3.--The south-east corner of the tower of St. Michael-at-Thorn church
fell during a gale, crashed through the roof of the nave, and did
considerable damage to the interior of the church.
4.--The Norwich Diocesan Conference was held at Noverre's Rooms, under
the presidency of the Bishop. The proceedings concluded on the 5th.
5.--Died, at Great Yarmouth, Mr. Thomas Proctor Burroughs, F.S.A., aged
50. By profession a solicitor, he was greatly devoted to archaeological
pursuits, and took a prominent part in the preservation of the Toll House
and other antiquities in Yarmouth. Mr. Burroughs was an ardent collector
of pictures, books, and curiosities of local interest, a Roman Catholic,
and a staunch Conservative.
8.--Arthur Riches (36), fishhawker, murdered his wife by stabbing her on
the Walk, in the Haymarket, Norwich. He was tried at Norwich Assizes on
November 23rd, and found guilty, but strongly recommended to mercy on
account of the great provocation he had received. The prisoner was
sentenced to death, but the punishment was afterwards commuted to penal
servitude for life. (Riches died at Parkhurst Convict Prison, Isle of
Wight, in April, 1898.)
9.--Mr. Harry Bullard was for the third time elected Mayor of Norwich.
Mr. Frederick Oddin Taylor was appointed Sheriff.
10.--Died, at Scoulton Rectory, the Rev. John Munnings Johnson, in his
93rd year. A son of the Rev. Paul Johnson, of Runton, he entered the
Navy as a lad, and after serving a short time in the Royal Billy, joined
the Gibraltar, 80 guns, commanded by Captain Lukin, afterwards Admiral
Windham. After seeing much fighting he was transferred to the Mars, 74
guns. In 1807 he was ordered out to the Baltic with the armament which
attacked Copenhagen, and captured the entire Danish fleet. The years
1808 and 1809 were employed in the blockade of the French fleet in Brest.
In 1810 he was called to the Tagus, and in 1811 accompanied Sir J. Moore,
who went with a large armament to protect British traders from the Danes
and Prussians. After passing for his lieutenancy in January, 1812, Mr.
Johnson went with Sir James Lucas Yeo to the Lakes of Canada, where they
contended at great disadvantage with the American squadron. In 1814,
after the storming of Oswego, Mr. Johnson was made lieutenant, and at the
close of the war in 1815 he returned to England with a large portion of
the Duke of Wellington's army, which, after the peace with France, had
been sent to America. He then went on half-pay, and in 1824, determining
to take holy orders, entered as an undergraduate at Cambridge University.
In 1828 he took his degree, and the following year was ordained by Bishop
Bathurst. Mr. Johnson became curate in charge of Scoulton in 1831, and
was presented to the rectory in 1846. There he remained until 1878, when
he went to reside at Gurney's Manor, Hingham. He resigned the living in
1883, and was succeeded by his son, the Rev. Henry Johnson, with whom he
resided until his death. Mr. Johnson married, in 1833, Miss Anne Wilson,
daughter of the Rev. Henry Wilson, of Kirby Cane, afterwards Lord
Berners.
11.--Melton, the property of Lord Hastings, won the Liverpool Cup,
beating Oberon, Bird of Freedom, Sailor Prince, and fourteen others.
Ridden by Watts, Melton carried 9 st. 3 lb. and started at 100 to 8
against.
15.--At the Norfolk Assizes, before Mr. Justice Field, Elizabeth
Hamlinton (34), dressmaker, was found guilty of the murder of her infant
daughter, at Fakenham, on October 16th. She was strongly recommended to
mercy. "The prisoner almost fainted when the judge put on the black cap;
her face indicated terror, and when the dread sentence was pronounced she
moaned, and at its conclusion cried out despairingly." The Mayoress of
Norwich (Mrs. Bullard) interested herself on behalf of the unhappy woman,
and forwarded an influentially signed memorial to the Home Secretary. In
due course the prisoner was respited.
16.--The Norwich Town Council assented to an application by Mr. Joseph
Kincaird, of 3, George Street, Westminster, to construct tramways in the
city upon certain routes, on condition that an amount equal to the cost
of removing the lines and reconstructing the streets in case the tramways
were not worked for a given period, be placed on permanent deposit.
Other conditions as to the control of traffic, &c., were imposed. The
Norwich Tramways Company, Limited, with a capital of 30,000, was
registered on December 23rd. (_See_ December 17th, 1889.)
27.--Died, at 41, Brook Street, Grosvenor Square, London, Mr. Octavius
Edward Coope, M.P. He was first returned to the House of Commons in
July, 1847, as Conservative member for Yarmouth. Mr. Coope was born in
1814, and was a partner in the firm of Ind, Coope, and Co.
30.--A military tournament by the 19th (Princess of Wales' Own) Hussars
commenced at the Agricultural Hall, Norwich, and concluded on December
4th. The proceeds were in aid of local charities.