npedrazzini/19thc_murder_suicide_news huggingface dataset:
The Sun. — 1844-10-10 (London, England)

MORTALITY IN TAR METROPOLIS.—There is Still an increase in the number of deaths. The total for the week ending Saturday, Oct. 5, was 961, while on the previous week it was 932, and on the week preceding only 857. It is, however, below the average for the last five autumns-990. The chief increase is in deaths caused by endemic, epidemic, and contagious diseases. The following are a few of the cases, with the averages :—Small-pox, 51, average, 17 ; scarlatina, 87, average, 45 ; violent deaths, 36, average, 24. In deaths from diseases of the lungs, the decrease is large, the total amount being 252, average, 312. The 51 deaths from small-pox occurred at the following ages :—Sixteen under 1 year; twelve, 1-3 ; twelve, 3-5 ; five, 5-10 ; one, 11 ; three, 20-30 ; and two, 30-40. Analysis of the list of violent deaths :—Fracture and contusion by falls, 3 cases ; and by horses and carriages, 4 cases. Wound, 1 case (suicide). Burns, 3 cases. Poison, 5 cases, of which 4 were suicides. Over-draught of brandy, 1 case. Strangulation 2 cases, of which one was suicide, and another murder. Drowning, 13 cases, of which 6 were accidental—in the remainder it is not stated whether they occurred by accident or otherwise. Suffocation in bed, 2 cases. And the 2 remaining cases are respectively accident and suicide, but by what means is not stated. Total, 22 males and 14 females.  The Revising Barristers for the county of Middlesex have finished their labours, and the result shows a gain to the Liberals of 130. There were 578 objections by the Liberals, of which 427 were sustained; and by the Conservative 41'2 objections, of which 297 were sustained.  It is said that the Queen and her Royal Consort will accompany Louis Philippe on his return to Gosport, and in the Royal Albert and Victoria steamer convoy his Majesty to within a short distance of the opposite coast.
The Sun. — 1844-05-20 (London, England)

INQUESTS.CORONERS' On Saturday forenoon Mr. Baker, the Coroner for East Middlesex, held a lengthened investigation at the Lord Nelson, John's-row, St. Luke's, touching the death of Mrs. Caroline Crump, aged 31, the wife of the painter and decorator of the Grecian Saloon in the City-road, who was supposed to have committed suicide, owing to the extreme suddenness of her dissolution, and having once before attempted her life, as also frequently threatening to do so. of 20, Ratcliffe-grove, St. Mary Ann Cooper, Luke's, stated that she resided in the same house as the deceased, who had left four young children, and generally lived very comfortable with her husband. She had latterly, however, been frequently addicted to acts of intemperance, which caused them to quarrel at times. On Thursday evening, about 11 o'clock, witness last saw her alive ; she had been during the day very lively, and appeared to retire to rest in very good spirits. On the following morning, about seven o'clock, she was alarmed by deceased's husband knocking at her bed-room wall, as if for assistance. She immediately proceeded, and found the unfortunate woman lying on a bed dressed, with her eyes half closed, and her face becoming black. To all appearance she was quite dead. James Crump, the husband of the deceased, said that she went to bed on Thursday night in good health, and shortly before seven o'clock he got up and began to dress himself. Whilst so employed she suddenly caught hold of one of his legs and violently shook it. He instantly looked up and saw her pointing to her throat, and thinking that she wished him to introduce one of his fingers into her throat, so as to make her vomit, he did so accordingly. Scarcely a few seconds, however, had elapsed before she ran down stairs to the water-butt, and having procured a cup, she attempted to swallow some water. All this time she appoared suffocating, and witness was slapping her back in the hope of restoring her. She at last fell into his arms, and he removed her to the bed, when he found her to have perished.
The Sun. — 1844-08-06 (London, England)

WANDSWORTH. THE LATE ATTEMPT AT MURDER AND SUICIDE.— Yesterday was appointed for the examination of Amelia Alferry, the young woman who, on Monday, the 29th ult., attempted the murder of her two children and selfdestruction, on Wandsworth-common. Mr. Bicknell said, as the prisoner was then in a state of great nervous excitement, he thought that it would be politic before the prisoner was brought into Court to have the room cleared. The Court was accordingly cleared. The prisoner was led into the Court ; she is about twenty-seven years of age, was deadly pale, very weak, and had a vacant look. She was accommodated with a chair. The children, one a girl six years of age, and the other a noble looking boy, about four years old, were also brought into Court. The charge, as entered on the sheet against the prisoner, was as follows :—" Amelia Alferry, aged 27, single woman, charged with assaulting her children, Mary Anne, aged six years, and Henry, aged four years, with intent to murder them, by drowning, and also with attempting to commit suicide at the same time, to wit, on the 29th of July last." Mr. BURRELL approached the chair in which the prisoner was seated, and said, "Do you feel that you are capable of answering tho Anrge now mad. ago,ins yutt?" —The prisoners in a scarcely audible tone, said, " Yes, I do."  William Alferry, a lad about fourteen years of age, was then sworn, and stated, "I live near the White Horse, Water- side, Wandsworth, and am brother to the prisoner. On Monday evening, the 29th of July, between five and six o'clock, I was crossing Wandsworth_  common, when I saw my sister sitting 'on the island ,;ear Mr. Wil,on's. She had her two children with her. The names are Henry and Mary Anne French. I wished :.'er to go home. She said, 'You can go home ; coming presently.' I went home alone, but came e island, and the children were back shortly it":,'Twards to play at cricket. My sister was still sitting oil th them to her and said, playing near her. si:e called We'll go home.' She then drew them to her, left the bench on which she had been sitting, walked to the jumped in with them. The part into water's edge and which prisoner jumpedis called the 'Black Sea.' I went in after the children and held their heads up to prevent them from drowning. I hallooed for help, and kept the little children up until Mr. Steers came, and he walked into the pond and took the children out. Mr. Steers afterwards got my sister out with a great deal of trouble, and laid her upon the grass. Prisoner had said nothing to me before she went into the water about drowning her children or herself. Ido not know whether she went into the pond by accident. It was in her way home." Mr. BURRELL asked the. prisoner if she had anything to say 7—The prisoner, in a feint voice, said " No more than that it was trouble that caused me to do so." Mr. BURRELL observed. that he should now remand the prisoner until the following day (Tuesday), and he ordered the prisoner to be taken back to the union.
The Sun. — 1827-03-13 (London, England)

LAKE OF ABRAHANI.---The noon-day sleep of the Hadjee (a Mohammedan pilgrim) and his followers was enjoyed on the sofa of the room that overhangs the Lake of Abraham (in his native city, Ur of Chaldees), and after this, on our way back to the town, we halted to take a pipe and nargeel at a ptNic coffee-house. The great bench in front of the house, on which the principal guests generally sat, was a seat of raised masonry, smoolt4 plastered, railed around with open wood work, at the back and sides, and spread over with clean strawsnrats. It overhung a clear stream, ritnning from the Lake of Abraham, crowded with playful fish, and was capable of accommodating fifty persona, who might sit there at their ease, to watch the current of the brook. On the opposite side was a garden, so thickly planted with trees, that the lofty and ruined walls of the castle could be but here and there perceived through their openingsr , though appearing, from its elevated site, to be almost above ou heads. A beautiful weeping willow, the trunk of which reared itself from the banks of the stream, within a few feet of where we sat, spread its falling branches over the waters, and completely shaded us from the heat of the sun, while the scarlet blossom of the pomegranate, and the finest combinations of summer-green in the various trees that vied in richness and beauty with each other, delighted the eye, and helped to complete the charm of this lovely spot. Every thing that I had yet seen, indeed, about the town and its environs, convinced me that the Turks were engine and lovers of nature; and here they had been peculiarly fortunate in the combination of her beauties for the common enjoyment of all. --Buckingham's Travels in Mesopotamia. EXECUTION AND SuicipE.—.77White, alias (Marchant.), one of the murderers of Selfridge and 'Jenkins, who was to have been executed on Thursday last, hung himself en the preceding Tuesday night, Various efforts had been made to bring him to a proper sense of his awful condition, but in vain. White refused to see any clergyman and avowed that he had never entertained any idea of a future state, and merely asked to be hung in his own clothes. During the evening of Tuesday, he occupied himself as he was wont to do, in obscene singing and declamation ; and !tit nearly as can be jutted he committed suicide about He effected this by means of a silk one o'clock the saferip of 4134ket ; the former he put poeket handkerchief and a .7t. around his neck and the latter_ he fasten,,,, . upper Conthe grate of the window of his eel]; having then tied them toe..._ tracted his legs and thus strangled himself.—New York Enquirer.
The Sun. — 1827-12-17 (London, England)

MELANCHOLY SUICIDE.  Saturday evening au inquest was held at the Grotto Tavern, Southampton-buildings, Chancerylane, on the body of Frederick Rooks, aged 3.5. The deceased arrived in town on Monday last, from Norwich, and took lodgings in the house of Mr. Connor, in Tennis-court, Middle-row, Holborn, and remained there on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. On Wednesday night, about ten o'clock, he returned home to Connor's house, and asked for a candle, saying he was going to sit up all night. The candle was given him, and he went up to his room. Connor heard nothing of him that night or the next day, until a woman named Pugh, living in an adjoining house, informed him that she heard groans proceeding from the deceased's room. Connor went up to his room and knocked at the door, but obtained no answer; he then forced the door open, and found the deceased lying on the bed insensible. Mr. Marsden, a surgeon, of Holborn, was sent for, and he stated that when he arrived the deceased was lying on the bed, apparefaly in a state of intoxication. He first endeavoured to ascertain what the deceased' had taken. and from the questions put to him, he stated, that he had taken three ounces of laudanum, and to enable him to retain it on his stomach, he had taken one ounce of peppermint. He also stated, that he had taken laudanum on two former occasions, once in India, and once in France : that severe domestic troubles had compelled him to commit the act. He requested Mr. Marsden would treat him like a gentleman, as he was the son of one; and that if Mr. Marsden would send to his uncle, Mr. Sergeant Firth, of Clifford's-inn, be would explain everything. It appeared that be had taken the laudanum twelve hours before it was known, and the means that were used to preserve his life, therefore, proved ineffectual. The Jury, after hearing evidence proving the above statement, returned a verdict of insanity.  It is calculated that the various acknowledged professors of the law absorb in income nearly nine millions per annum; and that, in three generations of 30 years each, the whole sum of the property of the kingdom passes into their hands.
The Sun. — 1827-03-27 (London, England)

MARLBOROUGH-STREET.--krramrreD StacinE. —Last evening, soon after Mr. CONANT had taken his peat, a gentleman, about twenty-five years of age, who, it was said, holds a commission in one of the regiments of Guards, was brought up in custody of Boothman and another patrol, on a charge of having attempted to commit suicide, by swallowing poison in a chemist's shop in ,the Quadrant, in Regent-street. The circumstances of this transaction appeared to be as follow :-1n the early pact of the evening the gentleman had been drinking rather freely at several taverns, and between six and seven o'clock he went to No. 62, in the Quadrant, and requested to be supplied with sixpennyworth of laudanum ; but, previous to this, he stated, at one of the taverns where he called, that • he had swallowed two ounces of oxalic acid. The shop man asked him what he wanted the laudanum for, and not receiving a satisfactory answer, refused to let him have any. He then proceeded to another shop, with no better success, but at a third he obtained the laudanum, and was in the act of raising it to his lips, when the people in the shop interposed, and called in the assistance of the patrol, who brought him to the office. In the office he said it was his determined resolution to destroy himself, and when Mr. CONANT humanely attempted to argue with him on the folly of his attempt, be merely replied that he thought every man had a right to take away his own life when he became tired of it. After the Magistrate had consulted with the gentleman's friends privately for a few minutes, the gentleman wa4 called into the Magistrate's room, and we understood that it was arranged that an officer should proceed immediately With him in a hackney coach to his residence at Brompton. Severe losses at play were alleged to have been the cause of the unfortunate occurrence.
The Sun. — 1827-08-09 (London, England)

FRENCH FUNDS, PARIS, AUG. 6.—Five per Cents., 103 f. :90c. ; Three per Cents. 73f. 25c.; Bank Stock, 2,005 f. Neapolitan Renter, 79f. 35c.  Dutch Papers to the 7th inst. also reached us last night, from which we make the following extracts :  Bausser.s, Auc. s.—The Bulletin of to-day announces that her Majesty the Queen remains free from fever. HAARLEM, Auc. 6.—The Batavia Journal, of the 1 Ith March contains letters from Socrakarta, to the 7th, which give the agreeable intelligence that the eldel ion of the Rebel Chief Dipo Negoro, whose name is Dye Koesmo, had submitted to the Netherlands Government. Negociations had been opened by M. M. Gillaery, Resident at So. crakarta, with the assistance of one of the insurgent Tommongues, who offered his services for the purpose. Ile appears to have required at first that the name and the authority of his father should be secured to him. It does not seem that this was positively promised him, but on an understanding that he should he supported in the promotion of his wishes, he repaired with a number of his followers to the Benting of Dillangoe, where he was received with the greatest respect. It was confidently expected that this defection would have mach influence on Dipo Negoro, who was then at Djamoes for the purpose of collecting some adherents. Except the presence of 300 insurgents in Tegal Rendoe, against whom Major De Van der Wyk had marched with his column, Kadoe was very quiet. His Majesty's corvette, the Pollux, was to set sail for Europe at the eud of March. At the beginning of March, the Government wanted vessels to convey goods and money to Banca and the Moluccas.  The following are extracts from the Brussels and German Papers received this morning:—  BERLIN, JeLY 26.  A report is in circulation on our exchange, that a new plan of finances will shortly be published, the object of which will be an effectual improvement of the public credit. ,Though no particulars are known, the paper cur:. rency has already risen ; the circumstance that the plan is a conception of the able Minister of Finance, Von Motz, being sufficient opinion to give the public a favourable onion of it. Several duels having lately taken place among the Students here, the Authorities have been induced to adopt very rigorous measures against this abuse. It is a matter of much regret, that suicides are now more frequent in this capital than ever they were before. This is ascribed partly to the increasing distress of the labouring classes and artisans, and partly to their constantly increasing desire for the enjoyments and comforts of life, which in many instances have risen in price.
The Sun. — 1827-05-10 (London, England)

SIGNOR PISTRUCCI.  Last night this gentleman made his second appearance this season,-at the Italian Concert-Room, King's Theatre, in the ,character, of Aristodemo, in the tragedy of that name. The plot of the piece turns upon the misery of Aristodemo, who has sacrificed his eldest daughter to Pluto, in order to obtain the Messenian throne, and who, persecuted by the remorse attendant on such a crime, is continually agitated by the belief that her spectre haunts his steps, and demands his death. The period of his elevation seems in every respect to have been that of his misery; for his wife dies by her own hand on the corpse of her murdered daughter, whilst his second child is taken a captive (or, as he believes, is killed) by the Spartans, with whom the Messenians aru then at war. He is only acquainted with the secret of her safety at the moment his despair has induced him to commit suicide.- Such is the outline' of this tragedy, which possesses many beautiful passages of poetry, and-was very respectably performed by those who, as amateurs, gave their assistance to Signor Pistrueci. After the tragedy, ,that gentleman exhibited his powers as an improvisatore; and the good sense of the company was manifested in giving, him subjects worthy of his talents. The first was the praise of the great discoverer of America. The second, an argument on the question why the valour of Italy slept when Greece had given her so honourable an example of intrepidity—and why the sword of justice had not been wielded for the destruction of the tyrants of Italy ? The finest part of this was in the conclusion, where Signor Pistrucci, having worked himself up to a poetic fit, had begun to paint the imaginary glories of liberated Italy—but was stopped short with the bitter recollection that those glories were only imaginary, and that Italy was, in fact, oppressed and degraded. The third theme regarded the intrigues at the Italian Opera it London; and, on this subject, the Signor's skill was principally exhibited, in saying many humorous, things; without endangering himself or his companions.— He afterwards, with great rapidity and success, formed rhymes to words, especially selected by the audience for their want of connection, and for the dissimilarity of -ideas which they seemed calculated to produce. The subject of these rhymes was the sufferings of Galileo. The evening's performances were well received by a numerous and fashionable audience.
The Sun. — 1827-07-26 (London, England)

FEMALE SUICIDE.-Yesterday an Inquest Was held at the Hornsey Sluice-house, on the body of a Young female, named Haughton. It appeared that the deceased, who was only 16 years of. age, had been visited by a young man to whom she was much attached, but on Wednesday evening the deceased's mother, who disliked his visits, ordered him to quit the house, and not see her daughter again. After his departure, the deceased said she thought her motker had acted in a very harsh manner. Early the following morning she was observed at the window of her room curling her Lair, and she shortly after left the house, and was not seen again until her body was found in the New River.—The Jury returned a verdict of Insanity. On the night of the 16th instant, one of the Blockade men, named Rawlins, who was on his parade between the Schooner and Victory public-houses, on the Shoreham road, heard cries of murder, and on hastening to the spot he found two men violently struggling with each other ; one of them, named Mills then attacked the Blockade man, and with much abuse made a desperate effort to get possession of Rawlins's pistols. The Blockade man was obliged to use his cutlass, with which he wounded Mills in the leg, when be gave up the contest. The other man's name was Peel, who stated that he had just left the Victory, when Mills attacked him with such fury, that he feared he should have been thrown over the wharf or murdered. The surgeon of the Blockade was immediately sent for to attend Mills at the watch-house, but Mills obstinately refused to let him look at the wound. The Commanding Officer then sent to Shoreham for medical assistance, agreeably to the with of Milli,r—firVicon Ocaftte.  FASHIONABLE AND MISCELLANEOUS  Mr. CANNING'S health, during his stay at Chiswick, improved daily, with the exception that the Right Hon. Gentleman was not quite so well on Tuesday as he bad been on the preceding days.  The Marquis de PALMELLA, the Portuguese Ambassador (who is shortly expected to return to Portugal,) and the Count de VILLA REAL, who has lately arrived in this country, for the purpose of succeeding the Noble Marquis in his embassy to this Court, had a conference with Mr. CANNING on Tuesday, at the Duke of DEVONSHIRE'S seat at Chiswick.  Mr. CANNING came to town yesterday morning, and arrived at his residence in Downing-street, about ten o'clock. Mr. TIERNEY and Mr. BROUGHAM visited the Right Hon. Gentleman in the course of the day.  Sir HERBERT TAYLOR left town yesterday afternoon, for the Royat Lodge in Windsor-park, on a  visit to the
The Sun. — 1827-10-29 (London, England)

AIARLBOROUGH-STREET.--On Saturday, an elderly gentleman, accompanied by a youth of IS years of age, applied for a warrant against the proprietors of a gambling-house in Bury-street, St. James's. The elderly gentleman stated, that the youth was the son of a banker on the continent, and his brother-in-law. He came to this country about four months since, bringing with him 7001. given him by his father for his expenses, and had been allured to the gaming-house of Messrs. ___-, Where he was induced to drink till. he became inebriated, and to play at a game he knew nothing of till be lost his last shilling ; in fact, he was robbed of between 500/. and 600/. A few days since he called on him (the senior gentleman), and asked him to take a walk. They went out together—the youi.h appeared extremely dejected—he naturally inquired into the cause, and was horrified at discovering that he hadfalled on him to take leave of him for ever—that he was meditating suicide. This 'led to further inquiries : the youtli confessed the cause of his despair. He, iu consequence, went to the house; and saw one of the proprietors, who told him he night go and be hanged ; they did not care for him or the Magistrates. Mr. DYER asked the applicant what was the purport of his application. He replied, that he wished to have a warrant for the apprehension of the proprietors of the house. Mr. DYER observed, that there was no use in granting warrants, or binding parties to prosecute, in such cases, as they were always bought off. The young man stated, that about nine weeks ago he was introduced to the house and lost a considerable sum of money. He determined never to go into it again, but was constantly waylaid by the persons he met thae, until at length he was induced to return. They had also taken him to another gaming-house in the same street, where he lost 150/. When he was totally ruined, and they discovered that he had no snore to lose, he was kicked out, on questioning the fairness of the play of which he had been the victim. Both the applicants offered to enter into security to prose. cute, if the Magistrate would grant the warrant. Mr. DYER refused, granting the warrant, but recommended the young man to go before the Grand Jury, and prefer a bill against the persons of whom he complained, for keeping a common gaming-house. ‘, The parties left the office, declaring their intention to do so immediately.