9.—A severe gale did great damage to the fishing fleet in the North Sea. Several Yarmouth fishermen were drowned. Heavy snowstorms occurred on the 10th.
20.—At the Norwich Assizes, before Mr. Justice Field, George Edward Brock (46), solicitor, was sentenced to ten months’ imprisonment for obtaining money by false pretences.
21.—A murderous attack was made upon Police-constable Southgate, of the Norwich police, by a man named Joseph Betts, who in 1883 was charged with sending threatening letters to the Bishop of Norwich and Mr. J. J. Colman, M.P., signed “Another Invincible.” Southgate was returning from night duty at 6.35 a.m., when he was accosted by Betts, who fired a revolver at him, the bullet passing between his left arm and the side of his body. Betts then withdrew to his house in Northumberland Street, where he barricaded himself. Several police-officers went to the house to effect his apprehension; a ladder was procured, and while Inspector Guiett was preparing to ascend to the bedroom window Betts appeared above and deliberately fired at the officer. The bullet struck the leather peak of the inspector’s cap, and, glancing off, inflicted a superficial wound upon his head. Ultimately the prisoner was captured by a ruse, and removed to the police-station. On March 1st he was committed for trial. Betts was tried at the Norwich Assizes on July 20th on the charge of firing a pistol at Police-constable Southgate with intent to murder him. He was found guilty of intent to do grievous bodily harm, and was sentenced by Lord Chief Justice Coleridge to fifteen years’ penal servitude. The prisoner was afterwards removed to Broadmoor Criminal Lunatic Asylum.
—Died, at Ashill Rectory, the Rev. Bartholomew Edwards, “within ten days of his 100th year.” Born on March 2nd, 1789, he graduated at St. John’s College, Cambridge, taking his B.A. degree (7th Sen. Opt.) in 1811. He was ordained deacon by Bishop Bathurst at Norwich in 1812, and priest in 1813. In the last-named year he received his only preferment, which he held for 76 years. Mr. Edwards, who was the oldest clergyman in the Church of England, was a rural dean, a justice of the peace, and a Deputy Lieutenant for Norfolk. He recorded his vote at the County Council election on January 24th, and caught a chill; congestion of the lungs supervened, and this attack was the immediate cause of his death.
27.—The Marquis of Hartington visited Norwich and addressed a large meeting of the Unionist party held at St. Andrew’s Hall. The Earl of Leicester presided, and was supported by several representatives of the nobility and county gentry.
MARCH.
5.—Hengler’s Circus company commenced a season’s engagement at the Agricultural Hall, Norwich. Mr. George Gilbert, a native of the city, and Miss Jennie O’ Brien (Mrs. Gilbert), members of the company, were enthusiastically received at the opening performance.
19.—The Norwich Town Council unanimously adopted a farewell address to the Very Rev. E. M. Goulburn on his resignation of the Deanery of Norwich. The address was presented to Dean Goulburn at the Deanery on April 23rd by the Mayor (Mr. J. Farrar Ranson), who was accompanied by the Sheriff (Mr. G. White) and other members of the Corporation. (See July 5th.)
APRIL.
2.—The new lifeboat, Mark Lane, presented to the National Lifeboat Institution by traders at Mark Lane, was launched at Yarmouth.