The Express.
London, England, 1853-08-23 00:00:00

THE CHARGE AGAINST MR NORMAN

WILKINSON.

Mr. Norman Wilkinson, 9, Threadneedlc•rtrcetr
share dealer, appeared before the Lord Mayor, ►t the Mau-
sion-huute, yesterday, upon a summons issued at the in-
stance of the Eut India Company, to answer the charge
of having unlawfully bargained with a person, whose name
is unknown, fur the purchase of au office in the gift of the
East India Company, contrary to the statute.
Mr. Clarkson, instructed by Messrs. L►wford, solicitors
to the East India Company, appeared for the 'prosecution
Mr. Bodkin and Mr. Hawkins, instructed by Messrs.
Buechel, attended fur the defence. The City Solicitor at-
tended as Weiser of the Lord Mayor.
The justice-room was crowded with gentlemen connected
with the East India-house, and with members of the Stock
Exchange, and merchants.

Mr. Clarladen, in • lengthened statement, recapitulated
the details which he entered into upon the occasion of ap-
plying for the summons on the 9th inst., and having put in
evidence some correspondence between the sccreery to the
East India Company and the defendant, in which the latter
declined to give up the name of the person with whom it
was alleged be had been in treaty for the cadetship in
question, proceeded to call Mr. W. A. Wilkinson, the hon.
member fur Lambeth, and brother of the defendant, -Nilo
underwent a precisely similar course of examination to that
to which he wee originally subjected, with the exception
that he was now sworn. At the conclusion of the bon.
member's examination in chief, the following questions
were put to him by

Mr. Clarkson—Do you knew the person whom your
brother named 13 you as the party with whom be had been
in treaty ?

Wilkinson—Yep, I do.

Mr. Clarkson—What was his name ?

Mr. Wilkinson—l decline to give you the name, and I wish
to state to the court why I think I am justified in 60 doing.
Mr. Bodkin objected to any reasons given by the witness
fur his 'Omni being catered upon the depositions.

Mr. Clarkson insisted upon whatever was uttered by the
witness being made part of the depositions.
The Lord Mayor said he thought tha: the reasons of the
witness ought to be recorded.
Mr. Wilkinson—l decline to answer the question put to
me, because as I am advised and believe there is no proper
foundation for this charge, and consequently no proper
foundation for this question. I have every disposition to
give every information in my power upon the charge st.
tempted to be laid upon my brother, but I consider that this
question forms no part of that charge, and is not
within the scope of the evidence which I have sworn to
give.

Mr. Clarkson then applied for permission to cross-examine
Mr. Wilkinson, on the ground that he was an unwilling
and hostile witness, which request, after being strenuously
opposed on the pert of Mr. Bodkin, was ultimately acceded
to, but which failed to elicit anything further than had
already been atattd by the hon. member in his previous

Croft-examined by Mr. Bodkin—Can you chyme your
recollection with the distinct words used by your brother in
my one of the conversations about which you have been
examined?
Mr. Wilkinson—No, I cannot.

Mr. Bodkin —Did you in the &at instance learn from
Tour brother that a friend of his had presented hint with an
appointment for his son ?
Mr. Wilkinson—Was going to present him.
Mr. B 41kin—And had offered it ?
Mr. Wilkinson—Bo I understood; that was my first
im-
pression.

Mr. Bodkin—Without any mention whatever of any con•
siderstion of any kind/

Mr. Wilkinson—Not at that time.

Mr. Bodkin—When your brother afterwards told you
that he inferred from the language of the party be was
talking with that some money was expected, did he also
tell you that he had taken the advice of a friend, who told
him that such a transaction was illegal?
Mr. Wilkinson—No, not at the first ; that was at the
second occasion.
Mr. Bodkin—Did he soon afterwards tell you so ?
....... _

Mr. Wilkinson—Sams little time alter that he told me so.
Mr. Bodkin—He told you that be had spoken to a friend,
who told him that if be agreed to such a proposition it
would be illegal ?
Mr. Wilkinson—Yes, something to that effect: that he
had better take rare what he was about, for he WAS doing
something that was wrong.

Mr. bodkin—DM he tell yon that that friend informed
him that if be inquired at the India House he would see the
declaration that was required to be made, and which would
of itself show the illegality of such a transaction ?
Mr.

to thst effect. Ile told me
that there would be a paper to be signed.
Mr. Bodkin—Did he tell you that be went to the India
House and saw the form, the declaration?

Mr. Wilkinson—l do not know that he did.
Mr. Bodkin—Did he tell you that he saw the form of
the declaration ?

Mr. Wilkinson—l understood him that be had men
a paper, or that his friend had told bias that there was a
paper. . . .

Mr. Bodkin—That ho had sitca it ?

Mr. Wilkinson—l understood that be had seen it.

Mr. Bodkin—Did he tell you that that form of declara-
tion satisfied him of the illegality of such a transaction, and
that he would have nothing more to do with it

Mr. Wilkinson—Yes.
Mr. Bodkin.—Did he ever tell you that be MI Me
agreed with this party to give a sum of money fee theme
in question. or entered into any treaty of that kind ?
Mr. Wilkinson.—No, he did not.
Mr. Bodkin.—Now you have said something about a
commission in the army ; did your brother tell you that
his private opinion was that such an appointment might be
sold u a commission in the army ?
Mr. Wilkinson.—No ; I do not remember that he did.
Mr. Bodkin.—Now, with the exception of what you
have told us, do you know from your brother of any bow-
gain whatever, or any treaty for this appointment
Mr. Wilkinson.—Nothing more than what I have stated.
Re-examined by Mr. Clarkson.—Can you tell us the
name of the friend of whom you have spoken as having put
your brother on his guard ?
Mr. Wilkinson.—No, I cannot.
Mr.
Mr.

Ton never heard his awns ?
may hays heard his was ; ay bro-
ther asy hay* mentioned his name to me, but I cannot
remember.
Mr.

to recollect sad t.O no whether
Jon are prepared to swear that you do sot know. You say

that you may have heard.
Mr. Wilkinson—l should be very sorry to mislead you.
I might mention one, two, or three names and not the right
one ; it may have been one or two persons, but I do not
know who it was.
Mr. CL
persons ?

he mention the names of one or two

Mr. Wilkinson—l have no doubt be did; I do not know
why he should not, but I do nut remember.
Mr. Clarkson—Has not this matter interested you,
and have you not been endeavouring to recollect the cir-
cumstance

Mr. Wilkinson—No, I confess I thought it exceedingly
immaterial as to who it was who told him that fact.
Mr. Clarkson—However, you mean to state upon your
oath that you cositively do not know who it was?
Mr. Wilkinson—l positively do not know who it was. I
might make a guess.

Mr. Clarkson—Tell me whom you guess it was.
Mr. Wilkinson—No, I will not; that is the reason why
I will not mention it.