npedrazzini/19thc_murder_suicide_news huggingface dataset:
The Blandford and Wimbourne Telegram. — 1881-09-09 (Blandford, Dorset, England)

IMMO.  A long inquiry was held on Friday last at the Running Horse Inn, Gerrard's-cross, Oxford, respecting the death f Henry Jaraes Spradbury, 19, a clerk, who committed suicide on Monday night hist.—Mr. Robert James Spradbury, a retired gentleman, of Blenheim-terrace, Gerrs ,rd's-cross, stated that the deceas-4 was his son, one I had been residing with him. He was a clerk, hut latel y had been unable to attend to his business owing to illness.. On Sunday he left hrine to visit a young lady to whom he was shortly to be married. When he returned in the evening, about nine o'clock, he appeared greatly depressed in spirits. In answer to witness, he said he had had a quarrel with the young lady. Witness tried to cheer him up, but he became very melancholy, and shortly afterwards retired to his bedroom. Before leaving witness he shook hands with him, wishing him good night, and saying that if his young lady called to see him to say he was dead. Witness, however, never thought that he would commit suicide. On the following morning he did not make his appearance as usual, and, in consequence, witness went upstairs to his room, but finding the door locked, and being unable to get any answer, he obtained assistance, and the door was forced open. Deceased was then found lying on the floor on his back. near the end of the bedstead, covered in blood, and his throat fearfully cut. Medical assistance was sent for, and Dr. Murphy soon arrived, and pronounced life to be quite extinct. On the dressing-table was a note, ' written by deceased, which was as follows :—" Dear Father—l have done this with the razor you will find near me. The cause is the quarrel with Elizabeth, whom I loved much. Tell her if you see her that I forgive her, and hope to meet her above some day. Good-bye, darling father! Pray for me, and forgive me for what I have done.—Yours, HENRY JAMES SPammay."—Miss Elizabeth Johnstone, the young lady referred to, who was in court, was here called forward by the Coroner. She appeared greatly affected, and was permitted to be seated during her evidence. She stated that on Sunday evening she met the deceased shortly before seven o'clock. He appeared very strange in his manner, and walking along Morgan's Farm, be said, "I have heard you are not acting true to ma, and that you are walking out with another young man." Witness told hirr4 it was untrue, and that if he believed what other penrle said he had better go to them at once. She then wa'lsed away from him and went home. She did not ser.i him again alive. She never thought he would -commit I suicide. The jury returned a verdict that the deceased had committed suicide while in, a state of unsound mind.
The Blandford and Wimbourne Telegram. — 1881-11-11 (Blandford, Dorset, England)

SRO AD OAS. LAWLESSNESS AT THE SCENE OF THE LATE SUICIDE.  An attack was made on Saturday night last (sth inst.), on the premises of Mr. and Mrs. Henley, of Broadoak, in the parish of Symondsbury, by a band of persona belonging to the immediate district. Our readers will remember our recent reports of the death of Henry John Spencer, who hanged himself at Broadoak, about a month since, under most painful circumstances. Since that time a general feeling of disrespect, not to say hatred, has been openly shown to Henley and his wife. Without warning, a mob of persons, numbering nearly a hundred, some of whom wore masks, or had their faces blackened, commenced an attack ui on the premises. A couple of ignited effigies, representing a man and woman, hoisted on long poles, were thrust beneath the thatch of the house, ostensibly with the design of burning the house down. Fortunately, however, for the premises, the thatch being literally soaked with the recent rains, resisted the fire. Finding they could not make a bonfire of the house, some of the band proceeded to smash in every pane of glass on the premises, and to destroy the front door. In this they were successful, for the windows were smashed to atoms; the door unhinged and taken to a distance, where, whit remained of it, was made into a bonfire. Henley, himself, seemingly half dead with terror, aPPeFhig upon the scene, was fired at nearly a score of times, but the weapon or weapons, being, no doubt, filled with blank charge, he fortunately sustain td no hurt, Young Mrs Sp,-ncer, wife of the late suicide, appear, Mg at one of the windows, had a blank charge Pose 8') near her (and the weapon must have been withis short distance), that much of her hair was singed The attack was kept up until the house was almost uninhabitable, for most of the rural constables being drafted for Bridport on Saturday night, and the in. tended " demonstration " being unknown to them, tie mob had the matter wholly in their own hands for several hours. We are informed that early the sait! evening a number of persons, seated in a waggon, wig black faces, and carrying on poles faithful represcnts. tions of a couple residiog at Broadoak, wended thit way from S dwayash, where the father of the unfortut ate suicide, Spencer, live. The windows are nej protected by boarding, and a watch is kei ton , premises. Whatever the reasons for damage tf, assault, such a proceeding as this is certainly of It? most lawless and disreputable character, and _ty, offenders could hardly feel surprised were they. cane upon to stomer tor takipg the lawjetet heir ell Polfgri  Al seer Hoot end the (  old her to 13 sho teat  kilo an ( Got but  bus eve: 170 pen Pin
The Blandford and Wimbourne Telegram. — 1881-12-02 (Blandford, Dorset, England)

CONVICT ATTEMPTING SUICIDE. —On Monday a convict under a long sentence attempted to commit suicide by hangieg himself from a balustrade. He was discovered in time and brought round by the medical officer again to life. EMPLOYMENT ON CoNvicr3.—The water has washed away so much of the ground on the edge of the Mere that the sea has encroached close to the Castle wall, end a gang of c invicts have been employed there cone structing • so-wall. SICK CoNvicvs.—Twelve sick convicts were on Monday transferred from Portland to Wokiug prison; one of them walked with a ciutch, and all looked like invalids. On Tuesday about a dozen came into the Island—presumably to fill the others' places. GOOD .lEMPLARY.—On Thursday the eighth anniversary of the Portland " Ark of Safety" Lodge, 1.0.G.T., TM oelebrated, when there was a puulic tea in the lodge-room, and afterwsrds an eutertainmeut, presided over by the D.0.T., Bro. Holmwood. There was a good company, and readings, recitations, and singing lielped to pass a very pleasant evening. THS LOCAL BOARD AND THE MAYOR OF WID mount. —Last Wednesday evening, R. N. Howard, Esq., Mayor of Weymouth, who is also Coroner for the Island and Clerk to the Urban Sanitary Authority, entertained the Portland Local Board, the Rector of Portland, and the School Board Committee, at a banquet at Greenhill House, Weymouth. DISPENSARY Miami:l.—The half-yearly meeting was held last Thursday, the Rector presi ring. More support is much required by the dispensary, and subscriptions will be gladly received by Mr. J. Reynolds, who was chosen hon. secretary in the room of the late Mr. Scriven. Mr. J. Mitchell was chosen a member of the committee. ENTRRTAINMENT AT THE SAILORS' Re,T.—Last Monday, a pleasing entertainment was given at the Sailors' Rest, Chesil, by various members of H.M. services and their friends, Mr. May, schoolmaster of the Hercules, ably presiding. It commenced by the audience singing a temperance melody, which was followed by a sung from Beeney, 14th Regiment, who was loudly encored, and complied, both being very amusing; a song from Newton, 14th Regiment, TM also encored. " The Curfew Bell" was very tastefully recited by Miss Churchill, and was followed by a few remarks fr un the Chairman on the meaning and origin of the Curfew. A song from Mr. W. Russell was capitally rendered and encored, and next Mr. J. Russell also sang, and met with a smiler compliment. A reading from Mr. Stone was loudly applauded ; then came an encore song from Mr. W. Russell, and a recitation from Mr. W. Bankhead, Mater-at-Arms of the Boscawen, which was capitally elven ; two songs followed by Menem. Newton and Beeney, of the 14th Regiment, and the National Anthem closed the evening.
The Blandford and Wimbourne Telegram. — 1881-03-11 (Blandford, Dorset, England)

COUNTY PETTY SESSIONS.  ALLEGED ATTEMPTED SUICIDE.  George Pearce was brought up on remand, on Saturday, charged with attempting to commit suicide at Broadmayne on the 26th of February. George Voss, blacksmith, living at Broadmayne, stated on Saturday morning, the 26th of February, about eight o'clock, he heard a sound as of someone screaming, which appeared to come from a house right approaching the shop in which the defendant Pearce lives. He listened for a few minutes, and then a Mrs. Ellery called him to go across, and he went. on going to the door of the room which prisoner ocoupied, he saw Mrs. Pearce (prisoner's mother). He looked around, but could see nothing of prisoner. He went into the pantry and there found prisoner. He had a rooe under his chin, and the ends of it were fastened to a crook in the ceiling. He was leaning forward on the rope, but his feet were on the ground. He (witness) asked him what he had done it for, and took him by the c liar of the coat, pulled him from the rope, and took him into the house. His (witness's) mother came I across and assisted him to wash prisoner's face, and she asked him why he had done it, and he replied "It is trouble that has brought it on." When be (witne4s) found him in the pantry his face was discoloured and he was exhausted, so that he could scarcely stand. Prisoner was screaming when he went into the pantry. P.C. Haynes, stationed at Broadmayne, gave evidence as to the apprehension of prisoner. He charged him with having attempted to commit suicide, and he male no reply. Witness brought him to Dorchester. The prisoner, in answer to the charge, said he had been out of work for a long time, and had troubled about it. The sister of the prisoner said he was unmarried, and lived with his mother. He had been out of work four or fivo months, and had brought himself down to a very low state. He had never attempted anything of the kind before. He formerly worked for Captain Foster, and had since worked for another gentleman, but he was discharged on account of ill-health. He had applied for out-door relief, but had been told he must go into the house. The Chairman gave the prisoner a strong caution not to do anything of the kind again. It was a very serious offan,:te, and if he attempted it again he would be severely punished. The best thmg he could do would be to go to the Union, where he would be well looked after. Prisoner, having promised to go to the Union, was discharge i. A
The Blandford and Wimbourne Telegram. — 1882-12-15 (Blandford, Dorset, England)

ATTEMPTED MURDER AND SUICIDE.  A singular and, in fact, soinewhat romantic case of attempted murder and suicide took place at York on Friday morning. The parties concerned were sweethearts, the attempted murderer and suicide being a farm lab mrer named William Archer, of the age of 21, a native of Roinford. Essex, and his vict'rn AttLi3 &audit, a domestic servant, of the age of 17. The two went together to York, where they put up at the Railway Commercial and Family Boarding House in Tanner-row. There they had dinner, and, as the weather was stormy they stayed in the hotel the rest of the day, and took a bed, which they occupied under the representation that they were inert and wife, for the night. They breakfasted together on the following merning, an I went out, without any under.itanding that they would return. They, however, Came back in the evening, and having stated that they had born to see some friends et Hopgr are, and were weary, had some refreshments, after which they sat in one of the rooms, apparently in most friendly conversation, from eight until ten, and then retired to rest. Bathing further was heard or known of them until on Friday morning, when, according to the girl's owe statement. she was awoke by feeling something running down her aide. This she discovered to be blood, and simultaneoasly she found that her throat had been cut. She went out on to the landing and thence into an adjoining sitting room, where she alarmed the hum by the ringing of a bell. Archer in the meantime had locked the door upon I himself, and on an entrance being made by the window it was found that he had cut his throat in a couple of places, and in a far more serious manner than be had done that of his sweetheart. At present nothing is known ea to what may have provoked the ILI 'demi act upon lanuitt.
The Blandford and Wimbourne Telegram. — 1882-02-17 (Blandford, Dorset, England)

ALLEGED ATTEMPTED SLIME. —An extraordinary case of alleged attempt at self-destruction came I efore the county magistrates (J. M. I', Montague and NV. Colfox, Esqrs.), on Friday., when a rather pretty-lookin girl, named Emma Mab -y, aged 17 years, was charged with attempting to commit suicide at Pytnore Factory on the previous afternoon. The evidence showed that prisoner was one of the factory hands, and had only been engaged there a few weeks, after coming from Dorchester. On the afternoon of Thursday prisoner went to the closet of the factory, and soon after another of the female hands went there and saw pri-oner standing up with blood on her neck and on her apron, and witness (Ellen Way), gave an alarm. Witness asked what she had done, and p isoner said she knew, but would not tell her; she afterwards said she had done nothing. Witness saw that her neck was bleeding, and L•LINV blood on her collar. She asked her why she did it. and prisoner said she was Lot happy. Prison, r had one of the factory knives in her hand, and showed witness, pointing to the knife, how far she thought the knife went into the neck. Prisoner told her that she had a haunted mind and was not happy, and that the knife would be her end.—Mary Travers, another factory girl, gave similar evidence.—Sergeant Hazzard said he charged the prisoner at Pymore, and examined the knife and found blood on it; there was blood on the prisoner's collar, and a small cut on her neck. She cried, and said "It is not much if a cut or much blood."—Mr. G. M. Evans, M.D., said he had examined the prisoner, but could find no mark upon her throat, and in her nature lie failed to discitn any suicidal tendency. Prisoner was then dischar,ged.
The Blandford and Wimbourne Telegram. — 1882-06-09 (Blandford, Dorset, England)

JAME-S IiOUTLE-DGE, aged nineteen, a prisoner in Dur• Irn gaol, committed suicide by hanging himself with his neckerchief on Wednesday. He was committed on Sat. urday for one month's hard labour for vagrancy at Sunderland.  A CURIOUS incident occurred at Paris Marie last week. A couple had come to be marrh:(l, and the Mayor, having put on his official tricolor sash, and completed the cere. mony, was proceeding to read the regulations from the Code on Civil Marriage, when the bridegroom, interrupting, said : "Pardon' M. le Maire, but 1 think, now that we are really wedded, it DI IleedlCS3 to read to us about the law of marriage. Pray let us hear the details of the new Divorce Bill; that will be much more practical." "GREAT PAUL," baying been successfully hung in the south-western tower of St. Paul's Cathedral, was rung for the first time on Saturday afternoon.  THE Globe says :—The pati iamb of the solicitors is not dead after all. Mr. Ingledew, of Newcastle, to whom the distinction was assigned, and who died last week, was net the oldest practitioner, as there still lives in the at Riding a gentleman who was admitted in 1816, and who is 98 years old. This venerable lawyer's name is Abraham Dunn.  THE right of a husband to thrash his wife has always been maintained in some states of society. One does not often, however, hear it pleaded man English Police-court, as it was on Wednesday, at Clerkenwell, by a green. grocer named Warren. As might have been anticipaied, the plea was unavailing, and the magistrate granted the wife a judicial separation, while Mr. Warren was sent for three months' hard labour.  THERE is to he seen (says a correspondent) in the win. dow of one of the principal bric-a-brac shops in London two large Sevres vases of surpassing beauty and elegance, and the story of how they came into the possession of their present owner is a strange one. It appears that this dealer in works of art wished to purchase a residence for his family at the seaside, and he went to one of our most fashionable watering-places to look eta house whicli he had been told might suit him. He found that its owners were two old ladies, and in showing it to him they Ushered him into a back-room, on the chimney piece of which, covered with dust, !Stood two china vases. The nuick eye of the connoisseur was at once attracted to them, and approaching he saw at a glance that they were none other than a magnificent example of Rose du Barry Sevres, and that their value could not be less than £lO,
The Blandford and Wimbourne Telegram. — 1882-03-03 (Blandford, Dorset, England)

SUICIDE IN PENTONVILLE PRISON.—OR Monday evening Dr. Diplock held an inquiry at the Pentonville Prison on the bony of John Limey, aged 19, a prisoner.—Captain W. E. Buller, deputy-governor, said ueceased was convicted and sentenced at the Central Criminal Court to five years' penal servitude for felony after other convictions. He was under the strict silent system, and employed ira his own cell at shoemaking. lie had been at school on Thursday, but made no complaiut, and no depression was noticed, lie was timed hanging by a strap attached to the uell handle.—Warder Davies deposed that he gave deceosed his dinner on Thursday, which he ate, and on going into his cell some time after he found hill dead, hanging by a strap used in shoemaking. Several convicta had on different occasions done the same thing in sham, and it was at first oneuffit this Was a similar c ise.—The jury returned a verdict of "Suicide whilst in an unsound state of mind." THE judges of the Court of Appeal on Thursday reversed the decision of the Divisional Court giving, on the application of the defendant, anew trial of the case of Ciarke 77. Bradlangh. The late member fnr Northampton addressed the Court at considerable length, pas,ing in review all the evidence effecting the time of the issue of the writ in the action, and severely animadverting on the discrepancies he pointed out in the statements of some of the plaintiff's witnesses. Lord Justice Brett, without calling on the other side, said that on the evidence he was satisfied with the verdict of the jury in the trial b ,fore Justice Grove, and that the affidavits subsequently filed had given an elucidation of the deubts which tied been roes d. The appeal was therefore allowed, and Mr. Bradlaugh was ' all iwed a fortnigki's time to c maid ir whether he would appeal to the House of Lords. BERNARD SMITH, of Llanover House, Dory, Sheffield, a noted amateur bicyclist, met with a terrible accident fat week. On Tuesd vy night, in c unpany with another Sheffield gentleman, Samuel Mountain, he was ri liug on his machine from Caatsworth, and whilst running down a slope near Owler Bar the bicycle capsized, and Mr. Smith was thrown upen a heap of stones. His forehead was seriously cut, and he sustained a severe scalp wound, and was rendered insen-iirle. His convpanion, turning aside to avoid running over his friend, was also thrown to the ground and rendered unconscious. Mr. Smith is still dangerously ill.
The Blandford and Wimbourne Telegram. — 1882-02-03 (Blandford, Dorset, England)

MESSIIT. MILLER BROTHERS, merchants, 9, Princessquare, Buchauan•street, Glasgow, have suspended payment. The &in was principally engaged iu the South African tale. Their liabilities amouut to fully £50,009.  JAMES DENNIS FOULialt, on of Inspector Funlger, of the City Police station, Moor-lane, .Fore•street, committed suicide on Friday morning by blowing unt bin brains with a revolv.:.r. lie had been in a weak state of health. Parnell,  Is Home Rule elides it is stated that Messr#,  Dillon, and O'Kelly intend to resign their eats in Parliament immediately, so that their votes may not he lost, and that the new members may take their seats before the elOture division.  THE sentence of two months' imprisonment passed upon the Deal boatman Porter expired on Sunday. The only other man who escaped with a sentence of two mouths was Alaaie, the Trinity pilot, who, it will be remembered, was released upon a certificate on the 2fith of December. The other men, Olds, Wood, Macklus,and Hee, are still under medical treatment.  ABOUT two o'clock on Thursday morning it was discovered that the Bursars Hotel, Aberdeen, had been broken into. Au alarm was given before the thief had left the premises, and, finding the retreat cut oft, he ascended to the roof of the building, where for two hours he kept the police at bay by throwing down slates and other missiles which he tore from the roof. Eventually he was captured and guve the name of dohu Dolan, from Liverpool. As the express train from Euston to Manchester was travelling on Thursday night at full speed a severe jerk Wai felt, aud upon the train reaching Macclesfield a message was telegiaphed to Congletou to examine the metals. It was then found that two railway chairs had been fixed to the rails outside the station. They were smashed by the engine, some of the splinters being carried a hundred yards.  No pains have been spared by the management of this journal to discover the author of a gross outrage committed by the interpolation of a line in the speech of Sir William Harcourt reported in our issue on Monday last. 'l7hø malicious fabrication was surreptitiously introduced shortly before the paper went to press. The matter is now under legal investigation, and it is hoped that the perpetrator of the outrage will be brought to punishment.-- Times. AT the Aldershot police-court on Thursday, Joseph Thomas Commelleri, late a Captain in the 7th Dragoon Guards, was charged with begging from the Rev. Mr. Hadow, the Rev. Mr. Brookes; a Wesleyan Minister. and others. Prisoner said he had lost his purse, and thought clergymen were charitable people, who would assist him to get back to London. He had come to see some brother officers in the Dragoons, who had moved to Norwich. The magistrates said they could make no distinction in such cases, and he would be sentenced to fourteen days' imprisonment without hard labor. MR.