4.--A servant girl, named Belinda Wilson, aged 18, was charged at the
County Police Station, Norwich, with stealing, on January 3rd the sum of
90 pounds, in bank notes, the property of her master, Mr. William
Claxton, farmer, of Stoke Holy Cross. After taking the money, Wilson
attired herself in the clothes of a manservant, and starting from Flordon
railway station, proceeded to Edinburgh, where she had some difficulty in
obtaining change, as English notes were not in general circulation there.
She obtained a new suit of clothes of sporting cut, and travelled from
place to place "like a fast young man." At the end of January she was
again in the Eastern Counties, and took up her abode at Yarmouth. During
a visit to Wombwell's Menagerie, she was recognised by an old
schoolfellow, through whom information was given to the police, who
apprehended her at the Waterloo Tavern, St. Peter's Road, where she was
posing as "a lively-looking youth, and smoking a cigar." She gave the
name of James Smith. The prisoner was committed for trial, and at the
Norfolk Quarter Sessions in March pleaded guilty, and was sentenced by
Sir Willoughby Jones to two years' imprisonment, with hard labour.
11.--The new Corn Hall at East Dereham, erected on the sites of old
shambles and slaughter-houses, was opened. A company of 250 guests
assembled at dinner in the hall, under the presidency of Lord Sondes, who
was supported by the Earl of Leicester, Lord Walsingham, Lord Hastings,
Lord Suffield, the Hon. and Rev. E. S. Keppel, Mr. W. Bagge, M.P., Mr. G.
P. Bentinck, M.P., Mr. E. Fellowes, M.P., the Mayor and Sheriff of
Norwich, &c. The hall was built by a company, with a capital of 3,000
pounds. Its cost was about 1,800 pounds; Mr. J. B. Goggs, of Swaffham,
was the architect, and Mr. Hubbard, of Dereham, the builder. (_See_ July
29th, 1857.)
14.*--"A few days since Mr. Wolton, grocer, of Norwich, received by the
London post a letter enclosing the halves of notes to the amount of 140
pounds, with the intimation, written in a disguised hand, that about 14
years ago the writer, being in a place of trust in his establishment, had
appropriated to himself this amount in a dishonest manner, and taken the
present opportunity of returning it. On Friday morning came the other
halves of the notes, with the request that the rest of the money might be
acknowledged in the 'Daily News.'"
20.--An amateur dramatic performance was given at Norwich Theatre, "by a
number of distinguished amateurs, most of whom had formed port of the
_corps dramatique_ during the late campaign in the Crimea." The pieces
were "The Black Book," a three-act drama by J. Palgrave Simpson; "The
Thumping Legacy," and "The Critic." The performers appeared under
fictitious names.
--A singular action was tried at the Yarmouth County Court, before Mr. T.
J. Birch. Mr. John Cobb sued Mr. G. D. Palmer and Mr. W. N. Burroughes
for the recovery of certain money paid by the plaintiff at the request of
the defendants for expenses incurred in contesting an election of
councillors for the Market Ward in that borough on November 1st, 1851.
Mr. Cobb was induced, on the solicitation of the defendants, who were
leaders of the Liberal party, to offer himself as a candidate for the
Market Ward. He was not anxious to become a councillor, but the
defendants promised to "see him through," and on the night before the
election distinctly guaranteed him that he should be reimbursed any
outlay incurred beyond the sum of 10 pounds. Mr. Cobb was defeated at
the poll. It was not denied that the guarantee was given, but it was
contended that, in order to render it valid to support the action, it
should have been in writing, which it was not. The Judge concurred, and
nonsuited the plaintiff. It was admitted, in the course of the hearing,
that the money was applied "to bribery, vulgarly so-called."