Norfolk Annals
Chapter 153 : Keane, Q.C., and Mr. Simms Reeve; and for the respondent, Mr. Rodwell, Q.C., Mr. Serje

Keane, Q.C., and Mr. Simms Reeve; and for the respondent, Mr. Rodwell, Q.C., Mr. Serjeant Sleigh, Mr. E. L. O'Malley, and Mr. J. C. C. Wyld.

Bribery, treating, personation, and other matters were alleged. In his opening address, Mr. Ballantyne a.s.serted "that the bribery was most profligate and most wholesale, and that houses were opened by persons of apparent respectability for the mere purpose of carrying out this bribery, and men of position who ought to have known a great deal better were concerned in it." After three days' hearing, the trial resulted in the unseating of Sir Henry Stracey. The learned judge, in his report to the Speaker of the House of Commons, stated that although no corrupt practice was proved to have been made with the knowledge or consent of any of the candidates, and, further, it was proved to his entire satisfaction that neither Sir Henry Stracey nor the other candidates at the said election had any personal knowledge of or connection whatever with bribery or any other illegal or corrupt practice, he had determined that Sir Henry Stracey was not duly elected, and that his election was rendered void by the acts of his agents. The persons reported for being guilty of corrupt practices were Robert Hardiment, Arthur Hunt, Robert Callow, and Thomas Hutchings. The first-named absconded after the pet.i.tion was presented. It was also stated in the report that a number of persons went to the poll in a gross state of drunkenness. (_See_ April 1st.)

15.-A trout weighing 15 lbs. was captured in a drop net near the New Mills, Norwich.

16.-Messrs. Jolly and Son, coachbuilders, Norwich, advertised that they had "arranged to supply from a noted French maker the celebrated bicycle velocipede, so much in vogue in Paris." The price of the machine was from 8 gs. upwards. On the 30th there was an editorial announcement to the effect that "an attempt is being made to introduce this latest novelty in locomotive machinery, now so fas.h.i.+onable in Paris, to the Norwich public, by Mr. C. Thorn, who has two at his establishment, for the inspection of the curious." The "first velocipede journey of any considerable distance from Norwich" was performed on March 30th by Mr. B.

W. Jolly, who travelled from Norwich to Yarmouth, including a stoppage of fifteen minutes at Acle, in 2 hours 30 minutes. "The progress of the traveller was considerably r.e.t.a.r.ded by the roughness of the roads and a powerful gale." A short time previously Mr. G. W. Bellamy, of Saxlingham, on a velocipede built by Messrs. Jolly and Son, but under much more favourable conditions as to roads and weather, accomplished a distance of 56 miles in 6 hours 25 minutes, exclusive of a short delay midway on the journey. A Norwich Velocipede Club was established in the month of April, and on the 29th an exhibition of the machines was held at the Corn Hall, under the management of Mr. Thorn. On the same occasion was exhibited "one of the old-fas.h.i.+oned dandy horses, the original or the velocipede tribe," but, it was added, "the now velocipede is more easily managed." The first velocipede races took place at the athletic sports of the Norwich Gymnastic Society, held on Newmarket Road Cricket Ground, on May 24th. A "slow race," ridden by Messrs. Jolly, Griffiths, and Goldsmith, was won by the last-named. A "plank race," in which the bicycles were ridden upon a seventy yards' length of plank, was won by a compet.i.tor named Ewing. A one mile "fast race" was ridden in heats, the first of which was won by Kent, of Beccles, and the second by Bellamy.

Kent was the winner of the final heat, in 4 minutes 49 seconds. "He came over on his bicycle from Beccles in the morning, and returned the same way after the sports." By the end of the year there was a marked increase in the number of local cyclists. Accidents to inexperienced riders were frequently recorded, and many complaints were made by drivers of the alarm occasioned to horses by the appearance of these new-fangled machines.

16.-The so-called monastic chapel erected at Elm Hill, Norwich, by Father Ignatius, was the subject of further discussion. Miss Robinson, a "lady preacher," had hired the "monastery," and named it the "Jehovah Jireh chapel," whereupon Ignatius issued a notice warning her and others concerned that he was the owner of the building. On this date "Brother Philip" and one or two other members of the confraternity came to Norwich, under instructions from Ignatius, and demanded the keys of the building from Mr. Liddlelow, who refused to give them up unless authorised by his princ.i.p.al, Mr. Backhouse, surveyor, of Ipswich. At midnight on the 18th Ignatius, who had arrived in Norwich a few hours previously, with other brethren, gained access to the old sanctuary by, they a.s.serted, miraculous intervention, and thence made their way to the new chapel. The police were sent for, and Ignatius was informed that he had no right there; as he declined to leave the building, the police refused to interfere. Mr. Liddlelow, on the 19th, applied to the magistrates for an order of ejectment, but as a question of right was involved, they would have nothing to do with the matter. On the same evening Ignatius performed service in the chapel, and stated, in the course of his address, that Miss Robinson had acted in the most honourable manner, but had been misled by others. He alluded to her as his "sister in Christ," and Miss Robinson, who preached in the chapel on the evening of the 20th, spoke of Ignatius as her "brother in Christ."

Ignatius addressed the congregation at the close of the proceedings, and informed them that he should never allow the chapel to be used for any other purpose than that of monastic wors.h.i.+p. "Although the members of Father Ignatius' congregation and the members of Miss Robinson's flock could not be more opposed in their mode of thought, yet the greatest harmony prevailed, and at the close they offered up the Lord's Prayer in perfect unison."

18.-The new Cemetery at Diss was consecrated by the Bishop of Norwich.

The total cost of the chapels, lodge, &c., was about 1,750, but this sum was exclusive of the price of the land.

FEBRUARY.

5.-Died, in his 87th year, at Norwich, Thomas Hurry, church bell-hanger, and for more than 50 years a member of the St. Peter Mancroft company of ringers.

12.-A severe gale occurred on the Norfolk coast. The barque Try Again was lost off Yarmouth, and the crew saved by means of the rocket apparatus. Other vessels were wrecked, and several lives lost.

13.*-"We are sorry to learn that the Norfolk County Cricket Club has been brought to an untimely end. The officers of the club hold out no hope that it can be carried on, as the persistent apathy of those who call themselves members, many of whom have failed to pay their subscriptions, has left the treasurer with a large amount of debts and no hope of being able to meet them." At a meeting held on the 17th, it was agreed by the Dereham Cricket Club to hire the ground hitherto let to the County Cricket Club.

MARCH.

5.-At a meeting of the Norwich Town Council, a report was received from the Sewerage and Irrigation Committee, stating that an intimation had been made by the contractor for the construction of the intercepting sewers that he would be unable to proceed with his contract unless the Committee advanced him a sum of money. As neither the Committee nor the Board of Health had power to do so under the contract, proposals were made to the contractor (Mr. Wainwright), which resulted in the Committee taking possession of the works, materials, &c. The opinion was expressed that the Committee had acted with due consideration of the interests and safety of the public, and at the same time with consideration for the contractor, who appeared to have met with unforeseen difficulties in the prosecution of that part of the works in course of construction at Trowse, the soil there consisting of sand instead, as was supposed, of chalk. The Town Council, on March 16th, agreed that the contract with Mr. Wainwright be cancelled, upon payment to the parties ent.i.tled thereto of 2,800, in full satisfaction of all claims and for the purchase of plant and materials. On July 20th the Sewerage and Irrigation Committee reported that, in consequence of the nature of the soil through which so large a portion of the tunnelling had to be carried, and other unforeseen circ.u.mstances, the original estimate would be exceeded, but the ultimate cost of the works would not be more than 81,500, to be reduced to 78,500 by the sale of plant, &c. A description of the sewerage works was published on December 24th, from which it appeared that all the money authorised to be raised by Act of Parliament, 75,000, had been borrowed, and the greater part of it already expended. The whole of the high level sewer was completed on this date. It extended from the Ipswich Road, along Town Close Road, through Mount Pleasant Lane, across the fields and under Mill Hill Lane to West Pottergate street, Bedford Street, Opie Street, the Cattle Market, and King Street, to a point near Messrs.

Morgan's Brewery, where it joined the low level sewer, a distance of more than two and a half miles. Branch sewers had been laid in various directions. The low level sewer, from the New Mills, along Westwick Street, Charing Cross, St. Andrew's, Prince's Street, Tombland, Upper King Street, and along King Street to the gates had also been completed, a few short distances excepted. The work was carried out under the direction of the engineer, Mr. Morant, and of the Sewerage and Irrigation Committee, of which Mr. J. G. Johnson was chairman. (_See_ October 1st, 1872.)

9.-Died at Torquay, Sir John P. Boileau, Bart., of Ketteringham Park.

The eldest son of Mr. John Peter Boileau, he was born in 1794, educated at Eton and Merton College, Oxford, and in 1813 entered the Rifle Brigade, from which he retired in 1818. He married, in 1824, Lady Catherine Sarah Elliot, daughter of the first Earl of Minto, by whom he had two sons, Francis George Manningham, born in 1830, who succeeded to the baronetcy, and Edward William Pollin, born in 1831, and five daughters. Sir John was a magistrate and Deputy Lieutenant for the county of Norfolk, and served the office of High Sheriff in 1844. As a memorial to his wife, who died in 1862, he founded the Catherine ward in the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital. He was devoted to the pursuit of science and the arts, was a vice-president of the Society of Antiquaries, a Fellow of the Royal Society and of the Society of Artists, president of the Norfolk and Norwich Archaeological Society, vice-president of the Norfolk and Norwich Museum, and a member of the committee of the Norfolk and Norwich Triennial Musical Festival.

11.-Prince's Street chapel, Norwich, was re-opened, after having been re-arranged and improved, under the direction of Mr. Edward Boardman, architect, at the cost of 2,600. As originally planned, in 1819, it was a building of heavy and uninteresting appearance; the new designs by Mr.

Boardman gave to it an imposing facade. The Rev. Newman Hall preached at the opening services.

12.-A race took place between Joseph Tuck, a pedestrian, of Little Snoring, and a trotting pony belonging to Mr. Gutteridge. The match was for 40, the distance 500 yards, and the start was from scratch. Tuck had the race in hand the whole way, and pa.s.sed the winning-post thirty yards ahead of the pony.

13.*-"Mr. Bunnett, of Norwich, has successfully undergone the necessary preliminary of the searching examination in music by Professor Sterndale Bennett. As a corollary of the examination, the exercise of Mr. Bunnett for the degree of Doctor in Music was performed in the chapel of Trinity College, Cambridge, on the 8th instant, in the presence of Professor Bennett, and produced a very good impression."

16.-The trial of the election pet.i.tion against the return of the Hon. R.

Bourke, one of the Conservative members for the borough, commenced at King's Lynn, before Mr. Baron Martin. The pet.i.tioners alleged corrupt practices, treating, and intimidation. The hearing concluded on the 17th, when the Judge stated that he was clearly of opinion that the object of the pet.i.tion had failed, and it would be his duty to report to the Speaker of the House of Commons that Mr. Bourke had been duly elected.

27.-At the Norwich a.s.sizes, before Mr. Baron Pigott, Francis Howard Clare (42), shoemaker, was indicted for the wilful murder of his wife, Ann Frances Clare, on October 16th, 1868. The woman was found with her throat cut, and it was alleged that the prisoner had inflicted the wound.

Mr. Metcalfe, for the defence, set up the theory of suicide, and the jury, adopting that view, returned a verdict of not guilty.

APRIL.

1.-In the House of Commons a motion was agreed to for the appointment of a Royal Commission to inquire into alleged corrupt practices at Norwich at the last election of members to serve in Parliament. (_See_ August 21st.)

14.-The Watton and Swaffham Railway Bill was considered by a Select Committee of the House of Commons. The company asked for powers to extend from Watton in the direction of Thetford the line of railway constructed between Swaffham and Watton. The Committee decided that the preamble had been proved. On June 25th a Select Committee of the House of Lords ordered the Bill to be reported to that House. The estimated cost of the construction of the line was 72,500; the capital proposed to be raised under the Bill was 80,000-62,000 by shares, and the remaining 20,000 by borrowing powers. The line to Roudham was opened for pa.s.senger traffic on October 18th.

15.-The Committee appointed by the House of Commons to investigate the condition of turnpike trusts considered the affairs of the Norfolk group.

The Committee decided that the New Buckenham, the Norwich, Swaffham, and Mattishall, the Norwich and Watton, and the Thetford trusts be not continued, and that the Aylsham and Cromer trusts be continued.

MAY.

12.-Died at King's Lynn, Mr. Charles Gill, "the well-known and highly respected lessee and manager of theatres in the East Anglian district, and talented comedian." Mr. Gill had attained the age of 74 years, and left a daughter with whom he was about to proceed to Australia. In his earlier days Mr. Gill performed with the great Kean and many other eminent actors.

17.-Loveday's English Opera Company commenced an engagement at Norwich Theatre. Mdlle. Mariana and Miss Ella Collins made their first appearance in Norwich.

-The hearing of the election pet.i.tion against the return of the Hon.

Frederick Walpole and Sir E. H. K. Lacon, as members for North Norfolk, commenced at the s.h.i.+rehall, Norwich, before Mr. Justice Blackburn. The nominal pet.i.tioner was Mr. Edward Colman, merchant, of London, who alleged bribery, treating, undue influence, employment of roughs, illegal payment of travelling expenses, and, what was a novel feature in election inquiries, the employment of canva.s.sers. Counsel for the pet.i.tioner were Mr. Serjeant Ballantyne and Mr. Littler, and for the respondents Mr.

O'Malley, Q.C., Mr. Rodwell, Q.C., and Mr. Blofeld. The trial concluded on the 24th, when his lords.h.i.+p, in delivering judgment, said the pet.i.tion had completely failed. Both members were duly elected, and in the present case there was no reason for departing from the rule that the pet.i.tioner must pay the costs.

24.-The Queen's birthday was observed in the usual manner at Norwich. A parade of the Royal Horse Artillery and the Volunteers took place. The event was officially observed on June 2nd, when the troops were reviewed on Mousehold; the Mayor and Mayoress entertained the aged poor at the Corn Hall, and gave a feast to the inmates of the Workhouse.

26.-The foundation-stone of the new church of St. James', Yarmouth, was laid by the Dean of Norwich. The church was partially opened on April 27th, 1870.

JUNE.

4.-A crane was shot at South Pickenham. It was a young male, in good condition, measured 64 inches in length, and weighed 10 lbs.; the expanse of its wings was 93 inches. On the 12th two were killed out of four seen at Burnham, and about the same time another was shot on the Thornham salt marshes. The occurrence of so many cranes in one year was remarkable, as not more than three or four specimens were known to have been procured in Norfolk during the preceding half century.

8.-A great demonstration was held at St. Andrew's Hall, Norwich, in opposition to the Irish Church Bill. The meeting was convened by the Norwich Conservative and Const.i.tutional a.s.sociation, and was presided over by Sir Samuel Bignold.

9.-Died at Lugano, Switzerland, where he had gone for the benefit of his health, Mr. Charles Cory, Town Clerk of Great Yarmouth, aged 57. He was a son of Mr. Robert Cory, solicitor, a former Mayor of the borough, and was elected Town Clerk in 1851, in succession to Mr. J. Clowes. Mr.

Charles Diver was elected to the vacant office on June 21st.

15.-At a special meeting of the Norwich Town Council, it was reported that new governors had been appointed under the amended Grammar School and Commercial School scheme. The Town Clerk, it was stated, had obtained for the Corporation the right of interfering in the trust, and had procured the adoption of the lists furnished by the Council. The principle obtained was an important one-that no body of trustees exercising a trust for the benefit of the city and neighbourhood should be allowed to make enormous and various changes in their government and management of the school, which was the property of the Council as much as theirs, without the sanction of the representative body.

24.-The annual show of the Norfolk Agricultural a.s.sociation commenced at Attleborough, and was continued on the 25th. The members' dinner took place at the Corn Hall, and was presided over by the Hon. Thomas de Grey, M.P.

26.-The annual camp of the 1st Administrative Battalion of Norfolk Volunteers was formed at Hunstanton Park. The Battalion was inspected by Lieut.-Col. Elliott, and the camp was struck on July 2nd.

JULY.

7.-The new dock at Lynn, completed at the cost of upwards of 80,000, was opened by the Prince of Wales, who was accompanied by the Princess of Wales. Their Royal Highnesses arrived by special train from London, and were received at the railway station by the Chairman of the Dock Company (Mr. L. W. Jarvis), the Mayor (Mr. J. Thorley), the members of Parliament for the borough, and others. Escorted by a troop of the 3rd (Prince of Wales') Dragoons, from Colchester, the Prince and Princess proceeded to the Town Hall, where an address was read by the Recorder. After a visit to the Grammar School, where his Royal Highness presented the medal annually given by him to the head boy, the procession went to the Common Staithe Quay, where the twin screw steamer Mary, of London, was lying ready to receive the party on board. The band of the Grenadier Guards, under Mr. Dan G.o.dfrey, played a selection of music as the vessel steamed down the Estuary Channel. Returning to the harbour, the Mary pa.s.sed through the lock gate into the Dock basin, amid the loud cheers of the spectators, the playing of the National Anthem, and the ringing of the church bells. His Royal Highness having declared the Dock duly opened, said that it would thenceforth be called the Alexandra Dock. The Royal visitors and a distinguished company next proceeded to the Town Hall for luncheon. The Prince and Princess afterwards left for Sandringham. In the evening the town was illuminated, and a display of fireworks was given in the Tuesday Market Place.

8.-After lying high and dry for upwards of nine weeks, the large screw steamer, Lady Flora, was launched from Caister beach. She was a first-cla.s.s vessel, of 750 tons register, and 1,000 tons gross, 205 feet in length, 29 feet beam, and was valued at 16,000. On May 1st she ran hard and fast on the beach, in close contiguity to the dangerous shoal known as the Patch. Early in June the services of Mr. T. B. Carr, engineer, of Hull, were engaged by the underwriters, and efforts were made to get her off. The steamer had become embedded in the sand to the depth of eight feet, but by the aid of very powerful hydraulic cranes and other appliances, and a.s.sisted by 120 men, Mr. Carr succeeded in lifting the vessel four feet above the beach. In these operations upwards of 2,000 was expended. Three thousand persons a.s.sembled to witness the launch. When the blocks were knocked away the vessel, by her own weight, glided broadside off, and rolled in magnificent style into 4 feet of water. Her draught (empty) was eight feet; as the tide rose she floated with it, and was towed to Hull for repair. On November 20th it was announced that the Lady Flora, which was then engaged in the Baltic trade, had been lost at sea.