William Cock

342

Maureen Withey on 21st March 2025

Thetford Assizes.  William Cock, aged 39, was indicted for burglary the premises of Messrs. Thomas and Garner Gill, Thetford. The prosecutors are millers;  adjoining their mill they have a counting-house, stairs, at least 13 feet from the ground, and on the same floor  there a bed-room, where Mr. Potter, clerk, always sleeps, to take care the property, as their dwelling-houses are considerable distance from the premises. Between two and three  o'clock on Sunday morning, the 11th October, Mr. Potter being awakened by in the countng-house, without stopping to dress himself, proceeded to the door; it was quite dark at time : just as reached the door, he heard some one drop upon the floor, from the ceiling, and almost immediately begin striking a light; when, looking. through the keyhole, he saw a man going round the counter, towards the desk. Upon this, he returned to his chamber, and taking his pistols and the keys, came back, and unlocked the door; the prisoner was then standing with his back towards the door. Potter directly went to him, and said, if he surrendered quietly he would not shoot him, but if he made any resistance would do immediately; the prisoner stood still a short while, and it supposed, perceiving his adversary rather off his  guard, caught hold him, when a sharp scuttle ensued, in the course which Potter endeavoured shoot him, turning the pistol in his right hand over the prisoner's shoulder, but missing his aim, the prisoner then  collared and struggled very hard with him, in which he had advantage; after this he proceeded towards the window, and threw the sash; Mr. Potter followed him, and said, he offered to get out be would shoot ; not heeding  such threat, he began to undo the shutters; Potter then pulled the trigger, when the pistol missed fire ; the prisoner exclaimed if he had a pistol would have shot him, and still proceeded unfastening the shutters; again Potter attempted to fire at him the pistol missed a second time, during which interval the prisoner jumped from the window upon the ground, and made the best of his way off. . -. Potter, after dressing himself, informed Mr Garner Gill what had happened, and they, accompanied by Brooks, another of Messrs. Gills' servants, returned to the counting-house, which had locked prior to leaving it, when, the first thing they observed was the prisoner's  hat, ….. Norfolk Chronicle, 3 April 1819. Reprieves were received Wednesday last for Cock and William Thurrold, two of the capital convicts upon whom sentence Death was passed at the Assizes.  Norfolk Chronicle, 10 April 1819. Removed from the Castle to the Hulks— Wm. Culling, Sam. Pile, Balls, Thos. Blazey. Thos. Fox, Wm. Thurrold, and Wm. Cock, to be transported for life. ... Norfolk Chronicle, 22 May 1819.