The Express.
London, England, 1853-05-16 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, MONDAY EVENING MAY 16, 1853.

ELECTION EXPOSURES.

CORK. EVIDENCII ♦8 .TO TREATING.-

polled, which was • good d:4l owing to the refusal' or
colour tickets. While I wee treasurer last year,
4361. Co. 11d. pissed through my heeds, for tie two candi-
dates jointly,. The band, at 251. per day, was much
cheaper than we had been able formerly to obtain it. John
Burgess was paid 25L for a committee-room, with a few
little items included. We hid the room about 80 days. I
never sanctioned direct mosey bribery in my life; but I
have heard of cues after the elections. There wee bribery
at Mr. H. Wilson's election, and I think alas in 1847 ; but
this was after the election was over. lam speaking of my
own side. Is 1847 Mr. Smythe said, " These are the votes
I bought from you in 1841. • And he also said, "His elec-
tion had toot him 7,0001., and he wanted to know how he
was to get hie money back again." In 1847 Mr. Smythe was
not adopted by the liberals as • "red," a " blue,"
or a " pink," bat as a sort of " nondescript ;" in feet as •
good card. (Laughter.) In 1847 it cost the blue candi-
dates, Lord A. Conyngham and Mr. Smythe, about 9001.
each, so there must have been bribery. Colowneen and
messenger same to about 5001., and other legitimate ex-
penses 6001., so that about 8001. was left for briberf ; but
1 hardly think so much was so spent. I never saw any one
bribed, although Goodwin was employed to get • good
number of votes. (The Chief Commissioner instantly
betted instructions to summons Goodwin forthwith.)
The witness hue inquired whether the commissioners bad
power to go beyond any election at which no corrupt prac-
tices had been proved.
Mr. Slade replied, that ifs gap occurred the commis-
sioners had power to go no further.
The witness submitted that no corrupt prattlers had been
preyed in 1850.
Mr. Anatey said the election of 1850 was only a by elec-
tion, and that only one seat was then vacant; therefore the
objection did not apply.
Mr. Slade: Besides you have not yet proved that no inch
practices prevailed is 1850.
Mr. Antsy: Did you hear any reason assigned for
the retirement of Mr. Vance, just before the election in
1850?—Witness: Yes, I heard a very wild statement that
Mr. Vance was paid 1,0001. to retire.
Mr. Slade : To go back to 1847, what do you know about
the expenditure of the money in bringing them? Wit-
ness : t know that it was said that some one
went up to the committee, and offered to secure
a certain number of votes for 15W., and the
offer was accepted. I believe they were reckoned
at N. a head, but we afterwards learned that be got them
for much less, and some said they had only received 11. It
was Mr. Goodwin who sold " the tally." (Langhter.) He
is a brewer. Mr. Cullen and Mr. S3uthey also got voters,
but I cannot tell how many. Mr. Rutter can tell nll about
it. I think the book produced (a small sumorandam) is
the 1817 book. The entry, " Cullen, 75," Is, I presume,
for • number of voters. It is in Mr. Ratter's handwriting.

By Mr. Anstey : I was chairman when these items wen
submitted to the committee, and they were not disputed.
The first two pages and a half of entries amounting to 4631.
end an entry following of 621. relate almost entirely to cases
of money bribery. The colour tickets ere 4791., and the
total expenditure of the two candidates 1,7851. The
eleven items entered as " gifts, " amounting to
601. 10s., might all be bribes to voters. The entry
201. for flags was for hone fide labour done ; and
was not paid too much—(laughter)—another entry of 401.
for flags was also for flap for Mr. Smythe. The total (or
Hags, ribbons, &c., is 1061.4,. I think the word " gift"
was applied to sums given to parties who had rendered
valuable services during the election. (Laughter.) I think
heed money was never paid in this city. Before the Re-
form Act, the daughter of a freemen enfranchised her hus-
band. In 1850, Mr. Vence retired at twelve o'clock et
night before the nomination day. Ile knocked up Colonel
Rontilly to inform him of this decision. lam satisfied it
was done without previous communication, although some
of Mr. Vance's committee said it was owing to a corrupt
understanding. I have an account of our expenses
fur that election ; they amounted to 2101. 15s. Bd.
Col Romilly bad paid me 4501., expecting a contest,
and I returned him the balance, M. 14s. 55., which was
paid to the sheriff. I don't know who audited the account*
M 1347, but I think Mr. Smythe did. I don't know whe-
ther Lord A. Conyogham interfered with it. I have no
books nor papers for 1841. In 1862 it was said that the
opposite party were going to set down as many as 2,000
oolour tickets. The fact of the freemen being mostly
colourmen is owing to their being in more indigent drown.
stances than the 101. householders. I think if both parties
bad distributed colour tickets at the last election, nearly
one•half of the constituency-would have Pent in recommen-
dations.
The Chief Commissioner thanked the alderman for the
valuable evidence which he had given, and the proceed-
ings were then adjourned