The Express.
London, England, 1851-02-21 00:00:00

ELECTION RIOT AND LOSS OF LIFE IN

JAMAICA.

By the Franklin we are placed in possession of
dates from Jamaica to the 31st of January.
From Kingston we learn that a serious riot occurred
in the parish of St. David's a few days previous, which
led to serious loss of life. It appears that an election
for a member of the House of Assembly, to represent
that parish, was appointed to take place on Monday,
the 27th of January, when two candidates were
placed in nomination—Mr. John Nunes, put forward
and supported by the heads of the Kings' House, or
government party, and Mr. James Porteous, by the
conservative party. Mr. Porteous had once before
sat in the house for Port Royal, but Mr. Nunes could
never succeed in obtaining a seat, having been before
defeated in four different attempts to gain an elec-
tion. Determined efforts were therefore made on
this occasion to secure the return of the go-
vernment candidate. The polling went on
briskly, each party keeping even on the poll
until about half-past two o clock in the afternoon,
one and a half hours before the time for closing
the poll. The excitement now became great, and it
was increased by the fact that the whole of Nunes'
interest wall exhausted—he had not a chance of pro-
curing another vote. At this juncture a voter ap-
peared for Porteous, and as this would have given
that gentleman the majority, the services of a body
of armed men, apparently organised for the purpose,
were called into requisition, and a most fearful riot
ensued. The court house was almost entirely de-
molished; the police dreadfully cut and wounded, as
well as several other persons, some of whom, it is
feared, will not survive from the injuries sustained.
Mr. David NPLean, coroner of the parish, was beaten
by the rubble so cruelly that he died a few hours
afterwards. A verdict of " wilful murder" against
three persons has been returned. They had been ap-
prehended, as well as several other parties charged
with being concerned in the riot. The poll was re-
sumed the next day, and Mr. Porteous elected by a
majority of one vote. No acts of violence were re-
newed, but still the greatest possible excitement pre-
vailed in the parish. A detachment of white troops
was to proceed to the district, in order to quell any
further outbreak. During the riot, the sheriff; A. S.
Lyons, Esq., was struck ; and, among others, lie es-
caped greater injuries, by " flying for his life."
The cholera had decreased in many localities, dis-
appeared from others, and in some few was as violent
as ever. The Journal says : The disease has entirely
disappeared from the town of Falmouth, the medical
gentlemen having on Saturday last presented the
local board with a clear bill of health. The accounts
from the rural districts of the parish arc also fa-
vourable.

The recent frauds on the treasury of the island
still excite interest. Mr. Macpherson, charged with
the forgery of island checks, was in gaol. lie had
been once tried for the offence, but the jury could nut
agree to a verdict—ten were for pronouncing hint
guiky, whilst tw•o were opposed to it. Ile will be
tried in April next. Steps are being taken to de-
clare his scut in the Assembly vacated.