Snippets EDP May 15 1877 - No 1

[Fitty]

DEATHS

BROCK - May 13, after a long affliction, Sophia, the beloved wife of Mr R Brock, of the Park Farm, Hempnall aged 60
LAKE - May 13, at Gothic Cottage, Newmarket Road, Hannah, the beloved wife of William Lake, aged 59


POLICE INTELLIGENCE
NORWICH GUILDHALL - Yesterday
(Before E K Harvey and A R Chamberlin, Esqs)

Thomas Kerrison, wool sorter, St Julian's, was charged with stealing a deer-stalker hat, value 5s, the property of Mr G Green, hatter, Rampant Horse-street. Mr Daly prosecuted, and in opening the case said that this was an unfortunate case, as the parents of the prisoner were most respectably connected. On Saturday last, between five and half-past, prisoner went to the shop of the prosecutor. The shop was very full at the time and prosecutor's impression being that the prisoner had not been served, he went up to him and asked him whether he had been served. Prisoner replied "No", and the prosecutor said to him, "come along then," and in doing so caught hold of the prisoner's coat, which came open, and revealed a hat concealed. Prosecutor then said to him, "If you have not been served, how came you by this?". Prisoner replied, "Say nothing about it." A crowd having collected, a policeman came up, and prisoner was given into custody. Mr Daly understood that the mother of the prisoner was in a very bad state of health, and if prosecutor had known what he had since learnt, he should not have pressed the charge. He hoped the magistrates would be as lenient as they could, and give only as light a sentence as they thought would meet the justice of the case. Mr Green, after giving his evidence, repeated the appeal made by Mr Daly, and said had he known what he now knew, he should not have given the prisoner into custody. Mr T B Fuller of Rampant Horse-street came forward to speak on behalf of the prisoner. He said he had known both the prisoner and his family for some years, and they had always occupied a most respectable position. He had seen the prisoner frequently, and knew nothing whatever against him until this occurrence.  In answer to the charge, prisoner pleaded guilty, hoping the magistrates would be as lenient as they could with him. He could not think what possessed him to do such a thing. It was the first time, and he assured the Bench it should be the last. Mr Harvey in sentencing him to seven days' hard labor, dwelt upon the sad nature of the offence, and the trouble he had brought upon his family. However, it was impossible to pass it over without some punishment, the lightness of which was entirely owing to the appeal that had been made to them. Prisoner was much affected.

Elizabeth Marshall, alias Constable, King's-road, Lakenham, was charged with stealing a boa,of the value of 15s, the property of Mrs Eliza Utting. Mr Daly prosecuted. Prosecutrix is a widow residing with her father at Bergh Apton in this county, and the boa in question was stolen from the house of Mr Emms, the White Hart, Ber Street, which was used by the prosecutrix as her "quarters" when visiting Norwich on Saturday. Prisoner, having been seen by a son of Mr Emms close to the bed-room door which the boa had been taken, was sent for and interrogated by the landlady, but on being questioned by her, stoutly denied knowing anything of the lost article. Information was then given to the police, and on the arrival of Detective Rushmer, prisoner persisted in repeating what she had told Mrs Emms, that the boa found in her possession was her own, and that she had bought it some time ago at Methwold, near Brandon. On Rushmer going over to Bergh Apton, prosecutrix at once identified !
it as the one she had lost. In answer to the charge, prisoner now said she never stole the tippet, having had it in her possession for five months, and round her arm when she first went into Mr Emms' on Saturday morning. She was sent to the Sessions for trial.