npedrazzini/19thc_murder_suicide_news huggingface dataset:
The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — 1841-11-26 (Liverpool, Merseyside, England)

SUICIDE OF A WEST INDIAN MEIICHANT.—On Friday morning last, at half-past eleven o'clock, an inquest was taken before Mr. Wakley, M.P., at the house, No. 9, Groveroad, St. John's-wood, London, on view of the body of Grogan Mitchell, Esq., aged 64, a gentleman of independent fortune, resident as above, who committed suicide by shooting himself. Mrs. Margaret Nelson deposed that she lived near Cuckfield, in Sussex. Deceased was her uncle. He had for twenty-eight years been a West India merchant, and during that time resided at Tobago. About ten years ago, having amassed a large fortune, he retired, and coming over to England, had since resided in that house. Witness had been staying there since Tuesday week last, and she then came in consequence of having received anote from deceased, requesting her to do so, and informing her that his female servant had hung herself. On her arrival she ascertained that the inquest on the body of the young woman was just concluded. Deceased then appeared very much hurt at what had occurred, but seemed in his usual health. He was very much of eted with asthma, and could scarcely breathe, and one whole night since she had been there he was so bad that he sat up in an arm-chair by the side of the fire. On Tuesday evening last, at which time he appeared perfectly collected, he made some alteration in a paper which she understood to be a will he had made some years ago, which he said people ought always to do when they were in good health. She then, at his request, signed her name to it in two places, and he afterwards sent for two other persons, who also signed it. About ten minutes past eleven o'clock she was in bed, when some thing falling heavy, which sloe did notw nthe house, but which the servant, who slept in the same room with her, felt positive was, and said she was afraid it was deceased fallen out of bed. Witat think i Witness accordinglyalarmed r was edi by hurried to his room, and, on entering, was horror-struck at finding him lying on the floor weltering in his blood. Having raised an alarm, a policeman entered, and a surgeon was sent for, who found that deceased had shot himself, and was quite dead. Witness last saw deceased alive at ten o'clock that night, at which time he was in bed, and in answer to her question as to whether he felt comfortable, he said, " Yes." Witness did not know that deceased was possessed of a pistol. She had never heard him threaten to destroy himself. On Monday deceased told witness that, when half asleep and awake, strange fancies came into his head. The same night be was bled. Other evidence having been addi.ced, thejury after a lengthened discussion, returned a verdict," That deceased was found dead of certain mortal injuries inflicted on himself with a pistol, and, at the time of the suicide, he was insane."
The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — 1841-07-23 (Liverpool, Merseyside, England)

SUICIDE FROM DREAD OF A WORKHOUSE.— A coroner's inquest was held on Friday afternoon, before Mr. Wakley, M.P., at the Orange Tree, Orange-street, Bloomsbury, on view of the body of Joseph Rous, aged seventy -five years, who hung himself, under the distressing circumstances detailed in the subjoined evidence : —Mr. John Cheetham, of 10, Kingsgate-street, Holborn, harness-maker, stated that he had known the deceased between six and seven years. He was an organ builder, and occupied a small, room on the second floor in witness's house. On his (witness's) return home at eight o'clock on Tuesday evening, his wife gave him a note, which she had found about five o'clock on the stairs. It was in the deceased's hand-writing, and contained the following words :—" Mr. Chectham, Mr. Rous will be much obliged to you if you will open his door," but, as he could only partially open it, and thinking that the deceased had put a box against it, he pushed it violently, when it flew open, and the deceased who was hanging to it by a rope, swung round, and came in contact with his face. Witness, being very much teritied, had not sufficient presence of mind to cut him down. He ran into the street and called two men, and they took him down. He was dead but not quite cold, and a handkerchief was tied over his eyes. By the Coroner : The deceased bad been for nearly three years without any employment. He had pawned and sold all his tools, and nearly all his clothes, and had latterly been without any means of subsistence. Witness had frequently advised him to apply for parochial relief, but he had always said he never would, and that he would rather hang himself than go into the union workhouse. Mr. W. Tylcot, of Bagnigge-wells-road, stated that the deceased had been for the last twelve months in the greatest distress. He had frequently been without food the whole of the day, and in the evening he would go to the Queen's Head, a public house nearly opposite his lodgings, to borrow a few halfpence of some of his acquaintances who frequented the parlour, " to get himself," as he used to say " a morsel of bread." Witness, and the other friends of the deceased, had frequently advised him to apply to the parish, and offered, if he went into the workhouse, to subscribe a small sum weekly to furnish him with pocket-money. The deceased always shuddered at the idea, and said he would rather destroy himself than " be confined in a union bastile." Witness saw- him last alive at the Queen's Head late on Monday night, when, after much persuasion, he said he would apply the next morning to the parish for outdoor relief. The Coroner said that this was far from being an isolated case. The generality of persons who had formerly been in 'easy circumstances were extremely unwilling to apply for parochial relief, for fear of being sent to the workhouse. The jury, after having deliberated three quartets of an hour, returned a verdict of Temporary insanity."
The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — 1841-07-23 (Liverpool, Merseyside, England)

LAMENTABLE ACCIDENT--FOUR MBN • DROWNED.--I have just received intelligence of a most painful occurrence that took place in the channel between the island of Rathlin and themain land, on Tuesday, the 6th inst. A fishing boat had put off from the above island to put shell-fish on board one of the Derry steamers, and after having done so the boat put into port Morn, on of the small watering places on the coast. When returning to Rathlin, the sea, that had been very calm, got quite tempestuous ; the boat lived for some time, but was at last overpowered by the waves, and the four poor fellows who manned her met a watery grave : the boat and some of the tackle drifted ashore, but by the latest accounts none of the bodies have been recovered. One of the men has left a wife and seven children to bemoan his fate, and I have heard that the others have also left families unprovided for.—Derry Sentinel.  On Friday last a very singular accident occurred in the family of Mr. Aylward, of the King's Head Inn, Billinghurst, Sussex. It appears that the barn being infested with rats, a ratcatcher was employed to ferret them out. After some time, the family were alarmed by the shrieks of the nurse, who had charge of an infant nine months old. She had left the babe sleeping in an upper room, and on her return, was dreadfully alarmed by seeing a ferret, which had fixed itself on one of the child's temples, and was sucking the blood. The nurse instantly seized the animal, and with great difficulty forced it to relinquish its hold ; it, however, bit her several times severely before assistance arrived, and struggled to get back to the infant, who would, no doubt, have been killed but for the provhlentiol erriTal of the ntir@eg —.-MOrnftw Ile, rat  SUICIDE FROM DREAD Or A
The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — 1841-03-12 (Liverpool, Merseyside, England)

DEATH BY BURNING.—An inquisition was held yesterday, before Mr. Curfy, touching the death of Margaret Davlin. The deceased, who was but two years and a half old, lived with her parents at No. 78, Freeman's-row. On Friday it the deceased was left in a room eating her break was shortly afterwards heard to scream, and found with her clothes in flames. As soon as the fire was put out, she was taken to the Dispensary, where she was dressed ; but she never appeared to get better, and died on Tuesday morning last. The jury returned a verdict—that the deceased died from burning, but how her clothes became igno evidence to show.  CASE OF SlllClDE.—yesterday an inquest was held before P. F. Curry, Esquire, coroner, on view of the body of Wm. Booth, who had been found dead in his bedroom. Margaret Alexander, being sworn, said she was niece to Mrs. Williamson, who keeps the Legs of Man Tavern, London-road. The deceased had been staying there since Friday last. Yesterty morning, (Thursday,) about eleven o'clock, witness went ) to his bedroom, and knocked at the door, but receiving no pushed it a little open, and saw the deceased up bed-post, apparently hanging by a rope. She 6. v the alarm, and one of the ostlers was sent up, and cut him down. She afterwards saw him lying dead on the bedroom floor. The deceased when cut down was hanging by a rope to the top rail of the bed. His head was clae to the rail, and he had his right knee on a chair which was by the bed side, and his left foot on the floor. He was quite dead, but his hands and cheeks were a little warm, and his face a little black. He was hanging by what is called a packing cord. Mrs. Williamson stated she had known the deceased for about 18 months, as a casual customer coming to the house. Neither she nor the ostler had ever observed anything in the manner of the deceased to lead them to think that he was out of his mind. On Sunday last he had his dinner with the family, and talked a good deal of a Mr. Little, who lived at Knowsley, with whom he had lived ; he said they had had a quarrel. The deceased was very tipsey when he went to bed the night before. Thomas Mathews, a livery-stable keeper in Parr-street, said he had known the deceased for some years back. He was addicted to drinking, and when in that state was very obstinate. Witness never perceived any appearance of insanity about him. Witness got him into the employ of Mr. Little, who is a farmer residing at Knowsley, and had been informed that he had had a few words with that gentleman, who consequently discharged him. The jury returned rdict of felo de se; and the coroner issued his order for erment of the body between the hours of nine n 24 hours after the date of  mer, sh
The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — 1841-07-06 (Liverpool, Merseyside, England)

SINGULAR SUICIDE AT STAPLEFORD ABBOTT.  A case of suicide occurred last week in the parish of Stapleford Abbott, in this county, under circumstances of a very romantic character. A labourer, named James Ramsey, about 20 years of age, having visited Jane Hills, a respectable young woman in the service of Mr. James Dixon, for many years as a suitor, in consequence of her refusal to marry him, quitted his house, and enlisted on the 9th ult. He, however, became dejected and miserable, and five days afterwards was found lifeless, suspended from a tree in Mr. Dixon's garden, at four o'clock in the morning, close to the window of the bed-room in which the object of his attachment slept. An inquest was held on Tuesday, before C. C. Lewis, Esq. coroner, when it appeared from evidence that he was considered to be in his right mind, but that be was habitually sad. He had been connected with the girl Jane Hills for about two months, and was disappointed at her refusal or backwardness to marry him. A sheet of foolscap was found in the deceased's hat, under the tree on which he hung, and unon it was written in pencil as follows ;0 My Dearest as God gives me leaf to write these few words to yow what I do tell you it certainly is trew for what I done you caused me to do so what i tell you bear easy in your mind for i love thee so well i cant leave thee behind So my dearest Jane ive come again as you may find he here no tongue can tell I know it well i have been so sewere but when to the tomb its there fore to remain I hope you will not lay to heart so heavy a load of pain for its when that i do go i hope its kind you will behave as i loved you and you loved me you will follow me to the grave so its now to all my friends and my relations far and near i hope unto these lines you will lend an eare so its now fore to conclude and finish all my rjme i think within my own mind i am jest in my prim so now my dearest Jane i hope its kind you will behave and its when that homewards i do go you will follow me to the grave Whoever finds this pray read it to my dearest beloved Jane hills God bless you my dearest Jane for my dearest beloved Jane hills pray read it to her for my sake The jury returned a verdict of " temporary derangement." —Abridged from the Essex Herald.  It is confidently stated in the city that Lord John Russell will allowed to enjoy of Commonsoyhisseat,butbtohthataagapientaittiohniawvieltwill be presented ntd to the H that of Sir M. Wood. The conservatives affirm ethoantaetqhne:nty a scrutiny beforeigshaN'epolledan an umbeerloeeftihoand votes, and willthat have the ineffoecntofunne aboveseating both. Tohoednat isjoritvofLord John confidently expected that the latter gentleman will be declared 'duly elected.
The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — 1841-12-03 (Liverpool, Merseyside, England)

SUICIDE.—An inquest was held on Wednesday, on view of the body of Mr. Joseph Johnson, of Grove-street, who had committed suicide by hanging himself in his bed-room on the morning of the preceding day. It appeared from the evidence of a widow lady, who acted as his housekeeper, that the deceased had been engaged in some speculations, by which his circumstances were rendered rather gloomy, and that he had been in a low and desponding state of mind for some time previous to this unfortunate occurrence. Deceased had been out of town on the preceding day, and returned home about ten o'clock in the evening. He took some supper,- and went to bed, as witness thought, in his usual state of mind. Witness called him about ten o'clock in the morning, but, receiving no answer, she opened the bed room door, and saw him hanging. Witness' immediately gave the alarm, when officer 136 came in and cut him down. He was quite dead. The officer stated that he found the body hanging close to the window, the deceased having tied two silk handkerchiefs together, and fixed one end to an iron support used for securing the window blind, placing the noose at the other end round his neck. Francis Archer, Esq., surgeon, said that he had attended the deceased as mdical adviser for the last two years. He had been called on to visit the deceased about two years ago. He was then suffer. ing under an attack of insanity. He recovered afterwards but from the knowledge he (the surgeon) possessed of the character of the deceased, he felt convinced that he had com• mitted the fatal act while labouring under a fit of temporarj derangement. The jury almost immediately returned a vex, diet, that the deceased had hung himself while in a state-o; temporary insanity.
The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — 1841-12-03 (Liverpool, Merseyside, England)

SUICIDE.—AiI inquest was held on Wednesday, on view of the body of Mr. Joseph Johnson, of Grove-street, who bad committed suicide by hanging himself in his bed-room on the morning of the preceding day. It appeared from the evidence of a widow lady, who acted as his housekeeper, that the deceased had been engaged in some speculations, by which his circumstances were .rendered rather gloomy, and that he had been in a low and desponding state of mind for some time previous to this unfortunate occurrence. Deceased had been out of town on the preceding day, and returned home about ten o'clock in the evening. He took some supper, and went to bed, as witness thought, in liis usual state f mind. Witness called him about ten o'dock in the morning, but, receiving no answer, she opened the bed room door, and saw him hanging. Witness immediately gave the alarm, when officer 136 came in and cut him down. He was quite dead. The officer stated that he found the body hanging close to the window, the deceased having tied two silk handkerchiefs together, and fixed one end to an iron support used for securing the window blind, placing the noose at the other end round his neck. Francis Archer, Esq., surgeon, said that he had attended the deceased as medical adviser for the last two years. He had been called on to visit the deceased about two years ago. He was then suffer. ing under an attack of insanity. He recovered afterwards ; but from the knowledge he (the surgeon) possessed of the character of the deceased, he felt convinced that he had committed the fatal act while labouring under a fit of temporary derangement. The jury almost immediately returned a verdict, that the deceased had hung himself while in a state of temporary insanity.
The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — 1841-01-29 (Liverpool, Merseyside, England)

STONE FOR THE NEW HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT.-Chas. nd ne t • "F-1 eeece --e-L--v--',. ,-...-• ,--,-, `-..-, `-‘,--',--,,---a: known, he was sent to the police-office . a . x morning, ...., pee • ;:.. el ei inkstand, he would say, " Rain ! si've shall have people slipe to reading, study, and the Preparation of those mathematical Wright, Esee of North Anston, has been offered after the fall calling to inauire - '''' l-1- '''' t 4 '...--: 7,', 17; ti/ r' Z.i .i ril t. :Ping and crushed under carriage wheels ?'' or, " The weather calculations of which you hive heard, and which requiring rate of £1,500 per acre by government, for the stone con- on the gentleman who had seen him ~, d b • . , es m g 4.3 ~, , , g Fflo ~,44. a g 0 he found him " hale in lith an' limb , an o seived, that 0 .:;',. f 3 .1. g g . Z 0 e 3 s. ,'''' ~, el E ~.„ S, % is stormy, we shall record some cases of mental derangement the aid of an extensive library, and voluminous tables for tained in two fields of about 16 acres, at the above place, end hydrophohia.e, m. lastly, ',Cloudy and gloomy 1 Fine their preparation could only occupy my time whilst at my wanted for the erection of the new houses of parliament. it was a striking exemplification of the truth of the proverb, e. ei (Si 1-=' 0 r -, or. o i'"',,, g... '4' a " °E. 1 .D 2 5 ...4 a. o folk and bairns."- b'''. ,' '2". 4 - ' ''?'" • F' '''' !2'' -` 5, - a ''' 'l' ' weather for spleen-let us hunt after suicides." AcCording habitation. But ,soeme efrieeced preseenit may say, (for I hope, This very liberal offer, we understand, has been rejected, that " Providence is kind to . drunk e .te oe A, ,C:, g a'Z', a-,,,,. = a :ti a '''' AS to tbeee ,probabilities Donzelot segniated his day's operations. gentlemen, Oa! ahlthoug" ii,"ave ol 'eat! only seen frowning notwithstanding the fields were to be re-delivered to Mr. Caledonian Mercury. ii ; oli s'i Al 5; s• aii cs„:1, S. P 0 p 't e'• Dne eley aDoneeloes. weathercock lay in the direction of an visages, tha,t, ' "ay! ,T,Teleeen,T,l2,yeerielly minds attend- Wright, on a sufficient quantity of stone having been ob- A Goon
The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — 1841-10-15 (Liverpool, Merseyside, England)

SINGULAR CIRCUMSTANCE.—A person of the name of Richard Shaw, residing at Oldfield Carr, near Poulton-lelde, who keeps a quantity of hens, having for a week past lost the eggs of one of them, which was a constant layer, he ; was induced to make a strict search, but for four or five days without success. At length, on Thursday week, he saw the hen come cackling off an apple tree, in the garden, in which was a magpie's nest. He immediately got a ladder, and examined the nest, when to his great surprise he found nine of the hen's eggs deposited in it. The nest is about fifteen feet from the ground. _ _  ---- A SUICIDAL FAMlLY.—Saturday evening, between five and six o'clock, a determined attempt at suicide was made by a young married lady, whose connexions are of respectability at Brompton. She suddenly rushed down the stairs leading from Hungerford-market to the Thames, and, in the presence of several persons, precipitated herself into the river. An alarm being raised, some men entered a boat and proceeded to her assistance, and succeeded in taking her out of the water as she was on the point of sinking, and conveyed her, in a state of total insensibility, to the Swan Tavern, where the most kind attentions were immediately paid her. Surgical assistance being procured, after some time she was restored to her senses. On being asked the cause of her making the rash attempt on her life she burst into a flood of tears, but objected Ito assign the cause. She admitted that she was married, and that her aunt, a respectable old lady, resided in 13rompton-row, Brompton, giving the name and address. Mr. Howard, the landlord, immediately despatched a messenger to her aunt, acquainting her of the unfortunate circumstance. On the messenger's arrival, to his astonishment, on communicating the circumstance, the old lady did not betray the least surprise, but cooly answered that it was nothing more than she had daily expected, she having at two previous periods, made similar attempts, and that she belonged to a suicidal family, her two sisters having put a period to their existence some time since, one by precipitating herself from a boat into the river, and her eldest sister poisoned herself at her residence near Regent's-park. The young lady having recovered was safely restored to beg aunt, and she accompanied her once again safe to her residence.