npedrazzini/19thc_murder_suicide_news huggingface dataset:
The Telegram. — 1894-01-16 (Weymouth, Dorset, England)

MARNHULL. A FARMER ACCIDENTALLY SHOOTS HIMSELF  An inquest was held at Hayes farmhouse on Friday, before Dr. Comyns Leach (coroner) and a jury, of which Mr. M. Hunt was foreman on the body of Mr. Thomas Rossiter, sen.' of Hayes Farm, who fatally shot himself by accident on the previous day.—The coroner at the outset said that they had met there that day to investigate a very sad occurrence, viz., the death of a dear friend of them all—a man known not only throughout the , district, but throughout the county. He believed that the evidence he should be able to bring before them would prove that the death of their friend was a purely accidental one. The jury having viewed the body, James Moore deposed that be had rented Mr. Ronsiter's deiry fur 21 years. He saw him twice on Thursday morning, and he appeared to be in his usual good health and spirits. Witness did uot hear any report of a gun, but his man ran into the dairy where he was snd told him he feared Mr. Rositer was dead. Witneie, found him on the ground lying on his back about four feet from the granary. He took hold of his hand and found that he was dead. A double-barrelled gun was about a yard from the dtceaeed, of which one barrel had been discharged. The hammer of the unexploded barrel had become bent, no doubt in falling. In reply to Inspector Burden witness said the deceased was in the habit of using the gun every morning to scare sparrows. The weapon was generally kept in the granary loaded. Deceased was in the habit of feeding the fowls every morning. Nearly a peck of barley was on the ground near the right side of the body when witness went out.—Cornelius ilunt,a labourer, deposed that he had worked for the deceased for nearly three years. He noticed him going into the granary on Thursday morning between eight and nine o'clock. Witnees presently heard the report of a gun, and lokin, out, saw the deceas,d falling from the steps to the granary. Witness ran to him, but ho appeared quite dead. Richard Hatcher, a labourer, who worked for Mr. Rossiter, stated that he heard the report of the gun, but took no notice, because the deceased often fired a gun to sears sparrows.— Mr. F. H. Hudson, a medical man, of Sturreinster Newton, described the nature of the wound, and said death must have occurred instantly. He thought from the position of the wound and Mr. Rossiteea position, that the injury could not have been intentionally inflicted. He was of opinion that deceased was coming out of the granary with the barley in his left and the gun in his right hand. Possibly Mr. Ressiter was coming down the steps sidmvays, when he slipped and the trigger caught in some projection.—The coroner theu summed up, remarking that a report had been circulated that Mr. Rossiter had committed suicide, but it was quite clear from the evidence of the various witnesses that death was duo to an accident.—The jury at once returned a verdict of accidental death. The foreman proposed, and the coroner seconded, a vote of sympathy with the bereaved family.
The Telegram. — 1894-06-05 (Weymouth, Dorset, England)

SHOCKING MURDER IN LONDON.  Mrs. Sophie Rasch, the young wife of a hotel proprietor in Shaftesbury Avenue, London, was brutally strangled in bed during Friday night, during a temporary visit of her husband to a friend. £5O in cash and a quantity of jewellery were stolen from the room. A German waiter and his wife, Paul and Susannah Koeaula, natives of Cologne, employed on the preuiises, were also ndssing. They were both seen in Shaftesbury Avenue at night, and the man remarked to an acquaintance, " Tomorrow, you will hear something. " The two Koszulas were arrested on Sunday morning at a house in Hampstead Road. The female prisoner opened the dour to the police and conducted the officers to a front room., where the male prisoner was in bed. The officer said, "There is no necessity for my introducing myself," whereupon Koesula replied, " I know you ; I will nut give you any trouble." Having dressed himself, the prisoner and the contents of the room were searched. In the man's purse were found £ll 10,1 in gold, about £1 in silver, and some bronze money, among which were found several foreign coins ' • in prismer's patmanteau was found a gold watch supposed to belong to the murdered woman. On the female prisoner was found £2 in gold. At Marlborough Street Police-station the prisoners made a statemeat, but the authorities decline to disclose its nature.  George Sehmerfeldt, a German, who is also wanted on a charge connected with the murder of Mrs. Rasch at the restaurant in Shaftesbury Avenue, on Friday night was arrested on Tuesday warning on the foreshore at Wapping by SnbInspector Ford, of the Thames police. A fourth person suspected of being interested in the plot in missing. When arrested Sehmerfeldt had nothing of value in his possession. Vhen the detectives knocked at the door of 89, Charlotte Street, Mr. Kempf, the husband of Schmerfeldt's landlady went, it is said, out of a back window cm the leads, and has not been seen since. This extraordinary conduct has not yet been explained and his relatives cannot conceive his reason for such action. Geo. Schmerfeldt was charged before Mr. Hannay, at the Marlborough-street Police-court on Tuesday, with being an accessory before and after the fact to stealing the money and articles forming the subject of the second charge against the prisoners Roczula. Schinerfeldt was also charged with having attempted to commit suicide by cutting his throat with a razor.—Evidence having been given, prisoner was remanded. The coroner's imuiry into the Shaftesbury Avenue tragedy was resumed on Friday evening. Sehreerfeldt was present in custody, and YAWS represented by a solicitor. Schuierfeld t stated, through an interpreter, that he had nothing to say beyond what he had already stated, which was the truth ; and he preferred not to say anything more till he went betore the magistrates. The coroner said that was the result of his coniniumoation with the solicitor to the Treasury, and he thought it would be reasonable to again adjourn the case, as further evidence might be forthcoming. The inquiry was adjourned until Friday.
The Telegram. — 1894-05-22 (Weymouth, Dorset, England)

GENERAL NEWS.  SHOCKING TRAGEDY.  MURDER AND SUICIDE AY A GIRL. Chertsey (Snrrey), on Wednesday night, Ella Hamlett, aged 18, a bricklayer's daughter, poisoned herself and little sister, aged nine, with carbolic acid, both dying within a few hours. The wretched murderess, wkee mind bad evidently become un• hinged, was motherless, and she seemed to be insanely jealous of anther sister, aged 14, who she considered had been given her own place as head of the household. She appears, however, to have been very fond of the child Danl. A pathetic letter, explaining the motive for She crime, was found on the elder girl.  The following let-ter was found on the elder girl's clothes, and explains the motive of the Crime ! Harr-hill, near Chettsey.—Dear rather, -- I cannot stand this life any longer. lam treated like dirt. I sin the eldest. and I think I am the right one to look after the little ones. I have not known what it is to have a home since mother liel, The children have all beenneglected, and iimone takes any notice of them, and Daisy is put upon worse than any of them. I Will not stand it any logger. I think you will all he happier without me and Daisy. Good bye. Give toy love to dear Harry, atid ask hint to forgive my oniel letter. I have written to 10111 but he has not answered toy letter. Forgive me for doing thbi, but I cannot help it. I will give Daisy a dose and wo shall he out of the wily, I don't Mame anyone for this, but it will he best. I had got things to kill myself, hut have put it off, I eiinoot stand it any longer. I hove God will forgive me and all who have been friends with me. From kbt.4 HASI,WIT, aged la years. Good-bye to all my friends, and ad those that love me.
The Telegram. — 1894-04-10 (Weymouth, Dorset, England)

THE HINMAN' MIRACLE A CLERGYMAN SURPRISED. (From the Busluicrt Times.)  A remarkable story has been related by Mr. James Mackness, a retired member of the Medical Staff Clorps, who had been in foreign service in India, Africa, Egypt, and Ashantee, and who, in the year 1892, was, after returning to his native place, stricken down With paralysis. Thous.ands of the inhabitants of Rusliden can vsitich for the truth of the narrative, and a representative of the Rusliden Time,, has elicited the following particulars  One Saturday night in the month of February, 1892, Meekness retired to rest, hale and hearty. As far as he knew he slept well through the nicht, but when he awoke on Sunday morning he lay a helpless mass of flesh and bone, and speechless. Previous to this calamitous affliction he had never suffered a day's serious illness. For two months he was unable to shift his little huger, much less , the legs and arms which had served him well during the forty-two years of his life. The sudden attack was the theme of conversation with the inhabitants, amongst whom Meekness was a favourite. Everything thatcould be done was done for him. The doctor was summoned, but, alter prescribing a few bottles of medicine, could not give any hope of blackness' recovery. The patient was removed from his lied in a cab to Northainpion Infirmary, where he stayed as an in-patient four or lice weeks ; hut when fie came out he was very little better and this disappointment preyed so much upon his mind that lie determined several times to commit suicide. He felt, he said, as though he hoped the earth would open and swarkw him up. He told our representative it was impossible fur him to accurately describe the depth of mental depression and physical languor which he suffered. He liugereit on at home in a dreadfully depressed and utterly hopeless condition. He could not have picked up a pin or a straw if any one had offered him £l,
The Telegram. — 1894-03-27 (Weymouth, Dorset, England)

SONG. —At the Congregational Church on Thursday evening, a service of song, entitled "Jack Ploughman's Talks," was rendered by a choir composed of friends from Frampton. There Wa..l a large audience, the chapel being filled. Mr. Fliscot (Frampton) gave the connective readings. Miss Bowles sang a solo, and Mr. Fox presided at the American organ. Yesterday (Monday)a tea and meeting were held. A report will appear in the Western Chronicle.  Five more lives have been lost in London through a paraffin lamp disaster.  The body of the Hon. Mrs. Charles Fielding was discovered in the River Cherwell on Saturday. She had recently lost her husband. On Saturday, at Ballycrousen coastguard station, Middleton, a coastguard officer, named Thos. Wirizell, committed suicide by shooting himself in the thioas wil s revolv,r.  The Rev. B. Pidcock, chaplain of the Plymouth N division ti Royal Marines, died suddenly on Saturday afternoon, at Stoke Church, immediately after performing a wedding service. The Earl of Cork, Lord Lieutenant of Somerset, has recommended Mr. E. R. Trotman, C. 0., of The Elms, Frome, brewer, for appoirstruent by the Lord Chancellor as a magistrate for the county.  Oa Saturday, Eve medial:iv; were repairinr the palley-wh,eela at Lyons Colliery, Hetton-le-Hole. when the platform gave way, and the men fell a distance of 60 feet. Three of them are notexpected to recover.  A man named John Henry Elliott, who had been living apart from his wife, visited her on Saturday night, at Upper Kennington Lane, London, and deliberately shot at her with a revolver. He also fired at a neighbour who came to the resvae. He then closed tne door, but it was smashed open by a man nanied Locke, whom Elliott immediately fired at, the bullet whizzing past his ear. The than then put the weapon in tie mouth, and fired, death being instantaneous. Mrs. Elliott lies at the St. Thomas Hospital, but every hope is entertained for her recovery, although the bullet had not been extracted.
The Telegram. — 1894-10-09 (Weymouth, Dorset, England)

PRISON—An inquest was held a'. Strmgeways Prison, Manchester. on Monday, on the body of Frederick Webb. 35 years of age, a collier, of Burnley, who was undergoing a term of 12 months' imprisonment for shooting at a man named Bowker at Burnley. He was last seen alive on Thursday night, and on the following morning,when a warder opened the door, he found deceased hanging by the neck by means of a cord fastened to the ventilator in his cell. Deceased was quite dead. The cord was part of the material deceased had been making up for using in the making of mail hags. There was nothing in the deceased's conduct to lead the warder to supi)ose that he contemplated suicide. The jury returned a verdict of suicide, there being no evidence as to the state of the man's mind.  DEATH FROM VITRIOL PoISONINCi.—An inque,t was held by the coroner (Mr. George Smith), on Friday morning, at the Salisbury Infirmary, on the body of Arthor Charles Coombs, aged three months, the child of a market gardener of Wilton. Evidence was given by Mary Coombs (the mother), Annie MabelCoombs (the aunt), Hobert Hsnry Coombs (the father of the deceased), and Mr. Herbert Wilks (house surgeon at the infirmary), and from their statements it appears that on the evening of July 10th the deceased went up into the attic, took down a bottle containing vitriol, and swallowed is part of the contents. The mother was called to the attic by her little girl, and found the bottle and a quantity of vitriol spilt on the floor. From July 10th to August 4th the deceased was under medical treatment at home and was then removed to the Infirmary, where he died on the 26th ult.—Mr. Wilks stated that the child was suff,ring from all the symptoms of stricture of the gullet, caused by some corrosive poison, such as vitriol. At the request of the father a post portent examination had been niade, which showed that the vitriol had gone into the stoinach.—The coroner, in summing up, said he did not think the jury would find any fault was to be attributed to either thefather or mother, who appeared to base done all they possibly could to have kept the vitriol out of harm's way.—Tlie jury returned a verdict of "Accidental death."
The Telegram. — 1894-09-04 (Weymouth, Dorset, England)

ATTEMPTED SUICIDE ON THE WYLYE  RAILWAY.  Some excitement was eased on Tuesday afternoon in We lye when it lieaune known that two men, named Harry Doughty and George Harding. of Steeple Langford, had attempted to commit suicide on the railway, and had narrowly escaped being killed by a passing train. The incident was rernaikalde from the singular and deliberate character of the attempt, which to all appearance would have resulted in the death of both men, but for the fortunate intervention of a third. It appears that about a quarter past four on Tuesday afternoon a man named Richard Perrett was haymaking in a field adj Uning the railway, at some &stance from Wylye, wnen he observed Doughty and Harding—who, it is stated, had been on a drinking bout during the day at Wylye— walking by the side of the line. Suddenly he missed' them, and on looking tract the hedge saw them lying side by side on their hacks, with their necks restiug on the rails. Seeing the passenger train due to leave Wylye station at a quarter past four ammo:wiling in the ilistance. he shouted to warn the men of their danger. They, however, paid no heed to his cries, art seeing their imminent peril he vaulted the fence and ran to where the men were lying. As he approached he :wain shouted " Look out, the train's a-coming ! " but they still paid no heed, and evidently wished hint to leave them to their fate. He then told them if they did not get up he would stop the train. The men apparently objected to a scene, and rather than the train should be stopped they reluctantly removed from their perilous position when the engine was only a short distance from them. They, however, had not repented of the foolish act, for instead of thanking Perrett for the good service he had rendered them, as 60,41 as the train had passed they soundly abused hint for his timely interference, and were very desirotui to light him. II?. did not feel called unon to defend his action in this way, aid at once proceeded to Wylye and acquainted the station-master with what bad occurred. The official immediately wired to Wishford to warn the engine driver in charge of an us good train, which was due to leave Wishford for Viylye about this tulle, to take care, as there were two men on the line. The men, however, wisely proceeded home and gave no further trouble. Subsequently they were apprehended. and on Thursday wets brought up at Warminster before Captain Southey, to answer for their foolish freak. Perrett deposed to the facts above detailed, and in answer to the magistrate said the men had evidently been drinking.—Supt. Robinson said he was not prepared to complete the case that day, and applied for a remand till Saturday, which was ;ranted. Prisoners, who were ienianded in custody, made no answer to the charge.— Salisbury Journal.  A
The Telegram. — 1894-07-24 (Weymouth, Dorset, England)

JOHNSON ON TEA DRINKING.  Damell in his "Life of Johnson 'says: "I suppose no person ever enjoyed with more relish the infusion of that fragrant leaf than Dr. Johnson." Since the days of Boswell, the name of "Johnson " has been associated with tea. If you use Johnson, Johnson & Co's 21 pure tea, which is supplied in packets by Grocers and Agents everywhere, you will share the Doctor's enjoyment, and find the evening meal promptly Revive exhausted strength. As a test, they are willing, upon receipt of two penny stamps, to send you, post free, a large sample of tea, also a refined nickel silver spoon. It is more than they can afford, did they not feel sure that, once introduced, you will always use it.—Write to Johnson, Johnson & Co., 50, Southwark Bridge Road, London. 139884-6204.  George Hollyoake, 56, swivel maker, Birmingham, hanged himself on Monday.  Slight shocks of earthquake weie felt at Monaco and Constantinople on Thursday.  ie Stevenson, aged 17, has committed suicide at West Bromwich by drinking carbolic acid.  President Carnot's retnaius were finally laid at rest in the vault of the Pantheon on Thursday. The ceremony was private. Tlll4 earthquakes in Turkey have proved very disastrous to life as well as to property ; 200 persons have been killed in Stamboul alone.  The body of Mr. William Epps, a well-known agriculturist, of Selling, Kent, has been found in an open air swimming bath at Whitehall, Canterbury. A man named Ainsworth was painting some windows at Bowling Green Mill, Darweu, when the block slipped, and he fell, death being instantaneous.  At a sale of the Duchess of Montrose's pictures on Saturday a portrait k.)), Sit Joshua Reynolds realised 4,400 guinea,, and a Gainsuorough was knocked down for 3,100 guineas, A Brixton draper was on Thursdayfined 30s and costs on two sunnnonses for has ing cm p:oyed two boys of school age, distributing tiAndl,ills relating to his business during school hours.  Mr. W. E. CLANCY, on of the suloMeriff, was on Monday elected city marshal of Duhlui at a salary of £l,OOO per annum. O'Donovan Rossa failed to "land " the prize, he only receiving three votes.  A coloured youth, sixteen years of age, who was arrested and imprisoned fvr atterniAing to outrage a woman at Biloxi, Mississippi, was taken out of the gaol on Sunday night by a mob of lynchers and hanged. The negro is said to have confessed his guilt. Mr. Grievson, the managing owner of the sailing :Min Lord Litton, has been ordered to contribute £lOO towards the cost of an enquiry in the case of the supposed loss of this ship. The Court found that the vested was not properly and sufficiently manned.
The Telegram. — 1894-02-20 (Weymouth, Dorset, England)

RETIRING MESIBEES.—It was stated that the four retiring members thia year were Messrs. Jocelyn A. Ptooks, Gover, A. Dingley, and W. H. Williams. The chairman said that if the Parish Councils Bill is passed this session there would be no Local Board election in March, but they would remain on till November when they would give way to the new authority. MEDICAL OFFICER'S lIRPORT.—The annual report of the medical (dicer (Dr. Nutt) stated that during the year there had been 85 deaths, 40 males and 45 females. Hleven must., however, be deducted as not belonging to the district, thus bringing the total to 74. The actual death rate per 1,000 was 1919, as against 2019 last year. Out of the number of deaths five were due to scarlatina and two to suicide. The number of births in the district was 117, 68 males and 49 females, the average being 23-39 per 1,000, as against 2799 per 1,000 last year. Sickness had been of a mild type, and the past year might be regarded as a very healthy one. Influenza of a mild character appeared, and carried off a number of the aged. Scarlet fever had been niece or less present in the district throughout the year, but he had been unable to trace it. There had been no deaths from measles, , and only two out of 86 cases of whooping eoug,h. I There had been one case of smallpox brought by a I tramp, but it had been prevented from spreading. He urged on the board the desirability of providing an infectious diseases hospital for Sherborne. He then referred to his house-to-house visitation, and cases of overcrowding, &e., and stated that about 12 new cottages had been built in the district within the last 12 months, and more were in contemplation. Several complaints had been received during the year about keeping of pigs, and he thought that the time was not far distant when the board would have to consider the necessity of prohibiting the keeping of pigs within the urban district. In conclusion. he congratulated the board on improvements in sanitary matters, and thanked the officers, Ste., for the help they had given him during the year.
The Telegram. — 1894-07-03 (Weymouth, Dorset, England)

REVERSE OF FORTUNE.  At St. John's Vestry Hall, Horselydown, London, on Saturday, Mr. Latighain held an enquiry respecting the death of Phillip Robert Steyert. aged 42 years. The evidence showed that the deceased was at one time an American citizen of great wealth, but latterly so reduced in circumstances that he was compelled to hawk goods in the street. He was passing over London Bridge on June 22n41, and was seen to suddenly throw off his coat and hat and jump into the river. His body was recovered on Wednesday. The jury returned a verdict of "Suicide during temporary insanity."  NATIONAL HOME READING UNION  The 1894 summer assembly of the National Home Reading Union was commenced at Salisbury on Saturday evening, when a public reception was given in the banquetting room of the Council Chamber by the Mayor (Mr. C. Haskins), who was accompanied by his wife and by members of the Corporation in robes. His Worshin in giving a hearty welcome to the members, to, the history of Old and New Sarum, and a so ens the hope that the weeks assembly one one of the most pleasant and prolital,le in the annals of the union. Dr. Hill (master of Downing College, Cambridge), in reply, thanked the Mayor for his hospitable welcome, and said the only shadow and drawback to their happiness and pleasure would be the fact that they would not have the presence of one—Mrs. Wordsworth— whose sympathies in life were fully with such iMject as theirs. Dr. Hill also referred to the origin of the Union, and to the Chautauqua movement in America, on which he thought they in England had improved. During the evetiing a musical programme was gone through. There was on view in the grand jury room an interesting and valuable collection of books, pictures &c., recording various events in connection with Old , and New Sarum, and a case containing medals presented to the borough by the Corporation of London at various dates.—About 120 members arrived in Salisbury by Saturday, and will stay during the whole of the week.  At Edinburgh, on Saturday, John Frazer Nrris, solicitor, was comn.itted for trial cbarged with forging a signature to a document.