4.--At the Norwich Assizes, before Lord Chief Justice Tindal, was tried
the case, the Queen against Edward Painter. The prosecution, for
assault, was instituted by Mr. Jeremiah Cross, corn merchant, of Norwich.
An indictment had been preferred at the Norwich Quarter Sessions and a
true bill returned, which the defendant removed by writ of _certiorari_,
and the case now came on for trial on the civil side of the Court. The
plaintiff, in June, 1842, was invited to the Rising Sun Inn, kept by Mr.
John Abel, and he was there met by Painter, who for several minutes
thrashed him with an ash stick so severely that for a considerable time
afterwards plaintiff was under medical treatment. For the defence it was
alleged that Cross had grossly insulted the defendant's daughter, hence
the thrashing. The jury found a verdict of guilty, and on May 10th, when
defendant appeared before the Court of Queen's Bench to receive judgment,
he was fined one shilling and discharged. On June 24th the following
advertisement was published: "Ned Painter having been subjected to the
expense of wanton and persecuting litigation, his friends intend giving
him a benefit at the Pantheon, Royal Victoria Gardens, on which occasion
the Stars of the Fancy have resolved to rally round and support an old
and tried veteran of the Prize Ring. Among the prominent professors of
the Pugilistic Art who will appear are Tom Spring, Champion of England,
and Ben Caunt, the modern champion."
7.--Great excitement was created in Norwich by the conviction at the
Assizes before Mr. Justice Coleridge, of John Harper, a well-known
auctioneer, on the charge of stealing cloth entrusted to him for sale at
North Walsham by a Leeds manufacturer named Jonas Driver. Mr. S.
Bignold, Mr. Beckwith, solicitor; Mr. T. M. Keith, solicitor; the Rev. S.
Stone, the Rev. W. Hull, and other prominent citizens testified to the
general honesty and integrity of the prisoner, who, amid a strong
manifestation of feeling in Court, was sentenced to seven years'
transportation.
7.--Mr. Cobden, M.P., Col. Thompson, and Mr. Moore, representatives of
the Anti-Corn Law League, addressed a large meeting held at St. Andrew's
Hall, under the presidency of Mr. J. H. Tillett. A body of Chartists
created some disorder. On the 8th a meeting of farmers "of the most
complete party complexion" took place at the Hall, when Mr. A. Morse, of
Swaffham, "author of one of the prize essays of the League," presided,
and addresses were delivered by Mr. Cobden and his friends. The League
at this date was actively promulgating its principles in all parts of the
county.
15.--The ship Phya sailed from Lynn for Quebec, with emigrants. "Whilst
the population keeps increasing, and machinery keeps lessening the demand
for manual labour, many thousands must seek to provide for themselves and
families in distant regions."
20.--The construction of the Yarmouth and Norwich Railway commenced on
this date on the Postwick Hall Farm (in the occupation of Mr. Gillett),
near Thorpe Asylum. The excavation of the New Cut from Trowse Hythe to
Whitlingham Reach was begun on May 6th. In October an engine with
ballast waggons was running between Reedham and Yarmouth; and in November
another engine appeared on the Postwick end of the line. "Its marvellous
facility in whirling along any number of loaded waggons elicited
exclamations of astonishment from the many hundreds of Norwich people who
went out to see it." (_See_ April 12th, 1844.)
--In the waistband of the trousers of a notorious housebreaker, named
James Fisk, who was apprehended at Surlingham on this date, "was found
sewed up the Lord's Prayer, written backwards, which he carried about
with him as a fancied protection against the power of human law."
--The marriage of the Earl of Leicester and Miss Whitbread, daughter of
Mr. S. C. Whitbread, at Cardington church, Bedfordshire, was celebrated
with great rejoicings at Wells-next-the-Sea, where 800 school children
were entertained, and 1,400 of the poor inhabitants had dinner on the
Buttlands.
21.--At Norwich Theatre was performed a new drama, entitled, "Mokanna, or
the Veiled Prophet of Khorassan," written by Mr. William Cooper,
barrister, and originally produced at Lynn Theatre. An anonymous
handbill, printed by J. Fletcher, Upper Haymarket, Norwich, was
afterwards circulated, describing the play as a "barefaced exhibition of
profligacy," and calling upon the citizens to denounce it. The
strictures were grossly unfair.
25.--The foundation-stone of St. Mark's church, Lakenham, was laid by the
Very Rev. Dean Pellew. The architect was Mr. John Brown, and the builder
Mr. James Worman. The church was consecrated by the Bishop of Norwich on
September 24th, 1844.
28.--The two troops of the 13th Light Dragoons marched from Norwich
Barracks for Hounslow. They were replaced on May 22nd by the Scots
Greys, commanded by Col. Clarke. Mainly through the influence of the
Duke of Wellington and the Marquis of Douro, the headquarters of the
regiment were stationed at Norwich.