9.--At a meeting of the Norwich Town Council, Mr. J. H. Tillett was
elected Mayor, and Mr. Joseph Underwood appointed Sheriff.
--Mr. Tillett, on taking his seat as Mayor of Norwich, informed the Town
Council that an attempt had been made to bribe one of the Councillors.
Mr. Joel Fox, the member in question, produced the halves of three 100
pounds bank notes, which, he alleged, the Conservatives had handed to him
to induce him to vote for eight Conservative Aldermen. After the vote
had been recorded the payment was to be completed. Amid much excitement,
a Special Committee was appointed to investigate the case. On November
12th, before the Committee had presented their report, criminal
proceedings were instituted against Mr. Albert John Collins, solicitor, a
member of the firm of Beckwith and Collins, who was charged at the Police
Court with conspiring with Henry Croxford, stationer and others, to bribe
Joel Fox, Town Councillor, by promising and offering him a sum of money
to vote for certain Aldermen. Croxford, the other defendant, had
absconded. Fox alleged that he went to Croxford's house, where he was
shown the halves of three 100 pounds notes and four 50 pounds notes,
which were offered to him by Croxford, on behalf of Collins, on condition
that he voted for the Conservative Aldermen. After formal evidence, the
case was adjourned. On the 16th the Committee of the Council asked for
full power and authority to proceed with the investigation, and to take
such steps as might be necessary for the prosecution of the offenders.
The Council granted the application. The magisterial proceedings were
resumed on the 17th, when Mr. Power, Q.C. (instructed by the Town Clerk,
Mr. Mendham), appeared for the prosecution, and Mr. Serjeant Ballantine
for the defendant Collins. After further evidence had been taken, the
case was again adjourned. Meanwhile informations had been laid against
William Wilde, William Wilde, the younger, William George Wilde, James
Stowers, and Sir William Foster, members of the Liberal party, for
conspiring to bribe at the last General Election for the city. By way of
reprisal, the Liberals obtained summonses, through William Randell Lacey,
against Sir Samuel Bignold, the Rev. F. S. Bignold, J. H. Bignold, James
Hardy, Capt. Ives, and G. Priest, for unlawfully conspiring by bribery
and other illegal means to return Sir Samuel Bignold and Mr. Charles
Lushington at the last election of members of Parliament. On Nov. 19th
the magistrates decided to hear all the cases on December 8th. A special
meeting of the Town Council was held on December 6th, to consider the
following motion by Mr. Simms Reeve: "That it is the opinion of this
Council that the peace and welfare of the city will be best promoted by
the cessation of political strife, and, with the view to the attainment
of that object, the resolution of the Council of the 16th November last,
with reference to the charge of bribery made by Mr. Councillor Fox, be
cancelled, and that all further legal proceedings against Henry Croxford
and Albert John Collins and others for conspiracy be stayed." The motion
was seconded by Mr. Field. Mr. C. M. Gibson moved, as an amendment,
"That the due administration of justice is essential to the peace and
welfare of the city, and it is therefore the opinion of the Council that
the resolution of the 16th November . . . should be again confirmed."
The motion was carried by 28 votes against 19. On December 8th, when the
magisterial proceedings were resumed, the Town Clerk said he had no
instructions from the Town Council to proceed with the prosecution.
After he had formally withdrawn, Mr. R. N. Bacon, Mr. J. J. Colman, Mr.
J. Youngs, Mr. J. Newbegin, Mr. C. N. Bolingbroke, the Rev. G. Gould, the
Rev. J. Crompton, Mr. E. C. Holland, and Mr. John Pymar appeared as
prosecutors, and Mr. Power claimed to be heard as their counsel. The
Bench decided that there was no _prima facie_ case against Collins, who
was discharged on giving sureties to answer any charge that might be made
against him at the Assizes. Serjeant Ballantine thereupon said that he
would offer no evidence in the charges against the Messrs. Wilde, and Mr.
S. H. Asker, who appeared for the complainant Lacey, withdrew the summons
issued on his information.
12.--Mr. Louth, landlord of the Rampant Horse Hotel, Norwich, received
fatal injuries by the overturning of his vehicle in London Street. His
father, by whom he was accompanied, also sustained severe wounds, from
which he died on the 18th.
30.--The foundation-stone of the St. Andrew's Wherrymen's chapel, at
Yarmouth, was laid by the Mayor (Mr. W. Worship). The building, which
was erected at the cost of 1,050 pounds, by Mr. Stanley, of Yarmouth,
from plans by Mr. C. E. Giles, of London, was consecrated by the Bishop
of Norwich on October 9th, 1860.