The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1875-01-23 00:00:00

KIDDERMINSTER MUNICIPAL
ELECTION PETITIONS.

Mr. W. J. Saunders, Q,C., the barrister apsointed
to try the three petitions lodged in the Court of
Common Pleas against the return of Messrs. Horny
Dixon, William Howe Green, and Issar Hampton,
the three liberal Town Council men elected in Nov-
ember last, opcinal his inquiry at the Music Hall,
Kidderminster on Thursday morning.
Mr. Merewether, M.P., Recorder of Leicester, and
Mr. Motterem appeared in support of the petitions : and Mr. Powell, Q.C., of the Oxford Circuit, and Mr.
Clarke. of the Home Circuit, for the respondents.
The Court sat at 10 a.m.,but on the eases of Messrs.
Henry Dixon and W. Howe Green being called on
together.
Mr. Merewether made an application that the case
of Mr. Issar Hampton, who was returned for the
North Ward, should be heard first. He also ex-
plained ‘hat he wished to consult Mr. Motteram,
who had not then arrived.
The Court then adjourned for counsel to hold a
consultation.
On resuming its sitting shortly after twelve o'clock
Mr. Merewether applied for a further adjournment
till this yesterday morning. He explained that as
it was decided to call on petitions againa Mr. H.
Dixon and Mr. W. H. Green together, a large num-
ber of witnesses summoned in the one case were not
in the other, and both ne and his friend Mr. Powell,
considered under the circumstances that it would be
better for all parties if an adjournment took place
till the following morning.
Mr. Powell concurred.
_ _ _

Mr. Saunders remarked that be had a public
duty to perform, and intimated that the expense
to the borough would probably be increasted by the
delay.
.Mr. Mere,wether said he could give his positive
assurance, and Mr. Powell would join him, that
the call upon the borough fund would be diminished
by the course he proposed. Even in the calling up
of witnesses he was quite sure, for more reasons
than one, that there would be a saving of expenses
both with regard to individual expense and the
borough money.
Mr. Powell said they should not venture to ask
for the adjournment, knowing, as they did, that
Mr. Saunders represented the public, whereas they
represented individual parties, without they were
quite convinced that the course suggested would
better suit the convenience and save expense to
all parties.
Mr. Saunders: In that case I have nothing to
do but to concur.

The Court then adjourned.
At the commencement of the proceedings yes-
terday morning, Mr, Powell replied, and the Com-
missioner having stated his views, the Clerk pro-
ceeded to read the petition for the South Ward.
Mr. Merewether proceeded to address the Court
on behalf of the petitioners, and having described
the devision of the town iuto two wards and stated
it would be occasionally necessary for him to take a
short excu;sion into the North Ward during the trial.
He said there were 2,150 voter in the South Ward,
and pointed out the result, stating the Totes given
for each—given also a list of the bogus candidates,
which proved an a.mu-ing description, Mr. Mere-
wether saying he had suffered from the, same course,
which he believed, was originated in Kidderminster
by the Liberal agent, Miller Corbet, but as each had
failedtito gain any important result from the boguses,
they might as far as this inqury was concerned, be
regarded as a joke. He produced a plan which he
handed for the Commissioner's inspection, showing
the different houses -where bribery and treating was
going on, and he spoke of other cases in connection
with the South Ward.
The Town Clerk having produced the nomination
of codidates the cm wpm &pia adjobrned.