The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1869-03-02 00:00:00

IAZETTE,

Tin BRIDGWATER ELEcrtoN PETITION •
The inquiry into the petttiou heinet the rotors of
Mmes. Else Like and Vanderbyl, the Liberal members
for Bridgwater, whet' was instituted by Mews.
Weetropp and Gray, the unsuccessful Comertatile
eandidates at the late 'Lotion, was opened on Tuesday
afternoon. The learned judge, Mr. Ja.tioe Blackburn,
arrived about two o'slook, and was met at the station
by the Mayor (Mr. Bully) and the town clerk (Mr.
Kerslake), in their robes. The approach to the 'Melon
W.@ thronged, but the appearance of his lorship in •
Wide••• wake and brown leverets' seemed anything
but to Impress the '' good folk" of Bridgwater. who
audibly gave vent to their feelings of diaappointeren.
at the no:onerous of Mica grandeur as exemplified
upon this 000110400. His worship the Mayor's carriage '
warn placed at the disposal of Mr. Justice Blackburn,
and the handsome grey., with the blue and silver
liveries and cocked hate of the footmen, made rather an
imposing display, the only drawback to which, to a
scrutinising observer, was the somewhat reckless
manner in which the calves of the "James..." had been
stuffed. The &menet javelin men headed the pro-
-0111111"011, mid the learned judge, who is well known for
his vigorous exaditude of • doe and proper honour to
the °Moe which be holds, must bare beau highly grati-
fied by the enormous crowds that thronged his passage,
which, an viewed from the bride, can be exPrellood in
no more fitting manner than pa ama of heeds." The
Judge did not then proceed to what formerly has been
known as the judge's lodgings, the present occupant
having, we believe, refused their grant, but to apart-
ment" plated at his disposal by Ur. John L. Seeley, the
banker. At four o'clock his lordship opened the pro-
ceedings at the new Tows-hall. The judge's chair is
placed upon • platform draped with red cloth, while •
canopy of the same material surmounted by the Royal
amt. of arms forms an imposing background. Upon
Messrs. Kinglake and Vanderbyl making their appear.
anal, and mating themselves near their ages* they
were greeted with greet elisering. Around the ball 1.
an elegant gallery, which won Tuesday was filled with
ladies whom interest in the proceedings seemed intense.
The hall wee aranuned to salimatlon. Amording to
general raperl it was imagined that the proseedinp on
Tuesday would outset simply cl a formal opening, and
upon berjeaut Parry's rising to open the ease, Mr.
Levibood, in the absence of Mr. Henry James, with
seeming surpries, indicated to his lordship that it was
imagined the enquiry would not commence that after-
noon. The judge, however, to the surprise of moat in
the court, said that althotech he should not go into the
evidence upon that occasion, yet he should hear the
opening statiment of the learned serjeant.

- -
The petition alleged bribery, treating, dnd undue
inflttense, and also that the majority in favour
of the rating reanbere wao only • colourable one.
Yr. &duet Perry anted the ease el the peti-
tioners, and, i support of the allegation of
bribery, pre the MANN of newel !torsos* who
had received gifts ranging front 30t. to £lO. Two or
three catie.s of proteins to bribe ware also enumerated,
and the learned oosuriel also referred to the chirp of
Cresting.
- - •- • •

It was admitted oa the pert of the sitting members
that they inabused and stood together jointly at
the election.—On Wednesday Mr. Palmer wee the first
wines. called, and was examined as to mi allegation of
bribery by BuselL the landlord of the Anchor Inn,
who, it wee stated on Tuesday, was not to to found.
Palmer deputed that on the day of the poll he went to
the Anchor lan and was Imekoced into the collar by
Basun, who said to hint. "Here'. tan sovereigns.
" What for?" said witness. "To vote for Yanderbyl
and Kinglake," was the reply': Witness said, "All
right," on which Hassell said, "Cecil. Richards will
go with you to the poll." He counted the ten
sovereigns into witness's hand one by one. Went with
Richards towards the poll, but left him in the 'Meet
and went to the headquarters of the Conservative
party, the Clarence hotel, and delivered the ten
sovereigns, just as he had realised them, to Mr. I
Westropp. They were sealed up in his presence by
Mr. Phelps, and were prodooed in mart Witness
received other ten sovereigns for them, which he still
had. On cross-examination the witness denied that he
had ever said he wankel money and would not vote with-
out it.—Mr. Phelps gave corroborative evidence.—Mr.
Crocker, seariesr, neat proved that on the sues day,
and about the same time he received ten sovereigns
from Mr. Boren, in Rumen collar. The money was
counted oot in just the same way as in Palmer's ease,
end he voted for Kinglet's and Vaaderbyl.—Mrs.
Crocker proved rewiring the £lO from her husband on
the same day.—Hugh Pears*, mariner, was called to
prove that he, too, had received £lO from Hassell, but
he denied it in toth—Znims Laudon, a servant out of
place, now living with lair mother, spoke to seeing one
James rformybell some out of the Anchor Inn and ask
• man ( whom she did not know) to vote for the sitting
members, offering to give him £5 to do go. The man
said he would ; and Honeyhall than put in his hand
something wrapped op in white paper, and told him to
keep quiet, and my nothing. On 'Tuesday, as she wes
leaving wort, Honeyball threatened to pull her chignon
' off; end another tenon on Sunday threatened to cut
her ears OR, but she retorted that he must take care
that he did not lota his head.—John Voarneome was
called to prove that he had been paid Li for his vote by
one Reread, bet he denied that he bed ever received
earthing at all. Ho explained "• little gams" that he
had performed with one Attway, in which they were
to impose on flarward that Akira,' had paid him 305.;
bat he said that he Ind given A Nifty the money first,
Is order that he might say with tenth that he had
ranked the 30.. from him.—Mr. Haywood, master
mariner (another witness from "the enemy's camp," as
Betjeant Parry observed), came over from Swamies, and
voted for the sitting members, but declared he never
received • penny oar wasi promised a penny for it. He
admitted writing a later to Mr. Umber, offering to
some over and vote for Westropp sad Gray, if they
would send for him, but he never got • reply. The
witness "did not recollect" a good many things, and
was cautioned by his lordship as to the ecomeqnsnoes
of committing perjury. He denied saying to Mr.
Hobbs, ehoemaker, ' your expenses: I could
always pay my own." Mr. Hobbs, however, was called,
earl positively swore that these words were used by
Haywood. Two other witnesses were examined to
suggest that Samuel Warren had been bribed by our
masers for Kinglake and Vanderbyl. bat he denied it.
John Alfred Brittle, was., John A Brittle,jan., and F.
W. Brittle,fatber and eons (also adversewitassme), were
ersmined as to whether they Bid not been severally
bribed by Andrew Allen (now abroad) with EIO sash to
vote for Kinglske and Vanderbyl. They all stoutly
denied the several allegations put before them in detail;
but admitted that they all went to the poll between
three and four o'clock, and that they were at ths New
Inn, where the bribery was alleged to have taken place:
Robert C. Blacker, an apprentice to the Brittle' at the
time of the election, deposed that Allen had sent him
in search of the Brittles, and that he afterwards saw
them with Allan at the New Inn, where it was alleged
they were all "sugared" and sent to the poll direct.—
Geoffrey Denman, landlord of the White Lion, woke to
the Brittles 'eying they should not vole without money.
About half-put three on the polling day he saw John
Brittle and others Doming from the New Inn, wearing
the Liberal colours.—Mr. Henry Wayward, boot aad
shoemaker, was told by John Alfred Brittle, jeer., that
he had not voted in the morning because he wanted
the "stuff."—Robert Bussoll, bailiff of the County
Court. put an execution into the house of John Brittle,
the elder, on the morning after the poll. The amount
was £5 19s. 4d. He was paid out immediately by the
defendant.—Evidenoe of promises of bribes was next
glue. —William Lashes, mariner, saw H. C. Basun at
as Ascher lun about half.pun three o'clock, who naked
him if be bad polled. Witness said" No," on which
Barg said if he weald come to his house he would
give him EIO to vote on his We. Wiliness refused.—
Hr. Thomas Williams, employed on the railway, arid
alio bandmaster in the 'rifle arm voted at the lam
election for Watropp and Gray. Mr. tarmac canvassed
for Kinglike and Yandsrhyl at his bowie. The
oandidatee were with him. Mr. Jarman aloes canvassed
Mai on the Saturday fortnight previous to the elution.
He asked him what would be his terms for the heed to
-play for the party, adding, "Don't stint yourself, as is
is a matter that ought to be well paid for." Witness
fixed £25 for two days, for 14 or 16 men in the baud.
He told witness that if he played for the Liberals of
course he shoed expect him to woes for theca' and that
he was to girt as many of the men to vote as be could;
that he was to tell them they should have "whatever
WM going," and that be would see witness rewarded for
his trouble. He said his vote (wltasees) woald
Influence the other men. Mr. Jarman called three times,
and he said he would send another gentleman to engage
with him. Witness promised to speak to the men. He
did not come again, and no engagement was suds of
the bend. He and most of his men voted for Weetropp
and Orap—Cromexamieed by Mr. Hain : Played for
the COM 101•110•111, with the band. They played
gratuitously; ten or twelve eat of the 'Hata or sixteen.
—Seensel Phillips, labourer, was at the Bath Bridge au
the day before the day of polling. Philip Gilbert was
there with about thirty- people, nearly all of whom
were voters. There was mush drink on the table.
Gilbert gave the order for the bur. Some one said £5
had been offered by the Blue party, on which Gilbert
said, "You'll be right *Dough if you remain- as
yes are." Witness had warm beer and rum, and
the alien had the game. Nobody peid for anything
Samuel Brown attended a moseleg at the Beth Bridge
inn, at which Phillip Gilbert was present. They talked
about the skatioe, but making was said about the
prim of votes. There was drinking on one night, bet
not on the other. Gilbert ordered two half gallops of
beer. Winless did not pey for what he drank. Dor ass
mayors* else pay. ('The statement of the witness made
to the attorney for the petitioners was prorlararl. la it
he was represseted as statism that he was at the inn as
the remain of the nomination, that lwaal words Posed
about the pries of Tau. and that Gilbert was asked
questions about it; that Gilbert was in the their sod
treating every one with drink. that WWII one kept the
door to provost their being disturbed, he.) Witness
denied that he was there st all on the evening of the
nomination, nor that he remembered any of thus Mr
cainstaeme ; but he admitted that Gilbert did my a
night or two before the sonsinetion that if anything
was gam they should have samething, but if there was
nothing going they would have to go as they were—
(laughter).—William Marley, blacksmith, examined by
Mr. Collins: Worked at the Bridgwater Iran Foundry
at the time of the election, and attended a meeting at
the Bath Bridge inn on the Thursday before the
election. Went into • room upstairs where there were
about thirty people, all voters, and Phillip Gilbert WU
in the chair. Somebody sant if there was anytturg going
he should like that one should not have all and the rest
go without anything, Gilbert thereupon and, "What-
ever is icing you shall beim pert, if there is aaything."
About three gallons of beer altogether were sent up-
stairs that uMht Nothing was said about paying for
the beer. Went again on the 13th November (next
night). There were about 40 or 50 voters there, Gilbert
again la the °hair. Gin, beer, and gingerbeer were seat
up, to the value of £3 10s. 100. The landlady asked
him in keep the soars. It was to be moored to Philip
Gilbert. Saw no money pus during the whole of the
evening. In oonseriasace of something that was said,
witness gave credit for EL [Mr. Collins said this would
have an important bearing on the ease, by-aad-bl.l
Some of the liquor was had in the bar and some upstairs.
Was at the same house again between eight and nine
o'clock on the evening of the nomination day. Wilmot
and from 30 to 40 voters were there. Was than seek
on the evening of the election, about six o'cloek.
Gilbert was there, and there might bus been 20 to tit
voters there. Gilbert was treating them. Hie.
„...brno47. beer, !a, sad anything that they liked to
"'ye WM MPPW. Nothing was paid for. Thome
Hinter., a non.voter. was called to give ad*
ditional widow of drialdos at the Balk Bridle

lats.—James Dibble, turner, was st lb. Mariners' Lewis,
I between four and Ivo o'eldrolt on I.e morning of Om poll,
and loud Andrew Allen end 24 or 26 men smoking and
drinking. Allots paid for all that was brought in, wed
, whew him to drink. —gr. (horse Woolley, abosisakor,
of Tatiatea, was galled to speak to trestiog et the New
!Oa:.
Mt. H.
H•sej..allnithi.a.tadislionng the
people to toot
gothewpoolle, rot
at °non He orlitinid A large am of beer —• gallon or
• gallon and • half. nehmen ens oompletely crowded.
Wee there several times betties' ewe and four o'clock,
and my Mr. Jarman there several Mmes. When the
eau was saiptied, it vu filled again. Saw 001110 Of the
men who drank pay *NOM'', Kr. Jarman mid
Stone, the landlord, in the purge. It was whet was
termed an. ooeo beam Siweome mon go on Yr.
Jarman's ad • ie. to the poll. They marched up in procession
from the New inn to the pod like a oompany of soldiers.
Heard a great many say they should not go to the poll
unless they had their day's wages paid, or something
equivalent to the lo.s of time, and in every ease
persons promised that they should have that.
Amongst those persons be heard Hr. Jarman and
Calliford make those promises, and they both .aid" it
should be something handsome headset." Mr. Lang,
bootinaker, and Mr. Babbage, draper, also promieed.—
Mrs. Remit Parker was celled to prove treating at the
Mason.' Arms on the polling day.—Frederlok Jowell
, spoke to similar eiroumstanoss on the night before the
polling day. Witness then deposed to seeing • pro-
°melon of men in an intoxicated condition going to poll.
Charles Ames, at the Queen's Head on the nominatioo
!lay, had ginger brandy sod rum shrub. "Twas brought
in in jup—quuts and Mots. There was breed and
, cheese and ham, whisk people helped tbemeelves to as
they liked. He was asked to vote for Singlake and
Vanderbyl by James Smith and Mr. Ferry. Nobody
was seined to ?by anything. He bad four cigars
in the 1110faillg, and three in the evening. After
some further evidenee lied been given in support
of the allegation of treating, Mr. deristaat Parry said he
had oonsidired the evidence with regard to undue
influence, whim was very slight, and be did not propose
to offer any evidence at all on that point.

On Friday James llorrisb, landlord of the Dolphin,
John Croody, Simon Stephens, and James Ford, and
others were coiled to prove mosey os the port of
Bassett, Cohn Jones, and one or two others who bad
amomponiod Messrs Kinglake sod Vanderbyl in their
mortis.

After ibis Mr. Bergen! Bergood said that he bed
consulted with his died, end also with his learned
friends, and they bad come to the conclusion that they
soled not resist the evidence that bed been adducted,
nor the conclusion at which his lordship trust arrive,
end, therefore, they should abandon any farther
defence of the Inaba This annoaneement created great
sensation in the court. Mr. Kisgiake and Mr.
TaDderbyl were sworn, end in a few words Dieted that
they had given strict instructions to their eleotion
agenti not to sanction or permit any ocirrupt practices
in the conduct of the electiou on their behalf. Neither
of then gentlemen was eromosaminsd ; sad Mr.
fierjeant Parry briefly addresled his lordship, fully
exonerating the sitting members of soy impure or
corrupt intention. Although Moan. Westroop and
Gray could not feel any gratification at the result, they
I did feel that what they had dons had been dune as
I a publie ditty—Mr. Justice Blackburn said no doubt
I the learned counsel had properly advised their clients
that there was • prises facie case. There warn no
evidence to show that either of the sitting Inesnarn bad
any knowledge of, or consented to, the corrupt presticoe,
and as both of than had been called, and had declared
to that effect, it was with great plessur. that he should
certify that they had no personal knowledge of it. Then
the Legislature required that he should state the names
of all the persons who had been guilty of corrupt
peseta's, but before hei did that he oust look over his
notes. But be could have no doubt at all that (leery
C. Basalt, and at least three of the witnesses, tied
received money. Captain Cocker had been guilty of
bribery, but as he (the learned judge) believed he had
spoken the truth, he would be entitled to apply for a
certificate, which would release him of the consequences
of the Act. As to the ease of Hassell, that would have
to be laid before the Attorney• General to encoder
whether there was earldoms* to support a prosecutioe.
It was desirable that parties should be aware that they
would not balk justice by leaving the country for a
time. As to Andrew Allen, he would look carefully
into the evidence, affecting him. And as to the captain
at Swansea, who positively swore that he we. not
bribed, he thought there was • sheltering and a seeking
payment for his vote from the liberals, end then he
voted for the Tortes. At present be thought he must
return his name as having been bribed, and if he did so
be must also return him as also guilty of perjury--
(sensation). Thirdly, he was called upon to report
whether be had num to believe that corrupt practices '
extensively prevailed at the election, the object being
to afford information to the Rouse of Comports to
inquire whether the franchise should be continued. '
They found that at about one o'clock, when Kr, I
Westropp and Mr. Gray were in a large majority-148
In one ease and 139 in another—that just about that
time, I o'clock, was when the bribes were proved to
have been given by Buren, and no doubt as Noun as
that was done, it become generally known about the
town that there was something going. He (h. Justies
Blackburn) found immediately after that that very few
votes were polled for We.tropp and Gray. Only 74
votes were polled for Westropp, but 270 Tata' were
polled on the other side. It was impossible to resist
the conclusion that the further promise that if anything
was going all should be treated alike, bed this effects
upon the peoole—that not all, bat a very oonsiderable
number of tboa voters were influenced by it. He,
therefore, thought he must report to the House of
Commons that he had reason to believe that corrupt
practices bad extensively prevailed at the last election.
Isis case like Ilia, where the petitioners had sucomided,
there was no reason for taking it out of the rule that
the petitioners wereto have their omits. Nothing further
was to be said about it.—There was • sharp but quickly
auppreased cheer in the court. outside the result should
hardly b• rwaliodod for some time, so suddenly had it
been brought about. Some people who had retired to
recruit themselves for • long 'Min. returned to And
the hall empty, and the members deprived of their
seats.

Hou.Ow PT' —Se If Pritectien.—Oreat laterals.
Cons of heat and sold, aided by the no. of unripe fruits
mid unsound vegetable.. always beget a tendency to
di•rrbrea daring summer. To prevent unpleasant
conaequenors the first feeling of dUtention, nausea,
rumbling of the bowels, or sensation of relaxation,
should be promptly met by some each corrective as these
Pill., which will remove the present symptoms and
avert their degeneration into choleraic dangers. With
ordinary viliganee, their is no fear of contracting the
prevailing epidemic if Holloway's medicine be taken
whisn disordered digestion first manifests itself, nor
rased there be any alarm of • sudden outbreak of this
formidable disease in any household where these
innocent Pills have purified, 000 led, regulated, and
strengthaned.
Tea lloscatzyr GO. Caguas. —The Honorieff
contrivance for mounting heavy artillery has been
definitively accepted, and the inventor, we are told, has
been treated with a prompt liberality. Fie is to receive,
first, • sem of money sufficient to cover the met of his
models sod his preliminary expenses. Secondly, be is
to naive payment for the time that be has devoted
exclusively to the pablie service (shout two years), at •
rote of L'1.030 per annum, which rate of pay is to
rontinue so long so he is engaged in rendering rumr6tanee,
in making and completing designs for tbe application of
his system, and in superintending the construction of
his carriages. Thirdly, he is to receive rusxmo u a
reward for the invention. and for the use which may he
made of it in her Majesty's penis" either 'Float or
ashore, in any modification or combination.
. . .

As extraordiaary story of the abduction and restita
lion of • child is told in the Liverpool papers. A widow
named Coleman, shoat ten days ago, gave her baby
fourteen months old to a boy, and asked him to carry it
out In the street, which he did. A woman came up to
the lad, and remarking that the baby was sold, said she
would take It to it. mother. The boy allowed the
woman to get the child, and nothing more was heard of
it until Tuesday night. when a woman, described as
respectably drama— whether the one who originally
took the child cannot be latown—eanie up to a girl in
the street, whore tb• baby was taken, delivered to her,
and desired her to take it to Mrs. Coleman, which she
did. The oddest part of the story is that the baby wee
poorly dressed when taken away, but had rather costly
clothes on when it was brought bear.
- • • -•

Wreutoitare it Divorsanis—& witchcraft ease
is reported from South Devon. Two or three young
women living at Dittishas fell ill. Their motben,
thinking they had been " ill.wished"—that is, looked
upon math as "evil eye"—consalted a wizard at Teiger !
mouth, who said the young women were "deeply
wounded," but promised a care for a certain amount oi
money. The money was paid, but the girls still
remained unwell, and at last the wizard said nothing
could be done for them, sod he gave up the affair es
hopeless sifter re/tieing • good mind sum. • "witch"
was then oonsulted at Dartmouth, and many pounds, it
ia said, were expended on her—the money Wog sent
by some agent friend" to ensure enemas. Pubes-
quietly the yews, .01110 l got well, and the mire was
attributed to the witch, who demanded £4 in one sum.
The mothers, however. were enable to raise the mecemt,
and got a friend to interpose with • parsec known as
the "white witch" at Dartmouth, mid he so alarmed
the woman by threatening to bring the case before the
magistrates that she not only relinquished her claim to
the £4, but returned part of the money she had pre-
viously reordered.
As 190991009 COSTlivalci.—k new method of
transport has lately been adopted in Leicestershire for
conveying stone from Mews. Ellis and Reenters granite
quarry to the railway, a distanoe of three miles. The
plan has been worked out by Yr. Hodgson, CE., and
consists in the employment of an endless wire rope,
supported on pulley*, which ere tarried at a considerable
height Irons Om ground on stout poets, the entire
arrangement having mush the appearance of on
ordinary telegraph line. A pmUble gleam engine
drives the rope at shoat Sve mile, an hour, and it
carries with it • continal stream of bores, each holding
1 owt, of stone. The rope Is endless so that the full
boxes travel at one aide of the supporie and the empties
return at the other, sod pendants by whish the boxes
are hang are especially formed to allow of their passing
the points of support, which they do with perfect ease.
This line cremes the country boldly am an ordinary
telegraph would, and from its chessmen, the rapidity
with which it osa be ocuestrueled, end the use with
which it tan be moved, it seems likely to be of oon-
'adorable use.
Tel CIVIL figavicits, 1868-9: IiCIPTLININTAIT KM-
MST& -The following return haa been lamed of an estiof sues. mate
required to be voted for the expenditare of the
year ending Marsh 31, 1869, in addition to the sums
already provided in the estimates, presented in the
session of 1868. The several aniciante are :
Public building* .. ••• • • .„
IAU,Dou,,C psesseetiesis. sb.iils expenses, ho. .. .. 0.000
CArameHis"4l7"ity
pekoes.oto-oreatßritoin ~
Common law courta—lraland
Criminal
Courts of rral'od Jir"e"laaaustioe—Seotls " &AC
Comtabolarg of Lealand .
Livingeone search expedition • • • • • 17,100
CompananUon to Abyssinian re. " • • 1,41
aupersonuntloos sod retired sltwunees.• • • • 9,000
•
EMMA