9.—Died in St. Stephen’s, Norwich, aged 81, Mr. John Stafford, “a man well known in the sporting world, having been many years a noted cock-feeder.”
18.*—[Advt.] “The public are respectfully informed that the Angel Inn, Market Place, Norwich, having been recently disposed of, is now refurnishing and fitting up with every convenience for the reception of families and commercial gentlemen, and will in future be known as the Royal Hotel.”
23.—In recording the anniversary of an Oddfellows’ Lodge at Lynn on this date, the Norfolk Chronicle stated: “The name ‘Oddfellows,’ by which the Order is distinguished, scarcely does justice to the institution, as corresponding with its importance and its noble and generous principles. To those who are unacquainted with the real merits of the society, there is a sort of peculiarity in the title of ‘Oddfellows’ which may seem to imply something of buffoonery united with thoughtless revelling.”
30.—Died, aged 50, Mr. B. Harrison, many years a popular actor on the Norwich stage.
31.—Married, Mr. Charles Fisher, of the Norfolk and Suffolk Company of Comedians, to Miss Richardson, only daughter of Richard Richardson, gent., of Swafield, North Walsham.
—The non-commissioned officers and men of the East Norfolk Yeomanry Cavalry presented to Major Charles Loftus a silver candelabrum, in “testimony of the sincere regard and admiration which they bear towards him both as their commanding officer and as a private gentleman.” The presentation was made by Lord James Townshend, at a dinner given at the King’s Arms Inn, East Dereham, under the presidency of Quarter-Master Wood.
AUGUST.
1.—Sir John Patteson and Sir Edward Hall Alderson, the Judges of Assize, arrived at Norwich.
3.—Mr. Yates, Mr. and Mrs. Keeley, and Mr. Paul Bedford commenced a six nights’ engagement at Norwich Theatre for the Assize week, in the new drama, “Jack Shephard.” Mrs. Keeley appeared in the title rôle, Mr. Yates as Abram Monday, and Mr. Bedford as Joe Blueskin. Mrs. Keeley (née Goward) was formerly a member of the Norwich Company. On the 10th Miss Ellen Tree and Mr. George Bennett, of Covent Garden and Drury Lane, appeared in Sheridan Knowles’ play, “Love.” Mr. Bennett was the son of an old actor on the Norwich stage, and of Miss Tree it was said: “She is indeed one of Nature’s noblesse, an histrionic genius of the first order, an ornament to her arduous, anxious, and ill-requited profession.”
—At the Norfolk Assizes, before Mr. Justice Patteson, John Randalsome, aged 40, was indicted for the murder of his wife, at Thwaite, on June 19th. A singular feature of the case was that none of the murdered woman’s relatives were aware that she was married to the prisoner. Randalsome had formed an illicit acquaintance with a girl named Punchard, and desired to be rid of his wife. Having enticed her from the house of her father, with whom she resided, he wounded her severely about the head and face with a hedge stake, and threw her into a pond. The medical evidence proved that death resulted from drowning. The jury returned a verdict of guilty, and the prisoner was executed on the Castle Hill, Norwich, on August 22nd.