npedrazzini/19thc_murder_suicide_news huggingface dataset:
The Cotton Factory Times. — 1905-01-20 (Manchester, Greater Manchester, England)

MURDER AND SUICIDE.  INQUEST AND VERDICT  The inquiry into the circumstances surrounding a painful domestic tragedy which was enacted in Preston on Friday night, when Robert Towers, an overlooker in the employ of Messrs. Horrockses, Crowdsue, and Co., at Fishwick Mill, murdered his fourmonths-Old infant son and afterwards inflicted fatal injuries on himself, took place at Preston Police Station, on Monday evening before the coroner (Mr. J. Parker) and a jury. Mrs. Towers, who was able to attend the inquest, though obviously very weak and intensely dAktreseed, broke into sobs several times while givinMer evidence, in which she said that her husband was 26 years of age, while the infant Harold was four months old. About six or eight weeks ago her husband was off work suffering from melancholia, and was attended by Dr. TindalL He improved a little and returned to work, but never seemed to thoroughly recover. On Wednesday night he was crying, and when she asked him what was the matter he replied that it was because he could not manage his work. On Friday evening he returned home &bout 6 20, and had a hearty tea. He then sat in the kitchen, and seemed very strange and quiet. She asked hint what was the matter, but got no reply. About 920 she asked him what he would have for supper, and he replied "Chips and fish." She went out to purchase them, leaving her husband in the kitchen and the baby asleep in the cradle. She was only absent two or three minutes, and on returning found the front door shut and barred. She knocked and called out "Bob, let me in," but got no reply. A boy opened the front window with a knife, and witness got through, and having opened the front, door, some people entered the house. She found her husband in the back kitchen, head foremost in the dolly-tub. Some men pulled him out, and she then found that his throat was out. Dr. Tindall and the polico were summoned immediately. Sarah Jane Wilson, Munca,ster-road, wife of Jarne-s Wilson, a moulder, spoke to entering the house along with the previous witness and finding the child lying dead in the cradle with its throat out. James Wilson husband of the last witness, gave corroborative_ evidence,  Constable Davison tendered evidence as to removing Towers to the Infirmary in thy>. ambulance.. Dr. Pellow, junior house surgeon at the Preston Infirmary. said Towers was admitted to the institution a little before ten o'clock. He was suffering from an incised wound in the throat 44 inches long, which had, in the doctor's opinion, been inflicted by the razor produced. He did not regain consciousness, but died shortly after midnight death being due to syncope, probably from hemorrhage and shock. The jury returned a verdict of "Wilful murder" in the case of the child, and "Suicide whilst temporarily insane" in the case of Towers. The foreman mid the jury desired to•express their -sympathy with Mrs. Towers in her great sorrow.
The Cotton Factory Times. — 1905-11-24 (Manchester, Greater Manchester, England)

FORMER CARDROOIVI OFFICIAL.  On Monday an inquest was held in the Marsden Urban District Council Room touching the death of Thomas Darling Harvieson (50), woollen warper, of Hard End, Marsden.  Sarah Harvieson, widow of tie deceased. who lives at Oldham. said she had not seen the deceased eince August 26th last. About seven years ago he attempted to commit suicide. He had never been in an akvhim. He had been a heavy drinker. When he attempted to take his life before he tried to hang himself.  George Edward Armitage, engine cleaner at Butterley waterworks, said deceased had bean drinking heavily lately. Witness saw the landlady of the Hare and Hounds public-house between half-past twelve and a quarter to one on Sunday. She asked him to see if he could find deceased in the house, as she- had hie dinner ready. Witness got up a ladder into one of the bedrooms, and on proceeding to the nest bedroom found the deceased in bed. Witness felt his hands. and found they were cold, and on speaking to him received no answer. There was a bottle at the side of the bed. The door downstairs was fastened inside, and the key was on the floor. Dr. J. F. Aspinwall, Marsden. said he was called to the deceased at about two o'clock on Sunday afternoon. He was in bed lying on his back, and had been dead from twelve to fifteen hours. The bottle produced contained about 20 drops of solution of cyanide of potassium when witness was first shown it. It was a very rapid poison. A large dose would be fatal in a few minutes. A verdiot was returned that the deceased committed suicide by poison whilst of unsound mind. Mr. Harvieson was some twelve years ago a prominent member of the Oldham Card and Blowing Room Operatives' Association. and afterward became the president and subsequently the serretai• ef toe amociation. He was well-known in 01‘11.•- Unlimited Cotton Mill Building.  MR.
The Cotton Factory Times. — 1905-07-14 (Manchester, Greater Manchester, England)

THE MARQUESS DISAPPEARS.  The Marquess of Putney, the Duke and Duchess ot Datchet's ten months old son, had disappeared. His Iwo nurses, Mrs. Olive and her niece, Sarah Barnes, had taken him in the park, and left him for a few moments alone in his bessinette under the trees, and when they returned he had gone. When asked Why she had left the baby all alone, Mrs. Olive said that her husband, whom she had not seen for five rears, had met her unexpectedly, and demanded an interview, and being afraid that people would recognise her if she had the ducal carriage with her left it under the trees. The Duke of Datchet was of the opinion that Mrs. Olive's husband (who had just finished a sentence for burglary) had stolen the abild for a possible reward, but Joynson, his personal attendant, told the duke that three times he had been warned in a dream that the child would disappear, and further that on the day of the infant's birth lie had received an anonymous typewritten note, which read: "Don't imagine that the h4arquess of Putney will be left either to your master Or to you." . The duchess was distracted when she heard of the loss of her son. She sent at once for Mrs. Olive, but it was Sarah Barnes who came rushing into the room With the news that her aunt had committed suicide. Before her marriage, the duchess had been engaged to the duke's cousin, Ivor Daore, and at the time of the marriage it was said that she had thrown ever the heir to the dukedom to marry the actual holder. Consequently Ivor Deere and the new duchess were not the best of friends. Further, the duchess firmly believed that it was through Ivor Dacre that her baby had disappeared, and openly accused him of the kidnapping.
The Cotton Factory Times. — 1905-09-08 (Manchester, Greater Manchester, England)

THE INVENTOR OF THE SPINNING MULE.  An illustrated artiele in the September number of the "Magazine of Commerce" tells the story of Samuel Crompton, the inventor of the spinning mule.. Crompton was born at Firwood Fold, a suburb of Bolton, in 1753. His parents had a farm there, and in their spare hours oarded, spun, and wove cotton.  Crompton laboured for years at his machine, and the dim lights in his garret at nightfall attracted public attention. Prying eyes climbed the trees near the Hall to watch his operations; more daring spirits found a way to his windows, while others scaled the roof—all with one determination to filch his secret; for he had begun to turn out weft of such strength and fineness as was never before dreamt of. For this he could command his own price. The hand-spinners were up in arms and threatened to smash the machine.  When Crompton heard the wreckers in the neighbourhood he smartly took his mule to pieces and hid it in a huge box in the garret. This he deftly covered over with the clay which composed the garret floor, so that the box had the appearance of a common earth-heap. He saved his mule, set it up again, and spun in secret as aforetime. We have one of Croimpton's original mules remaining. This may be seen to-day at the Chadwick Museum, Bolton. It was probably made about 1780, and has in it the embodiment of the main features of the mule of to-day. Strange as it may seem, with all the enormous ad. yanoes of mechanical science and its application during the past 100 years, the principles of Crompton's mule are as closely followed to-day as when his secret was divulged to the world. Crompton declined all offers of partnership, and failed to patent his invention. He gave his mule to the world, and cotton spinning in Lancashire was completely revolutionised. A subscription list was tardily built up, amounting in all to £67 6s. 6cL Many subscribers promised a guinea, but none paid more than ss. 6d. He applied to Parliament fOT ' fair remuneration. His friend, John Flrown, went to London to help him, but was PO discomfited that he committed suicide at his lodgings. Crompton then travelled South. and himself sought help from the Commons. On May 1, 1812, Spencer Peroeval. then Premier, was about to enter the House to plead for £lO.OOO for Crompton, when the pistol of the assassin, Bellingham, laid him low. Crompton eventually received £5,000, with which he resumed business at Darwen, and later at King-street. Bolton.
The Cotton Factory Times. — 1905-12-22 (Manchester, Greater Manchester, England)

REMARKABLE CASE.  At the Leigh Borough Police Court, on Thursday week, Grace Ann Ratcliffe (18), daughter of John Ratcliffe, a collier, of 15, Milton-street, Leigh, was brought up charged with attempting to commit suicide. The girl pleaded guilty. Superintendent Cooker said on Wednesday morning about five o'clock the girl's mother called her up to go to Messrs. Gamble and Smith's, Welch Hill Mill' Leigh, where she was employed as a tenter. She refused to go, either then or after breakfast, and about eight o'clock left home, saying she would poison herself. About twenty minutes to twelve she returned home with a bottle containing salts of lemon. It appeared that she had got a girl to go into Foggitt's shop for three pennyworth of salts of lemon, and she mixed it with water ae directed by the chemist, and began drinking it. Her mother rushed out for the police, and. luckily Constable Proffit happened to be close at hand. The girl was in the yard, And on seeing the constable coming shut the .yard gate and bolted it and rushed into the adjoining closet to conceal herself. The constable had to climb over the gate and break open the closet door, and being an ambulance man he forced her to take powerful emetics, and afterwards Dr. Martin was called, and ordered her removal to the workhouse. However, the constable first of all took her to the police station, and on the way the girl handed him the following letter in her handwriting: December 13th, 1905. Dear Grandmas—Sorry to tell you I am going to poison myself. They have turned me out, and my mother has thrown stones after mo, and told me to go and drown myself, but I am going to poison myself instead. They have always wished me dead and that something would happen to me in the mill. They are wicked with me because I am not on looms. They won't let me go nowhere, and it breaks my heart when I see other girls going where they like; and me, I can't go nowhere. I was wanting to go to the night school at the Parish School, and they will not let me go. I am trying to be a better girl, but I can't, they are always vexing me. I can't be good or bad, and if I stay on earth much longer I shall be a cripple, for my father is always saying he will oripple me or murder me. They will tell you that I am out every night in the week, but it is a lie, and when I get out I have to dodge out. They have ill-used me something shameful since I came home, but God will pay them for it. It is not me, but it is my money they want My father has tried to strangle me twice, so I am saying goodbye to you, for I have not a friend in the wide world. Tell my. aunts and uncles and all my friends, for it Is my wish, so good-bye.—Yours truly, (Signed)
The Cotton Factory Times. — 1905-07-21 (Manchester, Greater Manchester, England)

RICHANDBYMARSH OF PUTNEY!  THE MARQUESS DISAPPEARS.  The Marquess of Putney, the Duke and Duchess of Datchet's ten months old son, had disappeared. His two nurses, Mrs. Olive and her niece, Sarah Barnes, had taken him in the park, and left him for a few moments alone in his bassinette under the trees, a.ntl when they returned he had gone. When asked why she had left the baby all alone, Mrs. Olive said that her husband, whom she had not seen for five years, had met her unexpectedly, and demanded an interview, and being afraid that people would recognise her if she had the ducal carriage with her left it under the trees. The Duke of Datchet was of the opinion that Mrs. Olive's husband (who had just finished a sentence for burglary) had stolen the child for a possible reward, but Joynson, his personal attendant, told the duke that three times he had been warned in a dream that the child would disappear, and further that on the day of the infant's birth he had received an anonymous typewritten note, which read: "Don't imagine that the Marquess of Putney will be left either to your master or to you." The duchess was distracted when she heard of the loss of her son. She sent at once for Mrs. Olive, but it was Sarah Barnes who name rushing into the room with the news that her aunt had committed suicide.  Before her marriage, the duchess had hen gaged to the duke's cousin, Ivor Deere, and at the time of the marriage it was said that she had thrown over the heir to the dukedom to marry the actual holder. Consequently Ivor Dacre and the new duchess were not the best of friends. Further, the duchess firmly believed that it was through Ivor Dacre that her baby had disappeared, and openly accused him of the kidnapping. Dacre vehemently denied any part in the kidnapping of the child, but he admitted that it was he who introduced Mrs. Olive into the household.  On the evening of the disappearance of the baby, the Duke. who seemed very ill at ease, suddenly said to Joynson : "Have you any idea where she is?" and Joynson answered curtly: "She 13 dead. She died the week you were married.' "Then," replied the Duke, " I have nothing to fear."
The Cotton Factory Times. — 1903-04-10 (Manchester, Greater Manchester, England)

THE DRIVING OF WEAVERS.  The agitation which took place throughout the country nearly two years ago, in consequence of the alleged driving of weavers, is still fresh in the minds of the operatives and the public generally. The bitterness with which the weavers regard this hateful system will not he modified by what took place at Accrington last week. A young woman, 17 years of age, attempted to commit suicide by throwing herself into the canal, and she stated that she had done this because of the overlooker's " nagging' about her earnings, and he having told her that if she didn't shape better he would have to put her back to two looms again. The overlooker admitted he had spoken to the weaver several times a week, although she had only been on three looms five weeks. lie also said that his wages were dependent upon the wages earned by the weavers, and they (the overlookers) were expected to get what they could. The chairman of the magistrates before whom the girl was summoned for attempted suicide said there were many such cases happening, and there must be some reason for it. It appeared to him that the system of driving in Weaving sheds was one that must he taken seriously into consideration. So far as he could see, the bulk of the tacklers had no conscience. They were paid by results, and a weak girl suffered. The tackler evidently did not take the girl's health into consideration. Another magistrate said he could hear weavers talking in the street about the driving, and how they Were abused by the tacklers. He thought the time had come when something should he done to put it down. We think the magisterial strictures will Speak for themselves, and we have previously expressed our opinion of the detestable system of driving, or, as the Americans Would say, "hustling." When the matter Was before the joint committee of emPloyers and operatives' representatives after the unfortunate Darwen affair the operatives asked that the slate system and posting of weavers' wages should be abolished; that overlookers should be paid a fixed Wage instead of poundage on the weavers' earnings; and that the power of engaging and dismissing should be taken from the overlookers and placed in the hands of the employer or his manager. We believe the employers condemned the slate and posting of wages, and also expressed themselves favourable to the employers or managers alone being responsible for the engaging find discharging of weavers. They did not, nwever, concede the whole of the points M the operatives' charter, but expressed themselves ready to deal with any authenticated case of " driving " that might be brought before them by the operatives' °f'icials• It seems to us th.-t there is now en opportunity of further pressing the Calais upon the notice of the employers.
The Cotton Factory Times. — 1903-06-12 (Manchester, Greater Manchester, England)

CHORLEY.  Resumption of Work.—Most of the mills here that were stopped during Whit week resumed work e. Monday morning. At Messrs. Nixon and Ki however, operations were not recommenced till Tuesday morning, while at one of the mills belonging to Messrs. J. H. Gillett and Sons the stoppage was still further prolonged owing to some repairs being carried out. Alarming Accident.—A youth named Fowler, residing at Botany, and employed at Heapey illeachworks, met with an accident while followi • his employment last Tuesday. It appears that -. jacket he was wearing by some means got entangled with a revolving shaft. He was rapidly drawn in, and there appeared every probability of his being whirled round the shaft, when his clothing gave way and he fell to the ground. He was found to be rather severely bruised and shaken, and he was promptly conveyed to the Rawcliffe Hospital, where his injuries were attended to. His clothes were practically all torn off him.  Suicide of a Weaver.—The body of a woman named Maggie Hunter was discovered in the Leeds and Liverpool Canal on Friday morning. The girl had been out of work several weeks, and had been missing from home since the previous Monday night. At an inquest, which was held at the Frooke's Arms on Saturday, it was said that the girl had complained that she had not been treated well at home since she had been out of work, and that in consequence she had threatened to destroy herself. The parents of the girl were severely cross-questioned on these points, but both denied the truth of the statements made. The jury returned a verdict of "Suicide while temporarily insane."  Trades Council.—The Monthly meeting was held on Tuesday at the Weavers' Institute, Cliffordstreet, Mr. Sam Barker, vice-president, in the chair. The attitude of Lord Barcarres. M.P. for Chorley Division, towards the Trades Dispute Bill, recently brought before Parliament by Mr. Shackleton, M.P., was brought before the meeting, and the secretary was instructed to write his lordship, expressing the dissatisfaction of the Council at his failure to attend the conference that was convened by the textile workers on the sobject. and at his action in voting against the bill when before the House. A discussion took place on Mr. Chamberlain's proposed fiscal reform, and there was a general consensus of opinion against the proposed changes, several of the delegates contending that whilst it would admittedly bring about an increased cost of the necessaries of life, the probability of it bringing along with it increased wages or old-age pensions was too uncertain a quantity to be acceptable to the workng classes. It was eventually decided that the question be further discussed at the next Council meeting.
The Cotton Factory Times. — 1903-11-06 (Manchester, Greater Manchester, England)

NARROW ESCAPE OF TWO WOMEN.  An extraordinary alleged attempted double murder and suicide took place at Littletown on Friday night. A man named Firth Goddard, a cloth weaver, who has latterly lived at White Les, Batley, journeyed to Littletown, with the intention, it is said of doing bodily harm to • woman named Alice Ann Firth, with whom he bag lived for several years. She had latterly, however. shown an inclination to live with him no longer, and last Sunday midnight he came to White Lea and created a great disturbance because she would not have him in the house. The police come on the scene, and reported him for havini . need obscene language, but he left the district. The woman Firth is employed at Messrs. J. W. and F. N. Priestley' Victoria Mills, Liversedge. and she left work as usual on Friday at six p.m. Goddard accosted her in the street With the remark. •' Are you going to live with me again f" And she replied " No." On her reinsal to allow him to go with her It is alleged that he blurted out that he had something for her, and, producing a revolver, fired two @bola. The first missed its mark, but the second lodged in her wearing apparel. bat was pre:mted from penetrating her body probably by the corsets which she wore. Dr. Stevenson was summoned to her aid, and the bullet fell out of her dress. She proceeded later to her horns. Another attempt,it is alleged, was made upon the life of Jane Sharp c3Ol, millhand, of Queen-street, Heckmondwike, who dodged, however, and ran in the direction of Clockheatoo. Goddard was apprehended shortly afterwards by Sergeant Nicholaon, who found that he bad cut his throat with a pocket knife. The officer took possession of the revolver, knife, and 36 cartridges. Goddard made rambling statement, to the effect that he did not know why he had done it. or what he had done, lie was cOnveyed to the Hoekmondwik4 police station.