The Express.
London, England, 1853-06-18 00:00:00

PLYMOUTH.

The committee met again yesterday shortly after
11 o'clock.

Elia•tintith, an elector at Plymouth, who gave a plumper
for Mr. Mare at the last election, said he had promised one
vote to Mr. Mare, and another to Mr. Palmer. Was quite
sure he made no statement to Otorge Hancock that he had
a brother and father who were electors, and that they and
he would rote for those who would do them the most good.
Might have said that he Would vote for the good of the
country, or for the public at large. (A laugh.) Did not
know before the election that his brother John had got an
appointment in the dockyard. Knew that his brother Walter
had applied, previous to the election, for an appointment for
John. Plumped to oblige Mr. Mare. Saw Mr. Mare at kW
►etel. Told him that Mr. Stikine, the **toil candidate,
had called on him far his (witness's) vote, and said that Mr.
Mare wished hint to give it to him. Mr. Mare said that
was a fiction, and that it was a very ungentlemanly act on
the part of Mr. Brains. This was the evening before the
election.

By the Committee—Might have had a word with his
father and brother, before the polling-day, about the ap-
pointment for John. Did not know what government was
in power at the time, nor that all appointmen s came from
the government, nor that Mr. Mare was attached to the
government patty. Could not say why Mr. Mara was a
man whose return he thought was for the good of the coun-
try. Voted for him because he was connected with the
shipping interest. The way he gave his vote had nothing
to do with the appointment of his brother. Was not aware
that any of his family had postponed giving their vote until
his brother had passed his trial in the dockyard.
Jacob Smitb, father of the preceding witness, said he was
aware that his son John got an appointment in the dock-
yard in July last. Never heard of any application being
made for the appointment. Knew nothing of the appoint-
ment until be got it. Always voted the same way uhe did
at the last election. Had been a tory from his infancy. It was
before the last election that he heard his son had got into
the yard. Never asked Mr. Palmer nor any one else to help
John to a situation.

By the Committee—Heard from Walter that he had made
an application for a situation fur John. If John had not
got the aituation, would have toted fcr Mr. Mare all the
same.

James Smith, who plumped for Mr. Mare, denied that be
ever had any conversation with his brothers John or Wal-
ter, as to an appointment for John. It was two or three
days, or a week, after the election that he first heard that
John had got an appointment.
By the Committee—Wu on good terms with John.
Saw his father and brothers nearly every day. Voted at
the last election but one for Mr. Palmer. Walter
mentioned to me that he was applying for a situation for
John. . _ ... .

Samuel Mitchell did not remember before the last election
baring any conversation about his vote with Walter Smith.
Voted for Mr. Mare of his uwn accord. Was can
vaned. Did not know that Walter Smith was trying to
get John into the dockyard. John is witness's brother-in-
law. Understood that he is now in the yard. About six
mouths before the election John said he would like to get •
situation under government as a sawyer or a labourer.
Witness replied it would be a good thing. John never
asked hint on that occasion about his vote. On the day of
the election met John, who asked him which way he had
voted, and be replied for Mr. Mare. Would swear he did
not hear, before the election, that John had got an appoint-
ment. Had no recollection of hearing that. Was drunk
for two or three days together at the election. (A laugh.)
Won't swan, that the ',kola family of the Smiths had lap
of Mr. Mare over their doors. Witness had one. Was paid
ne bill before or after the election. Had sent no bill in to
Mr. Mare or any of his agents.
By the Committee—Hept a public-house. It was not an
open" house during the election.
Mr. Lockyer, a resident at Plymouth, recollected canvas-
sing Jacob Smith at the last election, on behalf of Mr. Col-
lier, and he distinctly promised to vote for that gentleman.
Jacob Smith kept a beenhop,
By the Marquis of Chandos.—Found that many electors
had promised more votes than they could give. Did not
think it was customary in the town to make application for
situations in the dockyard shortly before an election.
By the Chairman.—lt was the common 'talk in the town
at the last election that situations were being applied for to
Kr. Mare and Mr. Churchward. A voter named Sherrill
told witness that be or his mother had applied to Mr. Mare
for en appointment, but could not say whether he got it.
Told him, also, that be had received • note requesting him
to call at Mr. Mare's betel.
By the Marquis of Chandoe—Never heard any rumour
of appointments being glean away by the other candidates.
Williens Hearn, a laboumr, and • keeper of • beer-shop
at Plymouth, said he voted la 1852 for Mr. Brains and Mr.
Mare. He had a red and blue dag outside his house. Could
not say whose edam those were. Understood they were
Mr. Mare's. Had no doubt about it. Had • sou named
Clement, who is a smith. He was now in the dock and
and he received his appointment in June last. Would
swear he never said to Mr. Jenkya Thomas, As Mr.
Palmer has retired, I will vote for Mr. Mare if you will
do something for my son." Could not say when he
first heard of his son's appointment. Could not nock
lect having
.applied fir lt. Witness's wife first told him
of the appointment. Was a dockyard labourer himself.
Had been in the yard twenty years. Mr. 'coign
Thomas canvassed him for Mr. Mare, sad he then had
some conversation with him about • vacancy in the yard
which he wished to have for his son. Lieut. Sumpter
also canvassed him for Mr. Mare, and he told him that be
intended to split his vote—to give one to Mr. Mare, and
the other to Mr. Brain*. Afterwards saw Mr. Mars at the
Baal Hikaaaad he asked him to give him a plumper.
Wa ess to that it was his intention divide his vote.
That was that_passal. Never tried to fit his sou into
the Maya& Wes net pnrticularly surprised to find him
thew. D 44 net ate kr Mr. Mare on condition of his son
IVAN as appealment. Voted quite o:meahationdy.
By the Oenalitai—Did not know that the appointments
of ennitbs cud labourers in the dockyard were made by the
=in power. Had heard so since the election.
baal Mr. Mare was &conservative. It was the con-
moat talk that Mr. Mare could give government places.
Did set bear that any other person in Plymouth could
make appointments. Might have heard so.
Mr. Jakyn Thomas, a printer and stationer at Ply-
mouth, sad he canvassed the preceding witness en the part
of Mr. Palmer. Atter Mr. Palmer redred, Hearn called on
him and said he intended to vote for Mr. Mare. Witness
took him to the Royal Hotel. Hearn there said he was
only in a little way of business, and wanted some employ-
ment for his son. Witness told him he thought he could
get him • place on the River Thames. Ream replied that
that would take him away from his family, and that he
would rather be in the dockyard. Witness understood
Hearn intended to give Mr. Mare a plumper. His words
were, "Now Mr. Palmer has retired, I think you ought to
do something form son, as I intend to vote for Mr.
Mare." At the hotel witness saw Mr. Churchward, and he
left Ream with him. To the best of his knowledge he
told Hearn who the gentleman was. He introduced
Hearn to Churchward as a voter for Mr. Mare. Before
he took Hearn to the hotel, he saw Mr. Churaward about
him. Churchward told him to bring the voter. Men-
tioned to Mr. Churchward that Ham wanted employment
for his son as a blacksmith, and that if he got it he would
vote for Mr. Mare. Witness thought that Mr. Churchward
could get a situation for the son in Mr. Mare's yard. His
taking him to the hotel bad no reference to the dockyard.
Since the election the son had thanked hinter recommend-
ing him to a situation. Took the father to the hotel in order
that he might get a situation for his vote. It was well
known that situations were obtained for votes, and that
applications for them were made to Mr. Churchward. The
son told him that since his appointment he had received
wages which were worth having—that formerly he could
not do with what he got. Thomas Lidatone, who formerly
kept a beer-shop at Plymouth, was now in Mr. Mare's yard
at Blackwell. He was a voter for the borough at the last
election, and voted for Mr. Mare. Before the election, he
told witness that he wished to leave his business, and get a
permanent situation. He wanted en appointment in the
dockyard ; but witness said he could not promise that, but
he aught get him something to do on the Thames. Wit-
ness introduced him to Mr. Churchward, and then left them
together. Afterwards saw Lidstone, and be told witness
Mr. Churchwud would get him a situation after the elec-
tion, but not in the dockyard; and that he had promised to
vote for Mr. Mare. At municipal elections, when voters
favoured witness with their votes, he frequently in return
got them situations at yards on the Thames.
By the Chairman—Took Lidstone to Mr. Churchward
under the impression that he was the person to whom appli-
cation was to be made for situations. _ _

Examination continued—Canvassed J. Burney Bodden
for Mr. Mare two or three days before the election.
Shortly afterward* Bolden came to his shop, and said he

wanted a situation, observing that he would vote for Mr.
Mare. Spoke about the son to Mr. Churchwsrd, who
said he would be taken ears of. Young Sodden subae-
quently got employment in Mr. Mare's yard. Witness
applied himself to Mr. Churchward for a situation fcr
his son-in-law. Moreover he (witness) offered money
for a situation, but Mr. Churchward said he was "
above receiving mosey for such a purpose, but'
that he was willing to do what he could for an
old friend and a Conservative, when an opportunity offered.
He applied to him two months after the election. The an-
swers he received were dated the Morning Herald Office.
He applied for the situation of a clerk in the dockyard.
His (Thomas's) son•in-law had not yet got inch a situation.
Did not take Hearn slid Sodden to the hotel for the pur-
pose of being bribed. Took them there, and left them to
manage their own matters with Mr. Churchward. Thought
he should have taken them to that gentleman if they had
not spoken about situations.
By the Chairman:. Had heard it frequently stated at
Plymouth that an offer of a place, after a promise to vote
was given, was not bribery, if there was no money tran-
saction in the matter. He supposed it was owing to a be-
lief of that kind that the practice of applying for situations
was so general in the borough.
At four o'clock the committee adjourned until 11 this
day (Saturday).