The Express.
London, England, 1853-04-11 00:00:00

THE ELECTION OF POOR LAW GUARDIANS

AT LEEDS

A very severe contest has taken place at Leeds
this year, the liberals being determined, it possible, to oust
the tory guardians, who for years have ruled at this beard.
It is believed that at elections in former years, the tories
have been returned by fraudulent means, the voting papers
having been tampered with to an incredible extent. It
was proved at the official investigation lest year that these
mal-practices had been carried on by the tory agents, and
such an exposure then took place u proved to the satisfac-
tion of every one that the existing mode of election far
guardians is one of the worst that can be devised.
Even the tories now admit that the system is
bad, and required great alterations. On Saturday
last two tory canvassers, named George Clark, and John
Whiteley, were brought before the mayor and a bench of
magistrates, at Leeds Court House, charged with having
illegally collected a number of voting papers, with intent to
affect the result of the present election. The charge was
clearly proved against them. Thursday was the day on
which the properly authorised persons should have collected
the voting papers in a district of the north west ward. In
order, however, to prevent him getting the liberal voting
papers, the two defendants went round on the Wednesday,
dPapers,eanddthsautcctheedeyedwinereobauippc!winngteda
ctoonoidlleecilltehenuvmobtieurg
Whilst engaged in this fraudulent proceeding they
were remonstrated with for their conduct, but
still they proceeded on their illegal errand, and afterwards
were taken into custody, but liberated on bail, until Satur-
day morning. The offence is made criminal by the 15 &10
Vic., cap. 105, see. 3, under which three informations were
laid. They were taken into custody at the central com-
mittee-room of the tories, and when taken to the police-
station, nine voting papers, seven of them filled up for New-
tot and Darke, the two liberal candidates for the North
West Ward, were found in their possession, together with a
COITUS book and some election placards. The case was so
clearly made out that Mr. Blanshard, the barrister engaged
to defend the prisoners, admitted that he could offer no de-
fence, and contented himself with craving the mercy of the
court for his clients. Mr. Barret, solicitor, who appeared
for the prosecution, said though thislwas the first offence
brought before the justices, it was by no means the first
time that these pactices had been resorted to at these
elections.
The Mayor in giving judgment said the case was not
only clearly made out, but it was without one mitigating
circumstance except of having acknowledged their guilt,
without fighting out the case to the last. It was, however,
the first case brought before the justices, and in accordance
with their usual practice they should not inflict the full
punishment, which was three months' imprisonment with
hard labour, but they should send both the defendants to
prison for one month, giving this warning, that in any
future case brought forward and proved, they should sen-
tence the offender to the full term of imprisonment which
the law allowed.

TILE FRENCH FLEET. The Peninsular and
Oriental steam-ship Haddington, Commander E. Cooper,
fell in with the French fleet on the 29th of March, in lat.
36.1 N., long. 13.40 E., steering to the eastward, with a
strong W.N.W. wind. The fleet consisted of 3 three-
deckers, 4 two deckers, and 1 steam-frigate. One of the
three-deckers was busy repairing the lose of..has,tib-boom
and fore-top-gallant mast. •