The Express.
London, England, 1853-05-20 00:00:00

ELECTION EXPOSURES.

CANTERBURY BRIBERY COMMISSION.
CANTERBURY, THCIIUMAY ArrEßNoort.
resumed their inquiry to-day

Tho Commissi
at the usual hour.

The first witness was George Davey, who stated that he
paid three voters of the name of White tit each for their
votes, and to prevent their going over to the reds.
James Godwin stated that since he was last examined he
had ascertained the names of 11 other voters to whom he
gave money in 1847, when he was acting for Mr. Smythe.
Witness was exchequered to the sum of Lam. in that
year, and the government called on hint to pay 1001. Lord
Albert Conyngham agreed to use his influence with the
Excise for witness, if witness would use hie power for his
lordship at the election, and they befit pzrtonned their
promise.
Mr. Kelson, surveyor and builder, examined—la 1547
ho received money from Bennett to buy votes, and he gave
Page, of the Windsor Castle, 101., as Page told him the
other side had offered 101. Witness paid sonic a/. away in
this manner by order of Bennett, who said the case was
getting desperate. In 185'2 Pont gave him 1601., with
which he bribed 40 voters with sums of 01. and 71. There

was a body of electors in Canterbury called the Butter-
market troop, of which Mr. Matthews, a magistrate, was
leader. Witness went to tho Me of Man when the com-
mittee of the House of Commons set on the Canterbury
election petition. Pont gave hint 101. to go away, and sent
him another 101. after.

F. Cobb examined—Rutter gave him 35/., nod witness
gave Beale 61. fur a pair of " shaps." (Laughter.) This
was a blind for Beale's vote.

Southey was recalled, and denied baring received any
money, but said be paid 501. out of his own pocket in 1841
for treating. He was always foolish and lavish in the ex-
penditure of his own mmey at election% but never received

any recompense.
J. Vincent, of the Builders' Arms, said that Pont at the
last election gave him 60/., which he applied in the purchase
of votes, keeping 151. for himself.
G. F. Smith, general mannier of the colour-ticket de-
partment, stated that in 1841 between 1,200/. and 1,6001.
was spent in colour tickets, and 3651. in 1832. The practice
of issuing colour tickets prev.iiled at the county elections,
and at Sir Brooke Brydgcs' last election, and witness super-
intended their issue at it. There were GOO colour tickets
issued at the county election. The last election for Canter-
bury was the poorest ho had known. Less bribery was
practised, and he had spent thousands before where he
then only spent hundreds.
Samuel Blinks examined—Holland employed him to
ascertain the price of voters, and gave him a list of these
likely to be bought. The sums required ranged from
51 to 101. each. . _ _

After some further similar evidence, the proceedings were
adjourned to this day.

CORK.

In the course of the proceedings yesterday, before
the committee,
Mr. Serjeant Murphy was examined by Mr. James—
Ile said he first represented Cork in 1811, resigned in 1846,
and was elected again in 1819. At the last election in 1652
he had so little idea of not being returned that he did not
commence his canvass till four days before the receipt of the
writ ; thinks the whole time spent in the canvass was about
eight or ten days. He received assurances from many of the
conservative party, that if he cJuld abstain from any com-
bination with the liberal party, they (the conservatives)
would support him. The effect of the Stockport riots, and the
proclamation against Roman catholic processions in Cork,
was this—that many of the Roman catholic' of the higher
classes, who were in the habit of mixing with their protest-
cant fellow-citizens, usually abtained from voting at all;
but, on this occasion, they voluntarily came forward and
tendered him their support. In all has speeches he did his
very best to promote conciliation among catholic and pro-
testant', and drew a marked contrast between the go-
vernment of Lord Derby and the protestant people of
Ireland, whose humane conduct, during the famine, he
paised highly. The Rev Mr. Falvey, Roman catholic priest,
who addressed the people on the nomination day, spoke in
the most respectful terms of Col. Chatterton personally, and
warned the people of the sin they would commit if the
were to take a bribe and then take the bribery oath. With
regard to the chapels being used u places for addressing the
people on political matters, in the country parts the people
live so far apart and scattered it would be Impassible to can-
vass them or bring them together at any other place ; and
this is always done after Divine service, is concluded, and
when the sacred elements are removed from the chapel.
Mostly those meetings are held in the Chapel-yard, if the
weather is at ail favourable. It is a gross falsehood, as
sworn by the witness Tuomy, that witness was at Edmund
Burke's house on the polling-day (where treatieg was
alleged to have taken place); so far front there being any
disturbance of a serious nature during the polling-day, the
crowds of women were shouting, joking, and laughing ;
they complimented him on his good looks, and several of
them kissed him. He saw no personal outrage whatever.
It was about half-past one o'clock on the polling day when
he came into Cork from his country seat.
The cross-examination of Serjeant Murphy had proceeded
some time, and was chiefly relative to certain electioneering
meetings he had attended, and the speeches ho had made
at them, when it was announced that tho Speaker was at
pros en; and
The committee adjourned to this morniog.