January 17th 1857
The Great Bullion Robbery. The trial of prisoners Pierce, Burgess and Tester for the robbery on the South East Railway in May last has been appointed for Tuesday morning at the Central Criminal Court. James Burgess aged 35 years described as a well educated was a railway guard, Pearce aged 40 years and Tester aged 26 years, a clerk, were charged with stealing 2000 lbs of gold valued at £12,000, the property of the South East Railway Company.
January 24th 1857
On Saturday last, Sir John Walsham attended by several other Guardians of Sudbury Union, held an investigation at the Workhouse, the subject being a charge made against Richard Pratt, the Relieving Officer of the Bures district, it was alleged by several witnesses that on Friday the 25th of December 1856, Mr Pratt while relieving in Lt Cornard was in such a state of intoxication as to render him unfit for proper performance of his duties. Mr Shepherd who appeared for the accused called several witnesses who contradicted the assertions, the whole event has been sent to the Poor Law Board who's decision is expected in a few days.
January 31st 1857
Died lately at the Union Workhouse in Saffron Walden, Martha Gascoyne, widow, aged 100 years, her husband was a pedlar and it is believed he was executed for horse stealing many years ago, she had slept under canvas for the greater part of her life.
February 7th 1857
For some time past a bull belonging to Mr R. Kemball of Groton Hall, Boxford, was observed to suffer some malady, he had it killed and on examination no disease was discovered, in the process of cleaning it the butcher felt something prick his hand and discovered a needle 3 inches long in it's heart.
February 21st 1857
At the Lund Hill colliery near Sheffield at noon on Thursday there was an explosion of firedamp with the consequence that 19 lives were saved but 180 are still in the pit, fire raged with intense fury the blaze reaching 200 feet high, all the bodies will be consumed as the fire cannot be extinguished for a least a week.
March 7th 1857
The accounts from Canada and Australia of the prosperity and demand for labour may well have influenced the distressed workers at home, in either of the colonies the hard working sober man may look forward with a degree of confidence that his liberty is ensured by the laws of Great Britain
March 14th 1857
Inquest at Lt Cornard on John Sparrow a highly respected farmer residing at Peacock's Hall. On the Thursday previous he left his house in the afternoon and about 5 he was discovered by his youngest son sitting in a field very ill, he requested a cart be sent for him and he was placed in a small tumbrel but before he could be reached the spark of life had fled. Mr W. Smith, surgeon, said he had attended deceased for pulmonary affection which was the cause of his death.
April 11th 1857
Female domestics who understand the business are in great demand in Australia and are sure to obtain immediate employment and good wages, the Emigration Committee will grant free passage on the following conditions, they must be in good health and free from mental defects, they must have lived in service as cooks, housemaids, nursery maids, laundry maids or servants of all work and can produce a certificate to this effect.
April 11th 1856
America, Kentucky. Maysville Eagle-----There was a shocking tragedy last Sunday, a person was killed lived about 6 miles from this village, though well to do in the world he was not of good repute, his name was James Tabor and he was murdered by his own slave in his own house while lying asleep in front of the fire, the Negro was convicted of the act by his own confession and is to be hung on the 14th prox, he seems to have been terribly wronged by his master and declared he does not regret the deed and was frightfully treated and was time again ordered from the house for the sole purpose of compelling the wife to submit to his (Taber's) brutal depraved lusts, after he consummated it both him and his wife fled and hid in the thicket but were pursued by the neighbours, the woman in a paroxysm of fear rushed into a small stream and drowned herself, the man was captured and admitted his guilt. From a Flemingsburg correspondent.
March 9th 1857
At the quarterly meeting of Sudbury Town Council of Friday a bill for £282 19s 3d for the maintenance of prisoners in Bury gaol was produced from the county treasurer, it being immediately discharged as no payments had been made since April 1856, the charge for each prisoner is !s 9 ¾ d a day.
June 27th 1856
The children of the Union House at Sudbury ( in consequence of disease in the house at that time) have been deprived of the taking part in the Fete in commeration of the Peace, it has occurred to the ladies of the committee that favourable amends should be made and at the request of the ladies permission was required for children to attend at ½ past six and to regale them with buns etc and to distribute presents but in reply to the this note the following has been received.
Foxearth June 20th
Dear Sir, I laid the note before the Board of Guardians and have to inform you the Board have not given their consent to the children of the Union House school attending the Bazaar, the board at the same time thanks the ladies who offered buns etc and presents.
I am yours faithfully,
John Foster, Chairman of the Board of Guardians
Editors note. We shall very much like to know the reason for the refusal, why can the poor children be refused any little pleasure that can be without adding to the rates, we cannot tell unless the Guardians have determined on maintaining discipline as severe as that of the prison. F.P.
July 11th 1857
Samuel Grimwood and Henry Lister were charged with stealing 6 bushels of coal from The Rev Henslow of Hitcham who said he missed a quantity of coals. Not guilty.
July 11th 1857
John Beavis, a painter from Haverhill was charged with stealing a quantity of oats from F. Taylor. 21 days hard labour.
July 12th 1857
John King of Melford for stealing a calico sheet from out of the dwelling house of A. Copsey. 21 days hard labour.
July 18th 1856
Cricket. Woolpit v Stanton. Woolpit lost by 10 wickets. Stanton-W. Kirsey-9 and 2-T. Lusher-0-Rev Payne-10-L. Gathercole-15 and?---W. Bizzard-0---T. Taylor-1-W.S. Kinsey not out 4-W.Wilde-6-G.Buckley-14 and 11-I.Collins-0-R. Cullum-0. Byes 7 wides 2. Total 52 and 13. Woolpit-S. Jackson-2 and 0-F.Baker-0 and 0-Gudgeon-2 and 0-Falgate-2 and 1-T.Alliston -2 and 6-H. Page-0 and 17-D. Baker 2 and 2-Green-1 and 6-F.Page-0 and 0-Remano 5-Fiske-1 and 0. Byes 5-wides 1 .
July 25th 1857
Mark Lane Corn---Wheat to 70s per quarter-malting barley to 42s-oats to 24s-rye to 42s-beans to 42 s---peas to 44s -tares per bushel to 6s 7d.
July 25th 1857
The 29th anniversary of the celebrated Babraham Flock took place on the grounds of Jonas Webb, there was an immense gathering, the Babraham flock never looking better, Mr King was the auctioneer with highest price being paid of 197 guineas being the highest price ever paid for a sheep, it was hired by Mr Sabina for Mr Lindsay of New York, another was let for 100 guineas.
August 1st 1857
Re-opening of Lawshall church which has recently undergone extensive renovation at the sole expense of the Rev Bailie.
August 1st 1857
Cricket. Melford v Stanningfield. The game was won by Melford by 13 runs. Melford---H.Leeks-2-2-Theble-5-15-W. Leeks-4-2---Bulmer-0---9-Ritchold-0-23-Bixby-9-0-Cardye-8-1-Salter-4-5-Perry-1-2---A.Leeks-0-0. Byes 12-leg byes 2-wides 1-Total 48 and 77. Stanningfield---E. Cornish-2-3-T.Cornish-1-4-Hardy-1-0-Jackson-2-0-Bird-0-1-Newbatt-9-1-Hedington-2-0-Atkinson-0-0-Bradnam-0-3--. Byes 17-Leg byes-3-wides 4- Total 58 and 54.
August 8th 1857
Letters to the Editor---Sir---During the match between Thetford and Bury, about 6ft of bad manners stalked onto the ground attended by a host of boys and in spite of remonstrations of the umpires and others commenced to play during the game much to the annoyance of the players and spectators alike. Surely Sir, the person is in no way connected with the tuition of the boys, if so should this meet the eyes of his superiors, I trust he will be reprimanded and the repetition of this ungentlemanly conduct will be avoided. signed, a lover of cricket.
August 8th 1857
Eliza Marlow, Maria Mumford and Elizabeth Joscelyn were charged with assaulting George Pettitt at Melford on the 5th of June and picking his pocket of a canvas bag and money amounting to £27, the prosecutor deposed. I live at Kennington in London and I am a cowkeeper, on the 5th of June I was at Melford Fair, the evening of that day I had been to a public house and left at 12 o' clock, sober, while going home Eliza Marlow walked by my side, she talked to me, I told her I had nothing to say to her, she put her arms around me and her hand in my pocket. Eliza Marlow pleaded guilty to taking money but not to stealing it to which she pleaded not guilty. Prosecutor said a man and Mumford came up and the former knocked my hat off, I got hold of the two women and held them but they got away, I am unable to swear as to the man, they took my money from my canvas purse, 3 five pound notes, one £10 note, two sovereigns, all these notes had a little blood on them as I had been payed money for bleeding a cow. John Marlow and Elizabeth Joscelyn were acquitted and Eliza Marlow and Maria Mumford were found guilty and sentenced to 7 years penal servitude, on their sentence both women fainted.
September 26th 1857
Fire was discovered about 8 on Tuesday evening in a large barn near Clare bridge, the premises which belonged to Mr Chapman we entirely consumed with the contents.
October 17th 1857
At Ixworth Petty Sessions, George Crossby was charged with stealing a dead hog the property of Mr Sheldrake, the hog was found accidently in one of Mr Sheldrake's fields and was said to have been killed by a blow from a boy whose dinner the animal was running away with. Discharged.
November 14th 1857
Married in St Andrew's church, Holborn, O.G.Brand of Acton to Maria Francus, widow of the late G. Lamb of Bury.
December 19th 1857
A commission has been appointed by the Bishop of Bath and Wells to investigate a serious charge against the Rev Elliot of Yeovil, defendant was charged with drunkenness and improper familiarity with a maid servant, at the close of the proceedings defendant declined to proceed further.