npedrazzini/19thc_murder_suicide_news huggingface dataset:
The Sun. — 1836-01-22 (London, England)

DARING BURGLARY BY, AND RE-CAPTURE OF, AN ESCAPED CONVICT.—On Friday last information was received at the station-house, Greenwich, that a convict named Robert Berkensall, had escaped from the Justitia hulk, Woolwich, to which place he was conveyed a few weeks since, having been found guilty of a burglary in Preston, Lancashire, and sentenced to transportation for life in October last. Orders were promptly issued by Mr. Superintendent Mallieu to the constables in the district to recapture the convict, if possible, and on Saturday morning, about four o'clock, Richard Skinner, R 162, while on duty in the Woolwich-road, observed a man dressed in a rough white top-coat pass him, when he fancied that he heard the chinking of irons, and suspecting that he might be the convict who had escaped, followed him for the purpose of asking him some questions, but they had not gone far when the convict drew out a large dinner knife, very sharp at the point, and made a desperate attempt to stab the constable, accompanying the act with a dreadful oath that he would murder him. A scuffle ensued between the officer and the convict, in which the latter got the better, but fortunately the constable had his cutlass with him, which he drew, and prevented Berkensall from committing murder, which there is very little doubt would have been the case, as he is considered a most desperate ruffian. Skinner having obtained assistance, the knife was taken from the convict, and he was conveyed to the stationhouse, when it was discovered that he was heavily ironed on each leg, and on searching him a chisel, a hammer, and other tools for striking off his irons were found in his possession, together with a bunch of keys, a pearl-handled knife, and various articles. On inquiry it was ascertained that the articles were stolen from a house in Plumstead that had been entered on Friday night, and on further investigation it appeared that the convict immediately after his escape from the hulk, which he effected by scaling a twenty-feet wall (and in doing which the iron round his waist broke,) proceeded to the house in question, and having obtained an entrance by the cellar-flap, he proceeded to a room up stairs where two young men were in bed, and stole the articles above described with the great coat, a pair of trowsers, and a hat which he had on when captured. The convict's dress was afterwards discovered in the garden adjoining the house that had been broken open. He was sent in charge of the police back to the hulks, when he was severely flogged. At the station-house lie told inspector Thomas that he wastried for his life, and if not very shortly sent out of this country, he should commit suicide. The convict was again flogged on Monday.
The Sun. — 1836-09-07 (London, England)

THE STEAMERS AND THE WATERMEN.—The passengers who proceed in the steam-vessels up and down the pool have been for some time past subject to the most shameful annoyance from the watermen and bargemen on the river, who are in the habit, as the steamers pass them, of giving utterance to the most foul language and abuse, frequently making use of obscene expressions and blasphemous oaths in the hearing of females and children. This infamous behaviour, coupled as it often is with the throwing of stones, coals, and other missiles at the captains of the steamers, and their passengers, has become quite intolerable, and calls loudly for some energetic measures on the part of the proper authorities to suppress the evil. In two cases the Thames Police Magistrates have ordered a Waterman named Banks and a lighterman named Scott to find good bail to keep the peace, for threatening the captains of two steamers, and hurling stones and coals at the people on deck ; and a third person, named Shepherd, a waterman, who actually put himself in the way of the George Canning steamer, which was stopped in time to prevent any mischief, has been fined 5/. for throwing two large iron staples at the master and passengers. These convictions have failed, however, in checking the nuisance.  SUICIDE OF A GlRL.—Monday afternoon an inquisition was taken before Mr. Stirling, at the Elephant and Castle, King's-road, St. Pancras, on view of the body of Elizabeth Charlton, aged 16, who is supposed to have drowned herself. It appeared from the evidence that the deceased was a servant in the family of Mr. Templeton, artist, Charlottestreet, Fitzroy-square. She entered it about four weeks ago. At first she attended to her duties, but after being there a week or two, from being cheerful she became reserved, and neglected her work, when she was told by her mistress that if she did not act as she did at first, she could not remain with them. On Friday week, on which day she left, she had some few words with her mistress. The body was found in the Regent's Canal, on Friday forenoon. The father of the deceased said that his daughter was always of a close temper. She had not formed any love attachment. V2rdict—Temporary Insanity. Monday afternoon a party of holiday folks, lads and lasses, after seeing the wonderful sights at Bartholomew Fair, turned down at Warwick-lane, Newgate-street, when they were interrupted by a drove of sheep ; at the same time a man with a tub of bullock's blood on his bead, stood close to them. A sheep having darted from the flock ran between the man's and throwing him on his back, the tub of blood went over legs,-oierall the muslin dresses of the lasses and the Sunday clothes of the lads, rendering them very Piteous objects. After qtriking several beholders, who were ignorant of the circumstance, with horror, they with much difficulty obtained a hackney coach on Ludgate-hill, and returned home completely in the dumps."
The Sun. — 1836-09-19 (London, England)

SUICIDE AT SEA.---The galliot Petrus Ludovicus arrived in this port on Monday last with bones from Petersburg. The captain of the vessel, on the 4th inst., when on her passage, threw himself into the sea from the cabin window, and was drowned. He had for some days been drinking freely ; and it is supposed the rash act was committed while he was in a state of temporary derangement from the effects. He was a middle-aged man, and had been for some time commander of that vessel. The crew speak favourably of him, and deeply regret the event.—Berwick Advertiser. Two individuals are now living in the parish of Holm Cultram, who have attained the extraordinary age of one hundred years each—Martha Tindall, of Souterfield, is the one, and Solomon Osborn, of Cowgate, is the other. Solomon lives within half a mile of the Solway Frith, and has been told that vessels are propelled on that estuary by the power of steam, on their way to and from Liverpool ; but the old man replies, "it cannot be I and that such a report is only a fiction." He is too infirm to be taken to the shores of the Solway to be convinced.—Carlisle Journal. On Saturday, at the Kensington Petty Sessions, Henry Ashley, an incorrigible young urchin, not twelve years of age, was committed for trial on the charge of house-breaking. The prisoner had effected an entrance into the shop of Mr. Cox, in High-street, by cutting out a pane of glass, through the aperture of which he had crept ; but in doing so he broke the square above it, which occasioned the alarm. He was found concealed under the counter. The Magistrates had taken time to consider what should be done with the boy, and they now thought the best manner to save him would be to commit him. •
The Sun. — 1836-10-19 (London, England)

HEREDITAICY DERANGEMENT.--Yesterday an Inquest was held before Mr. CARTER, the Coroner for Surrey, at the sign of the King's Arms, adjacent to the Surrey Canal, Camberwell, upon te body of Richard Fowler, aged 37. Police constable Bannion. 175 P division, about halfpast one o'clock on Sunday morning, was on duty within 150 yards of the bridge near the New Church, Camberwell, when he heard a rattling against the iron railings of the bridge, and immediately after a splashing in the water. Witness alarmed the toll collector of the bridge, who procured the drags, and in about five or six minutes the deceased was taken out of the water. •  vv Elizabeth Higgs, a married woman, residing at No. 9, Bath-place, Newington, stated that the deceased, with his wife and family, had formerly lodged at her house. On Friday last he and his wife called upon witness, and had tea Upon his leaving in the evening he said that lie could not go home ; he was in arrear w►th his rent, and his landlord would kick him out of the house. Witness had observed a very great change in the conduct of the deceased of late. He had appeared in a very distressed state cf mind, and had frequently said that if the Almighty allowed him to live much longer he would be starved. Mr. Fay, a merchant in the city, stated to the Jury that the derangement was hereditary. It had existed in the family for years, and the father of the deceased was now confined in a lunatic asylum. The father had been a large banker, and the deceased had held a very lucrative situation in the City until he became afflicted by blindness, The Jury returned a verdict, " That the deceased had committed suicide, while in a state of hereditary derangement.'  The ceremony of installing the Bishop of Chichester, Dr. Otter, took place with due pomp at the Cathedral of that city on Thursday last ; immediately after which his Lordship proceeded to consecrate the new church of St. Paul, recently erected in the sub-deanery parish.
The Sun. — 1836-11-01 (London, England)

TATE. Effingham Wilson, London, 1836. This deservedly popular and eminently useful standard work has now reached a third edition. In the new edition we perceive several essential corrections and im-. portant additions, called for by a change in the monetary regulations of the countries to which they relate, The abolition, for instance, of the paper money of Portugal, demanded that attention to the efiect of the measure on the rakes of exchange anti the valuations of " The Cambist " has so seasonably and ably, given to the Governmental operation. The opening also of the China trade, and the new coinage ordered by the East India Company for circulation in that part of the world, have afforded Mr. Tate an opportunity of supplying information on these subjects, the importance of which will at once be recognised by the commercial world. In the details throughout the work great care, and not a little of labour and talent, are perceptible. Mr. Tate's " Cambist " has long been considered as high authority on the subjects of which he treats ; and the present places it among the most extensively useful treatises extant. No commercial man can safely and successfully conduct his business without " The Cambist," and the price at which it is sold puts its purchase within the reach of every one.  Mary Bent, a woman of 60 years of age, drowned herself on Thursday night, under the following circumstances :—She was a native of Ireland, and well known at Exeter as a fortune-teller. Having fallen greatly in arrears for rent, her landlord took advantage of her absence from home on Monday morning, and put a padlock on hp', door, and on Thursday sold her furniture, Driven from her only shelter, and in a state of the .nost utter destitution, she lay in the streets the four ~fights previous to the suicide. On Thursday mornin; the poor wretch, in the most agonizing accents, ask .a for a cup of coffee, after taking which she wande:ed about the country until night, when she threw b:erself into a mill-pond. At the inquest on Friday a verdict of " Found Drowned" was returned. Winter has made an early commencement with us. The temperature yesterday, from comparative warmth, suddenly became intensely cold, and this morning (Friday) we had a slight fall of snow.—Worcester Herald.
The Sun. — 1836-09-13 (London, England)

SUICIDE.—On Sunday morning, between six and seven o'clock, as a little boy in the employment of Mr. White, a master chimney sweep, residing near Vauxhall Bridge, was passing along Douglas-street, his attention was caught by something which seemed to be hanging from one of the rafters of the first floor of one of the dilapidated houses between the end of Chapter-street and the Bridge-road. He soon clambered through one of the broken windows, and was almost petrified when lie found the object to be an elderly-looking man suspended his full length by a piece of cord and linen rag attached to it, and without making any move whatever. The boy hastened out immediately, and gave the alarm at Mr. Stringer's public-house (at the corner of Chapter-street), who, with his barman, were instantly on the spot, and cut down the unfortunate man, who was at once recognised to be a shoemaker, of the name of Harvey, who had for many years followed his business in the Horseferry-road, Milbank-street, Westminster. His habits of life were known to be generally eccentric, and when he drank to excess lie was usually considered to be raving mad. The houses in which he committed the rash act are a standing nuisance to the whole neighbourhood, and have long excited the vigilant attention of the police. The body lies at Mr. Stringer's awaiting a Coroner's Inquest. A few days since a pleasure party took a boat at Portreath, and proceeded to the Gull-rock, where they kindled a fire for culinary purposes, and enjoyed themselves on the rock throughout the day. On taking their departure in the evening, they neglected to extinguish the embers, which being fanned ky the breezes of the night, revived and spread over a great part of the rocIE, FRFlsµtr►ing bhp .ierdtire which grew thereon. It continued to burn tor twq days and nights, and its nocturnal appearance was peculiarly interesting, as it looked like a volcano in miniature rising put no deuk rise tit created a great deal of surer of the ocean, and those who witnessed it While pilssinU either up PC flown the phanneh— Cornwall Gazette,
The Sun. — 1836-09-09 (London, England)

LAMBETH-STREET. Yesterday Lea, the officer, communicated to the Magistrates the circumstance of a determined attempt at suicide made by a female in the vicinity of the office on the preceding evening. Lea stated that, on the day before a young female, named Johanna Dove, had applied at this office for a warrant against a person for unlawfully pawning some articles of property belonging to her, but in consequence of her appearing to be in liquor at the time, she was told by one of the Magistrates to come again, when she was sober. In the evening, about seven o'clock, while he (Lea) was at the office-door, he observed her sitting on the steps of a door opposite, apparently very ill, and vomitting violently. He in consequence walked towards her, and finding in her hand a paper on which the words " sugar of lead—poison," were legibly written, he instantly sent for a hackney-coach to convey her to the hospital ; but before he had done so, she exclaimed that it was useless, for that she would be dead in less than ten minutes, as she had swallowed the contents of another paper of the same sort of stuff. On her way to the London Hospital she continued very ill, and said she was sure she should die, but hoped God would forgive her. The stomach pump was with some difficulty applied, as she persisted in denying that she had taken any thing, notwithstanding her previous acknowledgment to him (Lea), and much of the poisonous matter was ejected ; but she still remained in a very precarious state. On making subsequent inquiries he had ascertained that she had been to a cook-shop in Church-lane, Whitechapel, and that while there she had been to the yard. He (Lea) in consequence examined the premises, and in the water-closet he found the second paper he then produced on the ground, with the words, " sugar of lead—poison," written on it, in the same manner as the other. On their way to the hospital, Dove told him the cause of her taking the poison was, that 13 young man, a sailor, with whom she had lived for seven years, had returned on Sunday last from the West Indies, and being told that during his absence she had shamefully misconducted herself,. he had made up his mind to have nothing more to do with her. She had met him two or three times in the course of the day, but he passed her by without  taking the slightest notice of or speaking to her, and she had, therefore, made up her mind to terminate her existence.  TH.-
The Sun. — 1836-01-07 (London, England)

VICE-CHANCERY.-=WEDNESDAY  SEDUCTION AND SUICIDE.—On Tuesday a respectable Jury was -empannelled in the Board Room of Middlesex Hospital before Mr. Stirling, Coroner for Middlesex, to inquire touching the death of Mary Smith, aged 22, who committed self-destruction by swallowing vitriolic acid under the following distressing circemstances :—Mr. Barnard Gregory, of No. 69,, Welbeck-street, Cavendishsquare, on being sworn, said that the deceased, about five months ago, was engaged by Mrs. Gregory to fill the situation of cook in his family. They bad a good character with her as a servant, and' she answered their expectations. On Sunday morning last, a little before nine o'clock, he was in his dressing-room, when he was alarmed by a lady who was spending the Christmas with the family, and who knocked at witness's door, stating that the deceased, who was in the kitchen, had taken some vitriolic acid. Witness hastened there, and discovered her seated in a chair. She was in the most excruciating agony, and with great diffi_ culty, upon being questioned by witness, said she had taken some vitriolic acid. Witness instantly sent another of his servants for a surgeon, when in a very short time Mr. Craydon called, and applied antidotes to relieve the deceased, who. having become a little easier, was placed in a coach, and conveyed to Middlesex Hospital. In answer to questions from the Coroner and Jury, Mr. Gregory stated that for some weeks past he had perceived a great alteration in the deceased's conduct, who did not perform her duties in 'her customary manner. She appeared thoughtful and melancholy. Witness heard that she had formed an attachment to a young man of the name of Charles Smith, but who was not related to her, and who had promised to marry her. In expectation of such an event, the deceased supplied him with her wages, and occasionally pledged her clothes for him. Her violent attachment for him led to he: ruin, which, together with the subsequent desertion and neglect of her seducer, in witness's opinion, led to the unfortunate eatastroPle. Mr. Gregory here placed in the hands of the Jury several letters written by the deceased. One of them, and which was read, was to the following effect :—" Dear Ernma,—Atter the misfortune I have met with, my life is a burden to me, and I have come to the determination of fate ; and this is all caused by my too great is:0:0 v ofor od meeting, my rr„yrogv man.ui.pgmeiand all my friends adieu for ever/ had a kind master and mistress. From the lost, unfortunate Mary Smith." Mr. Corfe, house surgeon to Middlesek Hospital, sworn—Said that he did the arid she Mat t.he fiftrppon of the clay she was adtriitted. evviterrioyltilciinagcidi.n his All power hiseiftoortds:shtroowyetvheer,fawtalereeffoefcntsooafvail, Verdict—" Mat the dec.palo 44tive.t1 herseTfily Yitrio* acid, being in a state of temporary derangermt? b,rpught on b 7 the ill usage she had received."  ll.WiliAlgi
The Sun. — 1836-09-27 (London, England)

SAFETY SPRING.—At a Meeting of the Literary and Philosophical Institution held at the Museum, a communication was made by the Rev. Mr. Barlow of a newly invented patent safety spring for carriages, having amongst other advantages durability, diminished weight, and superior economy.—. Sheffield Mercury. On Thursday night a decayed licensed victualler snaemcedV, committederdun, suicidewhosefa b family and h adadnincgong seneehtiimonslaf areta in Wapping. Though he had been for some time past la. bouring under distress, he always appeared in the best health, and had not exhibited any symptoms of derangement. A boy of the name of Chandley, who had been watching crows near Hornsey, on his return home a few days since, left his gun in the corner of the room. A little fellow nine years of age, the son of a milkman of the name of Tucker,. running into the room and taking the gun, exclaimed " Joe, I'll shoot you," and pulling the trigger wounded his young friend in the right hand and thigh. Two gentleman riding. past at the time alighted, and gave every assistance in their power. One of them shaking the little fellow, said he would have him hanged, which had such an effect on him that next morning he was unable to rise from his bed. He cried, and " hoped Joe would be better." He was answered he was getting better, and that he might go and see him. He did so the following day, and appeared more composed, but his feelings were too great for his strength, and on Thursday morning he died. The wounded boy is now walking about.  Mr. Horace Smith, the celebrated author of the " Rejected Addresses," " Brambletye House," &c. &c., while reading a paper the other evening, at the Conversazione of the Literary Institution and Mantellian Musuem, Brighton, the subject of which was " the probable moral effects of locomotion by steam," among other humorous observations, remarked, that so ardent were the anticipations respecting the rate of travelling by steam entertained by its advocates, that a gentleman, we believe from the sister Isle, had asserted that by-and-by a man would actually be enabled to travel from Brighton to London by steam in a shorter time than he could stop at home, "an assumption, however," observed Mr. Smith, " in which I do not exactly concur I"
The Sun. — 1836-09-20 (London, England)

NEW COURT. Ralph Tolano, 19, was indicted for stealing a handkerchief from the person of Edward Ings.) The prosecutor was passing down Newgate-street on the evening of the 31st of August, and felt a twitch at his pocket ; on turning round he found his handkerchief in the possession of the prisoner.—Guilty. The prisoner was again charged with having been convicted of felony at the last October Sessions. This was the first indictment under the Act brought in by Mr. Ewart during the last Session of Parliament. The record of a former conviction of the prisoner under the name of Abraham Lewis, was then put in and read, and the Jury immediately found the prisoner Guilty. John Churchill, 48, was indicted for stealing 58 lbs. of lead, the property of John Hunt and another. The prosecutor, who is a playing card manufacturer, 'residing Skinner-street, held premises in George-yard, Sea Coallane, adjoining the house in which the prisoner lived. A witness named Mrs. Flack, who also resides in Sea-coal-lane, saw the prisoner on the night of the 7th of September on the roof of his own house, from whence he got over to that of the prosecutor, and he was then seen to roll up something. On the following night he was met by another witness with the property in his possession. One of the witnesses for the prosecution stated that the prisoner, who is a carpenter, attempted to commit suicide about a year and a-half ago, but he was cut down before he had effected his rash purpose. Several respectable persons gave the prisoner a very good character. The Jury, after deliberating for about ten minutes, returned a verdict of not guilty. John Fulford,twenty, was indicted for stealing a silk hand. kerchief from the person of Joseph Morris, on the night of the 14th September, in St. Paul's Church-yard.—Guilty.