my daughter, Jane Bailey, and was in the 40th year of her age. (If she had lived until last Tuesday she would have been 40). She resided at my house at Elland, and worked as a woollen warper at Clayhouse Mills, West Vale. She left home about 5-20 on the evening of the 29th of last month (December), which was the last time I saw her alive, and I have not seen or heard anything of her until she was taken out of the river ukt Brighouse yesterday. The deceased had been in I low state of mind for several months previous to leaving home, and she had been attended by Dr. Denning, of•Elland. On the morning of the day she left home Dr. Denning called to see her, and told her she was a little better than when he first came to see her. She replied, "It is no use doctor, I'm done, I'm done." She bad been keeping company with s young man for many years, but they had a quarrel, and it was never made up, and after that she seemed much troubled in her mind. John Albert Mellor, on oath, said: I am a boat owner:and reside at Brighouse. About 5-10 p.m. on Sunday, the 28th inst., I was near our boat buiiding place at the Lees, Clifton, and I saw the body of a woman being carried down by the stream in the river Calder, which was rather high. I followed the body down until 1 got to the gas bridge, and I got a bough off a tree, and by that means secured the body, and got it out on the Clifton side. I then fetched the police, and the body was taken to the Royal Hotel. Mary Ann Sykes, sworn, said I reside at Birds Boyd, Rastrick. I have washed and laid out the body of the deceased, and found no marks of violence thereon. The Coroner thought the evidence showed the case was a proper one for returning a verdict of "Found drowned." The jury concurred, and returned a. verdict to the effect of "Found drowned, without any marks of violence; probably a case of suicide, committed whilst in an unsound state of mind."  cLIFToN. SPECIAL Suuvicita.—ln connection with Clifton United Methodist Free Church, special services have been held in the chapel each evening during the present week, and have been oonducted by the Rev. A. Bromley, Brighouse. There have been only-moderate congregations.
Brighouse & Rastrick Gazette. — 1883-11-24 (Brighouse, West Yorkshire, England)

CRUELTY.—On Tuesday, at the Borough Police Court, Halifax, John Ramsden, farmer, Wakefieldroad, Brighouse, was charged with cruelly treating a horse by working it when in an unfit condition. Mr. Edward Luckings, Inspeoter to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to animals' said he saw the defendant in charge of a black horse attached to a cart on the afternoon of the 3rd inst. at the fair in Queen's road. It was lame on the near fore leg, suffering from a deformed foot and chronic inflammation. The animal was very lame and suffered great pain. Mr C. H. Thomas, veterinary surgeon, Oldham, corroborated the evidence given by the inspecter, as did also Sergeant Bumble. The defendant said the animal was intended for slaughter, still he admitted it was in the cart when the inspector saw it, and he did not know whether it had been killed or not. The Chairman said the Bench considered it a very bad case. The defendant would have to pay a penalty of £2 and £1 Os. 6d. costs, or In default one month. A DattGattorts Posynow.—At the West-riding Police Court, Halifax, on Monday, (before Mr. Rawson and Mr. Arnold), Edwin Lawton, engine-tenter, Brighouse, was charged with trespassing on the railway and refusing to leave the line when requested. Mr. Story prosecuted on behalf of the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway. He stated that about two o'clock on Sunday morning, the prisoner passed the cabin at the Waterhouse siding, between Brighouse and nand. The company's servant in the cabin, not being able to leave, telephoned to Charles Kershaw, porter at Elland Station. P.C. Preston, who happened to be not far from the station at the time accompanied Kershaw down the line, and about half-a-mile from Eilsnd Station they met with the prisoner in the "six foot." He was drunk and refused to go away, and the constable was obliged to take him into custody. Mr. Story said the man might have been killed, for no less than four goods trains paned about the time he was on the line. Superintendent Carr said the man was before the magistrates in 1878 on a charge of attempting to commit suicide. In defence Lawton said he had missed the last train. A fine of El 9s. Bd. was imposed, including the costs, or in default one month to prison.
Brighouse & Rastrick Gazette. — 1883-02-24 (Brighouse, West Yorkshire, England)

WOMAN FOUND DROWNED AT HIPPERHOLME.  On Sunday last, some excitement was caused in the neighbourhood of Mytholm, Hipperholme, by the discovery of the body of a young woman in a stream called, the " Black Beck." About a quarter past four, a girl named Eliza Rusbworth, of Bill Top, Lightcliffe, fourteen yea* of ale, was taking a walk along the footpath, which is in close proximity to the stream, when she saw the body with one hand and one knee in an upright prisition. She went back and informed her aunt, who lives near, what she had seen, and, efjer the latter had been to look for herself, she told two men who in turn gave information to P.C. Fearnley, the constable stationed at Hipperholme, who got to the place about five o'clock. With assistance he got the body out of the water, and found it to be that of a young woman, apparently about 24 or 25 years of age. Although the body was quite stiff and cold, it did not appear to have been in the water a great length of time. No one in the neighbourhood was able to identify the deceased, and it was thought, judging from her appearance, that she was a trsmp. The body was conveyed to the Country House Inn to await a coroner's inquisition. The depth of the water where the demised was found was eight inches, and was within forty yards of the railway. It is supposed that the deceased was not drowned at the place where the body vu found, but had been washed down some distance by the stream. To get to the stream from the main road a field would have to be crossed, from whence a steep incline descends to the "beck." The place is considered one of the most eunlikely to be chosen by a person about to commit suicide, and although it is not known how or by whet means she got into the water, yet it is supthat the deceased might have been trying to riser her way into the main road and have accidentally got into the stream, On Monday afternoon, Dr. Charteris made an examination of the body, but nothing was observed on which to found a supposition that foul play had been used. The Country House Inn was visited by persons from various parts of the district who came to view the remains of the deceased, but failed to identify them.
Brighouse & Rastrick Gazette. — 1883-09-08 (Brighouse, West Yorkshire, England)

SAD SUICIDES.  A sad story has been told before a coroner's jury by Ann Barritt, the wife of a carpenter, whose body was found a few days back in the Thames. She stated that her husband, who was 56 years of age, had been out of work for a lon,g time, and they had sold up their home bit by bit till at last they were obliged to shelter themselves in a common lodging-house in Chelsea. On the morning of the day on which he disappeared he offered her a penny, all he possessed. She refused to take it, saying that she might, perhaps get half a day's work. He was greatly upset, and said, "They shall never say that George Barritt went out of the world with a dirty face. I will get a clean shave with the money." She parted with him in Punlico,in a very distressed condition. In reply to the coroner, Mrs. Barritt said her husband had spoken of destroying himself. When walking about the Embankment at night, having no home, he said, "Now we are so poor, let 118 join hands and jump in the water together." She said that she could not do that, and, perhaps something would turn up to help them. Dece:ised could have had a job, but his tools were in pawn. He refused to go into the workhouse, and told the relieving officer, whom she applied to, that he would "sooner go over the bridge." In Barritt's pockets, when his body was recovered, was found a letter complaining of the conduct of a landlady of a house in Pimlico, where he had last resided. In this communication he said that even their bedclothes had been taken away, and that without money or friends he should make a hole in the water. The jury returned a verdict of suicide while in a state of unsound mind.  John Ladinore, shoemaker, lately employed as a labourer at Eaton Hall, near Chester, quarrelled with his wife some nights ago, and left her, exclaiming, "I will ,go and drown myself." The wife paid little attention to the threat at the time, but as her husband did not r. turn she gave information to the police, and the result was that Ladmore's body has since been found in the river Dee.
Brighouse & Rastrick Gazette. — 1883-12-08 (Brighouse, West Yorkshire, England)

SELLING OBSCENE BOOKS.  At the Surrey sessions on Tuesday Benjamin Judge, 58, described as a traveller, was arraigned on two indictments charging him with selling obscene books. Mr. Thompson prosecuted on behalf of the Public Prosecutor. The prisoner pleaded guilty. Inspector Swanson, who took the prisoner into custody, produced several of the books in which the prisoner dealt, and which were found at his office in Johnson's-court, Fleet-street. A list was also placed before the court of the prisoner's customers, and was stated to cottain the names of several army officers and gentlemen of social position. Warder Mclntyre, of ColdbalfrdFields Prison, proved three previous convictions against the prisoner for similar offences. Mr. Birney, for the. prisoner, addressed the bench in mitigation of punishment. He urged that since his last conviction 11 years ago the prisoner had endeavoured to obtain a respectable livelihood, and had only recently lapsed into his former practices, under circumstances of great pecuniary difficulties. Mr. Thompson said he was instructed by the authorities to press for the most exemplary punishment. Prisoner had carried on a most disgusting business, and had advertised his filthy publications very extensively through the Post Office. Some of his customers had been seen Ly the police, and were terror-stricken at the possibility of exposure. One of them had, in fact, threatened to commit suicide if his name transpired in connection with the case. —Mr. Hardman, after consultation with his brother magistrates, told the prisoner that the bench had given his case the most careful consideration. They had seen some of the books in which he dealt, and with regard to one of them he must say that he could not have imagined that anything so horrible could ever have been devised by human depravity. Its obscenity was something an ful. He then sentenced the prisoner to two years' hard labour on each of the .two indictments, and ordered the books found in prisoner's possession to be burnt.
Brighouse & Rastrick Gazette. — 1883-11-17 (Brighouse, West Yorkshire, England)

SUICIDE OF THREE SISTERS. The suicide of three sisters, of the name of Angeli, belonging to a very good family, has caused great consternation in Venice. The greatest mystery prevails as to the reasons which induced these three young girls to take so desperate a resolution. They left their house in the afternoon and walked as far as the Rive degli Schiavoni. Here they took the steam-boat, which was running for the last time that day to the Lido. One of the young ladies, before starting, had expressed a desire to go in a gondola. During the short journey they sat in the cabin with the steward and appeared very melancholy. One of them asked what time the last boat returned to Venice. They then commenced speaking French between themselves until they alighted at the Lido. They walked as far as the beach, and were seen late in the evening walking together. As they did not return home that evening information was given to the police, who at once traced their movements up to a late hour on the day of their disappearance. The news that a fisherman had discovered one of the bodies on the coast near Malamocco created much sensation. It now appears certain that they committed suicide. One of the sisters was suffering very severely from her eyesight, and the second was subjeet to epileptic fits. They had on several occasions declared that they found life miserable, and would put an end to it.. The youngest of the sisters, a girl of extreme beauty and grace, had been heard to say that she would not live an hour after her sisters' death. They had lost their mother, whom they adored, and it appears that before starting for the Lido they had placed a wreath of flowers on their mother's tomb. In the room of one of the sisters was found a volume of Mazzini's " Promessi Sposi " left open at the chair ter describing the sadness of Lucia on leaving her native home.  While a crowded meeting of coloured people was being held in a public hall at Laurinburg, North Carolina, the floor gave way, and the walls fell in. Many persons were>overed by the wreck, two being killed and six badly hurt. • Mr. Gladstone received the members of the Trans, vast cputation at his official residence in Downin6• street au Tuesday.
Brighouse & Rastrick Gazette. — 1883-10-13 (Brighouse, West Yorkshire, England)

ACC IDE NTS ON RAILWAYS.  The Board of Trade return of accidents and casualties on railways in the six ntonths ending 30th June last has been 'issued. During that period there were 553 persons killed and 2,047 injured on railways in the United Kingdom, as compared with 522 killed and 2,072 injured in the corresponding period last year. Of the 270 persons killed and 534 injured from causes other than accidents to trains, 51 of the killed and 374 of the injured were passengers. Of the latter, 15 were killed and 26 injured by falling between carriages and platforms; 6 were killed and 247 injured by falling. on to platforms, ballast, &c.; 18 were killed and 7 injured whilst passing over the line at stations; 38 were injurtd by the closing of carriage doors; 5 were killed and 17 injured by falling out of carriages during the travelling of trains; and 7 were killed and 39 injured from other causes; 34 persons were killed and 21 injured whilst passing over railways at level crossings; 128 persons weie killed and 83 injured when trespassing on the railways ; 32 persons committed suicide on railways; and of other persons not specifically classed, but mostly private people having business on the companies' premises, 25 were killed and 56 injured. During the six months there were 266 Servants of companies or contractors reported as having been killed, and 1,139 injured, in addition to those previously referred to. In addition to the above, the railway companies have reported to the Board of Trade the, following accidents which occurred upon their premises, but in which the movement of vehicles used exclusively upon rally-flys was not concerned, namely: 53 passengers injured whilst ascending or descending steps at stations; 19 injured by being struck by barrows, falling over packages, &c., on station platforms; 12 injured by falling off platforms; and 33 injure from other causes. Of servants of companies or contractors 3 were killed and 438 injured whilst loading, unloading, or sheeting waggons. There is a total in this case of accidents vf 31 persons, killed and 1,974 injured. Thus the total number of personal accidents lei.orted ,to the Board of Trade by the several railway companys during the six months amount to 584 persons killed and 4,021 injured.
Brighouse & Rastrick Gazette. — 1894-03-24 (Brighouse, West Yorkshire, England)

NECESSITY OF SLEEP.—There are thousands of busy people who die every year for want of sleep. Sleeplessness becomes a disease, and is the precursor of insanity. We speak of sleep as the imago of death, and our waking ideas as the image of life. Sleep is not like death ; for it is the period hi which the watse of the system CelSe9, or is reduced to its mieimum. Sleep repairs the waste which raking hours have made. It rebuilds the system. The night is the repair shop of the body. Every part) of the system is silently overhauled, and all the organs, tissues, and substances are replenished. Waking. consumes and exhausts ; sleep replaces end repairs. A man who would be a good worker must be a good sleeper. A man has as much force in him as he has provided for in sleep. The quality of mental activity depends upon the quality of sleep. Men need on au average eight hours of sleep in a day. A lymphatic temperament may require nine ; a nervous temperament, six or seven. tik lymphatic man is sluggish, moves and sleeps slowly. But a nervous inan acts quickly in everything. He does more in an hour than a sluggish man in two hours ; and so in his sleep. Every man must sleep according to his temperament ; but sight hours is the average. 'Whoever by work, pleasure, sorrow, or by any other cause, is regularly diminishing his sleep, is destroying his life. A man may hold out for a long thne, but the crash will come, and he will die. The is a great deal of intemperence besides that of tobacco, op'.um, or brandy. Men are dissipated who overtax their systems all day, and undersleep every night. A inati who dies of delirium tremens is no more a drunkard and a suicide than the minister, Ile lawyer, the merchant, the editor, or the printer, that works excessively all day, and sleeps but little all night.  Printed et the Office, Spring Bank, Brigboueel by Aldan BO WO, Natal  , r I pyl . :, ~.....,,, i if :4:,..:,, C.' /i'..(: i...,,A• -1111_1- 1•• ~....._. , ~, ,••;.,, ~--,;.-.,-,:70,. ~. •e-,4,--.,.. 1 iiViiireiri. ' rri-' 15iVZ.V. 1. i , ",..0/ ' 141 M 0t • ~
Brighouse & Rastrick Gazette. — 1880-06-05 (Brighouse, West Yorkshire, England)

SUICIDES IN EITROPE.—A Swiss statistician has taken the trouble to make some elaborate calculations as to the numbers of suicides which took place in various European countries during the year 1878. The statistics show that Saxony bears away the bell, the proportion of suicides being 31 to every 10,000 inhabitants. Denmark follows with 26. The third place is taken by Switzerland with 23; and Germany claims the next three positions on the list with Baden, 1 8; Prussia, 16; and Wurtemburg' 15. France and Austria-Hungary tie for seventh place with 1:4; Bavaria follows with I'l ; then comes Sweden with 09, Belgium and Norway with 01, and then England, with 06 per 10,000: The list is closed by Italy, which shows 04 only. Russia is not included in the list, the information received not being complete. A FRENCH WAY OF KILLING SLuas. The Paris Figaro gives the following advice to gardeners :—Do not waste your orange peel, but make an incision round it midway and remove carefully in two halves: take the two cups and place them, hollow downwards, one on the grass and the other among the plants or vegetables; at the end of a few days you will be rid of all slugs, black or green. Every morning you will find that they have taken refuge under the two cups of orange peel, and can be easily destroyed. A DRITMENDOUS Loss.—The drum is to be replaced in the French army by the bugle, and the soldiers of France must say " Ta-ta! "to the "tattoo." The roll of the drum is very inspiriting, but can it be heard amid the noise of battle? There is the rub—or rather, rub-a-dub. Authorities say "No," and also suggest the very sight of "drum-sticks" makes young soldiers "chicken-hearted." So the drums are to go—a minor loss, after all, for it is the tall warrior with the long stick who is the "major." The military " drummerdary " will soon then be as extinct as the "dodo," now that the drum is to be beaten by the bugle !—Fun.
Brighouse & Rastrick Gazette. — 1880-06-05 (Brighouse, West Yorkshire, England)

JUMPING DOWN A COALPIT.—A dreadful suicide was committed at Kersley, near Bolton, on Thursday afternoon week, by a man named William Braddock, 34 years of age, residing in Gaylor-street, off Oldham-road, Manchester. Deceased was employed as a carter by Mr. Travis, coal merchant, Manchester. He left that city about eight o'clock in the morning in order to proceed to the Trencherbone Pit, Spindle Point, Kersley, where he arrived about noon. He backed one of his carts to the loading set at the Trencherbone Pit, and then went to the pit brow. Subsequently he entered the cabin, where he remained for some time chatting with the browman, who was taking his dinner. Shortly afterwards deceased was seen to approach the upcast shaft, which is protected by iron bars, under which he deliberately crept. Almost immediately he was seen to fall into the pit, which is 500 yards deep. The noise caused by the falling body attracted the attention of some men who were engaged near the pit "eye." On looking about they found the remains of Braddock scattered here and there. A portion of his body was found on the cage standing at the bottom of the shaft. The arms were discovered to have been torn from the body at the shoulder joints, while the right leg had been severed at the hip, and the lower part of the left was torn off at the knee. The decealied's head was cut in two immediately under the eyes, while the brains were lying about in several places. The trunk itself was rent down the left side. One of the pitmen, who saw the deceased fall down the shaft, stated that he seemed to clutch at the iron bar at the top just as he was in the act of falling into the pit mouth. Whilst in the cabin deceased does not seem to have shown any symptoms of derangement, but it is stated that he had borrowed some money lately, and that he had spent it in drink.