26.*—“The Incorporation of Tunstead and Happing comprises 41 parishes, and it is remarkable that there is not one able-bodied man either an inmate of the Workhouse or receiving parochial relief. Such has not been known since the Workhouse was built in the year 1787.”
—*“Last week a number of youngsters at Norwich had an election for the members of the Lilliput Parliament. The polling took place at the Old Library. After a severe contest, during which it was alleged by the ‘Purples’ that a great deal of cooping, bribery, treating, and double voting took place on the part of the ‘Blues,’ and that sums to the amount of two pence were given for a vote, the ‘Blues’ claimed the victory, and chaired their members on the following day, with a splendid procession, banners and flags flying, and the band playing, ‘Wave your Blues and Whites.’ The ‘Purples’ did not acknowledge this defeat, and on Tuesday last they also chaired their candidate with a procession equal in grandeur, after which the leading characters dined at the Bell Inn, and an election ball took place in the evening, at which 320 persons were present.”
SEPTEMBER.
1.—Heavy rain and hailstorms occurred throughout the county. “At Stibbard and Guist during a severe thunderstorm £300 worth of damage was done on several occupations. Barley and wheat were completely beaten out by the hailstones, which lay six inches deep in places on the following morning.”
9.—A shocking affair took place at Catton. Mr. Jonathan Whitley Cooper, an attorney practising in Norwich, was driving in a gig with his clerk (Thirkettle), when he was accosted by a man named Cornelius Moor. Mr. Cooper drew a pistol, discharged it at the man, and wounded him severely. Moor was conveyed to the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital, where he died the same night. On the following day Mr. Cooper was apprehended and committed to the Castle on the charge of killing Moor, and also of shooting at a man named Ford near the same place, on the same evening, with intent to murder. The case caused great excitement in Norwich. It was alleged that the prisoner had entertained malice towards the deceased arising out of circumstances connected with the Norwich election. Mr. Cooper had been professionally engaged on the Conservative side, and it was stated that the deceased, having promised to vote for that party, voted for the Liberals. At the Coroner’s inquest the imputation of malice or any preconceived design was so completely negatived by the evidence, and more especially by the dying declaration of Moor, who was quite unknown to the prisoner, that the jury returned a verdict of manslaughter, which so greatly excited the indignation of the populace that they were with difficulty prevented from assaulting the jurymen on their leaving the Coroner’s court. There was also a hearing of the case before the Recorder (Mr. Preston) and another magistrate, with the result that the prisoner was committed to the Castle on the mittimus of the magistrates, and confined in one of the felons’ cells. Application was made to the county magistrates for bail, and was refused. Under these circumstances, counsel was instructed to apply to the Judge of the Queen’s Bench for an order on the Norfolk justices to admit the prisoner to
bail. Mr. Justice Littledale made the order accordingly, and the accused was released in his own recognisances of £500 and four sureties of £100 each. (See April 4th, 1838.)
17.—Died in Norwich, aged 77, Mr. John Whitaker Robberds. He was elected Alderman in 1806, served the office of Sheriff in 1807, and was Mayor in 1814.
25.—A prize-fight took place at Thurton for £5 a side, between Ostler and Cricknell, well-known Norwich pugilists. “After a contest of one hour and a quarter, Ostler having broken a bone in his hand by a fall, was obliged to give in, and Cricknell was declared the victor.”
—“What was termed a temperance festival” took place at St. Andrew’s Hall, Norwich. Upwards of one thousand persons were present, and five hundred applications for tea tickets were refused. The Lord Bishop of Norwich delivered an address. Supper followed, and “everything was conducted in good order.”