npedrazzini/19thc_murder_suicide_news huggingface dataset:
The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — 1851-01-28 (Liverpool, Merseyside, England)

HOME OF A MAGISTRATE.—On Thursday afternoon, the inhabitants of Boston, Lincolnshire, were startled by a report that John Brown, Esq., M.D., one of the magistrates of the borough, had committed suicide by taking prussic acid. On proceeding to his house the report was found to be too true. The wildest rumours were immediately afloat as to the cause, as the unfortunate gentleman had appeared to all who knew him to be one of the most unlikely persons in the world to commit such an act. Pecuniary difficulties more imagined than real are said to have been the cause.  On Tuesday William Bristol was convicted at the Middlesex sessions of having attempted to pick pockets. Fisher, the detective officer, then stated that he had known the prisoner for three years as a member of a gang of daring thieves, and as the "deputy" or sub-landlord of a notorious den in Fox-court, Gray's-inn-lane, which was known as the " Thieves' Kitchen," and which was the rendezvous of burglars, pick-pockets, prostitutes, and pot stealers, ar.d where nightly could be seen thieves, prostitutes, and beggars of all ages and both sexes, huddled together indiscriminately, there being in some instances eight or ten men, women, and children, all in one bed together. Some short time ago he was on duty near Fox-court, and on contriving to peep into the " Kitchen" through a window, he saw the prisoner in the room with a line tied across it, and from this line was suspended a coat, in the pockets of which were placed pocket-handkerchiefs. A dozen little boys surrounded the prisoner, and each in turn tried his skill in removing a handkerchief without moving the coat or shaking the line. ___  THE QUICKSILVER MINES OF CALiFORNIA.-We understand that a leading house in London, connected with the South American trade, received an order by the New York steamer, to effect a running insurance for 1300,000, to cover quicksilver to be exported from Mr. Forbes's mine (the New Almaden) in California, along the Pacific coast. The shipment of this supply will probably take place during the ensuing twelve months; and, as it will be absorbed in South America, and will give an extraordinary impulse to the production of silver, it affords a further commentary on the folly of those nations who are now attempting by legislation to regulate their future  position with mreg;rd.to the precious metals.—TitneB. The above quantity of quicksilver is quite sufficient to reduce the price at once ; and as we have every reason to believe there is no scarcity of it, we may very soon see a return of the prices of 1825-26, when perhaps twice as much silver was extracted from the Mexican mines as at the Present day. It wilrsoon be seen that gold and silver are like other co:nmodities.  A SINGULAR CAPTURE wv'
The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — 1851-01-07 (Liverpool, Merseyside, England)

FOR TILE EXIIIBITION.—An old man named Dixon, aged nearly 118 years, applied to the Rochdale Board of Guardians, a week or two ago, to be received into the workhouse, on account of the ill-treatment of kis wife, who had had a child within the last few months. He had neither been washed nor shaved for above half a year, and his wife exhibited him at 2d. for each person. His request was complied with.  New Year's Day was Observed as a general holiday in Ormskirk, when the children of the Church schools, nine hundred in number, attended the parish church, where a sermon was preached by the vicar, and afterwards they were regaled at a bountiful dinner. Nearly all the shops were closed, and garlands of evergreens were suspended across the street ; the church bells rang, and flags were seen flying on every side.  On Sunday, a prisoner in the Manchester Borough Gaol committed suicide by hanging himself with his handkerehief from an opening in the door. He was retained for want of bail, and kept in solitary confinement. The coroner's jury, on Monday, found a verdict of" Self-destruction. As to the state of the prisoner's mind, as to sanity. no evidence to show ; and the jury wish to express an opinion that solitary confinement seems unjust when a man is waiting bail fora common assault."  On Sunday week, the festival of St. John was celebrated by the brethren of the Cestrian Lodge of Freemasons, at the Royal Hotel, Chester, on which occasion Brother Sir Watkin William Wynn was duly installed W. M. of the lodge, in the presence of the Right Hon. Vis. Cornbermere, M.W.P.G.M., who occupied the throne; John Finchett Maddock, Esq., V.W.D.P.G.M. ; Brother the Hon. Wellington Cotton, M.P., V.W.P.G.J.M., and a number of provincal grand officers and Brethren. Bro. Dixon, presented the master elect to the M.W.P.G.M. for his approvil, after which he was installed in the usual form by Brother Lewis, W.M. ; the ancient charges being delivered in a most effective manner by Brother E. G. Willoughby, V.W.P.P.G.J.D.  _
The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — 1851-01-07 (Liverpool, Merseyside, England)

ATTEMPTED MURDER AND SUICIDE.-011 Monday last William Henry Marshall, a butler out of place, mada-an unsuccessful attempt to murder his wife, at Brighton, and  immediately afterwards cut his throat with a ra'zor' using his death almost instantaneously. The deceased had uence of being out of a situa tion, and his .vrife had been under apprehensions that _he  would destroy himself. At three o'clock on Monday morning the deceased came home almost in a state of nudity ; and upon knocking at the door, he said, in reply to a question why he returned in such a state, " To kill you," and suiting the action to the word, he seized:her by the shoulders, and then grasped her throat. Nearly naked as  she was, she rushedinto the street, followed by her husband, who caught her in the middle of the road. They there struggled together till she fell, and he upon her. She raised a cry of " Police," and a lodger that of " Murder and thieves,"' and the wife then effected her escape. As she ran off she saw a razor in his hand, and he having raised himself, again fell. She then returned to him, and found the blood gushing from a large gash in his throat, and a razor lying beside him. He died very soon afterwards. At the inquest held on the body, the jury returned a verdict of " temporary insanity." Those who contemplate on the multitude of railroads— the intensity of steam power—the improvements in the mechanical, manufacturing, and agricultural knowledge of our countrymen, may truly exclaim, This • an Age of Wanders. But it is not in the ensive affairs only that society is rapidly advaue. , the art of medicine puts in its claim for a share i educing the general amelioration. Diseases wh. , only a few years ago were most alarming, are n subdued, or rendered easy of cure—the small-pox I Hated by the philosophy of a Jenner, and the g not feared, seeing there is a speedy remedy in Blair's Gout and Rheumatic Pills.
The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — 1851-02-25 (Liverpool, Merseyside, England)

MORE WORKHOUSE RIOTING.—On Monday, a number of the able-bodied young men in the workhouse at Yarmouth, made an attempt to get possession of the stores and provisions, which was, however, frustrated by the interference of the police, but not before they had smashed a number of windows, benches, &c. On Friday week a public meeting was convened in Llanidloes, Montgomeryshire, for the purpose of presenting the Rev. E. Pughe, late vicar of the parish, with two pieces of plate—one from the opulent, the other from the working classes--on the occasion of his leaving Llanidloes for the junior vicarage of Bangor Cathedral. The wife of a journeyman shoemaker, at Northampton, having absconded with a man, the husband procured a pistol, followed, and found the fugitives, and, having caused his wife to be called out of a public-house where she was, he shot her, and she now lies in a dangerous state. He has been committed for trial.  Mr. Knowles, the Commissary General, aged s], committed suicide, on Sunday night week, by swallowing prussic acid. His mind had been recently troubled by the death of a beloved daughter, and again by the departure of his son for Sierra Leone, where another son died about five weeks ago. The Wolverhampton Chronicle mentions that yesterday week a quantity of gunpowder, used for blasting, exploded in Messrs. Homfray and Brettell's pits near Rowley, and so severely injured a miner named Kitson, that it is feared he will lose his sight, even if he should survive.  George Barrett, who keeps a general shop at Newport Pagnel, is in custody on a charge of being concerned, with his brother Enoch Barrett and William Evans, in stealing, at:different times, from the stations and carriages belonging to the South-Eastern Railway Company property of all descriptions, amounting in value to over £2OOO. While a young man named Kennedy, employed in a thread manufactory, near Cockermouth, was " larking" with two or three others on Monday evening week, he accidentally fell into a large vat which catches the boiling water from the engine, and so frightfully was he scalded that he died the same night.
The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — 1851-05-20 (Liverpool, Merseyside, England)

THE SHEFFIELD MURDER.—A verdict of wilful murder has been returned against William Battersby and Eliza Wilkinson, for the murder of John Wilkinson, husband of the latter.  At the Central Criminal Court, Samuel Hill, one of the keepers of a lunatic asylum, recently convicted of causing the death of one of the patients by violence, was sentenced to 12 months' imprisonment. On Thursday a man committed suicide by leaping from Blackfriars Bridge, London. A fireman heroically sprang into the water after the unfortunate victim, but his efforts to save him proved ineffectual. At the late sale of the furniture and the fittings of the Earl of Pembroke's mansion in London, a set of three Sevres vases fetched £698 55., and a set of five Sevres vases and covers fetched £1465. The total extent of coal area of the British islands amounts to 12,000 square miles, being about 1-10th of the entire area of the country ; their annual production beine 32,000,000 tons. Count de Thomar, the ex-Prime Minister of Portugal, arrived at Southampton on Thursday; by the Iberia steamer, from Vigo. He confined himself to his cabin during the whole voyage. An extraordinary scene was witnessed at Bradford, about twelve miles from Bristol, on Saturday last, when the village was visited by a heavy shower of snails. They might have been gathered up by bushels. A fine trout, taken in the Don, and weighing 511b5., when cleaned was found to contain in its stomach two young kittens—rather a strange kind of grub for the finny race. Nearly £20,000 worth of land has just been secured for the Birmingham Freehold Land Society. This will make nearly 800 freeholds in addition to the 945 previously made by this Society, or a total of more than 1,700. A pair of sparrows have built their nest, which now contains two eggs, in a gigantic cabbage plant, measuring sft. 6in. in height, that is now growing in a garden at Waltham, near Grimsby. At Marlborough police-office, on Monday, Frank Simson, describing as a " Prussian officer," was fined for parading the streets in a female dress, with a female dressed up as a man, thus collecting a crowd of about five hundred persons. On Wednesday week, a piece of coal fell from a corve at the top of the shaft of a coalpit in Garsdale, near Sedbergh, and struck a boy named Winn, who was standing at the bottom of the shaft, so severely on the head, that he died the same night.
The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — 1838-03-23 (Liverpool, Merseyside, England)

MELANCHOLY SUICIDE AT HASTINGS.—A coroner's inquest was held on Thursday last, at the Pelham Arms Inn, on the body of Lieutenant-General W. Miller, director general of the royal artillery, &c.; when it appeared that the deceased had for some time contemplated self-destruction, and had attempted to put a period to his existence by means of poison before he quitted . Woolwich. The deceased left his residence in Den 7 mark-place, about twelve on Tuesday, having previously,engagtd to dine ,with Major Saunders, of his own corps, no* living in Pelham Crescent ; but not returning within the given time. Miss Miller, his daughter, at three o'clock, made a communication to Major Saunders, to the effect that sbe was alarmed at her parent's absence." The crier was immediately sent through the town, stating that a gentleman of the description of the deceased (at given by his friends) was Missing. Much excitement was thereby caused, aunt every effort was made to find him; but he was not discovered until the ensuing morning, when the Hastings and St. Leonard's hatriers discovered the body, though not dead, in a.shaw, near Hastings. When found, it was discovered that his throat was dreadfully cut ; and before he could be removed from the spot, he had ceased to breathe. Major Saunders, Lieut. E. Slatierley, and the sou of the deceased, were examined relative to the state of the deceased's mind; and the evidence clearly established the melancholy fact, that the gentleman had committed the deed while labouring under temporary insanity. The jury .returned a verdict acccordin,ely.—Susses •Expi GOTHA CANAL,--The greatest of all the Swedish national undektakings is the Gotha Canal, which is reckoned 'the most stupendous of the kind in the north of Europe. The grand project of uniting the Baltic and the Cattegat, by opening a passage across. the country through the lakes, had occurred to Johan Brask, Bishop of Linkoping, so early as the end of the, 15th century, during the wars with Denmark, when the occu, pation of the Sound, by a hostile power, arrested the irnportaa lion of the necessary articles of consumption into Sweden. Charles
The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — 1838-04-27 (Liverpool, Merseyside, England)

IEDICAL OFFICER. ROBERT HECTOR, Esq., Surgeon, Great Newton-street.  IFlhis Institution is so constituted as to afford the benefits of 1 Life Assurance in their fullest extent to Policy holders, and to present greater facilities and accouthodation that can be obtained in any similar establishment. Among others, the following improvements on the system usually adopted, are recommended to the attention of the Public.  An ample subscribed capital, invested in such a manner as always to be immediately available when the claims by deaths arise.  A most economical set of Tables—computed expressly for the use of this Institution, from authentic and complete data,—and (with two exceptions only) presenting lower rates of premium than any hithertdoffered. A Table of increasing rates of Premium on a new and remarkable plan, peculiarly advantageous in cases where Assurances are effected by way of securing loans or debti, a less immediate payment being required on a policy for the whole term of • Life than in any other office ; and the holder baying the option' of paying a periodically increasing rate or of having the sum assured diminished according to an equitable scale of reduction.  References to medical attendants not required when the state of health is unexceptionable; but whenever references are required, the medical attendant of the party consulted on behalf of and at the expense'of the Company. ' Policies effected by persons on their own lives not rendered void in case of death by duelling or the hands of jastice. In the event of suicide, if the policy be assigned to a bona fide creditor, the sum assured paid without deduction—if not so assigned, the full amount of premiums returned to the family of the assured. Policies revived without the exaction of a fine within twelve months, on 'the production of satisfactory evidence as to health; and payment of interest on the premiums due. Moze of the Assured in every case admitted in the Policy. All claims payable within one month after proof of death. Extract from Increasing Rates of Premium from. an Assurance of LlOO for whole Term of Life.  Annual Premium payable during  t First Second Third Fourth Remainder 5 Years. 5 Years. 5 Years. 5 Years. of Life. -£. s. d. £. s. d. £. s. d. £. s. d. £. s. d. 20 1 1 4 1 510 1 10 11 116 9 2 3 8 30 1 6 4 1 12 2 1 19 1 2 7 4 217 6 40 116 1 2 4 4 214 6 3 7 3 4 3 4 50 216 7 3 9 4 4 5 5 5 6 3 613 7  PETER 111ORRISON, Resident Director
The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — 1838-08-07 (Liverpool, Merseyside, England)

WEATHER AND AIR. 'MURPHY'S AI.MANACK.-'AI the commencement of this year, this new publication stood in high esteem, as being found generally correct, particularly during' the frost. Since that time, much of its 'reputation has been lost, as the predictions have generally failed. But the month of July, Mr. Murphy predicts to contain 27 wet and changeable days, and only four,fair days. That month having now terminated, the result is found not to be so much virtually wrong, as haying contained 21 wet and changeable days and 10 fair days, total 31 days; bift, divided after a different manner, the result shows 17 days predicted wet to have been wet, and 4 days wet, predicted fair, and 10 days fair, predicted wet, total 31. It would seem, therefore, th-at Mr. Murphy's predictions are entitled to greater respect than some persons are disposed to accord to them, and that his theory for judging of the state of the weather is at least worthy of attention.—Leeds Intelligences. SuiciDE AT UNswonm—Between six and seven o'clock  on Tuesday morning last, a man named John Harmon; a blacksmith, at Unsworth, was found by his son (a lad of 12 • years of age,) suspended by a cord in his own shop, and quite dead. An inquest was held the same day before Mr. Rutter, at the Bay Horse public-house, when it. appeared, Irma the statement of the son, that the deceased had been drinking for about a fortnight, and that he had that morning said to the witness, in a despondent tone, " This work will never do." He then left the house, and had been seen leaning on several gates in succession, which be had to pass on his way Co the shop. On witness going to the shop, he found him hanging as stated. The jury found a verdict of " firnporary insanity :" and the coroner directed the lad's serious consideration to his father's untimely end, as an awful warning against intemperance. Tits Goer,: Coors.—The state of the weather in this neighbourhood, since our last publication has been very unsettled. Showers have frequently fallen ; and the atmosphere occasionally has been remarkably chill. Notwithstanding these rather unfavourable appearances, the crops have made greater progress to a state of maturity than, judging from the weather, might have been expected. The barley is gradually changing colour; and the wheat is assuming a brighter appearance. It is generally conjectured' that the late weather, which was the reverse of scorching, conduced to the fuller developement of the plant,-La conjecture which is justified by appearances; and that as a wonderful improvement has been already effected, the crops will continue to advance, with fine weather extremely rapid to a state of perfect ripeness, and yield a bountiful produce. The price of wheat 'rise in Mark lane, on Monday last, two shillings per quarter; and this advance was sustained on Wednesday. This circumstance has contributed to the probability that foreign corn will, before long, be thrown upon the markets. —Leeds Intelligeker.  "
The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — 1838-08-07 (Liverpool, Merseyside, England)

SUICIDE AT UNSWORTH.—Between six and seven o'clock on Tuesday morning last, a man name.d. John Harmon, a blacksmith, at Unsworth, was found by his son (a lad of 12 years of age,) suspended by a cord in his own shop, and beenT his seenwork quite.dead. An inquest was held the same day before 11Ir. Butter, at the Bay Horse public-house, when it appeared, from the statement of the son, that the deceased had been drinking for about a fortnight, and that he had that morning said to dot h. witness,te the then left a tthe despondent h9use, antodn he'ad" leaning on several gates in succession, which he had to pass on his way to the shop. On witness going to the shop, he found him hanging as stated. The jury found a verdict of " Temporary insanity ; and the coroner directed the lad's sei consideration to his father's untimely end, as an awful wraous ing against intemperance. rnTHE Conti enops.--The state of the weather in this neighbourhood, since our last publication has been very unsettled. Showers have f.requently fallen ; and the atmosphere occasionally has been remarkably chill. Notwithstanding these rather unfavourable appearances, the crops have made greater progress to a state of maturity than, judging from the weather, might have been expected. The barley is gradually changing colour; and the wheat is assuming a brighter appearance. it is generally conjectured, that the late weather, which was the reverse of scorching, conduced to the fuller developement of the plant,—a conjecture which is justified by appearances; and that as a wonderful improvement has been already effected, the crops will continue to advance, with fine weather extremely rapid to a state of perfect ripeness, and yield a bountiful produce. The price of wheat rose in Mark. lan., on Monday last, two shillings per quarter; This circumstance has contributed to the probability that foreign corn will, before long, be thrown upon the markets. —.Leeds Intelligencer. "
The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — 1838-01-19 (Liverpool, Merseyside, England)

BANKERS. Messrs. Drewett and Fowler, Princes-street, Bank. AGENTS FOR LIVERPOOL Messrs. OKILL and COOKE, 177, Dale-street.  M. ROBERT HECTOR,E EsqDICAL., Surgeon,OFFICER Great Newton-street. llnstitution is so constituted as to afford the benefits of 1 Life Assurance in their fullest extent to Policy holders, and to present greater facilities and accommodation than can he obtained in any similar establishment. Among others, the following improvement on the system usually adopted are recommended to the attention of the Public. An ample subscribed capital, invested in such a manner as always to _be immediately available when the claims by deaths arise.  A most economical set of Tables, computed expressly for the use of this Institution, from authentic and complete data, and (with two exceptions only) presenting lower rates of premium than any hitherto offered. A Table of increasing rates of Premium on a new and remarkable plan, peculiarly advantageous in cases where Assurances are effected by way of securing loans or debts, a less immediate payment being required on a policy for the whole term of life than in any other office; and the holder having the option of paying a periodically increasing rate, or of having the sum asstated diminished according to an equitable scale of reduction. References to medical attendants not required when the state of health is unexcep►ionable; but whenever references are required, the medical attendant of the party consulted on behalf and at the expense of the Company. Policies effected by persons on their own lives not rendered void in case of death by duelling, or the hands of justice. In the event of suicide, if the policy be assigned to a bona fide creditor, the sum assured paid without deduction ; if not so assigned, the full amount of premiums returned to the family of the assured. Policies revived without the exaction of a Le within twelve months, on the production of satisfactory evidence as to health, and payment of interest on the premiums due. Age of the Aisured in every case admitted in the Policy. All claims payable within one month after proof of death. Extract from increasing Rates if Premium fur an Assurance of EWO fir Whole Term nf Life. Annual Premium payable during  tul First I Second 4C 5 Years. 5 Years. 1  Third 5 Years.  Fourth 5 Yeas.  Remainder of Life.  £. a. d. £. s. d. £. 5. (1. £. 8. d 20 1 1 4 1 510 110 11 116 9 30 1 6 4 , 112 2 119 I 2 7 4 40 116 1 2 4 42 14 6 3 7 3 50 216 7 3 9 4 4 5 5 5 6 3  £. s. (1. 2 3 8 2 17 6 4 3 4 6 13 7  PETER MORRISON, Resident Director