Читать книгу Norfolk Annals (Vol. 1&2) - Charles Mackie - Страница 292

1.—Died, Mrs. Browne, formerly of the Theatre Royal, Norwich, and mother of Mrs. J. Brunton.

—A new drama, entitled “The Fortunes of Nigel, or King James the First and his Times,” founded upon Mr. Scott’s novel, and written by Mr. Edward Ball, formerly of Norwich, was produced at Norwich Theatre for the first time.

—An action “of an entirely novel description to Norfolk” was tried in the Sheriffs’ court at Norwich, “Jonathan Wrench v. the men inhabiting the Hundred of Holt in Norfolk.” It was brought for the purpose of ascertaining the amount of damage the plaintiff had sustained by having a stack of corn destroyed by fire through the act of an incendiary. It was enacted by 9th George I. c 22, that the owner of property so injured was entitled to recover an amount not exceeding £200 from the inhabitants of the Hundred in which the property was situate on complying with the requirements of the Act, namely by giving notice within two days after the commission of the offence “to some of the inhabitants near unto the place where any such act shall be committed, and within four days after such notice that statement be made before a justice of the peace.” It was admitted that the requirements of the Act had been complied with, and a verdict was given for the plaintiff—damages £143 15s.

2.—A congregation of about 120 persons, “of the sect commonly called Ranters,” were assembled for worship in a room adjoining the City of Norwich public-house, St. Stephen’s, Norwich, when the floor gave way and the whole were precipitated into a cellar nine feet deep. Twenty-five received material injury and were conveyed to the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital. Four were suffering from fractured limbs, and one person had his leg amputated.

10.—A trotting match took place between a brown mare, the property of Mr. William Day, of St. Stephen’s, and a mare owned by Mr. J. Harper, auctioneer,—stakes £10, distance two miles. Ned Painter rode Mr. Harper’s mare and the brown had her owner up. “They started from Earlham toll-gate, and within a short distance of the starting post Mr. Day’s mare broke into a gallop, and she had to turn back. By this circumstance she was dead beat.”

15.—Owing to the frequency with which a number of trunks, measuring 28 inches long, 13 inches wide, and 12 inches deep, had been sent from the Rampant Horse Inn, Norwich, by the Telegraph coach to London, suspicion was aroused at the coach office, and directions were given that the porter bringing the next be detained and the parcel examined. This was done on the 15th, when it was found that the package contained the dead and naked body of an old man. The Rev. George Carter, vicar of Lakenham, identified the body as that of a man named Brundall whom he had buried a few days previously. Brundall’s grave was examined and it was found that only the coffin and the shroud remained. From information given by the porter, two men named Collins and Crowe were apprehended and committed for trial at the Quarter Sessions. On July 15th they were tried, found guilty, and sentenced to three months’ imprisonment, and to pay a fine of £50.