1.*--(Advt.) "Christopher Woods has been a prisoner in Norwich Castle
during four and a half years, and there must remain for life, unless
assisted with 20 pounds to enable him to put in an answer to a bill in
Chancery. The attention of the truly Charitable is earnestly requested
in behalf of this unhappy man, his distressed wife, and four children."
11.--Mr. Robert Baker, glover and breeches maker, of Wells-next-the-Sea,
was found murdered in Market Lane, about 200 yards from the town. His
skull was beaten in and his throat cut. The county magistrates,
assembled for other business at the Shirehall, Norwich, ordered the
printing of 3,000 handbills giving notice of the murder. These were
taken by the constables to every coach, fish cart, and other conveyance
leaving Norwich. A man named James Johnson, 29 years of age, was
apprehended on suspicion at the King's Head Inn, Hethersett, on October
15th. The prisoner was tried at the Norfolk Assizes, held at Thetford on
March 19, 1818, when, after a trial lasting seven and a half hours, the
jury returned a verdict of guilty, and he was sentenced to death by Mr.
Justice Dallas, "his body to be delivered to the surgeons to be
anatomised" on the Saturday following. On the prisoner asking for "a
longer period than two days in which to prepare for eternity," the judge
ordered death to be postponed until the following Monday, on which day
the execution took place on the Castle Hill, Norwich, in the presence of
5,000 spectators. "Mr. Wilson, a gentleman from London, and Mr. Austen,
a pupil of Mr. Dalrymple's, performed the dissection and prepared the
subject for the lectures which have been daily delivered by Mr. Crosse."
At the trial an indictment was preferred against an accomplice of the
prisoner, one William Hardiment, not in custody. A third man, Benjamin
Neal, was in custody charged with being an accessory before the fact, but
the bill was thrown out by the Grand Jury. (See March 28th, 1822.)
14.--Under the direction of Messrs. Beckwith and Pettet a grand Musical
Festival began at Norwich, and was continued until October 19th.
Miscellaneous concerts were given in St. Andrew's Hall, and selections
from oratorios in St. Peter's church. The principal performers were Mrs.
Salmon, Miss Frith, Mr. Vaughan, Mr. Hawes, and Mr. Bellamy.
22.--A single wicket match was played at Holt by Frost, a member of the
Holt Cricket Club, and Pilch, of the Litcham Club, for 10 pounds a side.
Pilch was the winner.
28.--Mr. W. Finch announced that he had acquired Harper's Gardens, "near
St. Stephen's Gates, Norwich." Mr. Harper, the former proprietor,
removed to the Falcon Inn, Ditchingham.
30.--Died, in his 85th year, James Vines, for upwards of 60 years a
member of the St. Peter Mancroft company of ringers, at Norwich.