npedrazzini/19thc_murder_suicide_news huggingface dataset:
The Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle. — 1864-10-22 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

RCSSIAN POLICF: STORY.—A letter from St. Petersburg mentions an extraordinary affair which lately occurred in the town if Orel. A great local landowner had a large sum (lii,ooo silver roubles) to receive through the police office of that town. On applying for the amount he was told that the money could not be handed over to him unless he presented the office with 5,000 silver roubles. He refused, and immediately reported the case to St. Petersburg, and the money WM paid over to him. But on the evening of the someday, as he was quietly smoking in his study, a loud ring was heard at the bell. The servant, on opening the door, was instantly pinioned, and four men, their faces covered with black crepe, rushed into the room The landowner asked them what they wanted they plainly told him he must hand over his  43,000 roubles. Viglz the greifeet—c,oolness he went over to hie strong box, opened it, seized a revolver, which N'tis laid on the top shelf, and shot two of the robbers dead, the other two immediately taking to their heels. He then sent for assistance, the police, be., and on the crape being removed from the faces of the dead men they were recognised as the head of the police and his secretary. The body of the former has been removed to Nice for interment.  A NOVEL Suicinz.—On the night of the 2cl mutants receiver of one of the large towns in Belgium committed suicide on board a vessel bound from Rotterdam for Singapore, after leaving an enormous deficit in his cash account. /3efore embarking he wrote a long letter to his wife, announcing his intention to commit suicide in order to assure to her a pension which he estimated to amount to 3,8001. The letter contained the following passage : I shall embark on board the Prinre Frederie Under my own name. I leave on shore, In the hands of hi. Hooricks, notary, li, Boomptjes, at Rotterdam, a mystic will, which you will act upon as soon as you receive notification of my death. I have taken with me everything which can waist in proving my Identity. On our third night at sea I shall go upon deck, and shall allow myself to slip overboard to the bottom of the sea, my body attached to a 5071 05 silken cable long enough to allow of my oody beiog towed with the ship, so that my corpse may be wally-fished up. I shall leave on the table in my cabin a note informing the captain of my disappearance. A candle, after burning a quarter of an hour, will cause a pistol to explode, and the noise thus created will cause one of the men of the watch to enter my room. I leave the rest to the care of Providence.  THE END OF A ( .lIINESE '
The Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle. — 1864-07-23 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

THE SUICIDE ON A MOTHER'S GRAVE. An inquiry was held on Tuesday at the Marlberough Arms, Peckham, respecting the ri,ath of Mr. James William twist, aged 31 years, who committed suicide on his mother's grave. Mrs. Margaret Smith said thst on last Thursday evening she was walking in Nuuhead Cemetery, and she heard from the direction of one of the graves the heavy breathing of a person in great pain. On going to the spot she found a young man lying on the turf, with his bead on the sidestone of a grave. He had I evidently just fallen. Witness was afraid something was wrong and she went to the superintendent of the cemetery, and returned to the spot with him. A doctor Was sent for and remedies were applied. The deceased Was thrse-quarters of an hour dying on the grilse. Some pideon was seen by witness on the ground near the deceased. Mr. Neil said hat he was a clerk, and was the brother-in-law of the decease 1. The deceased was of no occupation when he died; he was out of commission. On Thursday afternoon he left witness's house, and the following morning witness's sister received a letter written by him, evidently just before hie death. His rusistsr's death, which occurred five years ago, had given hiin great grief, and since then he had acted in a very strange way. About two months ago he lost his employment by taking holidays without leave. He then sold off his furniture and turned his wife and child out of doors, and left them uponattie resources of his family. For years witness had reasoned with upon his conduct, and told him what it would all OMB to, hut it was of no use. He at times had given way to habits of extreme intemperance. When he came to reason despair seized him, and he went and poisoned himself on the .grave of his mintier. The witness, who appeared to be much affected, read the letter written by the deceased to hie wife, which was to the following effect:— My Dear Wite,—Wthea yen read these lines the Individual who writes them will have taken the liberty of taking a view of the future state of society. Igo to see my • ',Puller. You remain to loilt after the boy; and will protect yen. Mai how wrong yen were when yon said I had not conrig',to conceit the act I hinted to ann. I believe now u hat nnaklware says, INS there is s,nett,tsd le mad; near." Farewell to this world! Since our juvenile days, since first love Ilse ripened site Manhood's devotion, and ' the 10ve,,! my boyhood has become mauhood's affection— alec one tnt lose no. generated, when we were boy and ' girl toipither-1 DaVe been ours;) but I DOW constitute mymelt • fudge ol Mu Divorce Conn, and now lam yon.  Math Eugene Aram I have followed reason and not vice. My faults are from the head, and not from the heart. Be cure to bring up the boy in strong feelings of religion, that I neglected. At the C •ffee-house in Tooley-street will be the brown portmanteen, and iu that the few things I have are contained. lu my pocket will be found the key.
The Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle. — 1864-10-15 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

GIROVF.,&  Break it gently to Helen, and give her this. The Witness said that the troubles referred to in the the letter were cutely business and pecuniary troubles. The second paper was unsigned, and was as follows:  I cannot pass another day like this. Do not send to Helen until falba or Charles can go to her. Send for Dr. Smith. God Is a merciful, and net a revengeful judge. I feel at peace wtth him. The witness stated that he had no doubt that the difficulties and losses arising from the American trade had deprived the deceased of reasoning powers, and so caused him to destroy himself in a moment of insanity. Mr. N iblett, said that he ISM called in to the deceased and found him quite dead, and a strong odour of cyanide of potassium on his lips. There was in the large bottle on the table a quantity of the poison sufficient to kill 150 people. In the tumbler wan a raping solution of the poison. which no doubt the deceased had been unable to finish. Cy anide of pr.tassium was a most deadly poison, and it was at present obtainable with too much facility on account of its common use in the arts. The deceased gentleman was a person of scientific tastes., and he was fond of experimenting in chemistry. In that way it was possible that he might have become pomiessed of the drug in question. The jury returned a verdict : That the deceased committed suicide by poisoning himself with cyanide of potassium while in estate of unsound mind, and the jury desire to draw attention to the danger of per rultthig the indiscriminde sale of cyanide of potassium to unknown persons, and to suggest that in all cases the purpose ti which so deadly a drug is to be applied should he carefully ascertained.
The Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle. — 1864-07-30 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

MURDER- AND SUICIDE AT 'MANCHESTER.  On Tuesday morning a shocking murder and suicide were committed in a house in Great Ancoats, Manchester. The occupiers of the house were James Gilbert, a parlor and wellainker, and his wife and five children. About 6in the morning a policeman heard cries of "murder" issuing from Junction-street, and on going in that direction met one of the girls of the family, who exclaimed. " Come, policeman, come! Father has stabbed my mother." On entering the house the policeman saw at the to of the stairs Ellen Gilbert, the wife of the murderer, with her throat cut from ear to ear. The stairs were covered with blood, and the unfortunate woman only survived a few minutes. The officer proceeded upstairs, and there he found the husband, sitting on the Fide of a bed, with his throat cut and a stream of blood flowing from the wound. His face was distorted, and he died soon afterwards. Eliza Cosgrove, a neighbour, had arrived before the policeman, but the murderer threatened to take her life if she interfered, and she left the house to obtain assistance. The deceased woman had been  drinking for a week past, and this is said to have led to the dreadful tragedy. The husband had been heard to say he would hang himself or cut somebody's throat. The husband was about 50 years old, and the wife was about 40. They bad five children, the two eldest of whom had left the house owing to their father's threats. The three other children were in the house at the time of the murder. An incpuot was held, and the verdict returned against James Gilbert was one of " Wilful murder," and that he afterwards committed suicide, "being in an unsound state of mind."
The Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle. — 1864-06-04 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

EXTRAORDINARY SUICIDE. A very painful behalf if the convention, our reporter resumed his feeling has been occasioned at Esher, Surrey. through visits to it yesterday roorzling, and found Clintonhall the suicide of Mrs. Grenhow, wife of a barrister re- again full at ten o'clock. The session was marked by aiding at the place mentioned, woo threw herself niMer interest and excitement, and from the leading spirits an express train. On the Derby day her husband flowed the erratic eloquence which is destined to went to the races. and returned home in the evening establish aconnective republic of disembodied and in. fur the purpose of entertaining a party of friends. carnate spirits in Hades and New York and Boston. The reporter then proceeds to point out some of the airs. Grenhow, however, with her child, aged 5 years, I and a female servant, proceeded to her relatives at extraordinary advantages of spiritualism. Weybridge, and for this purpose went to the Esher Look at Brother Fishbow, air instance, as he sits on station. While waiting for the train she appeared to the platform. Omit to notice that he is unshaved, and be desirous of jumping on to the line, but was pulled that his short gray beard, oval face, and half-bald head reveals a very ordinary looking man, who back ba the s -rvant ; as the expense train rushed presents no indication that he can step into any churchthrough the station she uttered a loud shriek, and bounding forward threw herself tinder the wheels. yard and call up soulo from the buried coffins beneath. After the train had passed, the body of the unforY et Brother Fishbow is stated to be one of the founders tunate lady was found to be frightfully mutilated. of the faith, who started a newspaper to advance it. The remains ere gathered up, yiut in a shell, and I But the spirits who desired to sustain the journal had placed in one of the waiting rooms to await the inquest. I no purses; and the spirils in the body, who had money, At the time Mrs. Grenhow threw herself .ff the platI failed to do so: and thus the gazette of apparitions 1 form she had hold of her child's arm, and it wan only perished. through the servant snatching it back that it was Then there is the chubby-faced, corpulent Dr. raged f iom destruction. For some time past Mrs. Halloo, who wants Christianity abolished forthwith; Greuhow had been suffering from illness, which some- the war-loving Brother Clarke, the man who wants to what affected her mind. revolutionise hell; the young gentleman who anNOTE
The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle. — 1876-08-26 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

SINGULAR AFFAIR AT KIDDERMINSTER.  At the Guildhall Kidderminster, on Monday, before Messrs. T. Radford (Mayor) and T. Banks, a young woman, of respectable appearance, giving the name of Harriet Frances Jones, was placed in the dock on a charge of attempting to poison herself. It appears that the police received information on Saturday night that the prisoner had taken poison. and Sergeant Ebury found her at Mr. Gardiner's, the Star and Anchor, in an alarming state from the effects of drinking a small bottle of laudanum. Mr. D. Corbet, surgeon, administered an emetic, but the prisoner remained in a drowsy lethargic condition the whole night. and had continually to be aroused and forced to walk about. In the course of Sunday morning she was sufficiently recovered to be removed to the police-station. She is said to have been living a blameable life for some time past. When brougt before the magistrates on Monday it appeared that no evidence was forthcoming against her.—Sergeant Ebnry said that it was Mr. Gardiner who sent for the police.—Mr. Gardiner said he heard prisoner had been attempting something, but he had just gone to bed, and did not see her do anything himself. In reply to the magistrates, it was stated that prisoner would not disclose whcre her friends lived, but it was believed to be in the neighbourhood of Gloucester. She said her mother was living, but not her father.—The Mayor: What did you take ?—Prisoner: Laudanum, but I did not take it with the intention of committing suicide ; and I should like the case gone into.—The Mayor: From the information we have received we believe you had a bad motive: You took sufficient to kill yourself. Mr. Gaidiner says he will see to you returning to your friends.—Prisoner (very decidedly) : It is my intention to live in Kidderminster, sir.—The Bench, after consulting, said they had no doubt in their own minds that prisoner made an attempt on her life, but as there was no one to give evidence against her she would be discharged. If she remained in Kidderminster the police would keep an eye upon her. A respectable-looking girl ought to be ashamed of the position she occupied. —Prisoner then left the dock.
The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle. — 1876-09-02 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

DEATH OF THE STATION WASTEIL—An inquest was held before Mr. W. H. Phillips, at the Vine Inn, Wordsley, on Monday evening, touching the' death of James Corfield (39), late station master at Brierley Hill. —lnspector Ledbrook and Inspeator Locke, or the Great Western Railway Company were present during the inquiry.—lt appeared from the evidence that deceased had been in the employ of the comp my ten years There had been some slight irregularities on his part, but uo chargf Ihad been nat de against him bythe company. On Friday morning last Corfield left home at about eleven o'clock and proceeded to the station at Brierley Hill, where he stayed only a short time. He then went towards Wordsley' calling at three publia-houses on the way, and at each of which he had 4d worth of brandy and water. The proprietors of these houses said they noti el io .bin 3 strange in Isle demeanour. At five o'clock in the evening he was seen walking along the side of the Stourbridge Canal. After this nothing was heard of him until about five o'clock the next morning, when his:body was found floating in the canal, near the Wordsley Junction. There was no ~evidenee to show that the deceased committed suicide, or that he had come by his death otherwise than by accident.—The jury returned an open vedict. ASSAULTISG A WIEE,—At the Police Court, on Thursday, before Mr. I. Spooner, Stipendiary, Joseph Landers was charged with assaulting his wife Sarah Ann Landers, on the 24th ult.—Complainant, who did not wish to press the case, said she lived at Commonside. On the above date defendant came home about six o'clock and struck her several blows on the face and head.—Defendant said complainant gave him cause.—Mr. Spooner: There is no cause to justify a man striking his wife. I fine you £2 and costs; in default six weds hard labour. CAUTION TO OWNERS OF 'Doos.—Edward Geary, chemist, High Street, Brierley'Hilr, was summoned by James Gittings, assistant overseer, for- not keeping a dog under proper control on the 17th ult.—Comnlainaut said on the above date defendant's dog bit his son whilst he was in the street with other children —Defendant said he had offered to pay the doctor's fee.—Mr. Spooner: It is a frightful thing to die from hydrophobia. I order you to have the dog destroyed at once and pay costs, and for every day the animal is kept alive I flue you El.
The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle. — 1876-04-15 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

DIPSOMANIACS.  Lunatics in all but name, utterly incapable of controlling their own vicious impulses, lost to all sense of decency, full of low cunning, alternating between moments of excessive elation and fits of intense depression—at one instant repentant, at the next defiant, they go slouching through life, mutely calling upon society to help them against themselves. So far, society has declined the mission. According to our present laws, no authority exists to prevent a dipsomaniac from giving way to his madness. Even when the besotted creature executes a document surrendering his liberty for a given period into the hands of a medical man, the law of England refuses to take cognisance of such a deed. Should the dipsomaniaewish to set it aside as soon as his short-livei fit of repentance terminates, any doctor who attempted to put, its provisions in force would be liable to heavy pains and penalties. Of this fact the cunning madman is well aware, and he alwost invariably makes use of the knowledge to'free 111):nself from restraint the moment it grows obnoxious. Then after his miserable nerves have again been shattered to pieces by an outrageous debauch, peniterce returns, and he is ready to adopt any means that promise to save him from his famila.r demon. Thus matters go on, cure becoming more difficult after each outbreak, until the day arrives when the victim of society's almost criminal leniency either commits suicide or surrenders his smirched soul amid the unutterable horrors of delirium tremens. Every day witnesses deaths of this sort; every family in the land speaks with bated breath of some such calamities. Yet prejudice still operates to prevent the adoption of those measures which, in a majority of instances, would certainly work a cure if applied in time. The one chance of saving a dipsomaniac consists in placing him under close and incessant supervision. This can only be done .by legalising his incarceration in some asylum especially devoted to such cases, under the same safeguards as other lunatics. In the beginning it might be expedient to forbid compulsory seclusion unless with the sufferer's previous consent in writing. But after such a document was duly executed before a magistrate, the signer would be legally bound by its • provisions during a specified term. This seems about the mildest arrangement likely to produce any permanently beneficial effect. If the experiment were found to answer, prejudice could scarcely bar the way to farther legislation. For a cure, certain remedies are absolutely necessary: Banishment of evil influences, elimination of vicious associations, a gradual infusion of new and wholesome interests into life, friendly monitions given with the voice of authority, and absolute conviction of the powerlessness of evasion or resistance. By such means the disease, especially in its earlier developments, can be certainly stamped out, and with society therefore rests the blame if mawkish sentimentality about freedom is allowed to prevent their application.—St.. James's Magazine.
The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle. — 1876-10-21 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

OLD MAN'S SAD DEATH.  The Indianvolis Journal of September 28 reports the suicide ot Mr. Samuel Turner, a clitizen of Greenwood, 111 d.,,r peculiar eire'runstances. Mr. Turner has lived at Greenwood since 1823, wlire he amassed conski( rable property, and by a life of Christian charity and uprightness Suned the esteem of all who knew him. Owing to physical peculiarities his habits and views were eccentric. His head was bald, and had been from birth. A little tef r. grew on each ear. He had but one tooth, and there never had been any more. Ills body was covered with strange msrks and signs of odd shapes and c)lours. He never married, and as the rhadows begau to thicken around him he dreaded that his grave would be violated, that body-snatchers would cart his remains in the eight to the dissecting-room, that his body would be stretched upon & distecting-table In the presence of medical students, Mad his mangled rennin thrown into a sower when the surgeon's knife had done its work. He used to ray, "When I am dead, I don't went the doctors to get hold of my body." The thought grew into a phantom, which followcd him everywhere. .• It increwed until it crowded every other thought out of his bewildered brain. A short time ago he marked his eighty fi`th year. On the 18th ult, he came to ledianapolis. In the afternoon he wrote a letter to Mrs. Jackqon Lyons, of Greenwood, at whose house he lived. The letter announced that he intended to go to Louisville to throw himself in the Ohio River. On the With the Indy was! found in the river about thirty miles south of Louisville. On examining his will it was found that he had left all his money in bank, amounting to about 3,000 dols., to the American Bible Society. Ho held stock amounting to about 8,000 dole. more. He directed that the interest on these and othcr investments should be paid to his brother, John Turner, during his life, and at his death to the American Bible Society.