npedrazzini/19thc_murder_suicide_news huggingface dataset:
The Sun. — 1845-09-09 (London, England)

LONDON, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 1845,  DISTRESSING SUICIDE FROM SEDUCTION.—Oft Saturday evening a coroner's inquest was held at the slack Horse, Lower-road, Deptford, before C. J. Carttar, Esq., on the body of a young female, named Mary Anne Robson, aged only nineteen, the daughter of one of the master shipwrights in the dockyard at Deptford, who committed suicide by throwing herself into the Surrey Canal on Thursday night. Mary Lake, the wife of a master smith in the dockyard, deposed that in consequence of the indisposition of the mother of the deceased, witness and her husband went to lodge in the house of Mr. Robson. She had known the deceased for some months previously, and had only gone to live there after the deceased ran away from home about two months since. The deceased was a virtuous girl up to the time of her leaving her home, to which she returned about a fortnight since, after an absence of fire weeks. A girt named Emily Skinner, who was frequently with the deceased, left her home with her, and they had lived together with a young man, named Jones. Witness last saw deceased alive about six o'clock on Thursday, the day of her death. Since her return home, the deceased appeared much depressed in spirits. Emma Brown deposed that on Thursday night, shortly after eleven o'clock, she heard the splash of something heavy in the water. On hearing the splashing, witness went out and saw some person plunging about in the water; also heard the person moan heavily two or three times. Witness instantly raised an alarm, when several persons came to her assistance ; in the meantime, witness got a prop, but it was not of sufficient length t i each the deceased. Witness found the bonnet, shawl, gloves, an.i locket-handkerchief of the deceased close by her door. The dtteased was in the water about ten minutes. Emily Skinner, the young woman alluded to above, said she and deceased left home together, and went to reside in a common brothel in Fairy's-buildit gr, Bermondsey. They were taken there by a young womar whom they met at :the St. Helena Tea-gardens at Rotherhithe. Whilst at the brothel was visited by a young mar , named Jones. On one occasion witness heard deceased threat::_ to make away with herself, but afterwards said she was only kaking. Upon being closely questioned by the Coroner, the witscss admitted having said, " Has she gone and done it? Oh! v.../ God, I must go and tell him, or else he will get into trouble and me too," but she would not give any explanation. This ri ness gave her evidence with great nonchalance. The Coroner saiu there was no doubt remorse, arising from the course of life she had been leading, had rendered her unhappy, and had led to this disastrous end. TI e jury returned a verdict of Temporary insanity." It was but a vain hope, it seems, that we expresser: ARRIVAL or Two
The Sun. — 1845-09-09 (London, England)

INQUEST ON MR. OLDFlELD.—Yesterday Mr. G-. J. Mills resumed, at the Marquis of Hastings, Ossulaton.street, New-road, the inquest on the young gentleman who committed suicide in a house of ill-fame, 26, Aldenham.street, which was adjourned from last Friday, that the body might be identified. Mrs. Emily Oldfield, the wife of Mr. Oldfield, reps. maker, Southgate-road, Ball's-pond, Islington, who was deep:y affected, daring her evidence, stated that the deceased was her son, and that he was warehouse drink in the employ of Messrs. Warwick and Sons, wholesale druggists, Garlick-hill. Last Tuesday morning he left home for his office, and told witness that he would, if allowed by his employers, go with some friends to Gravesend that day. She gave him Ss. 6d.. but did not know what other money he had. She never afterwards saw him alive. Her impression was that he had been drugged in the house in Aldenham. street, and then murdered. The coroner 'suited Mrs. Oldfield that both he and the jury were fully convinced, by the evidence given on the first day, that her son had not been drugged. Mr. Wrentmore, brother and assistant to Mr. Wrentmore, surgeon, said that he sold to the servant of the house in Aldenham.street, half an ounce of the essential oil of almonds, in an ounce and a half bottle. He imagined that it was required by a soap-maker or a pastry-cook. Mr. G. Wakefield, surgeon, examined the body, which, from the sesophagus downwards, gave evidence of the destructive presence of prussic acid, and which, nn doubt, was the cause of death. The quantity sold the servant was sufficient to kill four persons. The jury, after half an hour's deliberation, returned a verdict," That George Oldfield, jun., died by taking the essential oil of almonds with his own hands, but that there was no evidence of his state of mind at the time that he took it." The jury accom. panied the verdict with a censure on Mr. Wrentmore, jun., for having so incautiously sold the poison. HORDING Fo RN
The Sun. — 1845-09-09 (London, England)

DEATH BY DRINKING.—On Saturday Mr. Baker held an inquest at the Three Cranes, Fashion-street, Spitalfields, relative to the death of John Connell, aged forty, a labourer. The room in which the body was viewed by the jury exhibited an appearance of the most abject destitution, there being no bed, and scarcely any furniture. John Waller said that he knew the deceased, who about twelve months ago enjoyed a good state of health. He had since been left an annuity, by which he obtained about Itis. a week. Upon the receipt of that money he and his wife led a life of constant inebriat►on, the whole of the money being spent in drink. In witness's opinion his death was brought on from not taking the necessaries of life." He was offered to be admitted into the workhouse, but he refused to go there. Witness advised him to have medical assistance, but this he also objected to; and he died on Friday evening. The Coroner asked if the wife was present ?—Mr. Hart, the summoning officer, said she was then in a state of intoxication, and unable to attend. Verdict, " Natural death." At the Court of Assize of the Haut-Rhin, on the 29th, ult , a man named Freyburger, of the commune of Buetwilier, was tried for the murder of M. Wagner, the Cure of that place. M. Wagner was returning from mass on the 10th of June last, when he was fired at and sturck by a ball in the head, and ten days after he expired. Freyburger was susspected, for he was known to have uttered menaces against the Cure, who some time before had refused to read the burial service over the wife of Freyburger, who had hanged herself, and had also on the following Sunday preached a sermon against suicide. The man was arrested, and confessed that he bad fired at M. Wagner from his window, but he pretended that he had done so because the Cure and some black man had been plotting against him. He gave other symptoms of insanity, but they were supposed to be simulated, and this was the opinion of the jury, for he was found guilty, hut with extenuating circumstances. He was sentenced to 20 years' imprisonment with hard labour.— French Paper.
The Sun. — 1845-09-09 (London, England)

DEATH BY DRINKING.-011 Saturday Mr. Baker held an inquest at the Three Cranes, Fashion-street, Spital• fi. Ids, relative to the death of John Connell, aged forty, a labourer. The room in which the body was viewed by the jury exhibited an appearance of the most abject destitution, there being to bed, and scarcely any furniture. John Waller said that he knew the deceased, who about twelve months ago enjoyed a good slate of health. He had since been left ars annuity, by which he obtained about 16s. a week. Upon the receipt of that money he and his wife led a life of constant inebriation, the whole of the money being spent in drink. In witness's opinion his death was brought on from not taking the necessaries of life. He was offered to be ad•. mitted into the workhouse, but he refused to go there. Witness advised him to have medical assistance, but this he also objected to ; and he died on Friday evening. The Coroner asked if the wife was present?—Mr. Hart, the summoning officer, said she was then in a state of intoxication, and unable to attend. Verdict, " Natural death."  At the Court of Assize of the Haut-Rhin, on the 29th, ult , a man named Freyburger, of the commune of Buetw tiler, was tried for the murder of M. Wagner, the Cure of that place. M. Wagner was returning from mass on the 10th of June last, when he was fired at and sturek by a ball in the head, and ten days after he expired. Freyburger was susspected, for he was known to have uttered menaces against the Cure, who some time before had refused to read the burial service over the wife of Freyburger, who had hanged herself, and had also on the following Sunday preached a sermon against suicide. The man was arrested, and confessed that he had fired at M. Wagner from his window, but he pretended that he had done so because the Cure and some black man had been plotting against him. He gave other symptoms of insanity, but they were supposed to be simulated, and this was the Opinion of the jury, for he was found guilty, hut with extenuating circumstances. He was sentenced to 20 years' imprisonment with hard labour.— French Paper.
The Sun. — 1845-09-09 (London, England)

DEATH HY DRINKING.—On Saturday Mr. Baker held an inquest at the Three Cranes, Fashion-street, Spitalfields, relative to the death of John Connell, aged forty, a labourer. The room in which the body was viewed by the jury exhibited an appearance of the most abject destitution, there being no bed, and scarcely any furniture. John Waller said that he knew the deceased, who about twelve months ago enjoyed a good state of health. He had since been left an annuity, by which he obtained about 16s. a week. Upon the receipt of that money he and his wife led a life of constant inebriation, the whole of the money being spent in drink. In witness's opinion-his death was brought on from not taking the necessaries of life.- He was offered to be'ada milted into the workhouse, but he refused to go there. Witness advised him to have raedLal assistance, but this he also objected to ; and he died en Friday evening. The Coroner asked if the wife was present?—Mr. Hart, the summoning officer, said she was then in a state of intoxication, and unable to attend. Verdict, " .Natural death."  At the Court of Assize of the llaut-Rhin, on the 29th, ult , a man named Freyburger, of the commune of Buetwilier, was tried for the murder of M. Wagner, the Cure of that place. M. Wagner was returning from mass on the 10th of June last, when he was fired at and sturck by a ball in the head, and ten days after he expired. Freyburger was susspected, for he was known to have uttered menaces against the Cure, who some time before had refused to read the burial service over the wife of Freyburger, who had hanged herself, and had also on the following Sunday preached a sermon against suicide. The man was arrested, and confessed that he had fired at M. Wagner from his window, but he pretended that he had done so because the Curd and some black man had been plotting against him. He gave other symptoms of insanity, but they were supposed to be simulated, and this was the opinion of the jury, for he was found guilty, but with extenuating circumstances. He was sentenced to 2) years' imprisonment with hard labour.— French Paper.
The Sun. — 1845-10-02 (London, England)

MORTALITY IN THE METROPOLIS.—.The number of deaths last week was 858, exceeding that of the previous week by 84, and about 46 below the average of five summers. 'The deaths from measles and bronchitis are still high, being respectively 58, 22, average 24, 7. The deaths from small. pox 4, and from violence 37, of which 13 were from fractures and contusions, 7 from drowning, 5 from hanging and suffocation, and 9 from burns and chemical injuries. This includes .the :seven unfortunate persons who lost their lives by the explosion at Woolwich. Three suicides occurred. BORRIBLE CASE OF MANSLAUGHTER AT NEW cAsTLE.—LAn inquest was held on Monday afternoon, at Newcastle, on the body of Ralph Parker, a young man, who came to his death under the following melancholy circumstances:—On Saturday night week deceased went into an eating-house in the Pudding-chare, to procure some refreshment. Some other persons were there when he went in, among whom were Selby Green and John Bell. Bell and others were tantalising Green in various ways, some times taking a portion of the meat off his plate. Parker, the deceased, joine,i in annoying Green, and also attempted to take a piece of the meat off his plate, when, of a sudden, Green took the knife he was eating with, and plunged it into Parker's eye with such force that it entered the socket several inches, and he was obliged to relinquish his hold of it and leave it there. The deceased shouted in excruciating agony, and attempted to take the knife out, but could not ; Bell endeavoured to pull it out, using great strength, but failed, and Green himself, awakened to a sense of the injury he bad inflicted, also tried with both hands, and at lenath succeeded with much difficulty in extricating it. The police trok Green into custody, and conveyed Parker to his residence, where he lingered in great pain till Sunday, when death put an end to his sufferings. After the jury bad viewel the body, the Coroner ordered a post mortent examination to be made, and adjourned the inquest for that purpose.
The Sun. — 1845-01-11 (London, England)

MAY. Yesterday Mr. Baker held an inquest ut the City of Paris, Bishop Bonner's-fields, Bethnal-green, on the body of Mr. W. May, aged forty-four, silk manufacturer, of King-street, Old Ford-lane. The evidence condensed showed that the deceased had been missing since the 9th of last December, and his body was not found until Thursday night last, when it was discovered in the Regent's Canal, between Bonnerhall-bridge and the new union workhouse. When deceased was seen last alive he had in his possession several sovereigns—when found he had but one. The body was found a mile distant from his house, and in an opposite direction, and his hat and a handkerchief more than a mile from the canal, and: some bills belonging to him at a quarter of a mile from his home. lie usually carried a snuff-box and spectacles in his pockets, but they were not found on him after death. The Coroner said that the finding of property belonging to deceased in such opposite directions, and so far apart, gave the case a very mysterious complexion. Mr. J. Salter, a silk manufacturer, who parted with deceased at the Job's Castle, Norton Folgate, on the night of the 9th ult., at eleven o'clock, left him in good spirits, and of sound intellect, and was of opinion that his death was caused by unfair moans. Mr. Storey, surgeoa, of the Mile-end-road, who had examined the body, found the tongue protruding, several cuts on the forehead, on the right eyebrow, and beneath the same eye. Several of the upper teeth were forced from their sockets and were found loose in the mouth, and there were cuts inside each lip. The left arm was fractured and so were several of the ribs. The witness thought, both from external and internal appearances, that deceased had been immersed in the water during life, but that the severest of the injuries described had been caused after death, probably by the bottoms of the barges. He considered it rather a case of suicide than of death from violence on the part of others. It having been proved that deceased was a sober, sensible man, in prosperous circumstances, the foreman and jury intimated that they could not come to a conscientious conclusion without further evidence. They proposed the adjournment of the inquest for a week. Adjourned accordingly.
The Sun. — 1845-01-11 (London, England)

MAY. Yesterday Mr. Baker held an inquest at the City of Paris, Bishop Bonner's-fields, Bethnal-green, on the body of Mr. W. May, aged forty-four, silk manufacturer, of King-street, Old Ford-lane. The evidence condensed showed that the deceased bad been missing since the 9th of last December, and his body was not found until Thursday night last, when it was discovered i❑ the Regent's Canal, between Bonnerhall-bridge and the new union workhouse. When deceased was seen last alive he had in his possession several sovereigns—when found he bad but one. The body was found a mile distant from his house, and in an opposite direction, and his hat and a handkerchief more than a mile from the canal, and: some bills belonging to him at a quarter of a mile from his home. He usually carried a snuff-box and spectacles in his pockets, but they were hot found on him-after death. The Coroner said that the finding of property belonging to deceased in sueh opposite directions, and so far apart, gave the case a very mysterious complexion. Mr. J. Salter, a silk manufacturer, who parted with deceased at the Job's Castle, Norton Folgate, on the night of the 9th ult., at eleven o'clock, left him in good spirits, and of sound intellect, and was of opinion that his death was caused by unfair means. Mr. Storey, surgeon, of the Mile-end-road, who had examined the body, found the tongue protruding, several cuts on the forehead, on the right eyebrow, and beneath the same eye. Several of the upper teeth were forced from their sockets and were found loose in the mouth, and there were cuts inside each lip. The left arm was fractured and so were several of the ribs. The witness thought, both from external and internal appearances, that deceased had been immersed in the water during life, but that the severest of the injuries described had been caused after death, probably by the bottoms of the barges. lie considered it rather a case of suicide than of death from violence on the part of others. It having been proved that deceased was a sober, sensible man, in prosperous circumstances, the foreman and jury intimated that they could not come to a conscientious conclusion without further evidence. They proposed the adjournment of the inquest for a week. Adjourned accordingly.
The Sun. — 1845-09-11 (London, England)

THE ROYAL HOSPITAL SCHOOLS, GREENWICH, AND THE CALEDONIAN ASYLUM SCHOOL, I'ENTONVILLE. —On Saturday the boys of the latter school, with Captain Lamont, R.N., one of the Directors, and the officers connected with that Corporation, paid a t)dteiodn.togTehtiele together, iil,tll,rtektiin ofi nbo,t,llll visit to the royal establishment at Greenwich. The weather, forg ensi ojot, interestinghiiiestablishments wi,tried inaanrheilliaettit tunately, was remarkably fine, and the scene was altogether of the nagndderarrit nearly 1,000 ; and the precision with which they went through their drill exercise, together with their happy and contented countenances, excited the admiration of a very large concourse of spectators. The contrast afforded by the dress 01 the two establishments added not little to the beauty and interest of the scene. The one being that of the Tars of Old England, whilst the others, as is well known, consists of the Royal Stuart tartan of Scotland, with the kilt and plaid of the Gael. The amusements .-/f the day were greatly heightened by the performances of the juvenile band of the Royal Hospital Schools, who, out of courtesy to their visitors, chiefly played the airs of scotland. The urbanity and kindness of Mr. Rouse, the excellent Secretary and Superintendcnt of the Royal Schools, were conspicuous throughout the day. The Painted Hall and the Chapel were also visited by the Caledonian boys, and by way offinale to their delightful treat, they had a run in the royal park of Greenwich. SUICIDE OF A PoRTUGUESE Elf .—Tue,lay Mr. Baker held an inquest at the Rose and Crown, Queen-street, Tower.hill, on the body of Abraham Fonseca, a Portuguese Jew, aged twenty-three years, by trade a tailor. It appeared from the evidence that deceased had for some time past been in a very low and desponding state of mind arising from his being engaged to marry a young and handsome female of his own persuasion, but he fancied that his work had become so slack that he should sot be able to maintain her with credit. On Tuesday week last he said to a fellow-workman that he should not live long, and wrote Utters to his intended and his brother, stating that when they received them he should be no more. Since that period he had disappeared, and nothing more was heard of him until his body was found yes. terday morning floating in the river off Alierman's.stairi, in a shocking state of decomposition. There being no evidence to show how he came into the water, the jury, at the suggestion of the Coroner, returned an open verdict of—" Found drowned."
The Sun. — 1845-01-10 (London, England)

SUICIDE AT THE RESIDENCE OF SIR HENRY POTTINGER.—Last night, at eight o'clock, an inquisition was taken before Mr. Higgs, deputy coroner for Westminster, and a jury, at toe Lowndes Arms, Cheshamplace, Pimlico, on view of the body of Benjamin Paine, aged 40, butler, in the service of General Sir Henry Pottinger, who committed suicide by cutting his throat at the residence of his master, No. 80, Eaton-place, Eaton-square. To elucidate the mystery that seemed to hang over the fate of deceased, the inquiry was adjourned for the attendance of Sir Henry.Pottinger, and to ascertain as far as practicable the cause of his committing the suicidal act.  Now ought not something to be pleaded in behalf of our countrymen, in relation to this important question ? If the great and broad interests of the people were to be considered (and it is the people who must pay all the revenue of the country in some shape or other) it would occur to every mind that the first object, as ex nihilo nil fit, would be to liberate the springs and sinews of industry, so that production of value might be facile and abundant, instead of being harassed, and checked, and hindered, and then, out of property realised, would come the ready means of supporting the State. If 20,000 persons are employed in Paris, in making ornamental boxes, why not in London, where sempstresses fit for the work are actually starving ? Sir William Megnay is of opinion that the repeal of the duty would cause double the present number of persons to be employed in the paper trade, and in businesses connected with it, as enumerated by Mr. Dickinson, at a late meeting in London, including millwrights, smiths, mould makers, type founders, printers, booksellers, bookbinders, publishers, and others. As a .means of civilisation, too, the Press would diffuse. still more .ocfaster inntwy readily the blessings of intelligence, with a better aya its. own exchance of profit to authors, for it appears that at present not more than one book out of three, and twenty, the ingredient of opneneseps,a duty is a large and discouraging item. What then is a revenue of 620,000/. from such a source, compared amnpdhltehtereouatre with the demoralising effect of the excise laws, and more particularly so upon such an article as paper, where the amount is so excessive and the production so rapid that it has baffled all the ingenuity of man to prevent fraud, and thus leaving the honest trader's property at the mercy of the fraudulent, as well as the increased employment and prosperity of countless thousands of persons, who would, in full work, consume other excisable articles to a greater amount, and thus increase the revenue ?