I have previously written about Jacob Norris going to prison for assault Now I have discovered the prison to which he was sent, namely Shepton Mallet.
To recap -
Jacob Norris was my great, great grandfather. In July 1876 he was in court accused of a violent assault on a woman at Frome ...
What follows is from the Western Daily Press, 26th July 1876; the comments in brackets are my own ...
"At the Frome petty session, on Thursday, Jacob Norris carter, aged 28, was brought up on remand charged with violently assaulting Mrs Targett, on Monday evening, at Marston Back Lane. The case was adjourned on Tuesday, the prosecutrix (victim / complainant - Ed.) being unable to attend in consequence of the severe injuries she had received. Mr W Dunn prosecuted, and Mr MCarthy defended the prisoner. The prosecutrix (i.e. the victim, Mrs Targett - Ed.) said she was 62 years of age and lodged with Mrs Hughes, occupying the first floor. (The) Prisoner (was) married (to) Mrs Hughes daughter (Elisabeth Hughes - Ed.). On Monday evening she was sitting in her room and heard the front door being broken open. Mrs Hughes and her granddaughter came running towards her. Just before she saw the prisoner cross the barton (yard - Ed.). As he came up the stairs he made use of bad language, and said that he would murder her, although she had never given him a misword. They tried to keep him out by putting some boxes against the door, but he got his knee between the door and the post, and hammered her fingers with his fist, and ground her right arm up and down the edge of the door, inflicting some severe scars. She then cried "Murder", and he knocked her in the mouth with his fist. When he got into the room he flung the boxes and furniture about, kicked her in the leg so violently that she had not been able since to put her boot on, and used violent language towards her. She then jumped out of the bedroom window which was eleven feet from the ground. Dr Sproule had attended her, and she had been unable to sit up until that day. In cross examination she denied that her arm was injured through striking at (the) prisoner round the door, and her leg scratched as she descended from the bedroom window. She did not know whether the prisoner's wife was in the house or not. Mrs Hughes and Dennis Drew, neighbours, gave corroborative evidence. Dr Sproule who attended complainent, said her injuries were not very great. For the defence Mr E.J. Russell, builder, for whom the prisoner worked, and William Hillman were called. The former stated that he and (the) prisoner were going to Nunney with a load of timber. When they got to Marston Lane (the) prisoner's wife (Elisabeth Norris nee Hughes - Ed) brought out her two children and their clothes, and put them up into the waggon. He told (the) prisoner he had better go and see his wife, and induce her to take the children. As he was trying to get into the room he saw a woman put her hand round the edge of the door and try to strike him. He was sure (the) prisoner did not strike anyone. One of the women in the room said (the) prisoner's wife was there. The bench said that they had come to the conclusion that (the) prisoner had used undue violence, and there was no doubt but that his treatment had induced (the) prosecutrix (the victim / complainant, Mrs Targett - Ed) to jump out of the window. They should commit him to prison for two months with hard labour, and at the expiration of that term require him to find sureties for his good behaviour for three months; in default to be further imprisoned for that period".
According to the Shepton Mallet Gaol Record (1807 - 1879) Jacob was admitted to prison on 21st July 1876 at 1 pm and discharged on 20th September, having secured the required sureties. The record confirms the sentence detailed above. It states that Jacob Norris is a haulier and that the crime was committed on 17th July when he assualted Francis Target (sic?) at Frome.
