npedrazzini/19thc_murder_suicide_news huggingface dataset:
The Warwickshire Herald. — 1894-12-06 (Birmingham, West Midlands, England)

SUICIDE OF A LABOURER.  On Friday afternoon, last week, an inquest was held at the Manor Inn, Wainwright Street, Aston, before Mr. D. R.. Wynter (coroner), and a -cry ot whom Mr. Thomas Smith was foreman, touching the death of Walter Jennings, 37, laboarer.—W a ter Ballenger, boatman, Thimble Mill Lane, said he knew the deceased. For some months he had been in a very delicate state of health. About two months ago, he went into the Workhouse Hospital for medical treatment, and remained there about two days. On Tuesday, 27th November, witness saw him at the Queen's Arms Inn, Thimble Mill Lane. He was lying on a bench in the tap-room, and was twisting about and seemed to be in great pain. Witness took him home in a cab, and he went to bed.—Alfred Mason, groom. 3, Holloway Place. Portland Street, Aston, said the deceased had lodged with him since the 9th November. He suffered from dropsy and bronchitis. He was ill on the Sunday and Monday previous to 27th November, and could not eat anything. He had been unable to work since he came to lodge with witness About 5.30 p.m. on 27th November he was sent from to his work, and on going home he found the deceased in bed and very ill. He was informed that Dr. Hohnee had been to pee him. and had prescribed for him. He told witness he was in great pain, and he wished he could die. He made attempts to tear his throat with his fingers, and he scratched himself in several places on the throat He moaned and tossed about a great deal, and at. times it took all the strength witness had to hold him in bed. About 7 o'clock he seemed to get easier, and he asked witness to get him some water. Witness went down stairs to get him some tea, and on returning to the room, he found him sitting on the floor with a handkerchief round his neck, and the end of it fastened to the bedstead. He cut the handkerchief off his neck and spoke to him, and getting no answer he went for Dr. Holmes. and the police—Dr. Holmes said he saw him on the date mentioned. He was suffering great pain, and he ordered him a draught. Later on he received a message that he had strangled himself. Tr; the house, and found he was dead. H had made a pest mortem examination of the body and was of opinion that death was due to strangulation.— The Coroner, in summing up, said they I.si arrived at a quicker way of getting through inquests, He was sure it would be more agreeable to the jury who did not get very much par for attending. It was done in such a simple and intelligent manner that the whole circumstances had been laid before them in a very short time.—The jury returned a verdict to the effect that the deceased committed suicide by strangulation whilst temporarily insane.  IXa'
The Warwickshire Herald. — 1894-09-27 (Birmingham, West Midlands, England)

THE PETROLEUM TRADE.  The repoit cf tee delqct C,..mmittee appointed to inquire into and tei,ert upon the law relating to the keeping, sellieg, and cenveyarice of petrakeun and other iLllarsitcable liquids, including the precautions to be adapted to prevent Ma sale of dangerous lamps for use with in,ammable liquids, was issued on Friday. The e•-mmittee express the opinion that at the late period of t,ho session it will not be in their power to conclude 'heir investigation. They, therefore, agreed to report the evidence „already taken to the 'louse, ani recommend that a committee on the same suliect should be appointed in the next session of Parliament. A sensational suicide was committed at Dundee on Sunday. While some workmen were engaged in lialgay Cemetery they were startled by hearing two pistol shots, and on going to a secluded part ot the cemetery they discovered a man lying over a grave bleeding from two wounds in the head, and a revolver tightly grasped in his right hand. The man was identified as William Jarvis Parker, middle-aged,formerly tenant of a large public-house in Dundee. The place selected by Parker for his tragic end was a part of the cemetery belonging to him as a family burying place.  A Berlin correspondent sends the Daily NOW Some further account of the birth of the universally. popular "Stzuvrwelpeter," which has been trans. fated into 10 European languages, and has appeared In the Fatherland in 148 editions. In 1884 the late Dr. Hoffmann was looking out for some suitable children's books for the Christmas tree, and finding none adapted to the imagination of the young, he scribbled off on some sheets of paper sketches improvised from his experience of the sick chamber, where he had ways of his own of coaxing timid or stupid children. In the following year the colleo. tion was published, and his fame spread from that time into all lands. Several other stories for children have proceeded from his pen, but none succeeded like "Struwwelpeter."
The Warwickshire Herald. — 1894-09-20 (Birmingham, West Midlands, England)

ABROAD. By a fire which occurred at a mattress factory in Washington on Monday several persons lost their lives. rive bodies have already been recovered,ancl it is believed that others are among the ruins.  A shocking tragedy in domestiC- life is reported from Darmstadt, where a railway official named Wolfelschneider shot dead his four children, and subsequently committed suicide. No cause has been assigned for the act.  The British barque Minnie G. Whitney, from Monte Video, with a cargo of wheat, arrived at Queenstown, on Sunday, in charge of the chief officer, McLeod, who reported thkt on July 10th the captain, named Hansbey, died of heart disease, and was buried at sea. Mr. McLeod then assumed command of the vessel and navigated her to port. The United States gunboat Machias will leave next month to convey to Cadiz the Columbian relics sent by Spain to the Chicago Exhibition. From Cadiz a detachment of marines and bluejackets will escort the relics to Madrid. According to a Reuter's telegram, President Cleveland will send a letter to the Queen-Regent, thanking her for the loan of the articles. The relics lent by the Vatican will be landed at Naples, and, together with a letter to the Pope, will be escorted to Rome. A native trading junk, with a crew of eight men, left Singapore on September 10th for Linggi with a general cargo and some treasure. She also carried as passengers three Malays and one Chinese. On the night of September 12th, while the junk was becalmed and seven of the crew were asleep, the Malays attacked the crew and murdered five of them. They then plundered the junk and decamped in the ship's boat with several hundred dollars in cash. The survivors of the crew managed to navigate the junk back to Singapore, where they arrived on Saturday, bringing the bodies of four of their comrades horribly hacked and stabbed.  During the stay of the German Emperor at Marienburg several placards, virulently Anarchist in tendency, were discovered affixed to walls. The placards are believed to have emanated from a soldier named Kowalski, and in consequence several men bearing that name and belonging to the 17th Army Corps have been arrested. The men were conveyed to the military prison under strong escort, A return recently made of the number of British military officers doing duty with the Egyptian army chews that there ara now 74 so serving with. the permission of the British War Office, three of whom are colonels (including the Sirdar, Sir H. Kitchener), one lieutenant-colonel, 12 majors, 41 captains, eight lieutenants, seven medical officers, and two veterinary officers. Most of the officers belong to the line infantry.
The Warwickshire Herald. — 1894-11-22 (Birmingham, West Midlands, England)

SAD DROWNING CASE.  STRANGE HALLUCINATIONS.  I • On Friday an inquest was held before Mr.. R. 11. Wynter and s jury, of whom Robert Squire was foreman. at the Witton Hotel, touching the death of Mary Anne Birk, married woman (44), of 214, Witton Road, Aston. Her body was found in the Tame Valley Canal near the Witton Hotel, on the 14 inst. about 7.40 a.m. by George Wm. Ballard, fruit salesman, Witton. He was working in his garden at the time mentioned when he saw the body in the water. With the assistance of his eon and a boatman he got it out. He communicated with Police-constable Hatwell, who had the body removed to the Witton Hotel. On examining the body the officer found a cut in the throat and several bruises about the left leg and thigh. The woman was dressed in her night-gown with a mackintosh wrapped around her. She had stockings on but no boots. She had nothing on her head, but was supweed to have been wearing something. Her husband said that on Tuesday morning about two o'clock he awoke and found her standing in front of the chest of drawers. He asked what she was doing. and she said she was looking for a £lO note, and she thought some of the children had stoles it. Later on the same morning he again awoke and found her lighting a piece of paper at the gas. She then told him she was looking for a £lOO note the postman had brought. As she seemed strange in her manner he got her sister-in-law to remain with her the whole of Tuesday. That evening they went to bed about 11 o'clock. He awoke about 2.30 o'clock next morning and found her gone. On searching the house he found a blood-stained razor. He went to several of their relatives to see if she had gone there, but as he could not find her he gave information to the police. A son was married a week ago, and since then she had put down his meals as if he had not left home. For several years past she had bad a dread of the month of November as she had lost three children in that month. Where the body was found is about a mile and three quarters from her home. It was stated she had a comfortable home. The jury returned a verdict to the effect that she committed suicide by drowning whilst temporarily insane.
The Warwickshire Herald. — 1894-02-08 (Birmingham, West Midlands, England)

THE BLESSINGS OF CHRISTIAN RULE TO INDIA.  At no period in the history of the Christian Church, not even in the brilliant century of legislation from Constantine's edict of toleration of the Theodoeian Code, has Christianity been the means el abolishing so many inhuman customs and crimes as were suppi eased ill India by the Company's regulations and r cts in the first half of the nineteenth century. The Christ-like work kept rapid step with the ' program of Christian opinion and beneficient 1 reforms in Great Britian, but it was due, in the first instance, to the missionaries in India. In the teeth of the supporters of Hinduism,European as well as Brahminical and contrary to the custom of centuries, it ceased to be lawful—it became penal— in the name of religion (1) to murder parents by suttee, by expreure on the banks of rivers, or by burial alive; (2) to murder children by dedication ' to the Ganges, to be devoured by crocodiles, or daughters by the Raj-poot modes of infanticide; (3) to offer up human sacrifices in a temple or to propitiate the earth-goddess; (4) to encourage suicide under the wheels of idol-cars, or wells, or othei wise ;(5) to promote voluntary torment by hockswinging, thigh-piercing, tongue-extracting, Ire. ; or (6) involuntary torment by mutilation, trampling to death, ordeals, and barbarous executions. slavery and the slave-trade were made illegal. Caste was no longer supported by law, nor recognised in appointments to office. The long compromise with idolatry during the previous two centuries ceased, so that the Government no more called its Christian soldiers to salute idols, or its civil offers to recognise gods in official documents, or manage the affairs of idol temples an 3 extort a revenue from idol pilgrimages. A long step was taken by legislative Acts to protect the civil rights of converts to Christianity as to any other religion, and to leave Hindu widows free to marry.—" The Conversion of India, from Pantaeus to the Present Time, A.D. 193-1893." By George Smith, C.1.E.,
The Warwickshire Herald. — 1891-08-20 (Birmingham, West Midlands, England)

DISTRESSING SUICIDE THROUGH WANT. On Saturday morning, at Putney, Mr. A. Braxtos Hicks held an inquiry touching the death et William Cutting, aged 53, a journeyman hater, lately residing at 24, Rock-avenue, Fulham, whose body was found on the foreshore of the Thames, at Putney.—Edwin Hobbs, a baker, Kensington, identified the deceased as his brother-ln-law. About three weeks ago deceased came to him, and as be was out of work, witness gave ohm some money and some food. On the 12th inst. deceased came to witness at the bakehouse and asked for work. Witness said Is could not employ him, because he always quarrelled with his sister before he had been in the house 24 hours. Witness, continuing, said it was an arrangement, made 10 years ago, that deceased should never sleep under his roof, but that witness would always pay for a bed for him. Deceased was addicted to &Me. Ile had never threatened to commit suiciue, although for some time past he had been very despondent. Witness identified the writing in the book produced, which was found upon tne body of the deceased, as that of deceased. This letter was addressed to an old friend, and ran as follows: "Dear old Dick,—Take my aprons and caps. I want you to carry me to the grave. Goodbye all. The reason I have done this bad deed was my bad master, for he drove me out of my mind. William Cutting." Then followed: "My sister might have kept me if she liked. This has preyed on my mind. I hope the Lord will forgive me for what I have done."—Richard Merchant, the friend alluded to by the deceased,deposed to knowing the deceased for the past 20 years. On the night of the 10th inst. deceased slept upon the steps of the bank at Bantam tireen.—Reuben Chapman, the late master of the deceased, gave evidence, and stated that lie had to : disharge the deceased because he was not a competent workman.—Evidence was then given as to ' the finding of the body.—Dr.H. B. Thotnas,assistant Divisional surgeon of police, stated that he had made a post-mortem exammation,and death was due to syncope and asphyxia from drowning.—The jury ' returned a verdict of suicide whilst of unsound mind.
The Warwickshire Herald. — 1891-08-13 (Birmingham, West Midlands, England)

PRECIOUS ART POSSESSION. OnFriday the great Holbein from Longford Castle was for the first time visible to the public, having seen brought up from the ground-floor and placed in a screen in Room VI. of the Natienal Gallery. the picture has for some months been in the hands st the eleaner,Mr. Dyer, thanks to whose great skill ind tender care it has now emerged in all ita 3ristine glory. As is ahnost always the case with Golbein's work, the colours have stood in the most .emarkable way, and after three centuries and a salt the picture may be said to be finer than ever —a painful example to English painters, who, 101owing their great chief, Sir Joshua, too often paint .n a medium that cracks utter 20 yearkand is hope'essly perished in less than 50. From the antiparian point of view, says the Tones, the 'Ambassadors" are, in all essentials, the same as hey were before the varnish was removed—that is 'o say, there is no change in those dates and other •nacriptions which have at once guided and perslexed the critics and interpreters. But one curious letail has emerged—a beautifully painted crucifix sigh up in the left hand corner half concealed by ;he green curtain. Whether this throws any light Ton the religion of the persons represented is bfficult to say; probably, indeed, it only introduces new element of uncertainty, for it would seem m contradict the Protestantism of the German ihorale book, the words of which, it may be remarked,are now plainly legible. The globe, instead sf being grey, is now of a rich blue, and the carpet hat covers the table has come out in pure and brilliant condition. The same, to a still greater ',dent, is the case with the splendid costume of the principal figure; the red tunic, the velvet cloak,and the greyish-white fur being now fully visible in all their marvellous beauty. it anything has suffered It is the face of the second personage, which appears to be a little pallid, as though some of the carnations had flown. But this, if it be so, is but a slight blemish upon what will henceforward be universally re(signised as one of the 10 or 12 great pictures in the world, and perhaps the most precious possession of the National Gallery.  The Hungarian paper Lupta states that Mdlle. Helena Vaccarescu, who has been in attendance on the Queen of Roumania in Venice, tried to commit suicide a few days ago. The Queen, adds this account, snatched the dagger from the would-be suicide's hand and prevented her from carrying out her intention. A telegram from Berlin states that a sailor has weed through the great Rhine whirlpool at Mleinlaufenburg clinging to a small raft, consisting of two trunks of trees. He was carried away two Miles, and finally rescued alive. This is the first time within the knowledge of the inhabitants that anything has passed this dangerous whirlpool and cataract without being dashed to pieces on the
The Warwickshire Herald. — 1891-08-13 (Birmingham, West Midlands, England)

HARBORNE MAN DROWNED. THE INQUINT.  An inquest was held on Friday morning, by Mr. Edwin Docker, at the "Three Horse Shoes," Stirchley-street, touching the death of Charles Phipps, a bricklayer's labourer, of 174, Highstreet, Harborne. On July 22nd the deceased was before the magistrates at Smethwick on a charge of assaulting his wife, Mary Phipps, when he was fined 10s. and costs, or fourteen days' imprisonment He went to prison, and in tile course of the evidence it was stated by his wife that she had been married to him eighteen years, and that she had eight small children. She could not live with him owing to his violence, and had summoned him before, and he went to prison for a month. Directly he came out of gaol he again visited her, and said he would not live with her, and she told him he had better go to the Court, and get a separation order. He then thrashed her in a cruel manner. He had frequently been in trouble. The separation order was not granted by the magistrates, as erroneously reported, Phipps being sent to gaol for fourteen days, the magistrates only dealing with the question of assault. On coming out of prison be again paid a visit to his wife, who, however, declined to live with him, and was persuaded to go to his brother's house in North-road. On Wednesday morning he went to Stirchley-street, and was subsequently seen to be bathing in the canal near that place. Later on a man named William Andrews saw the deceased's clothes on the banks and Phipps disappear under the water. Deceased did not rise again, and information was given to the police, who commenced to drag the canal, and recovered the body after a search of half.an-hour. There was no evidence to prove that the deceased had committed suicide, and the jury returned a verdict of "Found drowned."
The Warwickshire Herald. — 1891-04-30 (Birmingham, West Midlands, England)

CONSENTING TO HER OWN MURDER. The Daily News Vienna correspondent telegraphs that a most remarkable murder is reported from Temesvar, in Hungary, where an elderly woman, the mistress of an inn, was found strangled. d lodger in the house who was drunk at the time was arrested for the crime, but a few days ago a man of bad character in the neighbourhood made revels. Sons which were thought to justify his immediate arrest. He has since made the following confession. He knew the victim of the crime only from having sometimes drunk at her place. One night he had spent all his money, and would gladly have had more wine. The widow brought him a small flask, sat down near him,and said: "If you would consent to kill me to-night, I would give you two florins.' She said she did not want to live any longer, and that she would make no resistance whatever he did. She went on giving him wine, from time to time ‘schanging meaning looks with him, until all the other customers were gone. Then she put up the shutters, turned out the lights all but one, and Orought a strong piece of lacing, which she said be must wind round her neck and then draw with all hie strength. She then opened her purse, put twc silver florins on the table, and warned him not tc touch them before he had earned them. He waited until she had put away her purse again, wound the string round her neck, and pulled the ends until she was dead. Then he took the two florins and went away. This statement, which would otherwise seem incredibl,i, is in some measure confirmed by he fact that the yeoman had previously attempted •.c. commit suicide three times. Sorrow at havins lost all those dear to her is supposed to have bees :he cause of her resolution.
The Warwickshire Herald. — 1891-09-24 (Birmingham, West Midlands, England)

THIC ROUMANIAN ROYAL ROMANCE. A Paris paper on Friday published a telegram from Milan stating that Mdlle Vacaresco attempted to commit suicide on the night of the 14th inst. at Milan, where she is staying with her mother. She came to this decision in consequence of her separation from the Queen of Roumania, and that she cannot marry Prince Ferdinand. Mdlle. Vacaresco swallowed the contents of a phial supposed to be laudanum. Immediate medical assistance, however, saved her life, and she is now quite out of danger. It is also stated that Wile. Helene Vacaresco will write a history of the recent events. This book will throw an entirely new light on the matter, which will be shewn to be not quite so simple as is believed. The Vienna correspondent of the Daily News describes the departure of the Queen of Roumania from the Venice Station for Pallanza, on the Lago di Maggiore. He describes her condition as most pitiable. She was carried from the gondola to the saloon carriage in a chair, on cushions, with her head reclining on a white pillow. Her hair, cut short, is quite grey. The pained expression of her pale face was heightened by the anxiety she seemed to feel at the mode of her departure. Her eyes bad a feverish light in them, her head never moved, but one of the white hands, on which she wore no gloves, was waved in sign of adieu to the friends who had come to bid her good-bye. The Queen was lifted into the carriage by the railway guards, and before the train started a large provision of ice was packed into the train. The Minister who is with the King, on being questioned about the Queen's illness, answered that it was the King's and the physicians' secret, but he believes that her nervous system is entirely shattered. At the hotel absolute silence was maintained continually ; the slightest noise brought on terrible attacks. Dtffiw the last few days she would not have a person thmit her except the King; and her brother, to whom she was formerly much attached, was not allowed to enter her room, as the sight of him convulsed the Queen. She refused to take what was ordered her, and asked for all sorts of things that could not be refused, as the fear of exciting her was too great,. Thus she ate lobster in the middle of the night.