The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1880-04-06 00:00:00

WIND-UP OF THE CONTEST.

CAPTAIN GREVILLE held his List meeting at
Fordington Green, on Thursday evening, when
he spoke with great fluency to a large
assemblage; Mr. Weld exposed the doings of
the Government in India, telling of the taxes
put on the most necessary things, Mr. Cary
Batten and Mr. Lock also ably addressed the

people.
'The crowd afterwards escorted the Honour-
able Captain to his hotel, where he spoke
from the balcony to his supporters. Some
Conservative tried to raise the cry referring
to the late attack on the Captain, and some
hideous howls were heard near the Town
Pump. The crowd shouted "The Tories:
turn them out," and rushed in search. A
Conservative working man loudly expressed
his dissatisfaction at what the Captain had
said, and the crowd began to hustle him.
Some of the Liberals quickly went to the
rescue and kept back the angry men by
expostulation; but on going round Mrs.
How's corner, he continued to utter what
displeased the crowd, who rushed at him,
and he tell or was pushed down. A few
Liberals thereon charged through the people,
who let them go for the sake of their colours,
and they got the man on his feet, and, with
great difficulty keeping off the excited men,
escorted him to the Royal Oak, where the
Liberals induced him to go into the yard,
while a line of Liberals formed in front of the
entrance, the gates were closed, and the man
who, by the way, has been most useful to his
friendly society escaped; Mr. Masters then
induced the others to stop and sing, and turn
down street, where they gradually dispersed.

THE POLLING DAY.
Next day opened with heavy rain, and as
there were only two polling stations, the
Shirehall and the Guildhall,and as Fordington
was obliged to come to the latter to poll, it was
thought this would damage Captain Greville's
cause by keeping some voters away.
The weather gradually cleared, and it soon
became plain that a mistake had been
committed in not having a polling station in
Ifordington.
The excitement commenced early a large
number coming into Dorchester, and the
popular colour was plentifully displayed. Bows,
rosettes, daffodils, were interspersed with
pieces of paper, for the people had torn up
yellow bills, and decorated themselves and
some their teams, while the Conservatives
mounted blue in tics, &c., and even round

the dogs' necks.
Rabbits in a large High-street shop were
tied up with yellow, elsewhere on umbrellas
were great sheets, and some women decked
themselves fantastically. A little procession
of females came from the bottom of the town
with a flag and streamers made entirely of
bills, and with ribbons and other ornaments
of the same. The people took possession of
the space between the Town Pump and the
Guildhall, and showed their feelings by hoot-
ing at any who showed the blue. The
Brymerites, established at Mr. Hogg's,
published supposed "States of the Poll,"
which lashed the people to fury, and a good
many windows were broken. Any attempt
to chaff the Grevillites was unsuccessful, and
when force was resorted to, very bad conse-
quences followed. Men were badly assaulted,
one of the Messrs. Robinson was hurt in the

face, and a tradesman was knocked about.
At the Shirchall things were fortunately
quiet, and the voting proceeded in an orderly
way, and here, no doubt, the great majority
were for Mr. Brymer. In the polling-room
were—The Mayor (Mr. W. Durden), Mr.
Giles Symonds, Mr. A. Pope, Mr. Williams,
Mr. T. Rogers, Mr. Symonds, jun., Mr.
Braithwaite, &c. The greatest violence was
shown near the Town Hall, and inside was a
very great contrast to the turbulence outside.
In the room were Mr. H. Symonds, Mr. T.

Coombs, Mr. Aldridge, Mr. Bishop, Mr. 'l'.
A. Pearce, Mr. Guy, &c. Everyone must
condemn the disturbances, which could do
nothing but damage the Liberal cause, being
entirely contrary to the spirit of freedom
but for the credit of Dorchester it

must be said that many of
..the.. princi-

-
pal disturbers (though not all) did not
belong to the town. Towards the evening
two fellows were locked up, and when the
poll had been closed and the papers got
together the crowd had to wait fur the
counting, and found it tedious work.
Most grievously now was it felt that a third
polling station ought to have been at Ford-
ington, and if the authorities had also con-
descended to announce that the State of the
Poll would be posted there at some fixed
hour say seven or halfpast, and it would be
useless to wait, much trouble and disgrace to
Dorchester might have been saved.
It being impossible to get more police, in
consequence of disturbances being reported
from Wareham and Weymouth, the military
were desired to be ready, and they were kept
under arms early ; but the more constitutional
plan of getting all ready to swear special
constables seems not to have been thought
of till too late.

Through the suspense the noise became
more troublesome, and the counting being
disturbed the military authorities were
appealed to, and detachments of horse
artillery and foot soldiers, about too in all,
were brought down under the command of
...:olonel Henning, C.B. This quickly calmed
the violence, although one man threatened an
officer with a stick, when with a blow of his
sword it was cut in two. About seven o'clock
the numbers were made known :
Brymer 374
Greville 332

Majority for Brymer

The result is a virtual victor), for it was
fully expected that Mr. Brytner's majority
would not have been far short of ioo. At
the last election it will be remembered Mr.
Head lost by 120; so that the Conservative
majority has been pulled down nearly 8o
votes, showing that the working men held
well together for the candidate of their choice.
It is much to be regretted that the
first grave error was made by some non-
electors in disturbing Mr. Brymer's meet-
ing. Such conduct was thoroughly
disgraceful, and it was "worse than a
crime—a blunder," for it has recoiled with
great severity on the Liberal cause, and
materially contributed to the Conservative
success, whereas, had the feeling been pro-
perly regulated, it could have been turned to
good use. Captain Greville was heard to say
on corning out of the Shirehall, "It can't be
helped," and we believe he will not undertake
any contest elsewhere.
Mr. Brymer's seat has received such a
shaking as we hope will be productive of good
to the town, and for this the business people
have to thank principally the extreme deter-
mination of the working men, though the
surplus force was manifested by some few in
a very mistaken, unconstitutional, and II-
Liberal way, such as no doubt gained many
votes to the Conservative cause. The Liberal
cause has, however, revived, and only needs
fostering care and direction to gain still
further hope of success. It will be seen that,
in spite of the indignation justly felt against
the disturbers of Mr. Brymer's meeting, Mr.
Brymer only polled 21 more than at the last
election, while Captain Greville polled 99
more votes than Mr. Head. The result gives
a gain to neither party in the general contest.