The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1870-03-29 00:00:00

Somersetsbire.

THE BRIDGWATER BRIBERY OAS&

The ease of the Queen •. Vanderbyl and Penally
clams on at Taunton Anises, on Thursday, before Mr.
Justies HILDItall. The court was crowded long before
the oommencement of the proceedings. The judge's
bench was alinoet occupied. The Attorney• General
(Sir R. P. Collier), Mr. Coto, Q.C., Mr. Kingdom,
Q.C., and Mr. Collier appeared for the Crown; Mr. H.
James, Q.C., Mr. Pinder, Mr. Lopes, Q.C., and Mr.
Collins appeared for Mr. Vonderbyl. The ttorney-
General gave a history of the events upon which the
prosecution was founded, and spoke of the absurdity of
putting the law in motion to punish the poor man wbo
meepted the bribe, if the rich man who bribed were
'Bowed to escape.
Mr. Raster:Barham, solieitor, was'examined be Mr.
Cole., to the arrangement made by Ur. Fennelly for
providiug the sum (f 5.000 which was considered
ofteasary to enable the Liberal party to win the
election. Before answering one of the queetions put to
him by the learned counsel, Mr. Barham asked his
lordship's advice as to the oourse he should take, aa the
reply might tend to criminate himself. Upon this the
Attorney• General produced a: large and elaborate
document, which he stated was • pardon for witnesses
whoee evidence would be neescsary in the
.omos. . .

-Mr. George—Wilto-n, merchant, one of the deputation
who waited on Mr. Vanderbyl to ask him to retire,
gave details as to the interview.
Mr. Collins, cheese merchant. and Mr. .1. Cook. inn.,
solicitor, pre evidence to the effect that Mr. Vanderbyl
bad expressed his firm determination not to spend
money illegally, and be only consented to do so after
great presents, and because it was represented to hint
that the Conservatives were spending money. He had
frequently stated that it was not a question of money
bet of principle, as he was willing to spend any reason-
able amount in carrying on the contest in a legal
manner, and to pay the lawyers as much as £l5OO for
their services if they would carry on the election on
purity principles. Mr. P. 0. H. Reed, solicitor, also
stated that be never knew a man firmer in SOY resolution
than Mr. Vandertryl appeared to be in his determination
not to spend money illegally.
Mr. Redfern. of the firm of Redfern, Fennelly, and
Co., wee examined as to the receipt of telegraius end
totters respecting the maser sent to Firidgwater in
aecordanee with Mr. lennelly's instructions, and as to
certain alterations made in the duplicate beakers' pass-
book and cash-book by that gentl.-man. Mr. John
Walters, book-keeper in the employ of Messrs. Redfern.
Pennelly, and Co., also pve evidence to the effect that
certain alterations had been made in the books, partly
by Mr. Fennell,' and partly by his order.; these
alterations relating to the money tent to Bridgwater.
Mr. Lomas (the "Man in the Moon") said that on the
day before Use poll be took £1,500, whist he bad
received for a cheque drawn by Mr. Redfern on the
Consolidated Bank, to Bridgwater, and there made it up
in EIO packets whieh were to be known as " tea." On
the day of the poll he gave £240 of the money to Russell,
who called upon him at the Globe lloteL Th, balance
be took back to London and gays to Mr. Redfern. He
had no interview with Mr. Vanderbyl, and only saw
him as he pseud by the bolsi in hie sonioiro otter the
doelsrotlog of Ow