The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1868-11-28 00:00:00

_
ELECTION NEWS.

EAST WORCESTERSHIRE ELECTION.

THE POLLING ON MONDAY LAST.

The polling for the election of two Knights of
of the Shire for the Eastern Division of Wor-
cestershire, took place on Monday last, and re-
sulted in the election of the Hon. C. G. Lyttel-
t in (formerly member), and Mr. it. P. Amphlett,
Q.C. (Conservative), as the other. A good deal
of excitement was manifested, much more than
at the last election, which took place on the 29th
of May last, when Mr. Lastett came forward,
but was unsuccessful in obtaining is seat for this
division. On this occasion Mr. Laslett again
offered himaelf, mid was returned for Worcester
at the head of the polt. This town has long
been consialer.•3 a stronghold for Liberals, and
proved itself so again, but front the numbers
poiied there was evidently a falling off. This,
no doubt was to be accounted for in some res-
pects from the fact that the Conservatives
worked harder than usual ; while, on the other
hand the Liberals worked well, but considered
the election safe. A great number of persons
flocked into the town daring the day to hcar the
result ..f the polling front Ipmr to hour, as in
this town the Central Committee fir the Liltere:s
was held, while the Central Committee for the
Conservatives was at Worcester, a beanch Com-
Mittee being held at the rooms in High-street.
The whole of the voter; in this district, which
includes Wollaston and Oblswinford, is 888.
Olt of this number 477 voted for Mr. Lyttelton,
413 for Mr. Martin, and 233 fer Mr. Amphlett.
Toe Librrals took a lead front the commence-
me t, and maintained it throughout the day.
Bat tl ere appears to have been a greet falling
if at King's Neale. A gre it many who pro-
!: ised to vote for the Liberals, turned to the
ether side, cud thus contributed in a great mea-
sure to their defeat. Mr. Amob'eta vistted his
o non'ttee•rom ;Moot three o'cloe'c, and was
r .ciiived with great (Alec] in It among his suppm-
tars, and wlten be left wit .1 again loudly cheered.
Mr. Lytteiton and Mr. Martin also visited their
o 'mmittee.roont. a Al rcruttine 1 there until dec.
sive i telligeme wai received as to the res It if
the r 1 At night the town was tail. e few
fights took place after the election, but no dam-
age was done to property. A woman W:11
knocked dosn by a cab, but she was not injur, d
beyond the shock. Later in the evening a 1110: t
cruel and dastardly attack was made upon Mr.
B. Brooks, of this town. It appears that 50111.3
men were cryivz, oat •. Murder." near hi.; own
trmse. Ho went to see %Ault w.r.; the matter,
w tell he saw one thin kicking another. Ile at
mice appealed to him to act like an Englishman',
and nut kick ain an when he was down. Upon
this a man canrht hint hy tile collar and threw
hint down, and in a brutal manner kicked I MI
on the tide of the face and about the body. in-
j iring !its vibe. His left wrist was also
We believe the cowardly rase-al who e ~ !
tAis brutal and anima' eked tissault. i
In conveying the voters WI .d aalcy li. .
of Mr. 11cook.;'i ears were ,
glass and bodies being lit, ~.;iy :•,
em Tur?sday two more were daumged at, the
Wcst Stafnrdshire ehation. Some of Mr.
Parkes's cars WOre than, broken at time Lye. The
follmaieg is it list of the returns put out by each
committee :--

LIBERAL RETURNS.

12 o'C LUCK.

LyttAton
l‘Lutin
Arnpbiett
11 o'er,

.. .173
.11')

T.yttolton 815
I.l:ta tin 7.13
AuliAl.ctt

1 o'Cu

Lytlelton 2,112
I
Alophlett 2,271
The fint general ileue for the County MIA put oat at 12
o'clock.

1.3 ttatou • 11.2.
Ampillett 2;271

LE OY ItIE POLL.

tin
Aulphlat

.. 4.108

4',076

The following were the general returns posted at Mr.
Anipliktt's coumiLtee room :

11.30 a.m.

A mi.lll,tt 1,539
1,179
Aluttiu 1,107

L 2 30 p.m,

Amphlett • • 1,867
Lottelwa 1,878
slatr:iu 1,54J1

_
Am phlett 8 110
Lytteo.,•o 2.00
idartiu •• • B,4tid
9.30 v.g.

Amphlett 3.11 J
Lyttoltmk •2.93.1
tui . • • .. 2,763

LAU RElllllNrs PusTEn,
Amphl.tt 4 003
15141 3,551
COHN Or POLL.

N. on Pollis g
Re,9ster. Districts. Lyttelton, Martin. Atoplllett.
250.. Brr don lO4 103 10
7 . 8.. Di om .Igrose
323..Drlitoicls
1)041.. Dislky 457 293 404
717.. 8 veshsin
378.. Fed,. Wisto
282 ..11!ey
572.. llsle.owen
L9l..Hsyes . 293 263 161
2150.. 111812.'s Nortou
t62.....10107
703 .R.rsliore . 93 93 441
593.. ltrilditch
122 121 169
B.i i.. Stourbridge
-
10,311

1,093 3,759 1,108

THE LYE.

There was a most disgraceful riot here on
Monday last, or to speak more correctly at the
Hayes, whore the polling booth for the Lye and
Cradley was situated. At the time the polling
commenced a great crowd hail surrounded the
polling booth, and its monbers were augmented
every minute by accessions from the Lye, Crad-
ley, and the neighbourhood around. The road
at t he point where the booth was situated has a
high bank on each side, and both these banks
were occupied by portions of the crowd. It was
quite clear from the first that the mob were Lib- '
eral in their sympathies, and front " booing'' and
groaning at the Conservative voters they soon
proceeded to overt acts of violence, iii the way
of throwing stones, bricks, and other equally
langerous missiles. About half-post 9 o'clock,
Mr. Superintendent Freeman arrive.' on the
ground with a farce of sixteen police-constohles
and SUMO forty special constables ; but in an
excited crowd of between 4,090 and 5,090, sneh
a small force was of littie, or, indeed, of no
avail. The stone-throwing was kept up with the
greatest industry, and it was soon found impos-
sible to bring up any voters at all to the polling
booth. Mr. Perry and Mr. Barradale, the poll
clerks, addressed the mob. They reminded
them that their conduct was very unseemly, and
that if they held Liberal opinions they were
I really doing a great deal of damage to their own
CiVlse. If the riot continued the election would
robably be declared void, and thus no end or
purpose could be served by the continuance of
such violent proaeedings. Mr. Perry and Bar-
radale were heard almost respectfully, but five
minutes hail not elapsed till the mob was ss vio-
lent as ever. So thickly did the stones fall on
and around the polling booth that the poll clerks
and their assistonts had to take refuge under the
table. Tire polling was completely stopped, and
tuessengera were sent to Stourbridge requesting
that an additional force et constables should be
sent to the spot. It was also reported that Mr.
Superintendent Freeman had been seriously
wounded on the head. Mr. C. E. Swindell and
Mr. R. L. Freer, magistrates, proceeded without
delay to the place, and the latter made an at-
tempt to bring about a cessation of the tumult,
hut was greeted with a volley of missiles. One
lave of turf struck him on the tree, meanwhile,
us email force of police Lail, on the advice of the
poll clerks, left the ground, as it was considered
their prescl,',• xasperated the mob. They were
followed by abilut a thousand persons, who pel.