npedrazzini/19thc_murder_suicide_news huggingface dataset:
The Birkenhead News and Wirral General Advertiser. — 1894-07-18 (Birkenhead, Merseyside, England)

DROWNING MYSTERY AT THE DOCKS.  A BODY FOUND WITH THE LEGS TIED. Yesterday afternoon Mr. H. Churton, district coroner, held an inquest at the Victoria Hotel,Cleveland-street, touching the death of Edward O'Brien, a dock labourer, who was found dead in the West Float on Monday with his feet tied with rope and his hands and face bruised. The first witness examined was Sarah Hughes, a widow, who lived at 95, St. Anne-street. She stated that deceased was 54 years of age, and had lodged at her house for live years. He worked pretty regularly and was fairly steady, though lately he had had a fit of drinking. He had alwa3 8 paid his rent up to time except for the last three weeks during which he had been drinking. She last saw him alive on the previous Thursday rnorningat about two o'clock after he had been asleep since ten o'clock the night before. He was sober when he went to bed and said he would go back to work the next morning. At two o'clock she was awakened by hearing him shouting out, "My sister is dead, my sister is dead." She went to his room to stro what w.st the matter, and found him out of bed and apparently in a dream. She got hint back to bed. Between four and five o'clock he left the house as she thought, to go to his work at the Pacific sheds. He never came home again, and on the following day a search was made at all the gaols, hospitals, and workhouses for him, but he was not found till on Monday he was discovered in the docks. She had never heard hint threaten to do anything to himself,  P.C. 101 (Ellwood) deposed that at half-past two o'clock on Monday afternoon the body was fished out of the dock near the south side of the West Float. His legs were tied together with about a yard soda half of stout rope tied in a hitch knot. In his pocket WAR 2s. 6d. in money and an envelope which had come through:the poet oddremed to himself., He was fully dressed with the exception of shirts and socks. It was further elicited that P.C. 1 (Allen) saw the deceased at about ten minutes past four, and knowing him very well, asked him where he was going at that hour of the day. Deceased replied that he was going for a walk. The officer noticed nothing peculiar about his manner at all. Deceased's sister had come from Rochdale to attend the inquest, and she stated that on Monday last week he wrote telling her that lie WAR in a bed way, and she sent him as. in the envelope, which was afterwards in his pocket. The Coroner said the fact of the rope being tied about the man's legs seemed to point to suicide, but there was not a tittle of evidence to shew how he got into the water. The safest verdict for the jury, if they were satisfied, was to say that he was "Found drowned."  The jury saw no necessity to pursue tho invest ifrations further, and returned a verdict "Found drowned."
The Birkenhead News and Wirral General Advertiser. — 1894-06-30 (Birkenhead, Merseyside, England)

DRIVEN TO ATTEMPT  SUICIDE.  A SAD STORY.  A man James Ashton, 32 years of age, of 16, Gerald-street, Liverpool, was brought at the Borough Police Court, on Thursday morning, before Alderman Rawcliffe and Alderman Evans, charged with attempting to committ suicide by jumping into the River Mersey, and also with being a lunatic not under proper control. From the evidence by stageman Austin, boatman Owens, and P.C. 32 (Hunt), the following sad story was unfolded. Ashton is a ship's fireman, and has been going to sea all his life, hut has been out of employment since the 25th January last. Day after day for the past five months he had been trudging about from place to place looking for eniployment. He had been all over Liverpool, but his efforts were fruitless, owing, as he put it to the magistrates, to the competition of foreigners. His chance of getting work had been considerably reduced by an accident to his hand which had left it crooked, so that he could not use the shovel as he should do. He is • married man, and lived with his wife in Geraldstreet, Liverpool. Lately he had been veil, much depressed, and on Wednesday, after spending the day tramping about from place to place in a fruitless search for a job, the terrible idea that there was nothing to live for took possession of him, and he resolved to end his misery by taking his hfe. At half-past ten at night he was observed loitering about the stage looking at the river. At last he took off his jacket and made a movement to jump into the river. Austin asked him what he was going to do, and he said he was to jump into the river to end his misery. The attention of the police was called, but some 'Woodside passengers thinking the man belonged to Birkenhead promised to see him safely across the river, and actordingly he was taken on board the Wirral. During the voyage Ashton behaved very strangely, and kept walking from one end of the boat, and from side to side seeking on opportunity to leap into the water. Boatman Owens, however, kept an eye on him, and followed him, about persuading him several times to sit down. He asked Owens why he was following him and would he not let him go over the side and end his misery because he was tired of living' Owen accompanied Ashton off the boat, and again had to seize him as he made a rush into the river to finish it. Owen then handed him into the care of P.C. 32 (Hunt) who took him to the police station. Ashton appeared to be recovering from the effects of drink. In answer to the magistrates he said he understood everything now, and was very sorry for what he had done. He hoped they would allow him to go now and look for work. Alderman Rawcliffe thought it would be better for him to go the Workhouse for • week to be under medical care, and an order was made to this effect.
The Birkenhead News and Wirral General Advertiser. — 1894-07-21 (Birkenhead, Merseyside, England)

DROWNING MYSTERY AT THE  DOCKS.  A BODY FOUND WITH THE LEGS TIED. On Tuesday afternoon Mr. H. Churton, district coroner, held an inquest at the Victoria Hotel,Cleveland-street, touching the death of Edward O'Brien, a dock labourer, who WAS found dead in the West Float on Monday with his feet tied wish rope and his hands and face bruised. The first witness examined was Sarah Hughes, a widow, who lived at St. Anne-street. She stated that deceased was years of age, and had lodged at her house e ? years. He worked pretty regularly and was fairly steady, though lately he had had a fit of drinking. He had alwa3 a paid his rent up to time except for the last three weeks during which he had been drinking. She last saw him alive on the previous Thursday morningat about two o'clock after he had been asleep since ten o'clock the night before. He was sober when he went to bed and said be would go back to work the next morning. At two o'clock she was awakened by hearing him shouting out, "My sister is dead, my sister is dead." She went to Fus room to see what was the matter, and found bibs out of bed and apparently in a dream. She got him back to bed. Between four and five o'clock he left the house, as she thought, to go to his work at the Pacific sheds. He never came home again, and on the following day a search was made at all the gaols, hospitals,and workliousesfor him, but he was not found till on Monday lie WAS discovered in the docks. She had never heard him threaten to do anything to himself. _  P.C. 101 (Ellwood) deposed that at halbpast two o'clock on Monday afternoon the body was fished out of the dock near the south side of the West Float. His legs were tied together with slant a yard and a half of stout rope tied in a hitch knot. In his pocket was 2.5. 6d. in money and an envelope which had come through:the post addtessed to himself. He was fully dressed with the exception of shirts and socks. It was further elicited that P.C. 1 (Allen) saw the deceased at about ten minutes past four, and knowing him very well, asked him wlisre he was going at that hour of the day. Deceased replied that he was going for a walk. The officer noticed nothing peculiar about his manner at all. Deceased's sister had come from Rochdale to attend the inquest, and she stated that on Monday last week he wrote telling her that he was in a bad way, and she sent him 3s. in the envelope, which was afterwards in his pocket. The Coroner said the fact of the rope being tied about the man's legs seemed to point to suicide, but there was not a tittle of evidence to shew how he got into the water. The safest verdict for the jury, if they were satisfied, was to say that he was "Found drowned."  The jury saw no necessity to pursue tho investigations further, and returned a verdict "Found drowned."
The Birkenhead News and Wirral General Advertiser. — 1894-02-28 (Birkenhead, Merseyside, England)

THE PRICE STREET SHOOTING  AFFAIR.  The youth, Frederick Miller, of Chester-street, who caused the sensation in town a few weeks ago by shooting himself in the vicinity of the Brunswick Wesleyan Chapel, Price-street, whilst his sister was being married, was brought up on remand at the Borough Police Court, on Monday, before the Mayor (Mr. Benedict Jones) and Mr. G. Atkin, charrd with attempting to commit suicide by shooting himself with • revolver on Monday, February sth, and further with being a lunatic not under proper care and controL Mr. Cecil Holden appeared on the prisoner's behalf. I Superintendent Clarke recapitulated the evidence previously adduced, and called Dr. McNeill, the medical officer of the Tranmere Workhouse. The doctor said the prisoner had been under his notice and care for a fortnight. In his (witness's) opinion he was perfectly sane and rational—he had always acted and spoken so. When he was admitted to the workhouse fourteen days ago he was as he now was, physically weak, but mentally, perfectly rationaL Mr. Copeland (chief clerk to the justices): Is he safe to be admitted out f—Witness : I understand that the bullet has not been extracted yet. Mr. Copeland: But mentally I—Witness: Oh yea. Mr. Miller, the prisoner's hither, guaranteed that he woubl be responsible for the prisoner's future behaviour. _ _  'The Mayor then addressed the prisoner: Frederick Miller, now that you have got into your right mind, you must be aware that what you have been doing has been very foolish. (Prisoner, who still looked very weak and shook convulsively, acknowledged in a faint voice the truth of what had been said to him.) Your father says he is willing to look after you as well as he can, and under these circtunstancee, expecting that you will come under his control, we will discharge you. The prisoner feebly thanked the Bench and then left the dock.  DANGEROUS CONDCCT OP A Tame. George Smith, a tramp, who said he hailed from Rosati, was brought before the Wallasey rnagistratee on Monday, charged with sleeping in a shed- in a field in the occupation of John Timmis, Moreton Village, on Sunday night —P.C. Williams said the prisoner had had taken a quantity of hay from the adjoining stacks into the shed to lie upon. When found he was covered overhead with the hay, and he had a pipe and boxes of matbhee in his poseassion.—Prisoner, who had been convicted several times previously, was now sent to gaol for one month with hard labour. DRINK COD LIVER OIL if you have a weak chest. P sell best quality only at low rates for cash. Pinta, is. 5d.; Ruts, 94d.—'rutty, 258, Grange. read. Ixrratisteott FOR THE Poona. Books, Magazines, &a, strongly bound from is. per volume as Willow Brothers and Co., Ltd., Birkenhead NMI Offioe, Chester-street
The Birkenhead News and Wirral General Advertiser. — 1894-04-07 (Birkenhead, Merseyside, England)

IMPUDENT THEFT FROM LODGINGS. , THE RECORDER ON LENIENT SENTENCES. I Martin Bevan (19), sailor, was indicted for stealing on the 9th February a silver watch, silver chain, two metal shams, one gold keeper ring, and two silver , studs, the property of Janet Marr, 2, Russell-road. ' Bevan pleaded not guilty. Mr. A. P. Roberta prosecuted, and stated that prisoner, dressed in the uniform of a marine steward, went to the house of I Mrs. Marr, on the Bth of February and asked for lodgings. Mrs. Marc offered him rooms and he said he would take them a month in advance, saying, "You see by my uniform what I am." He slept at the house that night and the next morning came down between nine and ten o'clock. He then sent Mrs. Marr out for a couple of scones, and on her return Mrs. Marr found him in the kitchen smoking. After a time he went upstairs to wash, and then Mrs. Marr found that her work-box had been broken open and her watch, chain, and ring abstracted. She taxed prisoner with the theft. He denied it first and then bolted out of the house. She followed and a man named Spencer Williams of Earleetreet, caught prisoner, in whose possession the stolen articles, ring excepted, were found. He offered to return the property if allowed to go, but Mrs. Marr refused and gave him into the custody of P.C. 88 (Donaldson).— Prisoner said that if Mrs. Mart had come up to him in a "Moe" manner and told him he had taken the watch, he would have returned it, but owing to her style he turned coward and ran off with the article. Bevan was found guilty and he pleaded guilty to a previous conviction.—The Recorder said he bad considerable difficulty in knowing what to do in Bevan's case. He was convicted here in January 1888 and then he was bound over in his own recognisances to come up for judgment if called upon, in the hope by letting him off on that one occasion it would be a warning to him for the future. But the opportunity was not taken by Bevan, for in that very year he IVAEI convicted for another offense. He had been convicted since for stealing money and for attempting to commit suicide, and it seemed useless to give him more chances. There was no encouragement to try any lenient course towards a prisoner when the result was like this. What could a judge do? They did not want to send men to prison or penal servitude for long courses; they wanted to take the other course and give light and lenient sentbncee, but if prisoners would not take advantage of it there was no other alternative but to send them for a long term. He would, however, give Bevan one more chance, and he hoped it would not be thrown away again. He did not think there were many courts where prisoner would be treated so leniently a second time. Prisoner was then sentenced to three months' imprisonment with hard labour. A
The Birkenhead News and Wirral General Advertiser. — 1894-09-22 (Birkenhead, Merseyside, England)

SUICIDE AT NEW BRIGHTON.  On Tuesday morning, about 5-15, Frank Rowland Simpson, aged. 30, committed suicide at 3. MountNew Bnghton, by cutting his throat with a razor. On Thursday Mr. Churton held an inquest on the body, at 37 Mount-road, New Brighton, where the deceased laved with his father, Mr. B. P. J. Simpson. ...-The only witness called was deceaged's brother, Mr. William Odell Simpson, who said the deceased was aged 30, and was a clerk in a Liverpool office. For some time he had had mental worry which made him suffer from insomnia. In June last he was under medical treatment, and took some medicine which the doctor prescribed. In answer to the Coroner, tho witness said the deceased was a strict teetotaler. The Coroner: He would not have taken a spoonfut of brandy, I suppose, if it was to save his life? Witness: He would not. He would have said "I can get something else." The witness added that for some time past hisbrother had taken very little interest in ordinary conversation, and had scarcely ever been seen to road & newspaper. Ha had recently been away on his holidays for three weeks, and came back feeling better. He was last at business on Monday, and witness last saw him alive about eleven o'clock on Monday night, when he was on the landing going towards his bedroom. His father and mother Wert away at Southport, and the deceased said he would sleep in his father's rocAis that night. Witness awoke about five o'clock on Tuesday morning, and hearing a stifled groan, went to the room where deceased had been sleeping, but found it vacated. He found him in his own room at the top of the house. The 0...0r was fastened, but witness burst it open, and found his brother on the bed. He was quite dead, and there was a deep incision across the throat. On the table was a razor, which the deceased NV11.3 in the habit of using for shaving purposes. The Coroner remarked that insomnia was a very unpleasant and painful affection. Referring to the habits of deceased and his aversion to newspapers. Mr. Churton said be would as soon almost go without his breakfast as his morning paper. There was abundant evidence that the deces.sed committed the act himself. The door was locked, they woeld remember, and had to be burst open. As to his mental condition there could be no doubt that he was irresponsible for the act which he committed. Ile took it that the verdict would lie that he committed suicide while labouring under temporary insanity. returned.Thej agreed, and the verdict suggested was
The Birkenhead News and Wirral General Advertiser. — 1894-10-13 (Birkenhead, Merseyside, England)

ANOTHER MASS MEETING.  After leaving the North End, Mr. Lever drove off to the top of Oxton-road, and from a waggon stationed by the big lamp there he addressed a crowd of something like twelve hundred, touching mainly on the same_points as before and urging the electors to compare Mr. Lees' promises and performances with his own promises and performances and to vote for the hest cause. Mr. Arthur W. Willmer presided, and briefly addressed the meeting before introducing the candidate. Afterwards Mr. Morris LI. Davies spoke and then came the humorous and breezy Radical clergyman—the Rev. Mr. Kennedy, vicar of Plumpton, Cumberland. The parson hammered away on the iniquities ef the present registration system. anal declared that the Tories knew they were on the wrong aide, or they would not object to a reform of the registration laws. Mr. J. H. Wilson, M.P. who had followed on from the North End, also addressed the crowd touching upon the sight hours question first, and reminding the electors that on the one hand they had Mr. Lever favouring it, and on the other they had a political dodger— (Loud laughter)—who was trying to hoodwink the working men. (Hear, hear.) Then he reviewed the actions of the House of Lords, and impressed upon the hearers that if they returned Mr. Lees they would be approving of the action of the Lords. (Cries of "We never' will" and cheers.) Here again, too, he referred in much the same terms. to Mr. Keir Hardie'e advice. Any man who abstained from Voting, he said, would be committing political suicide. He urged them to fight this fight with determination, and send Mr. Lever to Pasliament with such a majority that would teach the House of Lords a lesson in the future not to reject the measures of the working classes of the country. (Cheers.) Mr. H. B. Williams proposed, and Mr. E. P. Smith, T.C., seconded a vote of thanks to the chairman, and cheers for him and then for Mr. Lever closed the proceedings.
The Birkenhead News and Wirral General Advertiser. — 1894-09-05 (Birkenhead, Merseyside, England)

SAD END OF A RAILWAY  EMPLOYEE.  On Monday morning the dead body of Joseph Henry Cain, aged 21 years, a locomotive fireman, in the employ of the Great Western Railway, and generally engaged on the dock estate, was diecoverd i floating n the water in the Morpeth Dock. The deceased had been miming from his lodgings for over a week, and the circumstances of his death being surrounded in mystery, the deputy-coroner, Mr. Clement W. Tibbitta held an inquest on the body last evening, at the Victoria Hotel, Cleveland-street. Edward Howell, • railway carriage inspector, residing at 5, Wirral-street, stated that the deceased was a single man, and had lodged with him some time. On Sunday week, the deceased left his house and proceeded by the 2-10 p.m. train for Chester. 1 ' He there visited, and gave some money to his sister, and, he believed, from inquires he had made, he arrived back at Woodside station by 10-40 p.m, on the same day. He was • sober man, and so far as witness was aware, was not keeping company with ma:ZGuitsetiom . Tbts : Is there any reason at all for You to suppose he committed suicide ?—Witness: No, sir. Mr. Tibbete : None whatever ?—No, Mr. Tibbett : Do you think he fell into the dock ? —The witness replied that such was his opinion. Continuing, he'satil deceased had been in good health. He had during the week complained of a cold, and thought that the cause, he minted two " turns " at work. _  TilTomas Smith, a dockgate-man, deposed to noting the body floating in the Morpeth dock, at ten o'clock on Monday morning, and to bringing it ashore, and aseisting in taking it to the mortuary in Watsonstreet.  119 (Willoughby) said he examined the pockets of the deceased's clothing, and in them found 44. 110., a number of letters, and a latch key. The deputy coroner read the letters, but they were not of any importance, being only ordinary communications from. his meter and brother.  —Mr. Tibbitta said be did not aee that they could arrite at any other conclusion but that the young man had been found drowned.  Tile—jUr7 concurred, and returned • verdict accordingly.
The Birkenhead News and Wirral General Advertiser. — 1894-09-05 (Birkenhead, Merseyside, England)

FOUND DROWNED AT NEW BRIGHTON.  On Monday morning. at the Boathouse Hotel, Magazines, Mr. C. W. Tibbita, deputy ooroner, held an inquest on the body of William Samuel Perrin, aged 57, described as s corn merchant, living at 1, Union-terrace, New Brighton. Frederick Peckham, 56, Rankin-street, Poulton, labouisr, said he was walking on the shore near the Red Noses, New Brighton, on Sunday morning about 745, when be maw the deceased near the iron railings which run across from one lot of the rocks to the other. The tide was nearly out, but the previous tide had been a high one. The deceased was lying on the sands, his face being buried in the sand. Witness at °two went and acquainted the police. The tide had been high enough to send the man against the rails. The rocks were some distance away. A juryman remarked that it might be • ease of robbery and murder. There might be a sequence to all this, and on the Red Noses, were very awkward places. As it involved the death of one of their fellow creatures,' he thought there ought to be a postmortem examination. There was absolute evidence of extravasation of blood which meant that it moat have been before death. The oorpee bore evidence of very bad treatment. It might have been done by the rocks bet the last witness said he was not near the rocks. • Several of the jury expressed their dissent from the view of the oracular juryman, but the latter continued to talk, remarking that for all they knew it might be the result of an unmitigated atrocity. A youth named Warnaley, said he lived with the deceased, who was his uncle. The deceased did net come home on Saturday night, but they were not very anxious, as on previous occasions he had stayed away, being on business in Old Swan. Seven months ago, he dissolved partnership with another man, and he bad then some trouble about money matters. The witnessdid not think it was a timed suicide; if it had eocurred seven mon thsago he might have thought it was. The deceased was a sober man—P.C. -Harrison stated that he searched the body, on which was found a shilling and an 1.0. U. for se. and some letters whirl, however, had no bearing on the death of the deceased. The constable added that there was no wound on the deceased. Any body that had been in the water for some time would bleed from the head. On the adyice of the Coroner, the jury returned a verdict of "Found dead—probably,drowned."