npedrazzini/19thc_murder_suicide_news huggingface dataset:
The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle. — 1869-06-12 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

DKATII OF A WOMAN PROM PGISONING. —An inquest has been held at Middlesborough, on the body id Mary Ann Hayes, who had been found dead in an empty room on Monday. Eliza Case said that she went to the house if atm Sharp, on Monday, and whilst there one id the children who had been playing up-stairs said that a woman was asleep in One of the room.' and looked very white. She went up with Mrs. Short, the occupier, and found the drceesee, There was no furniture in the room, hut deceased had a breakfast cup beside her, and a shawl under her head for a pillow. Mrs. Short geld that deceased had been to her house several times (luring the previous week, asking leave to warm hereelf. On Satin-dist , about noon, she went again and asked permission to go upetairs. Before going up deceased had a pint of beer, with a pennyworth of laudanum in it. She last saw the deceased about haldpast ten on Saturday might, and then thought she had left the house. No one saw her on the Sunday. James Hayes, the husband, said that deceased was a lliol;patrd character. She had attempted to commit suicide three than s. He last saw her at hole a a fortnight ago, when she took wearing apparel away worth £2. A post.mortem examioation of the body showed that death had been caused by oxalic acid. A verdict that deceased was found dead from the effects of polet n was returned. A H,ye io FaumEns.—Mr. Mechi writes from Tiptree Hall, Kelveilon : 'The question of economising our food and expenditure I and Increasiiii the produce of our narveste by a diminution I of the usual quantity of seed sown, is so important nationally, that I beg to send you the following facts acres of my whet sown with one bushel per imperial acre • are amply luxuriant, and some portion has requirmi fla. ging The half bushel per acre is also ample in plant, and even the peck an acre pi (anises t.. yield abundantly. Two bushels id oats per acre and six pecks of barley are almost too thick, some of the latter requiring flagging. One bushel per acre each of oats anti barley app. ars to be all sudicn nt. Those who desire to see this and compare it with their much thicker-sown crops will he welcome to come here and draw their awn conclusions ll,gh farming sod deep cultivation , absolutely denased a great reduction from the old quantities of seed sown." LI,
The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle. — 1869-06-12 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

ATTEMPTED MURDER AND SUICIDE AT LEICESTER.  An inquest was held on Monday, at Leicester, on the body of Thomas Carvell, a coachman aged thirty-six who shot himself the previous Saturday after having attempted to take the life of his wife. The affair created considerable excitement in the town, a report having become current that deceased, suspecting his wife of infidelity, had entered the house in her absence and secreted himself. In a short time the wife came in accompanied by a man, and when they had been in the house a brief space, deceased emerged from his concealment, fired a pistol at his wife, and then turned the pistol upon himself. While the inquest was proceeding a large crowd of persons of both sexes surrounded the inn where the inquiry was being conducted, and crewed a great disturbance by booting, yelling, &c. When the widow left the inn it was found to be necessary to escort her to her home, and a strong body of police was told off for this duty, who had considerable difficulty in shielding her from the fury of the mob. In her evidence before the coroner Mrs. Carvell positively denied the truth of the report which had been circulated. She stated that her hush ind had been in the service of Lord Berners, of Gopsall, for four years, and left his situation last Saturday week. lie had been drinking heavily since that time, and on Saturday afternoon as be was going upstairs she followed him, and on arriving at the landing he presented a pistol at her head. She leaped down-stairs and ran out of the house. After remaining at a neighbour's h use some time, she went to the police-station and gave in. formation of what had occurred. In the nseaLtinte a report of fire-arms having been heard in the house, a doctor was sent for, and on the parties entering the house again they found deceased lying quite dead on the bed, with the pistol in his right hand. He had shot himself in the mouth, the pistol having been  . loaded with shot. Mrs. Carvell Was closely questioned as to whether her husband had not accused her of unfaithfulness, but she emphatically denied that he had ever mentioned such a thing to her. The jury returned a verdict to the effect that deceased committed suicide whilst in an unsound state of mind.
The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle. — 1869-10-23 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

SUICIDE AT CARDIFF CASTLE.  00 Monday, an inquest was held at the Town Hall, Cardiff on the holy of William Nash, aged thirty-two, one of the under butters in the ernpky of the Marquis of Bute, who destroyed himself at Cardiff Castle on Sunday night, Mr. Churchman, head steward to Lord Bute, deposed that the deceased had formerly been in the employ of the Duke of Newcastle, and entered Lord Rube's service about four months ago. Deceased had the reputation of being a sober honest servant. He had recently been subject to a delusion that all the ornamental plate had been stolen, and that the detectives were after him in consequence. Witness did all he could to relieve his mind from this idea, causing the plate to be shown to him ; but he remained in a very dejected condition, and witness thought it necessary to engage a young man named John David to look after him. There was not the slightest foundation for the trouble the deceased appeared to be in, the plate being in just the same order as when first entrusted to him. He was a sober honest man, and a general favourite with the other servants. On Saturday deceased became impressed with the notion that a silversmith who had come from London to the Castle on buiness was a detective in search of him, and he became very much excited in consequence. On Sunday night the unfortunate man vas found in a kneeling attitude near his bed, by witness and the man David. The latter called out, "He has hung himself !" and a piece of sash-cord was found round his neck, attached to a ring in the ceiling. Medical assistance was at once pro. cured, but life was quite extinct. David having corroborated this witness, the coroner said further evidence was unneecessary, as the jury had heard enough to convince them that the deceased was labouring under temporary insanity; and a verdict to that effect was anaordinuly ',turned.
The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle. — 1869-10-23 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

SUICIDAL POI. TRT.—In Lonaon, last week, an old man, named Martin, drowned himself in his house cistern. De had written letters to hie friends, intl. mating his intention to destroy himself. Some rhymes were attached to one letter, apparently composed by the deceased, which concluded thus: "Oh, my poor head, how worse I feel, And 1 have pot my shoulder to the wheel, I now must go at double quick, For I fl .d it is time to cut my itick. I have not lived a Hie .4 chives, A few strugules and all is over. (Anything for a change.)—A. T. TI." THE TEA SHIP RACE FHOII —lntelligeree was received by the ownerin Greenock on Wednesday, in last week, that the celebrated Clyde-built ship Sir Lancelot, Captain Robinson, had arrived in the Downs at two p.m. that day from FoosChow•Foo, after a passage of 88 days to the Downs—the fastest passage on record. 4, The Sir Lancelot left China at noon on the 17th of July, and reached St. Helena on the 11th of September-56-days out, The new Aberdeen clipper  Thernsapytm, which arriied on the 4th instant. rerehed tne Lizard from Foo-Chow-Foo this sea.son in s ivo. but the sAiling distance from the Lizard to 1 onion docks occupied upwards of two days; while the tine occupied from the Downs to the dock being only one day, the Sir Lan eil st thus beats the Thermo/Ida by fully 24 hours. The latter ship was 90 days from Foochow to London docks. Under these circumstances the "blue ribband " of this justly eelebrated race is yet retained by a Clyde-built ship, and that after the per. fornaance of the moat remarkable voyage that has ever taken place in the history of the China clippers. In 1867 the Sir Lanced 1 arrived in the Downs from Shanghai after a very rapid passage of 96 days. The slum feat was performed this year by the Clyde-built ship Titania, which also arrived in 96 days. Last year he Arid and Sir Lanee'at left Foo-Chow Fm on the . , . . _  28th Msy, and the Spindrift (winner) on the 29th. The three ships arrived together in the Channel, and their respective paiwages occupied.— Days. Holds.  Spendrift.. riel ..... . . Sir Lancelot
The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle. — 1869-07-24 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

EXTRAORDINARY SUICIDE OF A NO7TINOPAM LADT.—On Friday evening in last week, Mrs. Windlei', mother of Mr. Wm. Windley, a Nottingham ma.4ls. trate, committed suicide. About half-past six o'clock that evening the deceased hired a cab and went to the village of Wollaton (two miles from Nottingham). She then asked the cabman to drive her to a place known as the "Balloon Houses," upon which he informed her that the fare would be 4s. She replied that she had only got two shillings, hut he might take her pocket handkerchief, which had her name on it, and on presenting it to her son he would pay the money. The man drove her to the place mentioned above, and there left her, but did not take the handkerchief. She was afterwards seen by some gipsies, who noticed something extraordinary in her :mariner, but took no Nether notice of her. Laterin the eyelid g her dead body was found in the canal close by. On her breast a gold brooch was found stating the date of the death of her husband, and her parasol was found on the canal bank. During the at waek deceased had been staying with her con, and she was observed to be very peculiar in her behaviour. The unfortunate lady was seventy-five years of age. VERT POLITIC (—Frenchmen of the old school did at times tremendously polite things, such as breaking their necks to pick up a lady's fan, or setting fire to a house to dry her when caught in a shower of rain, or running through the body any one who shoukl dare say that her foot was large or her nose red. In our days Frenchmen are not quite such fools, and yet they sometimes do exceedingly foolish things in the polite line. This story, for example, is related of a Count de Lecoulteux, who has just gone to a better world. In descending the staircase id the Opera tine night, a lady of his acquaintance had a lace dress of considerable value torn hy a man treading on it. After an exclamation of impatience, she turned to the Count and said, "Have you a pin ?" " Madame !" answered he, "I don't carry a pincushion, but here is one," and he drew from his breast a valuable diamond pin. "Sir," said the lady, nettled probably by his retort about the pincushion, "I cannot accept a diamond from you!" " Well, then," returned he. "here is a pin without • diamow, ! " and breaking off the jewel be threw it out I of the window, and presented the simple pin.
The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle. — 1869-04-17 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

THE TICKET-OF-LEAVE SYSTEM.  The following case, which illustrates in a striking manner the unsatisfactory results of the ticket-of-leave system, has been before the Berkshire justices, sitting in petty-sessions, at Newbury : A middle-aged man, named William Leach, was brought up on a charge of stealing a copper from a house at Donnington, the property of Mr. Slocock, a magistrate for the Newbury division, and committed for trial at the county sessions. Mr. Boyce, the Deputy-Governor of Reading gaol. was present, and produced a document showing the 'previous history of the prisoner, who, it seems, first fell into the hands of the authorities in July, 1849, when lie was accused of duck-stealing, but acquitted. He profited little by his escape, as he committed larceny in the following October, and was sent to the County House of Correction for one year. In the early part of 1851 he was convicted of a petty offence, and underwent two months' imprisonment. He was apprehended for the fourth time in June, 1852, and being found guilty of lead-stealing, the previous convictions were proved against him, and the chairman of the county sessions passed upon him a sentence of seven years' transportation, from which he was released after serving a portion of his time. He returned to his old practices very soon after he had obtained his liberty, arid at the assizes held in 1856 was sentenced to six years' penal servitude. In 1863 he made his appearance at the Berks Sessions, and received a sentence of four years' penal servitude, and afterwards was sentenced to another term of six years' penal servitude. Notwithstanding all these co'nVictions he is at large in 1869 to commit depredations, and, taking advantage of his liberty, once more commits crime, and is again sent for trial, to receive, probably, another sentence to penal servitude and another ticket-of-leave.  SUICIDE OF A SoLDIKR AT
The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle. — 1869-04-17 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

SPECULATION AND ITS CONSEQUENCE S. The Court of AgRiZ .11 of the Seine has just been engaged in the trial of a person named Allotte, aged 36, miller to the late afpnt.de-change Banes, on a charge of embezzling motley to the amount of 3.331.660 f. The principal committed suicide on discovering the fraud in January last. Allotte, in addition to his functions, had a share in the business, and appears to have enjoyed the en. tire confidence of M. Banes. He, however, launched into a number of ill-advised spentlatinna, no that in the space of four years ' he had squandered the amount mentioned above. 1_700.000f. were sunk in nil works at St. Den* 607,200 f. in a manufactory of perfumery at Potteaux, 255.000 f. in a snap boiler) at La Briehe, and 230 000 f. in a water company at Cadiz. The re. mainoler was lust in enterprises of lesser importance, among the items being 80,000 F. the accused had advanced to a M. Chily. and 40,0001. invested is the Illustre. The deficits were made by the sale of securities left by customers and by the appropriation if swim of 800,000 f. deposited by Mr. Breon for pur. pores of speculation, and concerning which a fictitious account WWI furnished every month to the owner by the accused. 'Fiat sum, moreover, hail never been re. gularly entered on the books oof the firm, and the consequence is that Brion is entirely ruined, as he has no claim to any share in the assets of the bankruptcy. Banes appears to have been aware that Allotte WM largely indebted to the firm, and had even written to him a letter begging him earnestly to reduce his deficit, as the credit of the establishment was compromised was not, however. until another partner, alio had discoovered the precarious situ Ilion of the cashier, had made a declaration to the commissary of police that an investigation was made, and the full extent of the frauds was brought to light. Banes was then unable to bear up against the weight of the disaster, and hanged himselt the Mille evening. The accuaid, in his do fence, protested that he had only borrowed money from the firm of which he was a , partner. The jury returned a verdict oof "Not Guilty on each of the counts of the indictment, and Allotte was, in consequence, acquitted.
The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle. — 1869-02-13 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

SOMETHING ABOUT PROVERBS.  The Dean of Chester has been lecturing on proverbs —those sayings which Lord Russell has happily described as "one man's wit, and all the world's wisdom." He presented his audience with a good collection of them well arranged; and we refer to the lecture because we observed among the proverbs a few that seemed new to us. Everybody has in his time been advised not to cry over spilt milk. Archbishop Whately gave this counsel in its happiest form when he said, "Don t shiver for last year's snow." The Dean also found a rather happy saying in the letter of a Quaker lady :—" Sonic people seem to be starched before they are washed." It is very suggestive, and worthy of a place in any hook of proverbs. We have a common one —"Procrastination is the thief of time." The Spanish equivalent of this is by no means bad. "By the road of Bye-and-bye one arrives at the town of Nicer" These are three good sayings which may well be added to our stock. And with regard to proverbs, we may say in conclusion, that they are to be used with moderation. Those who quote and believe in proverbs, quote and believe in them too absolutely. People will quote the proverb about a rolling stone gathering no moss, in utter oblivion of the contrary Proverb, that a tethered sheep is in danger of starving. And they will quote the proverb about the early bird that catches the worm, unmindful of the boy's retort about the stupidity of the worm in being up so early.  Mr. Stephenson, a well-known "book-molter," has committed suicide. Us does not appear to have been hi any pecunno y embarrassment, and had lately passed through a most successful season ; but he had complained that he had a very •' bad bamk " on the approaching Derby, anal his brain appears to have given way under the incessakt excitement of a life on the turf. For some time past Mr. Stephenson hail become careworn and dejected; and so apprehensive were those almut him that it was deemed prn.lent to conceal hia razora ; and be killed himself at taut with a knife. Ile bad complained a illness and weary log sleepless nights for sofne time. Ills death will, it is smal, lead to considerable einbarrasament among many backers of hones, who had made what have since turned out profitable bets with him,
The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle. — 1869-11-13 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

CONDOCL—Ou Saturday, at the Brentford Petty Sassines, a man named Edward Hawkins, of 6, Ware.street, Kingsland-road, Motion, crapedresser, was brought up on remand charged with attempting to commit suicide on the Great Western Railway by throwing himself in front of an express train. •On Tuesday evening, in last week, at about a quarter to 7, the prisoner was observed sitting on the line, with his back against the platform and his legs across the metals, at Ealing station, and She attention of the signalman Vl'a, called to him by a boy named Mor,. an, when a police-constable named Daniel Northa ay, who was on duty at the signal box, ran to the spot and saw the prisoner crouchitg between the platform and the metals. He asked him several times to get up, but he refused. His feet were on the metals, and if a train had come up witnesa said he must have been out to pieces. The 620 p.m. Birmingham express was thee nearly due, and past as it came in fight prisoner suddenly sprang to his feet and ruahed on to the down line, and threw himself in front of the approaching train. Northway followed and seised the prisoner, and after a struggle just managed to drag him out of the way of the passing train. The prisoner had been drinking, but appeared to know what he was doing. Sergeant Dixid, 21 X, proved taking him into custody, and told the Bench that it was the greatest mercy th it loth prisoner and the last witness were not cut to pieces. A letter was read from the chaplain of the House of Detention stating that the prisoner had expressed his deep sou, and said he would not make the attempt again. The wife of prisoner said they had four children, of whom the prig:sitter was very fond. She had had no quarrel, nor could she assign any rear son beyond drink for the prisoner's conduct. Prisoner, on promising not to repeat the attempt, WAS allowed to leave the court with his friends.
The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle. — 1869-10-02 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

MLIRDEA AND SUICIDE.  At Westhoughton, about five miles from Bolton, on Battu, day, the follonhig horrible crime .as committed :  A an ramel Henry Whittle, aged 44, a weaver, tour ered his daughter-in-law, Ellen Whittle, aged 24, with a hatchet, and then cut his own throat. It appears that the murderer has resided at the house of his son, Roger Whittle, a collier, in Chapel-walks. Since the marriage of the latter, last Xew Year's-day, they have had frequent quarrels, and Whittle, a'-eult a fortnight ago, threaten,-1 to murder both his son and his daughter-in-law. Whittle was told he must seek a home elsewhere, awl he was to have left on Saturday last if the house which he had taken had been completed. Since he had received notice to quit, Whittle, who formorly was the tenant of the premises in cont. tail claim to several articles of furniture which hie son Alla big daughter-in-law claimed  as theirs, and this seemed to have raised oinsiderahle aninaisity in his mind. On Saturday, Roger Whittle, the son, got up abi ut five o'clock to go to his work. leaving his wife and father in the house alone, Shortly before haif-past ten his mother-in-law, Alice Allieon, went tothe house and foui d the front door fastened. On looking through the kitchen window she saw her daughter lying on the coal heap, and raised an alarm, when & man brought a ladder and got through the bedroom window to open the door. Ile then entered the house with Constable Hardaker, when the dead body of the young woman was found I) big in the treddle hole of a disused loom, which had been converteci into a cal ruck. Her head had been cut open, and near her lay an axe 3ft, in length, covered with ' clotted blood. On proceeding upstairs the body if ' Henry Whittle was discovered on a bed in the back ' room, with a terrible wound in the throat, from which blood Lad run over the bed and fluor, Ile also was dead. It is supposed by the police that Whittle had a quarrel with his daughter-in-law, and that she, with a view to avoid having any words with him, went into the hack kitchen to sweep the floor, as a brush VMS found beside her. Whittle, it is presumed, followed her, dealt her is violent blow on the back of the head • with a collier's pick, and then seeing the axe, struck her with it as she lay on the ground. After committing the murder, Whittle is supposed to have gone into the village. He was seen at eleven o'clock by a butcher named John Hilton, who, observing his wild and excited manner. made the remark that he had been doing something wrong. On coming home again ' it is presumed that Whittle immediately proceeded up stairs, pulled off his coat and neckerchief, threw him, at 11 on the bed, and then cut his throat with a razor, t which he afterw.trils threw across the room among i some old lumber. Whittle bore a bail character in the village, and hail 'been sent to prison for assaulting his wife, from whom r he had lived apart for several years.