A SHOOTING IN WATTON - AT - STONE
'Rough Justice' handed out in 1833
By Terry Askew
In 1833 a James Sheppard was fined 5/- “for breaking glass”.
It is not known, however, if the fine was ever paid since, in the late evening of 7th December 1833, Sheppard was shot by Robert Percy, the village constable, outside the ‘George and Dragon’ public house. This was after a fight in which, it is assumed, Sheppard was resisting his transfer into the ‘lock-up’ on the other side of the road.
(Acknowledgement to Watton at Stone Conservation Society which, sadly, no longer exists)
p.s. The George and Dragon still serves ale to this day, and the lock-up still exists opposite, although now used as a garden shed and hidden behind a blanket of ivy.
This page was added on 22/02/2014.
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