npedrazzini/19thc_murder_suicide_news huggingface dataset:
Swansea and Glamorgan Herald, and South Wales Free Press. — 1862-09-24 (Swansea, West Glamorgan, Wales)

CONVICT.—A returned convict, named Thomas Morris, aged 25, was found on Tuesday to have committed suicide in one of the punishment cells of Spike Island prison. He had been for some time past conducting himself in so violent a manner that it was found necessary to keep handcuffs on him in the cell, and at a quarter to six on Tuesday morning, the time to " unlock," it was discovered that he had, by most extraordinary means, put an end to his life. From the window of his cell, the sash of which is of iron, there is a slight slope inwards, coming sufficiently low to admit if a man's mounting upon it, even with handcuffs on. Owing to the thickness of the wall there is plenty of space on the slope for a man to rest his body upon. The unfortunate convict, Morrie, mounted upon this slope, taking his sheet with him. The panes of the cell window are alternately of glass and perforated zinc, and are about seven by six inches surface, all puttied in He famed out one of the perforated zinc panes, and got a twisted end of the sheet through, and brought it round to the next zinc pane, passing over the glass, lest, it is supposed, the noise of breaking glass should create an alarm. Having brought the end af the sheet in, and , tied it with a most unfailing knot round two bars of the sash, be tied the other twisted end round his neck, and thin, what appears the most difficult to have accomplished, handcuffed as he was, he forced his feet and legs over his hands until his hams came to rest on his arms. In this pasture he must have thrown himself off the slop of the window, so taking away the slightest possible chance of struggling against the horrible fate he courted with such tatal ingenuity. He was found by the officers of the prison in this posture, suspended by the neck from the sash of the window, with his feet scarcely six inches from the floor of his cell. There was some doubt about life being entirely extinct when he was discovered, but, at all events, all efforts at resuscitation were unavailing. Morris was undergoing a sentence of five years' penal servitud, passed on hint at Laughren about two years since.
Swansea and Glamorgan Herald, and South Wales Free Press. — 1862-09-24 (Swansea, West Glamorgan, Wales)

DREADFUL SUICIDE.--A respectable man named Henry Hawkins, living in Ernest-street, Regent's Park, put an end to his existence on Friday night or early on Saturday morning, under circumstances of a very tragic character. He was a warehoutietuan, and had filled situations of considerable trust in the city; but for the five or six weeks preceding his death be had been out of employment. His wife keeps a dressmaker's establishment in Ernest-street, but was in the country at the time of the suicide. On Frith), evening the young per. son who conducted Mrs. Hawkins' business in her absence, observed something grange in Mr. Hawkins' manner. He locked the shop door after each customer ' that entered, and several times complained of being very dull. The shop was closed, and he was seen alive for the last time at half-past eight on Friday evening. As he did not tnake his appearance on Saturday morning, some persons entered his bedroom. An awful sight presented itself. A looking-glass opposite the door and the paper on the portion of the wall around it were covered with blood. Mr. Hawkins lay on his right side. his legs drawn up, a razor clutched in his right hand, and his throat cut nearly from ear to ear. His feet were opposite the glass, at a little distance from it. Ile was dressed, with the exception that his coat was off. Mr. It. B. Walters, surgeon, was called in, and he found that all the vessels of the throat were severed, and that Mr. Hawkins had been dead for some time. From the position in which the body was found, and the blood that had spirted out on the looking-glass and the wall, Mr. Walters was of op;nion that deceased had stood in front of the glass while cutting his throat, and had fallen from exhaustion almost immediately afterwards. An inquest on the body was held by Dr. Lankester. Evidence was given by one of Mr. Hawkins' sisters that some eight or nine years ago he had attempted suicide is a similar manner while temporarily insane, and had been confined for a month in ISt. Duke's Asylum. He was about 40 years of age at the time of his death. On this evidence, the jury without any hesitation, found that Mr. Hawkins had committed suicide while labouring under a temporary fit of insanity.
Swansea and Glamorgan Herald, and South Wales Free Press. — 1862-07-16 (Swansea, West Glamorgan, Wales)

SINGULAR ROMANCE AND SUICIDE IN A  WORKIIOU.SE:  On Monday an inquiry was held in the boardroom of the West London Union, Smithfield, by Mr. William Payne, the Coroner for the city of London and Southwark, respecting the death of William Bailey, aged sixty-three, an inmate of the union, who commttted suicide on Thursday week under the following somewhat romantic eireurnstonces : George Coelber said that deceased was a member of a respectable family, and that through misfortune he had become an inmate of the house abJut eighteen months since, where he was made wardman on account of his excellent character. On Thursday witness met a woman running along the passage crying and wringing her hands, and saying, "Bailey has hanged himself in the bathroom." Witness went thither s tid found deceased hanging to a beam by means of two leather straps which were securely twisted and fastened around his neck. He was instantly cut down, and Dr. Birch sent for, who pronounced life extinct. Mr. James Hall, interim master of the union-house, said it was known in the house that deceased had formed a warm friendship, though one of a purely honourable nature, for a nurse in the infirmary, aho was the wife a soldier, who had been ua foreign service for sonic years. Their chief opportunities of meeting were only in the storeroom, to which they had each to go firr stores, and it appeared that three days before his suicide they had some quarrel of a trifling nature and she refused to speak to hint. This produced extraordinary depression of deceased's spirits, and on the Thursday last, being his birthday, he procured some drink and made himself intoxicated. Deceased was much respected; and the straps with which he hanged himself were used by hint to enforce order among the refractory boys. The young woman alluded to by the previous witness was then examined. She was weeping bitterly, and admitted that she and deceased rind been partial to each other. She denied at first there was a quarrel between them, and attributed deceased's despondency to the death of a friend. The Coroner, in summing up, remarked that it was evident that the attachment between the deceased arid the last witness was very sincere in its nature ; and the Jury returned a verdict of " Suicide while in a state of temporary insanity."  TOE ROOKS IN Lugs
Swansea and Glamorgan Herald, and South Wales Free Press. — 1862-07-16 (Swansea, West Glamorgan, Wales)

ROYAL HUMANE SOCIP.TY.—The half-yearly general court of this society was held onWednesday at the offices, Trafalgar-square, Mr. B. B. Cabbell in the chair. Mr. Young, the secretary, having lead the minutes of the previous court, the silver medal was awarded in the five following cases, in which persons had risked their own lives in reecuing others :—To Henry A Costa, quartermaster of the }reach Imperial ship Dryade, for trying to save William Hall, able-bodied seamen of her Majesty's ship Chary bdis, who being intoxicated, had jumped into the harbour at Sigapore, East Indies, on July 7, 1861 (Louis Corty, fireman of the same vessel, had also exerted himself in the attempted rescue, and had been awarded the bronze medal of the society) ; to John Granvillle, chief boatswain's mate of her Majesty's ship 'Marlborough,' fr saving three persons, named John James and John Green, seamen, and Mr. W. B. Haman midshipman, of the same vessel, who accidentally fell overboard at sea on the 26th of July, 10th of November, and 19th of November, 1861, respectively; to Mr. George Young, for saving Captain Alexander Vallat, whose vessel was wrecked in Freshwater Bay, Pembroke, on the 24th of January last; to Edward Rouse, gunner's mate of her Majesty's ship Bacchante, for saving Mr. Logan, gunner of the same aesael, who, being a lunatic, jumped into the sea in the Pacific on the 23rd of March; and to George Nicholson, fisherman, for saving Robert Laing, an old man aged 65, who accidentally fell into the reservoir at Whitley, North Shields, on the 17th of May. The report stated that the number of general eases which had been brought under the cognizance of the society since December last was 75, of whom 81 persons had been successfully treated, but five were beyond recovery ; eight persona had attempted suicide during the same time, but had been saved by the vigilance of the officers of the society. Of Hyde Park cases the total number since December last was 16 of whom 11 persons were sueeessfully treated, one was beyond recovery, four were found drowned, and four had attempted suicide. The balance-sheet showed that the receipts for the half-year had £770 12s. 6d., and the expenditure £7lB os. 5d., leaving a balance in favour of the society of £52 7s. A vote of thanks to the chairman closed the proceedI ins.
Swansea and Glamorgan Herald, and South Wales Free Press. — 1862-02-05 (Swansea, West Glamorgan, Wales)

ORVARY 6, 1861.  aad ,Scenery." The Haverfordwest Rifle Volunteer Ball, advertised for Friday last, is postponed till the 12th instant. A public meeting will shortly be held at llaverfordwest, to raise money in aid of the London fund for a memorial to the late Prince Consort. On Saturday, Jan. 25th, the Pembroke Town Council voted an address of condolence to her Majesty. There is a project in contemplation for altering the Pembroke Townhall, so as to provide a much larger room for balls, concerts, &c. A ploughing-match, between two amateurs, Mr. James Thom is, of Warren, and Mr. Lewis Williams, of Brownslade, took place near Pembroke, on the 23rd ult. The prize, a heavy jar of "Thomas's best London Gin" (!) was won by Mr. Thomas. The liaverfordwest Town Council have granted to the Electric and International Electric Company permission to carry their wires through the town. They have also undertaken to provide some small room, in a central position, for the use of the Company. An old woman, well known as " Dolly Vincent," died at Fisliguard yesterday week, at the age of 9(i. She was fond of boasting, till within a few days of her death, that she could thread her needle without spectacles. A Mr. David Bowen committed suicide at Trcfanog, near Fishguard, on Sunday week. He was a man of very eccentric habits. Mr. Evan John, a farmer, living near Warn, was killed on Saturday last, on a level railway crossing, near the Pencoed station. The tender of a goods train threw him with great violence against the platform, and he died in a few hours. On Friday night a destructive fire took place on the premises of Mr. Stone, builder, Working-street, Cardiff. A large amount of property was destroyed, which was insured to a considerable extent.  fLCL'-/ lit-ck,  &I-614.4.A  4,r14-1.
Swansea and Glamorgan Herald, and South Wales Free Press. — 1862-02-12 (Swansea, West Glamorgan, Wales)

DRUNK AND DISORDERLY.—Two prostitutes, named Elisabeth Jones and Margaret Davies, were charged by P.c. 38 with drunkenness and fighting in Regent'scourt, at three o'clock this morning.—After they were brought to the police-station Jones attempted to commit suicide by hanging herself.—Jones was remanded until Tuesday, and Davies, having been twelve times previously convicted, was committed for a month to the House of Correction. William Davies and Thomas Richards were brought up I on a charge of disorderly conduct, and opposing a police constable.—P.c. 36 stated that at ten o'clock on Saturday night he was on duty on the Llangafelach-road, and saw the defendant Richards strike a girl who was going along the road. Witness asked him why he did so, and Richards said he would strike her again. The constable then advised him to go home (his house being close by). As he was by the door Richards took up a large stone, and threw it at the constable, striking him upon the hip. The officer, having obtained the assistance of P.c. 18, followed him into the house, and took him into custody, and attempted to convey him to the station-house. As they were trying to take him through the door, defendant Davies came to his rescue, and the officer could not take him away until assistance airived.—P.c. 18 corroborated this statement.—Richards stated that as he was going along the Llangafelach-road a young man and a young woman were going on at the same time. He went up to the girl and kissed her, having had a drop of liquor. The young man called him a "devil of a boy and defendant collared him, and struck him. The young woman then called out murder. Whether he struck the young woman or not he did not know, being something the worse for liquor.—Davies said that he knew nothing more of the matter than that the policemen burst in the door of the house, and he told them they were very lade to act in that manner. They took hold of Richards, and he (Davies) advised him to go with them quietly.— The Bench said that the offence was a serious one, but as it was Richards first appearance they should fine him Al, or 14 days' imprisonment.—Davies had acted very improperly in resisting the officers, and would be fined 58. and costs.
Swansea and Glamorgan Herald, and South Wales Free Press. — 1862-06-18 (Swansea, West Glamorgan, Wales)

FRENCH SUICIDE.—On Friday (says the Droit) two coffins were brought side by side into the Church of Bonne Nouvelle. They were followed by a man absorbed in grief, and attended by a large crowd, remarkable for their sad and collected demeanour. Mademoiselle Palmyra, a dressmaker, living with her parents, was gifted with the most fascinating appearance and the most loveable of characters, therefore was she eagerly sought in marriage. Among the candidates for her hand she had distinguished one, M. B—,who experienced and intense passion for her. Though she fully reciprocated his feelings she thought it right, through filial duty, to follow the wishes of her parents, and married instead one M. D—,whose social position appeaed to them preferable to that of his rival. The marriage took place four years ago. MM. B— and D—(the husband and rival) were fast friends, and, although they had no business connexion, daily visited each other. The mutal love of 8— and of Palmyra (now Madame D—)had, if anything, grown more intense. Out of regard for his friend, B—, to turn his ideas in another direction, made up his mind to marry, but, notwithstanding all his efforts, he perceived that this heroic remedy , was powerless to destroy his passion for his friend's wife. Nevertheless, for four years neither he nor Madame D— failed in their duty. What they had to suffer cannot be described, as the unsuspecting husband always contrived to bring the conscientious and reluctant lover to his house. At length, an unlucky chance brought the lovers together, and the friend betrayed the friend, the wife betrayed the husband. In an agony of remorse they acquainted him with the crime. He freely forgave them ' as the victims of circumstances over which they had no control. He continued to live with his wife, but enjoined an eternal separation between the lovers. The injunction was religiously obeyed, but the struggle between passion and duty wee too violent to last. Fearful of again transgressing, the lovers determined to die together; they were found inanimate from the fumes of charcoal, locked in each other's arms. They had left a letter for the husband, acquainting him with their resolution, and requesting that the same grave might receive them both, a wish he religiously executed. Their bodies were in the two coffins, and the chief mourner was the husband.
Swansea and Glamorgan Herald, and South Wales Free Press. — 1862-08-06 (Swansea, West Glamorgan, Wales)

MYSTERIOUS DISCOVERY AT COBHAM.  On Friday evening a most mysterious discovery was made a short distance from Cobham. The bodies of two respectably-dressed men were found in a hollow, among some .beech trees, in an unfrequented lams between Cobham and Walton. One of the men lay with his head on the other's breast, and the face of the latter was partially covered by a rug. The uppermost man appeared to he about 38 years old, and the other about .0. Both had evidently been shot ; in the case of the eldest man the bullet had passed through his head, from the jaw to the crown, and a dischaiged pistol lay by his side. The younger man had been shot through the heart. They appeared to have lain there for sic or seven days,—their bodies were in an advanced stage of putrefaction. and the effluvium arising from them was horrible. It was this which first led to their discovery.  - For a time no clue was discovered to the identification of the bodies, but at the inquest, which was held at the King's Arms Tavern, Cobham, on Monday, evidence was given to show that the deceased were soils of Mr. Bittlestone, a gentleman practising in the profession nf a naturali.t, and living in London. Their names are Herbert and Charles. 'They left home on Thursday, the 24th of July, with the avowed object of a hibingt exclusion. They went to the Whits Lion Hotel, Cobham, and purchased a bottle of port wine. They afterwards left' saying that they were going to the Plough, at Stoke d'Alliourne. The younger left a parcel, which he said he would call for next day. They went in an opposite direction tar that of Stoke d'Albourne, and nerer returned.  The position of the younger man showed that he hod died first, and the father of the deceased gave it as his opinion that both had committed suicide, but could give no reason for such conduct. They had left home apparently as usual, promising to return at the usual time. They had never threatened suicide ; nor had either of them, to their father's knowledge, termed an attachment to any young lady. The possibility of their having been murdered by others is removed by the fact that money was iound upon them, and a memorandum written by the elder saying that he was " too unhappy to live," The jury, alter two hours' deliberation, reiurneil a verdict of Feb"o de se against Herbert Hittlesion°, and that Charles died of a pistol shot wound, by whom in flicted no evidence to show."
Swansea and Glamorgan Herald, and South Wales Free Press. — 1867-01-05 (Swansea, West Glamorgan, Wales)

TRAGEDIES IN BERLIN.  In tragical love affairs the cold and rational city of Berlin emulates warm and susceptible Vienna. At the moment when in the latter city a youth of eighteen, the only on of wealthy parents, poisoned himself for seeing his love for a young girl of his own age unrequited, a young man of Berlin shot, for • similar reason, the girl he adored. At the inquest he, bursting into tears, threw himself over the dead body, exclaiming, in an agony of grief, "Oh, my poor Mary !" A labourer of an age tolerably advanced commits suicide by hanging himself from unhappy love for a blind itinerant harp. playing woman of nearly sixty years! If such things happen among the aged it is not surprising if a pmil2 snatches up a pistol and in his blind fury levies it at his former sweetheart, because she has no longer a smile for him. The woman thus murdered, herself a girl of eighteen, was working,at a factory. Her an.  happy lover waited in Xhe evening iinTthe girl quitted her work, when he went up to her saying he could not live without her, and asked her if she felt no pity for him. Receiving no answer, he, overwhelmed with wild despair, dischsrged at her a pistol loaded with two bullets. But immediately alter his rash deed he wars seized with remorse, and to the functionaries who had him in custody he has repeatedly expressed a hope of bring speedily executed. Another occurrence has created even more sensation because it is still shrouded in mystery. The wife of a painter in reduced circumstances had officially announced her husband's death. The medical man found blisters on the nose of the corpse, and a mark of strangulation on the back of the neck. In consequence of this the wife of the de• aged was apprehended. But she strenuously assert. .r innocence, sayiog t ;.at the mark of strangulation ol been produced by the edge of the sofa on which the back of the deceased's neck had rested during the night ",ny circumstances appear to speak for the fact that ur intentional murder has not in this case been committed. But as the husband and the wife had for a long time past been constantly quarrelling and disputing, and as, moreover, the woman has the reputation of carrying on an adulteroua intercourse with several young men, many people are of opinion that a murder has really been committed. Cases of suicide are events of almost daily occurrence.
Swansea and Glamorgan Herald, and South Wales Free Press. — 1867-01-05 (Swansea, West Glamorgan, Wales)

SAD STORY.  At the Marlborough-street police-court, in London, Charles Fryer, a tailor, wan charged with assaulting George Saunders, a porter. The complainant said that on the 21st of December, about nine o'clock us the evening, his bell rang, and on going to the door it was suddenly pushed open, and the defendant and his brother rushed in. The defendant seined him roughly, struck him, and tried to bite his hand. De got away with difficulty, and while looking for a constable the defendant and his brothor disappeared. Tile witness had kept company with the defendant's dsughter, but as the defendant would not let them get married the daughter drowned herself. The report of the inquest was handed to the magistrate, from which it appeared that the daughter, Mary Ann Fryer, nineteen years committed suicide by drowning herself in the Regent's Canal. She left behind the following letters:— . . .  Sly dear mother,—As you are determined that me and Harry snail not come together I will give him np, intt It Will be with my lire I chnnot live withOot him, and have written to gsq goarl.by, to him, and now I will say the lame you—YOUR DAUGHTER  My dwllog Barry—By the time you have received this shall ne no more. I need not tell you whose fault It Is. They will not let me see you any more, so good-bye. The medical evidence showed the girl had been seduced. The magistrate said it was a terrible story. On cross-examination, the complainant said he would swear the deceased girl did not go home with him the night before she committed suicide. He left her at ten o'clock at his sister's, she stating that she would not go home. She came to him at his master's the next morning, and he gave her the keys of his lodgings, and saw her there about twelve o'clock. He did not slain the door in the face of the defendant when he called on him. The defendant, who appeared much affected, said,— I did tell him that he had murdered icy daughter.—His solicitor then said the father had just seen his daughter's body taken out of the canal, and he thought that it was in consequence of the complainant's conduct that his daughter had destroyed herself, and in this excited state he went to the complainant. He did not deny the assault, hut he hoped if there was a conviction it would be without  punishment —The iinitgietiate said.—l must hareems reasonable assurance that the defendant will not renew his violence towards the complainant. Whatever may be your feelings, and my heart is fu I of compassion and sorrow for you, there is one thing you most not do,. and which as a macistrate I must prevent you from doing, you must not take the law into your own hands. Ynu must promise me to keep from the complainant. The ilefendant said he would not see the complainant again, and was discharged.