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

COCKERMOUTH.

On Saturday this committee, eonsisting of Mr. 0.
A. Hamilton (chairman), Lord John Manners, Hon. C. F.
Berkeley, Mr. E. Moore, and Mr. Cheetham, met for the
first time.
The petitions alleged bribery, treating, and abduction of
voters against the sitting member, Mr. Aglionby, and his
agents. There is a cross petitiog against Gen Wyndham.
Prior to the commencement of proceedings, Mr. Aglionby
requested permission of the committee to be present. He
said he wished that every transaction should be known to
the committee, and he had no reason to believe that any
he might Bay would be against the witnesses for the
petition.
Counsel for the petitioners were Mr. Macaulay, Q C.,
Sir Walter Riddel, and Mr. Clarke. Counsel for the sitting
member, Mr. Serjeant Kinglakc, Q.C., and Mr. Rowe.
Mr. Macaulay opened the case for the petitioners. The
ausdidates at the last election were—General Wyndham,
who polled 160 votes, Mr. Aglionby 150 votes, and Mr.
Harman 117. Mr. Aglionby and Mr. Homan had joint
Committees, canvassers, and agents, and it wouid he shown
lathe course of the evidence that unscrupulous efforts were
made by these persons to withdraw voters from their poli-
tical allegiance, and they were actually carted away from
Cockermouth in one case across the border to Scotland ; in
another to Ireland; and in another to Hastness, the country
scat of Colonel Benson, uncle of Mr. Benson, solicitor, and
avowed professional agent of Mr. Aglionby, the sitting mem-
ber. Mr. Benson attended the poll, paid the expenses of the
election and the bills for treating at the taverns. The
Sun and Spread Eagle were the head-quarters of Mr.
Aglionhy's party, and there for day! before the election
Mr. Benson profusely and indiscriminately regaled the
electors. The learned counsel went on to narrate the case
of Graves given in the evidence, who, having promised his
vote fur Wyndham, was taken to Hastness by the Aglionby
party, with instructions to keep him until after the polliog
day, and to give him everything of the best. He however
escaped from durance, and recorded his vote for General
Wyndham. A voter named Dempster, was sent on a trip
to Scotland by John Steele, one of Aglionby's agents, who
gave him 5!. fur the purpose. Another voter, Smetherse
favourable to Wyndham, was indulged with a tour to Bel-
fast by Mr. Wilson, a hat manufacturer, his employer, and
one of Aglionby's committee. There were not only these
cases of direct bribery, but cases of indirect corruption in
the shape of the opening of publicans' houses, to induce
them to give their votes. In another case a voter named
Willis bought a horse at " swop " worth 605., and one
Archer agreed that if he would vote for Aglionliy and
liorsman he would buy it for 12/., and that a Mr. liichard-
son should have the use of it. After the uleetion the Lase
was taken to Martin, and Martin received six stone of pota-
toes and paid for fifteen stone. Tho horse afterwards nut
to Carlisle, and in a month after was sold at Carlisle Fair
for 30e. A voter named Norman was directly brilud to vote
for Aglionby by the premise of employment at Mr. Dyls's•
a gentleman of fortune near Cockermoutk, and was in the
receiiit of Ids. a week. One Crone was the fortunate pro-
prietor of a bedstead—(latighter)—and on one ece.sion
when Crone was drunk at Ititson'e, who was repairing it,
Mx. Benson came in and bought the bedstead for CIL, and
I Crone voted for Aglionby. Another voter was protoisal a
I reduction of his rent if he voted for Aglionby. Mewl.
Aglionby and foreman, in addition to the profuse and un-
paid hospitality at the Sun, gave superior entertains:uta
to their immediate agents and supporters.
Mr. Rowe, on behalf of the sitting member, admitted the
agency of Mr. Benson.
Mr. Wood, the returning officer, stated that it was found
necessary to increase the number of police at the elretc:n.
Hannah Crossthwaite, servant to Robert Sanp.on, of
the Crown and Mitre, deposed to meetings having been
held during the election week at her master's house, at
which Benson and Steele, the solicitors, Martin, Wilons
and othc rs were present. Steele engaged the rooms. Sumo
50 flag-bearers, non-tlectors, came there and had alo and
bread and cheese, at Is. Gd. per head, ordered by poison,
and for which Benson paid.
4,Corrus-zexcrinimiteidtt—cellsiidttinnogt
ocknconiwotnhaetlythactrethwo
Mitre—(o laugh)—and that these gentleman I,:loneed to it,
or that the/ belonged to the registriaien connn'ttre.
cro _
.• . - g the
and Mitre, at Cockermanth, and went to a natc.ll., •
Robert Sinpsan was next examined. lie kep: ill.. "
ricsrd..,Cnhuhd_

Sash daring the election. Mr. Benson and Mr. Steele
were there. and he had refreshment-glasses, not of water,
hue of whisky. (Laughter.) Mr. Benson paid for it.
ba,,, Rime ; Martin, jun , sad others were there. Ben-
oit L.usself never enraged a room for Mr. Aglionby
at wane +'s house, but Archer, Lent:lard, and others did
tut, hm. Demon paid for the room. There wane large party
et newel. stun at his house on the nomincion and gelling
ge., and Hinson !mid for what they had. The committee
toms• at agliunby'. party was at the San, and witness went
en to state he saw Edward Steele, Martin, jun., and many
gee° there who convened fur the sitting members, and
Merstaan and Agliouby used to speak from the windows of
the gas. Witness received an order in the committee room
et 'ice Sin to art • carnage to go to Lorton, which was on
fLe nut to Ita.terees., for a pleasant ride with Isaac Graves,
sag !., p lux away over the election. Mr. Agliauby,
Mr ihe.cn, Mr. Steele, and Mr. J. Martin, were in the
se 'Wet the time when this order was given. Witness di-
.e, Ad Croltheraite, the I sidled of the Sun, to prepare the
and winos. and Crosthwaite crossed the
the to. part of the Spread Eagle Inn, and went round
shear to get lir ive• unnoticeably out of the town.
Witat.• r. turned to the Sun, and reported to the com-
mittee Chit he had lodged Graves safe, and told
them G ncr il Wyndham's keeper was following on horse-
ant. tea, where Graves was taken, and instructions were
given to bind a oecond detachment on, to secure Graves.
Witte e. Lail very little money when he went, and Stu!e
en, Lim some. Cape (one of the committee) seat witness
a tare-iock," or tore part of beef, to take with him when
he seated for Muteness, weighing from 20Ib. to 30th., and
•iteen thought it we. a parcel. (Laughter.) The house-
keeper. win n they arrived at Colonel BellsOn's residence,
at 11,,,tenta., regaled witness, Graves, and his companions,
with table freer, but witness not liking the beer, sent out
er s Raton of rem. (Laughter.) Witness carried • note
fr the calamine*, which he gate to the cook, and Graves
wailid about the lawn at ilastences with his bodyguard of
pee W&Ifleto• had charged the expense of all this treat and
nap to ti• committee, and delivered a bill fur it to Steele.
who said hi would ray him. Graves was more stupid than
malt, Red wit n. es left him at Hasten's', in the arms of
Morpheus; hut it appeared that he subsequently eseiraed, '
time C seki rmoutti, and voted fur General Wyndham.
ce.,..-exasniacd—Graves was perfectly willing, and el-
Intend no relincance to go away, but he voted after all for
btaera: Wyndham. Aglionby's party had • registration
committee at the Sun s viral times during the year, and it
Led leers sn (Jr six years; and it was in the registration
1.,,,m white witness saw the committee, who were also
mergers, of the registration committee. Could not say who
on tLe committee first spoke to him about taking Graves
away, but it was a general instruction from the committee.
Gums ',ad be went entirely of his own •• free wall." That
M wanted to go, and was much better out of the row. Did
not beiieve Mr. Aglionby was is the room at the time it
In/ suggested to get a conveyance to take Graves away.
&mos paid five shillings to witness for beer given to the
nocelecton.
By the Committee—Mr. Aglionby was in the committee-
men when witness returned from taking Graves to Haste-
ness, hat not when the directions were given to take Graves
away.
Ronal& Davidson—Was housekeeper to Colonel Benson
at Unitises.. Was in Cockermuuth the day before the
election, and saw Mr. N. Benson, who said be had sent
some pesple up to 11-esteems, and that they were to remain
there and he said she was to give them what they liked to
eat and drink. On her return to Hasteneu she found
Grat.a. Sum I,i n, and others there, and she gave them beer,
whi-lcv, end sine. Several windows were broken. They
emos.d themselves in the servants' hall. G I Wynd-
ham'. pe .plc came one day, at six o'clock cm., and broke
the windows ; and Graves took flight.
John Cronthwaite (landlord of the Sun) deposed to hav-
ing received the order to send Graven to Muteness, and that
he furnished the carriage. Had not brought his books with
him, as requested by the Speaker's warrant. The hill run
up at his Louse for dinners and other matters was 431. ; and
it was raid by Benson. The persons who dined had wine
and beandy every day.
The wife of this witness was under examination upon
the items cautained in the account, when the committee
adj.:tuned.

LEICESTER.
This committee continued its inquiry on Saturday,
.lr. Divett, chairman ; Mr. S. Gregeen, Mr. E. T. Parker,
L rd Dalrymple, and Mr. Kendall.
The ease for the petitioners was resumed by the examina-
tion of a wir.ness named . .

Kirk, who, on the day preceding, had sworn that one
licilyoake had offered him money with a view to induce
his to come up to London and swear falsely that be
received money and refreshments for his vote at the last
election.
0. Ludlam deposed that ho voted at the last election for
Sir J. Walm,ley and Mr. Gardner, and admitted that be
received money from the canvassers employed by those gen-
tlemen to distribute among the voters. There were several
voters playing one day in a skittle alley, and witness was
there. Three gentlemen—Spooner. Swan, and Johnson—
who were canvaasers, came in to canvass the voters there
and they were asked fur something to drink. They how-
ever, gave money, with which witness got porter and
brandy and water. The unionist they gave might be Ss. or
10e.
Cross-examined—The eanvarsers played at skittles with
the voters, and they wished to make it appear that the
money was for the game of skittles, and not to induce them
to give their votes.