The Queen v. Chas. Cory Aldred.—Application for a criminal
information.—Mr. Martin applied in this case on behalf of Mr. Marsh,
the Mayor of Yarmouth, for a rule for a criminal information against
the defendant. Mr. Marsh stated in his affidavit that he was Mayor
of Yarmouth, and a Magistrate of the Borough, and that on the 10th of
June last he attended at his office for the purpose of transacting
magisterial business, upon which occasion a person was charged with
ringing the bell of Mr. Aldred during divine service, and a constable
produced a paper without any direction or signature relative to the
offence with which the person was charged. The Mayor and the
Magistrate who was with him were of opinion that they could not
receive such a paper, and that Mr. Aldred ought to attend himself.
The paper was returned to the constable with injunctions to tell Mr.
Aldred that he must attend himself if he wished to take proceedings
against the party. This took place on the 10th of June. On the 12th
of June, Mr. Marsh was going along King-street, when defendant came
up to him, seized him by the arm, and making use of some very
offensive expressions, demanded an explanation for the impertinent
manner in which the Mayor had treated his letter. The Mayor replied
that he was the Chief Magistrate of the town, that his hands were
therefore tied up, and that he could not enter into any explanation
then. Mr. Aldred then reiterated the expressions, and followed Mr.
Marsh up the street, still repeating them all the time. Mr. Marsh
after this sent two persons to Mr. Aldred, requesting him to consider
what he had done, and whether he would not attend to make some
apology for his conduct. Mr. Aldred did attend, but instead of
making an apology he repeated the observations again in a manner most
offensive to the Mayor. After the first offence, the Mayor thought
to take proceedings against the defendant for sureties to keep the
peace, but considered that the repetition of such conduct in an open
Court was such an aggravation of the original offence, that he felt
it due to his office and himself to take other proceedings. One of
the Magistrates insisted on taking sureties, which he did two or
three days afterwards. But he (Mr. Martin) apprehended that the
circumstances of this case were such as not to deprive Mr. Marsh on
that account of coming to this Court.
Mr. Justice Patteson—You do not put this as being a provocation to a
breach of the peace?
Mr. Martin—It was an actual breach of the peace, for an assault was
committed.
Mr. Justice Patteson—That was in the first instance. There was
nothing but words in the second instance, but the Magistrate was
acting at the time in his magisterial capacity.
Mr. Martin—It was so; and they thought it also right to have an
affidavit from the Police-constable, who stated in his affidavit that
he merely delivered the paper without any offensive expression
whatever, and the answer he received was “D---n the Mayor and
Magistrates; what do I care for them?—Rule _nisi_ granted.”
Nov. 16th.—Wm. Hurry Palmer, Esq., had been unanimously elected Mayor,
and entertained 50 or 60 of his friends at the Star Hotel. The event was
also commemorated by dinners at the “Capt. Harmer” and at the “Queen’s
Head.”
Nov. 23rd—Colliers were getting 7s. a ton for freight.
A large party of gentlemen of different politics had given a dinner to
the Mayor (W. H. Palmer, Esq.) at the “Victoria,” when J. E. Lacon, Esq.,
presided.
Nov. 30th.—The Rule in “the Queen’s on prosecution of Marsh v. Aldred”
had been made absolute. Mr. Martin and Mr. Palmer supported, and Mr.
Platt opposed in these proceedings.
Dec. 14th.—Complaint was made that the Bridport nets were driving the
nets made in Yarmouth by women and girls out of use.
Great excitement prevailed in consequence of the murder of Mrs. Chandler,
with regard to which some men named Yarham, Royal, and Hall were supposed
to be the culprits.
Dec. 21st.—The grocers had determined to close their shops at 8 o’clock.
1845.
Jan. 11th.—A Railway meeting had been held (W. H. Palmer, Esq., in the
chair) to consider the report of the Committee appointed at the previous
meeting.
Feb. 1st.—A meeting had been held to assist the widows and children of
the men lost on the 26th January then last.
Progress was being made in building Brandon Terrace.
On Sunday night, between 11 and 12 o’clock, there had been 19 feet 6 ins.
of water on the bar, being 10 ins. higher than any tide of which there
was an official report. Southtown was flooded, and the water flowed up
to the trees on the Quay.
Feb. 8th.—The Board of Trade had remitted £20 to the fund for the relief
of the sufferers by the late storm.
Feb. 15th.—And her Majesty the Queen had sent a like sum to the same
fund.
Feb. 22nd.—The Town Council had petitioned against the Income Tax, and in
favour of the Waveney Valley Railway.
The rivers were “fast with frost.”
March 1st.—A ball had been held at the Town-hall for the benefit of the
Hospital. 130 persons were present, among whom were the Mayor and Mrs.
W. H. Palmer, Mr. and Mrs. C. J. Palmer, Mr. and Mrs. S. C. Marsh,
Messrs. F. and W. Worship, the Misses Worship, Mr. Wm. Johnson, the
Misses Johnson, Miss M. Lacon, Mr. C. Dowson, Mr. and Mrs. Playford, Mr.
and Mrs. F. Palmer, Messrs. Salmon Palmer, J. Richard, G. B. Costerton,
Henry Danby-Palmer, &c.
March 8th.—Large quantities of wreck were floating in the Roads.
March 15th.—The subscription to the “Shipwreck (Phœnix) Fund” amounted to
£1,500 9s. 4d., and a suggestion had been made to form it into a
“permanent fund,” or to endow the Fishermen’s Hospital with it.
March 15th.—A petition had been adopted against the Dereham Railway Bill.