“REGINA v. EAGLETON.”
“The defendant, John Eagleton, a baker, at Yarmouth, who had
contracted with the Guardians of Yarmouth to supply the poor with
bread, was tried before the Recorder, N. Palmer, Esq., at the Quarter
Sessions in March, 1854, upon an indictment charging him, in the
seven first counts, with an offence at common law, in fraudulently
supplying the poor with bread of short weight; and, in the three last
counts, with attempting to obtain payment from the Guardians, by
falsely pretending that he had supplied full weight. He was found
guilty by the jury, but the Recorder reserved a case for the opinion
of the Court of Criminal Appeal, as to the proprietory of the
conviction in point of law. On the first argument on April 29th,
1854, before Pollock, C.B., Parke, B., Creswell, J., and Williams,
J., the case was referred back to the Recorder, for him to state the
whole evidence given at the trial, which he did accordingly, and the
case, as re-stated, was, on the following 3rd of June, argued before
Lord Campbell, C. J., Alderson, B., Coleridge, J., Martin, B., and
Crowder, J., and they, having doubts as to the proprietory of the
conviction, desired the case to be argued before the 15 judges, and
on the 2nd December, 1854, it was argued before Jervis, C. J.,
Pollock, C. B., Parke, B., Maule, J., Wightman, J., Erle, J., Platt,
B., Martin, B., and Crompton, J., and again on the 3rd of February
last, before Jervis, C. J., Parke, B., Maule, J., Wightman, J.,
Creswell, J., Erle, J., Platt, B., Williams, J., Martin, B., and
Crompton, J.—Mr. Bulwer appeared in support of the conviction, and
Mr. Bodkin, Mr. Clerk, and Mr. J. H. Mills on behalf of the
Defendant. The Judges took time to consider, and on July the 9th,
Mr. Baron Parke delivered their judgment, affirming the conviction on
the last three counts. The defendant will, therefore, have to appear
before the Recorder at the next October Sessions to receive
judgment.”
July 25th.—One hundred and thirty ladies and gentlemen had attended the
Regatta Ball at the Town Hall, among whom were—the Mayor and Mrs. Palmer,
Lord Hastings, Sir E. H. K. Lacon, Bart., M.P., Lieut.-Col. Mason,
Captains Longe, Markham Gay, and other Officers of the East Norfolk
Militia, &c. Howlett’s band attended, and dancing was kept up until
4.30.
July 28th.—The Grand Jury had found a true bill against Messrs. R.
Ferrier, sen., and R. Ferrier, jun., for assault upon John William de
Caux, and it was stated that the case would be tried at the next Assizes.
Aug. 4th.—The Mayor had presided at a meeting called to consider the
“Small Tenements Act.”
Eighty-five boats engaged in the Mackerel Fishery had taken fish to the
value of £27,994.
Aug. 18th.—All hope of raising the “Racehorse,” which was sunk at the
Regatta, had been abandoned. The attempt to do so had cost £150.
Aug. 22nd.—C. J. Palmer, Esq., Sir E. H. K. Lacon, Bart., M.P., and
Captain D. Lane had acted as Stewards of the Races, and 6,000 persons had
been brought to the sports by rail.
Between £170 and £180 had been raised by a bazaar for the Congregational
Chapel, King Street.
Aug. 25th.—Mr. E. H. L. Preston had had the small bone of his arm broken
whilst endeavouring to quell a disturbance which had arisen between some
of the Artillery Militiamen.
Eighty ladies and gentlemen had attended the Race Ball.
Aug. 29th.—Mr. J. H. Tillett had produced the “Bench Warrant” for the
apprehension of the Messrs. Ferrier for the assault upon Mr. J. W. de
Caux, reporter to the _Mercury_ and _Norfolk News_; bail was placed at
£100 and two securities of £50 in each case.
Sept. 8th.—150 men of the Horse Artillery had been encamped on the North
Denes, under the command of Captain Mountain and three Lieutenants.
Sept. 12th.—These troops had been reviewed on the South Denes in the
presence of several thousands of persons.
Sept. 15th.—The news of the evacuation of the Southern part of Sebastopol
by the Russians had been received by the general public with incredulity,
they saying “too good news to be true.”
Sept. 22nd.—A hare had taken to the sea, and was picked up by a person
who went after it in a boat; having killed it, he sold it for 2s. 6d.
Oct. 3rd.—Sunday had been a day of thanksgiving for the success of the
allied armies in the Crimea.
Oct. 10th.—The “Scampo,” a Russian prize, had been brought into the
Harbour.
At the Quarter Sessions there was another discussion between the Recorder
and Mr. Steward on the one hand and the Visiting Justices on the other
side, as to the validity of the appointment of the Rev. G. Hills as
Chaplain to the Gaol.
John Eagleton had been sentenced to three months’ imprisonment.
Oct. 17th.—The Liberals claimed a gain of 44 on the Municipal Revision,
when Mr. Costerton appeared for the Liberal, and Mr. Cufaude for the
Tory, party.
Oct. 20th.—A very brisk corn trade was being carried on, vessels coming
in light to load with corn for France and Holland.
Robert Steward, Esq., had been fined 20s. and costs for obstructing the
Quay-head.
Oct. 27th.—The East Suffolk Railway was projected.
In 1855, 258,121 quarters of corn had been shipped at this port.
The “Hopton Harriers” had held their first meet at the Kennel at Hopton.
Mr. W. Jex provided luncheon. The next meet was to be at Haddiscoe.
Oct. 31st.—Messrs. Beeching and Son had launched a beautiful lifeboat for
the Gorleston beachmen.