A Burglar Caught by a Skeleton & Other Singular Tales from the Victorian Press (14 page)

The North and South Shields Gazette and Daily Telegraph
, March 20, 1875

‘Real Italian’ Ice Cream

Some time ago the Lancet published certain startling revelations concerning the loathsome conditions under which ice creams are prepared by Italian vendors in London.

Now, an exhaustive inquiry into the same subject has just been completed by Dr Macfadyen, of the British Institute of Preventive Medicine, and by Mr Colwell, F.I.C. Their report states among other things that microscopical examination revealed the following delectables: Bed bugs, bugs’ legs, fleas, straw, human hair, cats’ and dogs’ hairs, coal dust, woollen and linen fibre, tobacco, scales of epithelium, and muscular tissue.

The Evening Telegraph
, Dundee, November 12, 1895

Poisoned Lozenges

Two boys suddenly died at Bradford on Sunday morning. Several others also were taken ill, and it was then ascertained that it was caused by eating peppermint lozenges bought in the market place on the Saturday from a person named Hardaker.

The lozenges had been made by Mr Joseph Neale, of Stone Street, Bradford, wholesale dealer, who had used 40lbs of sugar, and 12lbs of plaster of Paris, as he thought, but which turned out to be 12lbs of arsenic.

Mr Neale had gone to the shop of Mr Hodgson, druggist, of Shipley, near Bradford, and asked for 12lbs of ‘daft’ or ‘alibi’, which meant plaster of Paris, used for adulterating lozenges.

Mr Hodgson was ill in bed, and directed the youth to a cask in the cellar, he went and there being two of a similar description, served his customer with arsenic instead of plaster of Paris. By this mode of adulteration, lozenges can be sold at half price.

On Monday afternoon it was ascertained that 12 persons were dead, and that 50 adults and 28 children were ill. A great number of deaths are reported as having taken place in the country towns and villages around Bradford, in some instances three or four persons are dead in one family.

The West Middlesex Advertiser
, November 6, 1858

Death in the Pot

A brewer named Hare, residing in the Old Kent Road, was last week fined £200 by the magistrates of Union Hall, for having mixed copperas, opium, and other poisonous ingredients with his beer. By a singular coincidence, the beer in question had been expressly prepared for a beer-shop keeper named Death.

The Leamington Spa Courier
, February 16, 1839

Horrible Proceedings at West Bromwich

An instance of most revolting cruelty, with subsequent details equally horrible, has, it is reported, occurred at West Bromwich. It will be remembered that the School Board contest took place on the 27th ult.

The result was made known the following Saturday night, when it transpired that the six nominees of the West Bromwich Liberal Association were elected, with one independent candidate and four out of five Churchmen, thus giving the former a majority of one, which, it may be added, was secured by five votes only. It is stated on reliable authority that a number of men, who denominate themselves Liberals, assembled at a public-house in Spon Lane, West Bromwich, and discussed the means they should adopt to celebrate the ‘victory.’ Report states that some of the party became intoxicated, and suggested that a dog should be laid upon the table ‘for supper.’

Incredible as this may appear the proposal was carried out. A man went to the door of the public-house, and after a few minutes’ watching, enticed a dog – a half-bred retriever. This was taken into the house and killed with a
sang froid
air by some of the party.

The next proceeding was to cook the carcase of the unfortunate dog. No difficulties appear to have been considered insurmountable, and it was decided that the animal should be roasted. Accordingly the process of ‘drawing’ the carcase, as would be done in the case of a hare, was carried out, a portion of the inside being carefully dressed for cooking. Provision for roasting the carcase was obtained, and the cooking was proceeded with, a number of the men watching it with the coolness of cannibals. The dog’s liver was fried.

The cooking occupied about an hour, after which the carcase was placed upon a dish and removed to a room prepared to receive the company. The dish was put upon a table before some half-dozen persons, who ate the greater part of the dog’s remains, including the liver, all of which appeared to be disposed of with considerable relish. During this time commonplace conversation was indulged in, and the party left the house only when they could remain no longer, and went to their homes. Some of the men have since been too ill to work.

Further Particulars

It appears, from facts which are reported, that the circumstances in connection with the case of dog-eating at West Bromwich are of a more disgusting nature than previously stated.

As already mentioned, the dog was a half-bred retriever. It weighed 36lb. It was removed to the yard at the back of the public-house at which the proceedings are alleged to have taken place; and the means to be adopted for killing the dog having been previously discussed, a thin rope was put round its neck, after which it was suspended from a hook at some distance from the ground.

The little life that remained in the unfortunate animal was then rendered extinct by a blow or blows from a stick. A person expressed a desire to possess the dog’s skin. The skin was accordingly removed from the body and given to the man who had asked for it. Next, a man cut up a portion of the remains of the dog, which, it is positively stated, were roasted in front of a fire; and a further statement is to the effect that a man’s dinner basin was used to catch what was disgustingly termed the ‘gravy.’

The landlady of the house at which the events occurred attempted to extinguish the fire and put an end to the proceedings, but she was prevented from doing so, and the portion of the dog was cooked. The remainder was fried, that which was cooked being eaten. Portions of the dog’s limbs were used to create ‘fun’ by some of the men, who rubbed them over the faces of their companions.

The Illustrated Police News
, March 20, 1880

Beer v. Water

At seven o’clock on Friday morning, on the farm of Mr George Melsome, Beacon Hill, near Amesbury, in Wilts, commenced a singular match for £5, lasting all day in broiling hot weather, during which the corn in the district around was being rapidly cut down.

The contest which was under the auspices of the Church of England Temperance Society, was the result of a bet at a public meeting at Salisbury, and was between Mr Terrell, a Wiltshire farmer, who challenged his opponent first, and Mr Abbey, an Oxfordshire farmer and lecturer for the Society.

The issue was who would do the most work in the harvest field, the former drinking beer and the latter water only. Fifteen acres to each ‘pitcher’ were allowed. The result was that beer won by above an acre. Mr Terrell from the first held a very considerable lead and at four o’clock the ground cleared by him was 15a. 3r. 16p., and by Mr Abbey 14a. 3r.

The farmer who lost has handed over the sum to the Salisbury Infirmary. He pitched 19a. 2r. 26p. in less than twelve hours, against 20a. 2r. 7p. by his opponent.

The effects on his body have been very severe. The ordinary labourer pitches about 12a. in a good day’s work. It is proposed to present the winner with a gold medal. So great was the strain on him that at four o’clock he was taken to a wood and ‘anointed’ with whisky, it is stated.

The Grantham Journal
, September 1, 1883