npedrazzini/19thc_murder_suicide_news huggingface dataset:
The Poole Telegram. — 1883-11-16 (Poole, Dorset, England)

EXTRAORDINA.RY TRAGEDY AT DUBLIN. At the Dublin Police-court, on Friday. before Mr. Wooflock, Catherine Stevenson, wife of a labourer, was charged with having on July 27th murdered her son, George Stevenson, aged six years. by knocking out his brains with a hammer and a fire-shovsl, and also with having on the 861110 occasion attempted to murder her second son, Thomas Stevenson, aged nine yeare. by fracturing his skull with the same weapons. She was f urther charged with having on the same date attempted ta commit suicide by fracturing her skull with a hammer. There was a fourth charge against her of having on Oct. 27th again attompted to commit suicide while in the hospital by cutting her throat with a table-knife. The unfortunato woman, who had become unconscious after she was brought dosvu t 3 court, was carried int, the court by four policemen, and placed on the seat at the solicitors t where she remained, apparently in a state of coma, during the investigation. A police-inspector stated that she was better on Thursday, and that her present illness had emus suddenly upon her, Evidence was then given as to the discovery of the children in the raomi—ione of them dead, with its brains knocked our, and the other in an apparently dying state, with its skull fractured ; and also to the admission of the plisoner that she had inflicted the wounds, and that she attempted to kill het self. Evidence was as, given of the attempt by the prisoner to commit suicide while in hospital by cutting her throat with a table-knife, which she had concealed under the bedclothes, 14r. B shoo, the Crown solicitor, who prosecuted, asked that she should be committed to the Commission for trial, anti she would then be committed as a dangerous lunatic. Mr. Woodlock said he would not in the woman's present condition send her for trial, as she was not professionally represented, and had not heard the evidence. He would therefore remand her, and she would be sent back to tho hostas'. The accused, who still remained unconscious, was curied out of court and cow veyed back to the hospital in a cab.
The Poole Telegram. — 1883-03-02 (Poole, Dorset, England)

SELF-BAPTISM ?—About three o'clock on Sunday afternoon a woman named Ferry, of Trinity-place, Chapelry, Weymouth, made an attempt, which can hardly be called suicidal, though it may coat her her life from shock and cold. Taking a child with her on the way, she went up beyond the railway station, and walked in that very pleasant field of Mr. , George Gill's, which adjoins the Backwater, just on the edge of Radipole parish. Arriving near the old limekiln, she deliberately walked into the water, but appears to have fount it too unpleasant, for then she lustily cried out. Mr. Langdon, a foreman porter of the railway, was taking a walk with his wife, soil heard the cries, and, his attention being drawn to the 11 Backwater, he saw the woman's head, went to the place, and found her emerging from the water. Langdon assisted her up, and went to Sergeant Wills for assistance; but when the Sergeant went back with him, they found the woman had returned to the foreshore, where she was kneeling, and apparently praying. The sergeant then took charge of her, and she was conveyed across the field to the Spa Howse, being in a numbed state, apparently from having been se long in the water. A crowd naturally gathered as she was being conveyed across the field, and and,ng the people was her brother, who recognised her. At the house restoratives and rubbing brought her round, and, a trap being sent for, she was removed to Weymouth, and put under the care of Dr. Nathan. Miss Fanny Ferry, who walked into the Backwater at Radipole on Sunday afternoon, seems never to have fully recovered from the shock. She died at 20 minutes to five on Tuesday morning. Information was conveyed to the Coroner, and Mr. Symonds came down and enquired into the case, the result being that he did not consider an inquest necessary. The case could not be considered one of attempted suicide, as Miss Ferry di.l not even wet her hair. She is said to have been a deeply religious and most industrious and steady person, and probably her health had been affected by too close attention to indoor work, and lack of diversion and outdoor exercise. To relieve her ill-health she hrvl had recourse to some quack medicine, it is said, which was unsuited to her case, and this, with the want of exercise, probably somewhat affected her mind. Her age was 35.  AN
The Poole Telegram. — 1883-09-07 (Poole, Dorset, England)

TUE NEW SCHOOL OF REPOIITING.--The laconic is just now in favor with transatlantic journalists, who have * knack of making fun out of very serious matters. The following are examples :—A. circus-ridefat Texas tried to tars three somersaults on horseback; the manager sent to New Orleans for another somersault otau.—A man warned his wife in New Orleans not to light the fire with kerosine: her clothes tit his second wife remarkably well, —Few men would attempt to dry gunpowder in the kitchen stove ; man in Canada did. His afflicted family would be glad of say information as to his whereabouts. A boy in Detroit disregarded his mother's warning not to skate on the river as the ice was thin : his mother don't have to cook for so many by one.—ln Massachusetts the other day a man thought he would cross the track in advance of the locomotive; the services at the grave were nu pressi vo. Were this style of reporting to become naturalised here a pennyadiaer's vocation would be gone. Suicides might cease to be every day occurrences:if they werelchronicled thus : —"John Smith, of Westminster, revolver. Anne Jones, of Manchester, laudanum. G. Jenkins, of Liverpool, third-storey window."  From Punch.  Vilna air, plain food, early hours, and plenty ot exercise," says Ramsbotham, " are worth all the doctors' rostrums in the world."  " I NEARLY quarrelled with hitn," said Mrs. Ramsbottling. "I felt inclined to say with Siialtspgare, 'Cry baddock, aud let slip the hogs of war!  'CHEAP amusement for the people" (provided by molt. hearted (awl headed) Magistrates).—Man-baebing. wife!voting, and horse-torturing. "Fined Five Shillings? Ooray I" says Bill Sikes. '• Wy it's barfly the price of a docent • drunk,' and twice the fun. Bully for the Beaks They don't want to rob a poor man of his —bludgeon." AO he tries again. Perhaps if Bill were next to experi• 'sent on a Magistrate, or even a Magistrate's park hack, he might do Society the service of showing the Law' lenity in an even lovelier light.
The Poole Telegram. — 1883-09-07 (Poole, Dorset, England)

ATTEMPTED SUICIDE BY A YEDVIL MAN.—At the Mansion House Police Court on Friday Henry Gay Cord was brought before Alderman Sir Andrew Lusk, M.P., charged with attempting to commit 'suicide. The circumstances of the case were of a somewhat peculiar character.—A Sergeant of the City Police deposed that at one o'clock on ThurEday morning be was on duty on Blackfriws Bridge. He saw ths prisoner walking along and gesticulating wildly, and he was apparently engaged in c )nversation with some imaginary person. Suddenly rushing to the parapet he WM about to throw himself over the bridge, when witness seized hold of him and dragged him back. He behaved very violently, and seemed to be under the Impression that someone was calling to him from the river, and he attempted to jump over the bridge in order to join the individual. On the way to the police.station, he prayed and swore alternately, and witness had discovered that he had only been discharged from the Hoxtou House Private Lunatic Asylum on Wednesday lase—Sir And, ew Lusk asked how he came to be discharged while in such a condition. The pobce officer replied that he was discharged as cured. The prisoner had no home and no friends in London, and he seemed as if he had been wandering about since his discharge from the asylum. Dr. Green, a medical man, who had been called to examine the prisoner, expressed an opinion that he was undoubtedly of unsound mind. The man seemed to be labouring under the delusion that someone was calling to him from the water, and acting under that hallucination he tried to throw himself over the bridge in order to join that person. The prisoner bad homicidal tendencies, and witness thought he should be placed under proper control, otherwise he would probably do some injury either to himself or to some one else.—Replying to questions put by Sir Andrew Lusk, the prisoner said his relations lived near Yeovil, and he was a stonemason by occupation.—Mr. Webb, one of the relieving officers of the City of London Union, gave evidence as to the prisoner being chargeable to the Corporation.— Sir Andrew Lusk inquired whether it was usual for a pauper lunatic to be sent to a private asylum like the Hoxton House Lunatic Asylum.—Mr. Webb replied that it was very often done.—Sir Andrew Lusk asked by whose authority a patient would be discharged as cured.—Mr. Webb replied that he supposed it would be dons on the authority of the medical officers of the establishment.—Sir Andrew Lusk thought it was very unusual for a pauper lunatic to be sent to a private asylum, and he considered that the guardians were proper persons to exercise authority in the matter. He ordered the prisoner to be sent to the City of London Lunatic Asylum at Stone, near Dartford.
The Poole Telegram. — 1883-09-14 (Poole, Dorset, England)

MURDER OF A SCOTCH WOMAN IN NEW YORK.  SUICIDE OF THE MURDERER.  Information was received from Americi on Thursday of a shocking tragedy, which occurred in New York on the 23rd August. Neremac, a well-known Scotch pedeetrian, was walking there along with his wife, and accompanied by his trainer, a man named George Beattie, when, from motives of jealousy it is stated, Beattie attacked Noremac's wire, shooting her dead, and afterwards blew out his own brains. Moremac, whose proper name is Cameron (the nom de plume being the reverse of his real name) is &young man, who was at one time employed as a lithographic printer in Edinburgh. He gave up the trade some years ago to adopt the profession of a pedestrian, in which he acquired considerable repute. In the south of Scotland he was very successful, and always took a leading place in English contests. Having achieved a reputation at home, he left for America, accompanied by George Beattie. Here he became landlord of an hotel, and took part in the race which was won by G. Hazel, of London, taking third place. In this race he was trained by Beattie, who also prepared him for another contest, which was won by Fitzgerald, Noremac,being second. Notemaes wife is described as a most attractive-looking woman. Beattie, who ueually travelled with them. appeared to be a man of quiet manners; he belonged to Arbroath. Mrs. Notemac belonged to Woodside, a suburb of Aberdeen, where several of her relatives reside. She was most respectably connected ; her maiden name was Edwards. She is slid to have lived with her husband on the best terms. The woman was 27 years of age; Beattie was a man about 50 years of age. He had been a eoldier, and was for many years abroad. Beattie accompanied Mrs. Noremsc to America, as her guardian, some time after her husband left. Noremac held him in high esteem, and refused to believe anything that rumour alleged to compromise his wife. SIUC3 his first departure, Beattie has visited Scotland several times to collect hie pension.
The Poole Telegram. — 1883-08-03 (Poole, Dorset, England)

SUICIDE OF A DAUGHTER OF SIR SAMUEL  BAKER.  An inquest was held at Sandford Orleigh the residence of Sir Samuel Baker, near Newton Abbot, on Friday evening, touching the death of Miss Ellen C mstance Baker, a daughter of Sir Samuel Baker, who died early on Friday morning. Mr. Hacker was the coroner, and the jury consisted of gentlemen of the neighbourhood. The evidence showed that the deceased lady had been a Sister of Mercy in a convent in London, and had recently returned horns on a visit. She had previously tuffered from epileptic fits ae well as from religious mania. On the 14th inst. she attempted suicide by cutting the veins of her arm with a penknife, bat failing in that attempt she went down into the hall and seized a Japanese dagger, with which she returned to her bedroom, and then plunged it into her stomach, causing a terrible wound. Medic al aid was called in, but the unfortunate lady rfpeatedly asked to be allowed to remain and die ; and she succumbed to the effects of the wound in the stomach at two o'clock on Friday morning. Sir Samuel Baker stated that on S urday, the 14th inst., about 8 a.m., Lady Baker, hearing a knock at the bedroom door, went across the landing to deceased's room, and called him to follow. His daughter was lying on the bed deluged in blood, and having wounds in the throat, hands, and arms. On the dressing-table were a penknife and acissco s stained with blood. She exclaimed that she was weary of life and wished to die. Dr. Ley was sent for to attend the decsed. For about a year and a half deceased had been in All Sainte' t.isterhood, London, and Kilburn Orphanage House. She had not been in good health since she came home, and was nervous and apparently mentally strained by work. Dr. Lay's evidence was to the eff,ct that deceased told him she had inflicted the wounds on herself and that she wanted to die. After hearing the evidence, the jury returned a verdict to the effect that deceased came by her death through a wound self-inflicted whilst in an unsound state of mind.
The Poole Telegram. — 1883-08-03 (Poole, Dorset, England)

SINGULAR CASE OF DROWNING.—An inqu-st was held at the Town Hall on Saturday, by Mr. R. Aldri lge, acting as deputy-coroner, on the b dy of Miss Clara Price, of Exetn., whose body was picked up on the shore near the S ,ndbanks on Thursday evening.—Aocordiog to tho evidence of Mr. Robert Grey, brother-in-law to the deceased, and manager and assistantotecretary to the West of England F.re Insurance Company at Exeter, she was &hoist 61 ye 4re of age, of independent means, and had been residing at Mayfield House, Bournemouth, for the benefit of her health. She was very comfortably off, and there was nothing t cause her uneasiness as regarded money matters. (The witnesses were, by permission of Mr. Aldridge, examined by Mr. S. H. Dickinson, who r presented the family); but she had a peculiar liking for walking into the water an i paddling atamt as children would. Her legs were somewhat singularly formed, being apparently too heavy for her, and in consequence she often tumbled about. S:ie'svas of a particularly religious tuns of mind, and always regarded suicide with the greatest horror. His impression was—in fact it was the only thing that suggested itself to him—that she went inf o the water for the purpose of cooling her feet, that she f4l, and, being unable to get up again, was suffocated. Two witnesses, a lad, named Coat, and another visitor, named Bellairo, who disc )vered the body, stated that it Was only a few yards out, and the deceased Was lying with her face downwards. She had on her boots and stockings, but her mantle and umbrella she had left lying by the side of a boat. She 12Ad, it also transpired, been attended during the past four m .nths by Dr. Scutt, of Bournemauth, for liver oumplaint and carbuncles. She had also mat with a severe accident some time ago from the upsetting of a lamp. and was very weak on her legs, being unable to get up without assistance if she should happen to fall. For the past three or four months, both physic ally and mentally, she had been in a very weak state, but he had never seen anything pointing to suicidal tendency on her part.—A. young girl, named Dinah Payne, who had been in tlio habit of sleeping with the deceased, deposed that when she went out on the day in question she was in her usual spirits and heal-h. She had never spoken of commit. ting suicide.—The jury, of whom Mr. W. H. Gray was foreman, returned a verdiot of "Aocidentally Drowned."
The Poole Telegram. — 1883-11-30 (Poole, Dorset, England)

ACCIDENT TO THE IRISH EXPRESS.  A serious accident occurred to the Irish express, which left Neylaud at 2.45 on Saturday morning for London. When passing near Kidwilly, where a goods train was being shunted, the express dashed into some trucks which were not quite clear of the lice. The express was severely damaged, and the line blocked, so that the down mail was delayed fur loins hours. A later telegram states that the express consisted of an engine, tender, three coaches, a guard's van, and four horse-boxes, and it was ruuniog at a high rate oi speed. After the collision the eugme ran for a hundred and fifty yards, and then turned over. The roof of the first passenger carriage was smashed by the wheels of one of the tracks, and one of the passengers had his collarbone dislocated, this being the only one injured out of fifty. Turee out of nine horses were hurt.  SUICIDE OF A BOY NEAR LEICESTER, An inquest has been held at Ayleston, a suburb of Leicester, oa the body of a youth named Thomas Cooper, aged Di. The by was found by his employer hanging in a loft over his stable. Several letters were found in the pocket of the boy, which showed the cause of his committing the rash act. One waa a letter from a woman, whose age it wee stated to be 30, and it was as follows :—" Aylestone, November 21, 1883. William, I just write to ask you whether you are going to do anything towards the keep of the child. If not, I shall be compelled to swear it. I cannot maintain it without help.—Youre, ISABELLA Baer." At the foot of this lettsr was written in deceased's handwitting :—" Then swear it to the right one." Another lettsr written to e young woman with whom he had been keeping company wee found, which concluded thus:—' Think no more of me.—Your dear love, THomes Coorsa."
The Poole Telegram. — 1883-11-30 (Poole, Dorset, England)

SHOCKING TRAGEDIES.  A shocking crime was committed on Friday night at Little Bromwich. Frederick Semen, 28, an agticultural labourer, has been living on unhappy terms with his wife for some time past. They separatsd, the wife going to live at Birmingham with her friends, but on Friday night the wife wont to her husband's house, situated in a lonely spot, and was not again seen alive. The murderer's brother, living at the house, went home to t .a, and, finding the door fastened, broke it open, when he discovered the murdered woman in the bedroom, blood fi owing from a wound over the right temple; and the husband was found in bed undressed and quite dead, having poisoned himself. The poor woman's head appeared ti have been battered in with some blunt instrument. A letter lett by the murderer points to jealousy as the odium of the crime. At Kirkfield Bank, near Lanark, on Friday night, a medical student, named William Brown, murdered two young women, and then committed suicide. The names of the murdered women are Charlotte Speirs. aged 35, and Cdtherine Hamilton, 16. A postillion named George Kay, observed something lying on the roadside, and found that it was the body of a women with her throat cut. It was found that the dead body was that ni Miss Speire. At the same time it was found thst the servant girl, Catherine Hamilton, was lying in a dying state at the door of a house where she had been knocking for half-au-hour. The iumattis heard a faint tapping, but as no one spoke they did nob open the door. Hamilton was unable t 3 speak, but she wrote with a pencil the words, Willie killed us both." the unfortunate girl died on daturday mot n• Mg. On examining Brownville House the body of the murderer was found on the lower fiat, and is sharp. pointed knife near it. No motive whatever can be assigned for the deed. It is said that Brown l'lllB suffering from insanity. The event has caused great excitement in the neighbourhood.
The Poole Telegram. — 1880-05-07 (Poole, Dorset, England)

WAREHAM.  ATTEMTT AT SUICIDE. -- At the Comity Petty Tue.sday.—Before J. W. T. Fyler and W. 1. Calcraft, Esqrs., Munn Munden, of Morden, was charged with attempted suicide.—Eliza Barnes said : I am a widow living at Morden. The prisoner has been my lodger for ft) years. On Saturday morning the prisoner me. I asked him what he wanted. He said I was to go to Mr. Stickland's for 2s. he owed him, and he should not get up any more. I took him some tea, when he said he had been trying to cut his throat. I turned back the clothe A and saw a mark on his throat. F saw a knife on the table, it was a pecket knife. The knife produced is the one I saw. The knife belonged to the prisoner, and he said he had done it with that knife. ''i took the knife away and went for the police. The prisoner has been drinking lately. I heard prismler say before that he would commit suicide.— George Bugby, Police-constable, stationed at Morden, said: On Saturday, May Ist, about nine o'clock in the morning, the last witness came to my house, and asked me if I would come up to her house as quick as could. When I got there she asked me to go upstairs to Walden. I asked her what was the matter, she told me that he had been trying to cut his throat with a knife, and she gave me the knife. I went upstairs and asked him what he had keen doing, he made no answer. I turned the bedclothes back and 'found he had a scratch on his neck, there was a little blood on the collar of his shirt. I told him le should get such -thoughts out of his head.; but he said he would do it yet. I then charged him with attempting to commit suicide, and took him into custody. I took him to the station in the afternoon and gave him to the superintendent. —The prisoaer was committed .for trial at I.,,uarter Sessions.