npedrazzini/19thc_murder_suicide_news huggingface dataset:
Blandford Weekly News. — 1889-04-13 (Blandford, Dorset, England)

SUICIDE OF COLONEL BLOIR.—On Saturday morning an inquest was held at Gore Hurst, Gervis Road, before Mr. W. H. Druitt (deputy coroner), on the body of Colonel Blois, late of the let Warwick Regiment, who was found, as reported in our later editions last week, on Friday morning lying dead on his bedroom floor with a bullet wound through his head, and a doubles barrelled gen by his side.—William Arkwright, of Chesterfield, Derbyshire, said the deceased was his brother-in-law and was 47 years of age. Tire deceased had been in a bad state of health for a considerable period, and had become much depressed in mind, especially since the deaths of his brother and sister, both of which had occurred during the past fonr months. He had never, to witnesses's knowledge, threateneel to commit suicide.—Benjamin Johnson, butler in the service of deceased, said Colonel Blois had been in a very depressed state of mind for several months. He had suffered from loss of appetite and general weakness. On Friday morning witness called him as usual at 7.30. He was then in bed.. As he did not come downstairs, witness went again to the bedroom about nine o'clock, and found damaged lying in his night-shirt in a pool of blood on the floor. He believed he was quite dead. He called Mrs. Smith, the nurse, and sent for Dr. White. The body was not touched until the doctor arrived. There was a gun lying on the floor near deceased's body. He had seen the gun downstairs; it used to stand in the corner of the smoking-roam. He had not missed it from its accustomed place. Neither witness nor anyone else in the house heard any report of the gun during the morning. He had no idea that there were any cartridges in the house.— Dr. Gregory White said lie was called about 9.30 on Friday morning to Gore Hurst, where he was taken into a bedroom, and found deceased lying on the floor in his nightshirt in a pool of blood. He sent for the police, and then examined the body. He found a shattered wound under the right ear. His skull was completely shattered. From the position in which the body was lying he thought deceased must have sat on the edge of the bed, placed the stock of the gun between his legs, and pulled the trigger with one of his feet. He had no doubt that the wound was self-inflicted, and that death WAR instantaneous. He attended deceased in August last, when he was suffering from physical debility and extreme mental depression. He had a delusion then that he had been poisoned, and that he was going to die. Witness told hint he was only in Lad health, but he pooh-poohed the idea, and said be knew he was going to die. He went away for a time, and witness did not see him afterwards until about a fortnight ago, when he was attending two of his children. He then saw deceased by accident, and he seemed to shrink from being observed. Deceased did not innuire at all about the children, which witness thought was rather strange, and lie seemed most reserved.—The jury returned a verdict that deceased committed suicide whilst temporarily insane.
Blandford Weekly News. — 1886-01-16 (Blandford, Dorset, England)

WHAT TO DO WITH DRUNKARDS.  The desirability of extending the scope of the Efabitual Drunkards Act by adopting the compulsory system Whb on Tuesday discussed in s paper read by Dr. A. Peddle before the Medical Society of London. After reviewing the various stages through which the discussion on the subject had passed, he discussed the provisions of the Act of 18;9, which, he held, bad been shorn of its most valuable feature, the compulsory clause. Being permissive, it afforded, in his view, no greater facility for the cure of dipsomaniacs than formerly existed. On the contrary, friends of patients found it even more difficult under its provisions to get them to submit to curative treatment. He likewise pointed out that the Act was wanting in applicability to the labouring, pauper, and criminal classes. To his mind a compulsory clause alongside the voluntary one would be of great service in inducing those who might be advised to enter a home to do se voluntarily, seeing that powers of compulsion remained behind, Private enterprise, he had long been convinced, or, indeed, philanthropic associations, could not be expected to meet the exigencies of this great social evil. Of course, there was the question of the liberty of the subject to be considered. That liberty had long been guarded with much jealousy by the Legislature, and so public opinion was slow to restrian the habitual drunkard. He held, however, that such persons relight to be looked upon as enslavers of themselves, and as pursuing a suicidal course in respect of their own best interests. The State regarded the suicide as criminally insane and, therefore, the dipsomaniac, having lost the power of reason, must be regarded as morally insane, and as much requiring treatment and restraint as a personsuffering from any other form of mental attliction. Not only did he injure himself, but he caused injury to others. He considered that there was a good deal of strained delicacy in that legislation which shirked interference with a class of cases that caused so much suffering and misery. In a great number of ways the liberty of the subject was already interfered with for the protection of others. It sanctioned, for instance, detention, even in the case of harmless lunatics, and it placed under restraint also those who were only somewhat feeble.nunded. On every ground of justice, humanity, political economy, and expediency, theref ore, be argued for the adoption of a compulsory system. In the brief discussion that followed, Dr. Norman Kerr held that a more extended measure would be of great importance,whileCanon Barker,rector of Marylebone, expressel himself strongly in favour of legislation both in regard to the licensing of public-houses and the institution of homes on the Dalrymple principle.— Dr. Farquharson, M.P., agreed that compulsory legislation was desirable, while holding, at the same time, that much good had been brought about by ths existing Act. Similar views were expressed by other gentlemen present.
Blandford Weekly News. — 1886-01-16 (Blandford, Dorset, England)

SPIRIT OF THE WEEKLY PRESS.  UNFIT FOR HONE RCM  The Spectator believes that the misigovernment of centuries has 'produced • condition of things in Ireland for which it is impossible that even the wisest man should find a satisfactory solution. The truth is that, while it has been found morally impossible to govern different parts of a "United Kingdom "on different principles, and while our experiments in governing Ireland on English ideas have utterly broken down, the Irish democracy have not reached the point at which they can be trusted to choose worthy leaden. The result is that, in-teed of choosing men who could co-operate with ~ur own best statesmen to reform the administration .3f Ireland, and to introduce better laws, they have chosen leaders whose main source of influence over them has been the encouragement they have given to the unscrupulous passions. of a long-oppressed peasantry. "We quite agree with Sir James Stephen that this being so, it is impossible to give way to their views. 'lf,' 'she powerfully puts it, 'what the Irish wish for is an act of justice, we ought to do it. If it is an act of plunder, we ought not to let them do it.' There is, so far as we can see, no answer at all to that. But it seems to us that it would be almost criminal, while recognising fully the moral impoa sibility of empowering the Irish democracy to C(.llc mit a great act of plunder, to take no step towards the political education of that democracy in the art of self-government. And here we think that Mr. Trevelyan has suggested something like the true solution. But to grant Home rule to such an Ireland as we now see, would, in our belief, be to instigate directly to an act of political suicide."
Blandford Weekly News. — 1886-06-05 (Blandford, Dorset, England)

HOUSE OF COMMONS. -MONDAY.  Mr. Mileage having inquired whether the Governi ment still regarded the Government of Ireland Bil and the Land Purchase Bill as inseparable, Mr. Gladstone replied that he had no new declarer tior. to make on the subject of the relations existing between the two measures. He did not think the Government would ask the House to pass its judgment on the Land Purchase Bill, except at a time when the principal bill was on the Orders of the Day with a view to prompt or immediate prosecution. That being the case, it was not their intention to ask for any vote on the Land Purchase Bill after the determination of the House had been given on the second r. ailing of the Irish Government Bill. The adjourned debate on the Government of Ireland Bill was resumed by Mr. H. Fowler with a speech in favour of the second reading. Replying to the argument that the scheme was a step towards separation, he insisted that there were two guarantees against that which the bill did not create, and could not destroy. These were the material interests of Ireland and the material forces of England. Any attempt at separation would, indeed, be an act of suicide. .  Lord J. Marine', condemned the bill because it handed over the lives, property, and liberties of her Majesty's Irish subjects to a new representative body and an Executive which would be under its control. Referring specially to the position of Ulster. he demanded to know whether it was to be excluded from or included in the bill, and adde,l that if it were included it would be treated as a conquered province. Now was the time for the House of Commons to act, and rise to the dignity and responsibility of its duty by rejecting the bill on the second reading; and thus save Great Britain fruni shame, humiliation, and disgrace, and Ireland from confusihn, and possibly reconquest. Mr. Storey, in the cwrse of a speech in favour of the measure, expressed his belief that owing to the action of Mr. Chamberlain the defeat of the bill was highly probable, and urged the Prime Minister in that event to appeal Lem the verdict r,f the House ot Commons to that of the people. Mr. Maenaghten spoke at some length in opposition to the measure, the passing of which he predicted would entail universal bankruptcy in Ireland. Mr. E. D. Gray declared that if the bill were rejected, and the Irish landlords resorted to evictions, the result would be disastrous. . .  On the motion of Mr. Chamberlain, the debate was again adjourned.
Blandford Weekly News. — 1886-05-22 (Blandford, Dorset, England)

CHINESE CHARMS.  The Chinese are great believers in charms, and the fist of such objects includes every variety of magical invention for warding off sickness, disease, calamity, fire and demoniacal possessions. We select a few, sulktituting English names for Chinese, with a word or two in explanation, as given in an exchange. 'The cash-sword" is made of a large number of old copper coins, strung together in the shape of a rude sword, and kept straight by a piece of iron running through the whole length. It is supposed to have great effect in frightening away ghost's and evil spirits, and in hastening the recovery of sick people. It may be found chiefly in houses where persons have suffered violent deaths, or have committed suicide; and not infrequently it is hung up by the bedside of inner rooms. As the copper coins may have been cast under the reigns of dale' en t monarchs, it ,is imagined that the presence of the several sovereigns will afford a guarantee against misfortune of any kind. "An old brass mirror" may of ten be observed in the chief apartments of rich people, standing there for the purpose of enticing away foul and malignant demons. The notion prevails that it has the virtue of 'healing any one who may have become mad at the sight of a fiend. The demoniac has only to look at himself in the brazen mirror, cad he is immediately cured. There is also "the Han jade-stone." Of this the story goes that, under the Han dynasty Mat is, about the opening of the present era), when a wealthy person died, each of his mourning friends dropped a " jadestone " into his coffin ; and, at this date, should anyone be fortunate enough to obtain one of these rare buried jades, he may consider himself secure from the power of devils and the fury of fire. "The jadestcme seal" is something analogous, lait is used principally as a guard against sudden fright. Very frequently it is worn by infants as (rootlets or armlets, to ohm if the child be well or ill; the former being indicated by the clean appearance of the stone, the latter by a dark shade. ghort, pithy sentences are sometimes cut upon them. There is also "a peach charm." On the first of the new year a sprig of peach-blossoms is stuck up over the door of the house, saying to the vile creatures that roam about creation, "Hitherto shall ye some, but no further." Yet one of their own poets has said, "If your own thoughts be free from impurity, of what need is this peach charm ?" " The tiger's claw," real, artificial, or pictorial, ie another charm against sudden starts and frights. "A three. cornered spell" is a paper with magical letters fancifully written upon it, folded in a triangular shape, and sewed on peeple's dresses to ward off sickness and spirits. Every temple has a good supply of this cheap article, and there is a great run 'upon it. The paper generally is yellow; the writing is of red ink, and, to add due importance to the fragment, it is stamped with the teniple seal. Many are used as cures for the sick, by being burnt and having the ashes thrown into a medical liquid, which compound 4!apir4 is quaffed by the pttienti
Blandford Weekly News. — 1886-05-22 (Blandford, Dorset, England)

SHOCKING MURDER AND SUICIDE.  Early on Monday morning a murder and suicide of a most determined character occurred in South London. Shortly after midnight a police-constable on duty in Newington Butts was informed that a murder and suicide had been committed in a house in Holyoake-road. The constable proceeded to the house indicated and on going with a fellow officer to the tirA floor front room found a young woman lying on the floor with her head nearly severed from her body and by her side, with his head resting on the woman's face, a man with a fearful gash in his throat. The blood from his wound had run over the face of the woman, who presented a horrible spectacle. The divisional surgeon of police was immediately sent for, and on his arrival pronounced life extinct in both cases. Death, he thought, had in each case been iostantaneous. Two common table-knives, covered with blood, were subsequently found on the floor close to where the bodies were found. The man's name is James Clark, a butcher, aged about 50 years, and the woman's name is Annie Ultham, aged 27 years. Clark was formerly in a good position, but failed in business, and for some time peat he had worked as a journeyman butcher. Ultham was formerly in his service, and they had cohabited together. Of late Clark had been in the habit of visiting Ultham on Saturday night and staying with her Mail Monday morning. The only person able to throw any light on the tragedy is a young woman named Susan Armes, a servant in the house, who states that she was in the room when Clark asked Ultham to go out with him. The latter refiped, and seated her self upon a chair, whereupon Clark took up a knife and drew it across Ultham'e throat, The. woman immediately fell to the floor. Clark next picked up another knife from the table, and, before Armee could prevent him, drew it across his own throat and fell upon Ulthatn. Armes then rushed out of the room and informed the pollee.  , i '1 1 , A '. ~ 1 1 i
Blandford Weekly News. — 1886-08-21 (Blandford, Dorset, England)

STARTLING STATEMENT.  In the last number of the French Bi!etze Scientierte appears a remarkable paper on Alcohol and Alcoholism, which presents statistics and conclusions of a very startling natnre. The author, M. Fournier de Flair, affirms that the outcry against alcohol is utterly unmerited, aa it does far more good than harm. To demonstrate this M. de Flair furnishes tabular statements to show that not only in the French departments but in all other countries the birth-rate is lower and the death-rate higher wherever the consumption of alcohol is small. It in further argued from these figures that neither criminality nor suicide is in proportion to alcoholic consumption. For instance, in the Seine et Oise the consumption of alcohol is just &limit half what it is in the Seine In. ferieure, yet the suicide rate is double in the former. In England, again, more alcohol is consumed than in France, and yet in France the birth rate, the death rate, the statistics of crime and suicide, are leas favourable than in England. The comparison* for Italy, Spain, Sweden, Norway,Denmark, Russia, Austria, and Germany show anala4ous results. M. de Flair's conclusion is that it is the nations with the most vital powers, the greatest wealth, and the best morals who consume the most alcohol. Alcohol he maintains to be an alimentary element, whose eongumption should depend directly upon the require meats of the climate. Our late Prime Minister, among otb-rs, is cited by M. de }lain in support of his thesis. He says : "Mr. Gladstone takes every day two glasses of claret at lunch and two at dinner, with a glass of port wine. Hie alcoholic consumption has been estimated by his son at seven gallons a year, which would be three and a-half times the average consumption per head in England, and four and a-half time, the average in Europe. M. Thiers took two glasses of Malaga every day, besides many glasses of 13prdeauz„ and Prince Bismarck is what may be termed a hard drinker, although he cannot be called a drunkard, because his head is always cool."
Blandford Weekly News. — 1886-03-27 (Blandford, Dorset, England)

IWERNE MINSTER.  Ixecresv.—An inquest was held at the Talbot Inn on Saturday, before Dr. J. Contyns Leach, touching the death of Martha Jackson, aged 36, who died suddenly in the house of her brother-in-law (Mr. A. Spicer) on Friday. It transpired that the dec ased had suffered for a long time from extreme weakness and mental debility, and on January Ist last endeavoured to commit suicide by drowning herself near Weymouth. A verdict of" Death from natural causes" was returned. Mr. George Bouverie Goddard, an animal and landscape painter of note, who died at his residence on Brookgreen, on the 6th inst., was born at Salisbury, on Christmas Day, 1832, and was educated at Ivy-house School the late Prof. Fawcett being one of several di-tinguished fellow-scholars. Though his aptitude for art showed itself early, he was designed for quite other pursuits, and it was in the face of much opposition that he devoted himself to art. He received no art teaching whatever. On removing to London he supported himself mainly by drawing on wood, several of his sketches of sporting subjects appearing in Putitqr and other illustrated periodicals. His first Academy picture of note WAS "The Combat," a fine work exhibited in 1870. In 1875 Mr. Goddard exhibited the work by which he will be the best remembered, a 14 ft. canvas representing "Lord Wolverton's Bloodhounds," a picture of rare force and fidelity which has found a sympathetic record in 'Whyte Melville' "Riding Recollections," who speaks of the pack as "sweeping like a whirlwind o'er the downs," and almost making their very cry audible. This picture was followed by " The Fall of Man " (1877) and by" The Struggle for Existence" (1879) purchased by the trustees for the Walker Fine Art Gallery at Liverpool. His later pictures " Rescued" (1881) and " Love and War " (1883) will be fresh in the recollection of the public. He died in the 53rd year of his age and the full maturity of his powers. As a lover of all country field sports, he will be missed in the covert and the bunting field not less than in artistic and literary circles.
Blandford Weekly News. — 1886-03-27 (Blandford, Dorset, England)

VOLUNTEER CAPITATION GRANT.  In the division upon Mr. Howard Vincent's motion in favour of increasing the volunteer capitation grant, the maj xity of 189 (hcluding tellers) in opposition to it was composed of 150 Liberals and 39 Nationalists. The minority of 168 (also including tellers) in its favour was made up of 152 Conservatives, one Independent (Sir Edws rd Watkin ), and the following 15 Liberals:Sir Charles Dilke, Sir G. Macpherson Grant, the Marquis of Stafford, Dr. Roderick McDonald, Mes.rs. T. Blake, Dillwyn, Gordon, H. C. Howard, D. J. Jenkins, Johns, Mackintosh, M'Laren, Salim ders, Shirley, and Cornwallis West, Mr. Trevelyan and Lord Hartington were in the majority; but Mr. ';harnbaiain and Sir Henry James did not vote.  A plan is on foot for opening, under the auspices of a united society of Italian wine-growers, establishments for the wholesale and retail sale of wines in London, New York, and L'uenus Ayres. The Egyptian Monarch, of the Monarch Line, is to be 6tted out at Millwall for the c ,nveyonce of the monster elephant Alice to America. where Alice will be exhibited, together with Jumbo's stuffed hide and skeleton, in Baruum's bhow.  An elderly man, named Franklin Philip, has been remanded at the Marlborough-street police•court on a chars., of embezzlement. In the capacity of clerk to the General Council of .I.l,,dical Education and Registration, it was his duty to issue certificates to medical men, for each of whin,' a fee of £5 was paid. The prisoner had issued 100 Ruch celtificates and received the fees, without acc:,u.ditiz for them.  Tho farmers of Last rienbignstnre, or, at feast; a por• tion of them, have ,ent ii petition to their landlords demandlng a reduction of :10 per cent, in their rents. They declare that it is hopeless to carry on with lcss. The land, they say, is fast becoming barren, as they are unable to huy either manure or lime, and cannot employ sufficient hands to till it. A man named Lunch, a patient in Stevens ring pital. Dublin, has made a singular attempt to commit suicide. He tied a rope round his neck, fastened the end to a washhand stand, and then jumped out of an upper window. A convalescent patient dn. covered his position, and Lynch was hoisted up in r-. 1 lunconscious state. The medical staff, after gria.ll elloi tic. suc:tesded in bringing him to.