3.--At the Norwich Assizes, before Mr. Justice Keating, Frederick Sutton,
formerly medical-officer of the Norwich Pauper Lunatic Asylum, and Emma
Styggles, head female attendant, were charged with conspiring to cheat
and defraud the Mayor, aldermen, and citizens of the sum of 3 10s. 6.5d.,
in the month of January. Sutton was sentenced to one calendar month, and
Styggles to seven days' imprisonment.
5.--At the Norfolk Assizes, before Mr. Justice Keating, Frederick Wales,
aged 21, a labourer, was charged with the wilful murder of Thomas
Pettingill, at Raveningham, on July 16th. He was found guilty of
manslaughter, and ordered to be kept in penal servitude for the term of
his natural life.
7.--Mr. J. R. Bulwer, Q.C., M.P., and Mr. William Graham, Crown
Commissioners, opened an inquiry at the Royal Hotel, Norwich, into the
circumstances of what was known as the Creak case (_q.v._ Vol. I., p.
485; Vol. II., p. 18). A special jury was empanelled. Miss Margaret
Creak was an eccentric person, who died in 1850. It transpired at the
trial of certain actions brought in 1866 by Mr. Kent, solicitor, that the
deceased's property in the parishes of St. Andrew and St. George Colegate
had been purchased by Margaret Creak's mother during her widowhood.
Margaret Creak having died without leaving legal heirs, it was held that
her property devolved upon the Crown, for a strange will made by her had
been decided to be void and of no effect. Since her death the property
had been held by different individuals, some of whom had exercised the
rights and enjoyed the profits of landlord, whilst others had lived upon
the property rent free. The Crown, on being informed of these facts,
issued a Commission under the Great Seal to ascertain (1) what property
Margaret Creak possessed at the time of her death, and (2) what had
become of her brothers and sisters. The jury, on the 8th, found that
Margaret Creak was seised of the fee simple of three lots of property;
that she left no heir thereto; that the property was of the yearly value
of 330 at the time of her death; and that as the property was holden of
the Crown in common socage, it devolved to her Majesty, in virtue of her
prerogative Royal. The jury further said that mesne profits amounting to
7,920 had accrued since the death of Margaret Creak, of which about 2,000
had been received by Jonathan Flowers, of Gressenhall, and various sums
by other persons. The Commissioners thereupon seized the property into
the hands of her Majesty, and ordered the inquisition to be returned to
the Court of Chancery. (_See_ July 24th, 1876.)
11.--The forty-second annual meeting of the British Medical Association
commenced at Norwich, under the presidency of Sir William Fergusson,
Bart., Serjeant Surgeon to the Queen. The President-elect was Dr. Edward
Copeman. During the proceedings, which concluded on the 14th, addresses
were delivered by Sir James Paget, Dr. Eade, Mr. Cadge, &c. A prominent
feature of the visit was an exhibition at St. Andrew's Hall of the works
of deceased and living Norfolk and Suffolk artists. This remarkable
collection included examples by Old Crome and his sons, Stannard, Stark,
the Cotmans, Thirtle, Opie, Vincent, Colkett, and others. (_See_
December 9th.)
12.--The 7th Hussars arrived at Norwich. The Duke of Connaught was an
officer of the regiment, and his Royal Highness was welcomed by the
citizens with great enthusiasm. At the south entrance to the Guildhall,
Lieut.-Colonel Hale and the officers were received by the Mayor (Mr. S.
Gurney Buxton), the Sheriff (Mr. A. R. Chamberlin), the Deputy-Mayor (Sir
Samuel Bignold), the magistrates, and members of the Town Council. An
adjournment was then made to the Council Chamber, where the loving cup
was passed round, and the proceedings were concluded by the Duke of
Connaught proposing the health of the Mayor.
17.--A great Liberal demonstration was held at Whitlingham, at which
addresses were delivered by Mr. J. J. Colman, M.P., Mr. Henry Birkbeck,
Mr. J. H. Tillett, and other prominent local leaders of the party.