The Express.
London, England, 1851-10-28 00:00:00

ST. ALBANS BRIBERY COMMISSION.

Yesterday, at the Court-house, St. Albans, the
commissioners, F. W. Slade, W. Forsyth, and T. Phinn,
Esqrs., appiinted by the act of parliament passed last ses-
sion, entitled An Act for appointing Commissioners to in- I
quire into the existence of Bribery in the Borough of St.
Albans," held their first meeting, pursuant to notice, fur
the purpose of Fetch inquiry. The time appointed by the
commissioners fur the meeting was 11 o'clock, but they did
not take their seats uutil after 12. The court
was excessively crowded, and the utmost interest
in the important and unusreal proceedings was
evinced throughout the town and neighbourhood.
, Most of the principal inhabitants of St. Albans were ore-
I sent ; and among those on the bench, near the commission-
cry, were the Mayor of St. Albans, and Mr. Dell, the
sitting member fur the borough.
On the court being opened, Mr. Slade, the commissioner
pr. siding, called upon the secretary to the commisston to
read aloud the act of parliament under which the commis-
shiners were acting. This was accordingly done.
Mr. Slade then mid it is right at the beginning to state,
fur the information of the public, the course which will he
adopted. Our inquiry, in the first instauce, will be
limited to the proceedings of the last election for this
borough only. We have, however, power to inquire into
all matters connected with previous elections, almost to
an unlimited period. Whether we shall do so or not en-
tirely depends on circumstances which May be disclosed in
the evidence offered in the course of the inquiry into the
facts of the last election. Now it is our intention to allow
this to be a free and open inquiry, by which 1
mean that all persons conducting themselves pr -
perly will be allowed to lie present during the examine-
dos of witnesses; but it will be obvious to everybody who
consir.cre the question for a moment, that it wutild be
highly Mexpedieut that the evidence should he printed and
published to the world at large. it might affect the cha-
racters and interests of individuals. it might also be some-
what lurk-cent, that the evidence on which our report is to
be founded should go forth to the public before we have
formed our own conclusions on that evidence, and before we
have made our report. 1, therefore, think it right testate, on
the part of the cocuassioners, that if they find that rule
transgreeeeil, which, on their own judgments, they have
laid down for their own guidance, and for the guidance of
ell parties, they will feel it their duty to conduct the inquiry
thenceforth with closed doors. I mean that if it comes to
our knowledge that contrary to our expressed desire, coo.
veyed through me, parties have thought tit to print
and publish the evidence, from day to day, we
will feel it our duty, in justice to those panics
who arc to be examined hereafter, and is justice
to ourselves who are to found our own eunelubioUs
on the evidence, to conduct the inquiry with strictly closed
doers. 1 myself thiuk it of so much importance that all
inquiries of this kind should be full, tree, nod open,
that 1 do trust the conduct of parties will no: com-
pel us to have recourse to holding the inquiry with
closed doors. Now, everybody who has paid Otte's-
thus to the reading of the net of parliament will
see that the legislature has conferred very estraurdivary
powers on the commission—powers, I believe more exten-
sive than have ever before been conferred on any other
similar commission. They are powers which we, if neces-
sary, are unquestionably prepared to exercise. But we
trust that we will be met on all occasions, hi the course of
this investigation, with such a sympathy from all parties
interested iu the exposure of bribery at election that it
will not become necessary for us to put the extreme pewees
entrusted to us into execution. l'arties will observe that
it is in the power of the commissioners to com-
pel their attendance, and the production of all
required documents; and, further, that the einninissioners
I ave power to compel them to :Wavier all questions touch-
ing the matters at issue. The penalties attendant upon the
refusal to comply with tile orders of the commissioners arc
very severe indeed; and t trust it may not be necessary the
us to put any of them: penalties in force Parties will also
observe that no couwituences of a civil or of a criminal
suture cm, by any posiability, attend the disclosure of the
truth. Ou the contrary, all parties making a faithful die-
covery of matters within their knowledge are indemnified
from all couvequences, whether of a civil or of a criminal ea.
Lure. The commissioners have power to give n certificate

of indemnity, which is to be a coLplete answer to any pro-
ceedings Warn hereafter againA parties giving evidence in
Oda inquiry, whether with regard to the last or to the
preceding elections. The commissioners arc nowt ready to
gite that certificate; and 1 therefore hope that the inquiry
will proceed as rapidly and as satisfactorily as possible.
Mr. Slade then proceeded to call Mr. Blugg, the town
clerk, and examined that gentleman, for the purpose of
eliciting the olticiol facts with regard to the boundaries and
population of, and number of voters in, the borough of St.
Albans.
Our reporter, however, feeling bound not to resist the
request, however extraordinary, of the cominiasioners, with
regard to the publication of reports of the proceedings,
closed his note-bk, and withdrew Irons the court when
Mr. Slade tiui•hed has address.

A St. Alban's correspondent sends " the following results.,
of the ei ideate,: bef,re the Court of Inquiry, under the im-
pression that it is such an one us the court might think
proper fur publication :"
Mr. Illagg, the town clerk, was sworn and examined re-
lative to the peculiar character of the constituency of the
borough. describing its political features, colours, and prin-
ciples of its c militates, with the number of the totes pulled
pro and run at the last election.
. . . . -

Messrs. Parrott and Rainiest!, the petitioners before the
House of COMMOIIi againd the return of Mr. Bell, were
examiued as to the reasons that liminess' them to present the
petition, and which they Itlicgtml was with the view of pre-
venting brim:l.y and curruptiuu, and preserving purity of
electinn. One of these gentlemen admitted, amid much
amusement, that he voted fur Mr It. W. Carden because
that gentleutau belonged to the church of Euglaad.
Mr. Jacob Bell, was then examined uu the subject
of the meaty advanc,l fur the purposes of the election, 4111.4
as to the circumstances under which ho tune forward as
a candidate. The that com:nunication he received upon

the subject of the election was from Mr. Coppock, the ITiar-
liamentairy *gent, who scut hint a note telling him he
wanted to 'co him particularly respecting a vacancy.
Witness saw Mr. Coppock, who told hint the vacancy was
at St. Albans, and that if lie became a candidate ho was
likely to he returned, and that the expense of it would be
about 2,40 u/. Witness expressed himself rather surprised
at the largeness of the amount, and wasted to know what
it was (r; to which Mr. Coppock replied that there were
various veils mow, and a good deal to pay for agents, and that
that would be uhout the amount; and he thought he could
secure him the election fur that sum of money. No decision,
however, was come to in the first interview, and witness
told Coppoek he would see hint again. Saw Lim the next
day, when the matter was talked over, and witness said
the money was no object, but that he himself personally
would have nothing to do with ft, but would refer him to
other parties. At this period a Mr. Simpson, a solicitor, of
St. Alban's, and another, had been in communication with
Williem for a like purpose. Witness told Coppock that he
would pay the necessary expenses—tho legal expenses.
Witness pay
referred Cupp°. k to the parties concerning
the money, but hesitated to mention names, whereupon
The Chairman explained, that he and his learned friends
Ind nothing in view beyond eliciting the truth, and that if
the witness, being an educated man and member fur the
borough, hesitated answering imestions, it would set a bad
example to others.
Witness, alter score further hesitation, stated, that he
aneamunicated with Mr. Brace, solicitor, of Arundel-street,
on the subject mutter of the money, and with Mr.
Hill (witness's partner), besides emniuunicating with Mr.
Coppock, and that he left it culirely to them, Witnese
banked at two banks, and at one jointly with his partner,
and it was from the joint pat tuership bank that 2,0001. out
of the _,.veil. was drawn, and the 0001. be might perhaps
have given out of his own pocket. With reference to the
election expenses, witness then produced and referred to a
parcel of bids, which he hail paid after the election,
amounting to 1,110/., and which had been incurred after
the presentation of the petition against his return, but he
could not say specifically whether the whole of it was in-
curred for petitioning expenses, or whether some portion of
it was fur electioneering expenses.
At shortly before five o'clock the commission adjourned
until half-past ten o'clock, this day.

WHOLESALE CHILD MURDER NEAR NOTTING-
ave.—No.I7INa MONDAY.—The greatest excitement
pervades this district at the present time ice consequence of
the discovery yesterday afternoon of two more children in
the river 'heat, a mile and a half from this town. A
brutal murder of a child took place last week, the body of
which WAS found in the rivs r Trent ; and this circumstance,
coupled with the present appalling case, has created an ex-
citement rawly exhibited, Twu youths were walking on
the margin of the river Trent, near Wilford, yesterday
altvrnoon, when they discovered the bodies of two children
in the water. Au alarm was immediately given, and the;
were conveyed to Wilford church, there to await the coro-
ner's investigation. Various bruises were found upon the
bodies. It is a shocking fact that within twelve months no
less than eight children have been found in and about that
vicinity. This state of things has caused the authorities to
institute a searching investigation, for the purpose of dis-
covering the authors of these wholesale murders. We are
sorry to state that hitherto no success has attended the efforts
of the police.
LAMENTABLE ACCIDENT PROM GUNPOWDER NEAR
MANcitEtTER.—Ou Friday evening last, a collier walked
into a small shop at Pendlehury, near Manchester, to
- which

pur-
chase some gunpowder, ... he wanted for blasting.
The shlp was kel•t by a person turned Mu•grore, for the
sate of drags,_ grocery,. and -ry. Mrs. Musgrove