npedrazzini/19thc_murder_suicide_news huggingface dataset:
The Warwickshire Herald. — 1891-02-26 (Birmingham, West Midlands, England)

SUICIDE OF A HANDS WORTH MAN.  INQUEST AT ASTON.  On Monday morning Mr. D. R. Wynter (coroner for North Ararwickshire) held an inquest at the Queen's Arms, Lichfield-road, Aston, touching the death of Joseph Clifford Block (3.3), Roland. road, Handsworth, who was found drowned in the Birmingham and Fazeley Canal, on the morning of Friday, the 20th inst. From the evidence of deceased's brother, it appeared that deceased, who was a commercial traveller, had been in difficulties. On the Thurs. , day morning witness went with him to his employers to see about some accounts of the deceased, which it was alleged were not of a satisfactory character. The matter was, however, settled, and the employers offered to take deceased back into their service. Witness had always considered his brother to be of unsound mind, and his trouble and difficulty appeared to prey upon his reason. To such an extent was this the case that deceased had several times threatened to commit suicide. The deceased was a married man with three children, and his domestic relations had been happy. Witness last saw his brother alive on the Thursday night. A canal boatman named Cox, stated that he found a coat and hat (produced) on the side of the canal, on Friday morning. It the coat was a paper with the following words :—" God bless my poor dear wife and children. If you spare the rod you spoil the child." The body was found in the lock by a man named Beddowes. It bore no marks of violence, and after having laid it on the bank, he drew the at. tention of Police-constable King to it. The officer examined it, and found a ring and scarf pin and some odd papers. Having satisfied himself that the man was dead, the constable removed the body to the Queen's Arms. Detective-constable Whitcroft stated that he had known the deceased for some years, and had always considered him to be a weak-minded individual.  • The Coroner having reviewed the evidence, a verdict of " Suicide whilst in a state of temporary insanity" was returned.
The Warwickshire Herald. — 1891-02-26 (Birmingham, West Midlands, England)

HOUR OF TERROR.  When he had been there one week the boarding. house keeper said that he was one of the nicest, quietest young men that she had ever had in her house. lie had no complaints to mike at the table, and heleft his room so slick and clean that the chamtermaid had suspicions that he was • woman in disguise. At the end of • month, rather than have him go, the landlady would have agreed to purchase porterhouse steak once • week, and to replace the old rug in his room with a new on* costing 50 cents. The other night, however, her enthusiasm received a set.back.One of the boarders came downstairs and reported that he had heard groans and sighs and curses from the quiet boarder's room. Three or four people tip-toed up, and after a bit they plainly caught his word.— Ouch ! Hang. it! Condemn it to Halifax, but it's killing me by inches!" Then it was realised that the quiet man had some great sorrow on his mind, and it was suspected that he was contemplating suicide. "Ooh !" he called out, "great heavens, but how I suffer Why was I such a fool to follow that' villain's advice' " He hid probably taken 'poison, or was trying to drive • darning-needle to his heart. The landlady thought of the coroner's inquest, the item in tb6 papers, and the questions the reporters would ask, and she grew frantic. 'Hey, Smith—Mr. Smith—you, Sir ith I she called ,as she rapped on the door, ' but what on earth is the mattw ?  came the solemn anewer,but Nish* put her ear to the keyhole she heard 'oft groans, and • whispered voice saying : " It's got to be dons at any cost !" " Mr. Smith," she continued, "don't you dare to commit euieid• in My hones! H you do I'll have you sent to gaol for • year ! It wasn't six months ago that • woman' tried to poison herself in that very ivy, and I haven't got over the fright yet. Say, you. " Well," came the faint reply. " Have you taken poison ? " There was an interval of silenoe while she put his ear to the -keyhole, and pretty soon she heard the boarder wallop up and down and hiss between his clenched teeth: "Great Scott I bus was mortal man ever called upon to suffer as I do ? " _  "Say ! she whispered as she turned to the boarders, " this door has _got to be broken down without delay. That ungrateful man has taken rough-on-rats, and is determined to die on a bod which cost in. over 20do1. last fall, saying nothing of a secondhand carpet which I traded a 'awing machine for. Mr. Green, kick open the door."  "If Green is there I'll let him in," annuunced Smith, and he opened a crevice just large enough to squeeze in. Than came • whispered consultation, followed lq shouts of pain and terror, and Green came to the door with an object in his hand, and calmly said "Ladies and gentlemen, it was simply • case of pulling off a porous plaster which he had worn for six weeks. Please forgive him, for he'll never do
The Warwickshire Herald. — 1891-07-30 (Birmingham, West Midlands, England)

EXTRAORDINARY ATTEMPT AT SUICIDE IN HANDSM ORT H.  John Crockett, of 3, Western-terrace, Chapelicreet, Handsworth, received singular ant shocking injuries, apparently at his own hands, on Tuesday. Crockett is 27 years of age. He is a single man, and resides with his mother. At about seven o'clock on Tuesday morning ho went downstairs, and shortly afterwards Mrs. Crockett heard a noise as of wood being chopped. A few minutes later the mother came down, and, on going into the pantry, found her son unconscious, lying in a pool of blood on the floor. The walls were bespattered with blood, and the poor woman was so horrified at the sickening spectacle that for a moment or two she was unable to move. She, however, managed to call in George Jone., who lives next door, and ho stance went for Dr. Hues, of Soho-road. Dr. flues found that Crockett had sustained six or seven bad ' scalp wounds, and a more careful examination revealed a serious fracture of the skull. The man was at once conveyed, under the c,Are of Jones and of Martin Wilkes, who also lives at No. 2, Weeterri-terrace, to the General Hospital. A large chopper, covered with blood, was found in the pantry, and from the position and the nature of the wounds the conclusion has been ariived at that Crockett either held the chopper against the wall and dashed his head again 4 it, or clutching it with both hands, with the edge towards him, struck himself several violent blows. The theory of attempted suicide is favoured by the fact that some time time ago Crockett fell out of a swingboat at Handsworth Fair, and sustained injuries to his head, as the result of which he has been lately what the neighbours term "very queer." It was intended on Tuesday to perform the operation of trepanning, but up to a late hour on Tuesday night Crockett's condition was not such as to allow the operation being attempted.
The Warwickshire Herald. — 1891-07-30 (Birmingham, West Midlands, England)

ATTEMPTED SUICIDE AT WINDLEY POOL. Rhoda Stringer, 20, domestic servant, lately in the employ of Mrs. Ellery, of the Cup Inn, Maney, was brought up on remand charged with attempting to commit suicide by throwing herself into Windley Pool on the 22nd inst.—The girl, it will be remembered, bad some words with her mistress, whereupon, in • fit of temper' she rushed to the pool and threw herself in, being rescued by Harry Holmes, a boatman in the employ of Mr. Neville, with no little difficulty, and at the game time begging to he allowed to drown. She was brought before Mr. A. L. Crockford, on Friday, and remanded to Winson Green so that she might be examined by the surgeon of the gaol as to her state of mind.—A certificate from Mr. A. Price, the surgeon of the prison, was now put in, and it was to the following effect :—" Rhoda Stringer is an excitable woman, but I find no sign of unsoundness of mind."—The Magistrate.' Clerk: Has she made any previous attempt on her life? Thomas Stringer, of Driffold Cottages, father of the girl, replied in the negative.—Police-Pergeant Save: be jumped into the canal when in the service of Mies Nock, at Middleton.—Stringer: I did not know anything about it, then.—ln answer to the Bench the—gtri new stated that she committed both acts whet' in a passion. Mr. Eddowee : What Was the cause of your Fusion ?—Prison's: The mistress was going on to me, and I can't control my temper. —The Clerk I Have yews mother P—Prisoner: No, • stepmother. Police-sergeant Bove: There is no suggestion but that she is properly treated at home. litriniror : I will look after her if she is let off.— Mr. Eddowes . Has she been away from home long P —Stringer: She has been at Mrs. Ellery's 2 or 3 months.—Mr. Eddowee: Will you find her emanation if wa lot her off T—Stringer: Yee, sir.—The Chairroao, addressing the girl, said the Benoh are very sorry to see you in the position, and hope .you will see the error of your ways, and not try to do such is thing again. In consideration of your father's promise to take yen home and lee that you bare employment you will be dismiseed.—The girl then left the Court with her father.  Tx' FLowits Snow.—Mr. F. H. Broadsword, of the Stu sod Garter Hotel, Gress flempton-street, Birmingham, was granted an nomineel lieenee to sell in the givands, adjacent Holland House, on the Sr list., the mimics of the North Warwiokshire Hortieulteral Society% Phew. 'ut ANNUAL Imminntra Marro°. —The Bench decided to bold the annual licensing meeting on the 26th kaput.
The Warwickshire Herald. — 1891-04-09 (Birmingham, West Midlands, England)

DETERMINED ATTEMPT TO COMMIT  SUICIDE AT SUTTON COLDFIELD.  At the Sutton Petty Sessions on Tuesday, George Nicholls, burnisher, of 116, Crornwellstreet, Birminghstn, was charged before Messrs. S. A. Taylor and A. L. Crocktord with attempting to commit snick!, hy placing himself in front of a train on the London and North Western Railway in the Driffold Cutting, on Sunday, April sth. The prisoner, who was respectably dressed, and appeared still suffering kern delusions, said in answer to the charge, "I did it." George Arnold Ward. son of Dr. Ward, living on the Driffold, said a liLle before two o'clock on Sunday afternoon one of his brothers told him there was a min groaning under the railway bridge. He went with hie brother to the line, and sew a man underneath the bridge with his coat off. His brother shouted to him, and he ti.en went and lay down on the metals. They went to him, but seeing a train approaching and being unable to get prisoner off the metals, his brother ran towards the train, and succeeded in getting it stopped before it got to them. With the assistance of the engine driver, they succeeded with difficulty in getting the prisoner off the line on to a trolly by the side, and held him down while the train peered. Afterwards they took him to Dr. Hobbes' surgery, and on the way witness asked him why he did it, and he replied, "The voices in the air drove me to do it "  Mr. Crockford : Did he go quietly to Dr. Hobbes'  Witness: Yes, sir, very quietly. Police-serg,ant Smye deposed that shortly after two o'clock on Sunday afternoon he was sent for to Dr. Hobbe's surgery. lie went there in company with Polic.....ua—able Talbot and found prisoner there in the passage • From what Dr. Hobbes then told him he took him to the polioe station. He walked quietly to the station, and there asked them to hang him. Witness told him they could not do that. Ever since prisoner had been at the station he had been watched very narrowly and he seemed to be in a strange state of mind. Dr. Evans said, at the request of Police-sergeant Smye, he examined the prisoner that morning and found him suffering from alcoholism, and in • state of delirium tremens. His mind was full of delusions, and his answers to him (witness) was incoherent. He did not consider prisoner responsible for his actions, and whether his mind was temporroily or permanently affected he was not able to judge. He could only advise the Bench that he be taken care of for a time, and kept under observation. Thomas Rodd, brother-in-law of the prisoner, said he had never previously seen him in such a state. He had undoubtedly been drinking, bat it was not his general habit. He left his home on Sunday morning, but he knew of 'lathing to upset him. _  The Chairman (Mr. Taylor) : In your own and the interest of your family we shall rcmand yos to \Vinson Green Asylum for a week, and during that time you will be kept under observation. He further added that the Beach wished to thank Messrs. Ward for their praiseworthy act in no doubt saving the life of the prisoner.
The Warwickshire Herald. — 1891-07-02 (Birmingham, West Midlands, England)

WALKS.  Robert Jonee, woo murdered Ida fatbor•ln-low, Kr. Presley, and two bwahers-in-lalr, in Edge kid County, South Carolina, four years ago, bad been tried-fer his life six times. However, he has at last been convicted of manslaughter in the court in Lexington County, and been sentenced to 21 years' imorisooment with hard 1 ~our  Mr. MacKenzie, secretary ot the ttectric Launch Company, has been drowned in the Thames at Hampton while bathing with a friend named Clarke. Mr. Mackenzie was seized with cramp soon after plunging into the river from one of the islands, and Mr. Clarke himself was almost drowned in trying to save him.  Colour-Sergeant Frederick wigoain, or toe it. Battalion of the King's Own Yorkiiiiire Regiment, a native of Alverstae. Hants, committed suicide on Sunday morning at the military encampment at Strensall Common in York. He was 41 years ot age, and was just on the point of completing a term of 21 years' service, and would have been entitled to a pension. He slept in a tent along with a comrade, ty whom he was left about half-past five o'clock, being then apparently in good spirits. Shortly afterwards the report of firearms was heard, and on entering the tent along with two other members of the same regiment, his comrade (oink him lying dead across his bed with a gan between his legs.  A gold watch stolen at the time of the murder of an innkeeper at ililenluce and his housekeeper 11 years ago has just been found concealed in a turf wall near &tanner.  A special fast train waa conveying an excur• sionist party from Stratford to Clacton-on-Ses, and had reached the iron bridge midway between Ilford and Chadwell-heath, when a boy named George Watford, agedatve years, fell out of one of the carriages. The train waft stopped, and the child's father, with a yardman, went back. They found the boy had got up and was walking along the line. He bad a large wound across the top of his head, and his left arm was broken below the shoulder. He was taken to West Ham Hospital. At the time the boy fell out the train was travelling about 30 miles an hour.  Mr. Harold Frederic's life of the German Emperor will be published by Mr. Fisher Unwin on the day when his Imperial Majesty arrives in London, early next month. The pith of Mr. Frederic's book appeared in letters which he wrote for several newspapers in England and America, and will be a valuable history, by a particularly keen observer and brilliant writer, of contemporary Germany, as well on the fullest account of the Emperor's life and characteristics which has yet appeared. The book will be published simultaneously in America, and is to be translated into French and German. • J. Page, Bull Street, for Travelling cloaks a grand stock of novelties
The Warwickshire Herald. — 1891-07-02 (Birmingham, West Midlands, England)

MURDER OF A OORNISHMAN IN AMERICA.  News has reached Camborne of the murder of Mr. William J. Penrose, formerly of that town, and at the time of his death the editor of the Mining Journal. in Butte City, Montane, United States of America. One night in the early part of this month Mr. Penrose,about midnight, left his home to go up in the city, and within 150 yards of his house a gunshot was heard, and he was found lying dead, with a wound in his head. All suspicion of suicide was dispelled by the fact that the bullet had entered the left side of his head, whilst the man's left hand was in his pocket. When the shot was fired the revolver must have been held not more than a foot or two from Mr. Petirose's head, as the hair was singed. At the inquest a doctor expressed the opinion that Mr. Penrose was first felled to the ground by a blow from a heavy stick, and then shot. The motive for the crime is said to have been jealousy, and at a special meeting of the Butte City authority a reward of 5,000d01. was Immediately offered.  Early on Saturday morning, during a thick fog, large three-masted steamer stranded at Copt Point, Folkestone. A new steel cuirass, covering the breast only, will shortly be introduced into the Austrian army. it is said to be impenetrable to the bullets of any Atte yet invented. It can be folded up and packed in an ordinary knapsack. The armies of the Triple alliance will be provided with it  A serious fire has occurred on board the schboner Magic, of Leith, lying at Plymouth Sound. Captain Branders and his mate, were sleeping in the cabin, and but for the assistance of the crew of a Spanish man-of-war the Magic must have been totally destroyed. Her cabin and afterhold were gutted. During the manoeuvres which have been taking place near Danzig, an accident occurred to the ironclad Kaiser. (letting into shallow water she ran aground, and although the greatest efforts were made, she was only floated on the following day, and it is feared that she has ..suffered sonsidarable damage.
The Warwickshire Herald. — 1891-07-09 (Birmingham, West Midlands, England)

COMPANY (LIMITED). LLANELLY. BOOTH WALES.  A Winnipeg correspondent states that Alfred Byron, a member of the North-West mounted police force, who either committed suicide or was murdered in his room at the C.P.R. Station, Calgary, on the 9th inst., was a son of H. J. Byron, the English playwright. He was 32 years old, and joined the force at Winnipeg four yearn ago. The reports of the Marine Department up to June 30th, which have just been published at Ottawa, state that the Strait of Belle Isle and the ocean to the eastward was then still full of heavy ice. The reports also state that the "grippe" is making havoc amongst the inhabitants of Labrador, among whom great distress prevails. A great many are starving. Numbers have already died and the deaths still continue.  A terrible accident occurred on the ffanawa inc Michigan Railway on Saturday morning to a train which left Charleston, West Virginia, at half-past 7 o'clock for the north. The train was crossing a trestle bridge nine miles from Charleston when the structure collapsed, owing, it is believed, to its having been partially destroyed by fire. The engine passed over in safety, but a baggage car and two passenzer coaches fell through the bridge to the ground beneath, a distance of 301 t. Thirteen persons were killed and E 8 injured, the majority seriously. The scene of the aCeilklit is three miles from a telegraph office. Immediately news of the disaster was received a special train started with surgeons and nurses to attend to the injured. . _  At Abbey Park galloway races, on Kituruay afternoon, a fatal accident occurred to a No:111mile op lad named Griffin. In the Abbey Park Handicap he was riding Penny Bun for the owner, Mr. A. Adult t. of Brixtworth, near Northampton. After twining about a furlong the horse slipped on the wet g 171.55 and fell, with the jockey under it. The tat was carried by members of the Northainoton Ambulance Centre to the infirmary, about two miles off, wino' he died during the evening. A telegram from Lloyds Signal Station at Deal states that the steamer Kiloch, of Glasgow, from Zebu, passed on Monday morning with her bows below and a few feet above water completely smashed, evidently by collision, the top part of her bows being perfect. Her boat was over the side ready for launching, an anchor hanging over the aperture, but there was no appearance of danger, the steamer making fair headway under only moderate steam.  Mr. Harold Frederic's life of the German Emperor will be published by Mr. Fisher I7nwin on the day when his Imperial Majesty arrives in London, early next month. The pith of Mr. Frederic's book appeared in letters which he wrote for several newspapers in England and America, and will be a valuable history, by • particularly keen observer and brilliant writer, of contemporary Germany, as well as the fullest account of the Bmperor's life and characteristics which has yet appeared. The book will be published simultaneously in America, and is to be translated Into French and German.
The Warwickshire Herald. — 1891-06-04 (Birmingham, West Midlands, England)

THE ALGERIAN POISONING OASZ.  SUICIDE OF MADAME WEISS. The Ain-Fesza case has had an unlooked-for. though by the convicted Madame Weiss distinctly threatened, ending. That lady poisoned herself on Friday when relegated to the convict's quarter et the prison. She had strychnine sewn up in the hem of • pocket-handkerchief which a fellow prisoner had kept for her, and gave her after the search had been made in her hair and clothes for possibly hidden means for putting an end to her life. It was noticed at the trial that when her husband was giving evidence against her she tried to tear the hem off her handkerchief, but stopped when she found this apparently nervous action excited the attention of her guards. How she got the strychnine does not appear, but it was probably furnished her „by a friendly person. Three other women were in the room when she took it wrapped up in paper, It stuck in her throat. When she found it bitter she said, "They have deceived me—it is quinine." She then asked for • glass of water to wash it down, and threw herself on a bed. Half an hour after she was attacked with violent convulsions and tetanus, but did not cry out oe groan. A doctor was fetched, and forced an emetic down her throat. She said, "You labour in vain. The poison is now in the nervous system. In justice to my children, I have ended my miserable spoiled life. It would have been ruinous to them for people to say their mother was undergoing a hard labour sentence in a penitentiary." She had also spoken to the same effect to her counsel,telling him she would, if all other means failed, beat her brains out against the walls of her cell. He encouraged her to hope, saying that she was so evidently instigated and frightened by Roqu into trying to poison her husband that the President of the Republic, he felt, would soon commute her sentence to five years. Her answer was that to. remove the stigma from her children she must die. The advocate thought this mere talk, but continued to encourage her to live. When word was brought to. ' M. Weiss of the silicile of his wife he said,"The unhappy woman! why did she not take the strychnine eight days ago." The grandmother of the deceased, Madame Damloff, who went to than to try and help her, learned with a sense of relief what had happened. The funeral took place at 10 on Sunday morning. The coffin was carried by volunteer bearers, poor men who refused to be paid for this service. A great crowd and many ladies of Oran followed it. The pastor delivered an impressive sermon over the grave, and commended the children of the unhappy woman to the kindness of all present. He also asked them for the children's sake to keep silence about her fatal sins and tragical end. Before the deceased took the poison, she wrote a letter to each of her children, to be read when the particular child should reach the age of 15. It is reported that 11, ques is alive, having managed to pass off as his own corpse that of a man who died in a Spanish hospital, and got a death certificate, which was furnished by the authorities at Madrid to the French Embassy there.