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

iTERBURY ELECTION COMMITTEE.

SATMODAT, HALF-PAST Fivpb.ii.
Yesterday the committee appointed to inquire into
the existence of corrupt practices at Parliamentary elections
for the city of Canterbury, commenced their sittings at the
Guildhall, Canterbury. The commit/Amen were—Mr.
Slade, Q.C. (chief commissioner), Mr. Chisholm Anstey,
and Mr. T. B. Bireham. The warrant of her Majesty
having bees read,
Mr. Nett, town clerk, was examined. There were two
qualifications for voting, the one by freedom of the city, and
the other under the Helms Act. He produced hits of
freemen and household electors; the former ameauting to
953, some of whom were also upon the household list. The
last election was in July, when the candidates were Mr.
Johnson, Colonel Hominy, Mr. Smythe, Sir W. Somerville,
and Mr. °app..
Mr. Ballantine here said he attended to watch the in-
terests of certain parties who had been mentioned in eon-
nexion with election events, and who were anxious that the
inquiry should be fell upon both sides.
Mr. Slade thought the learned counsel ought to name the
parties for whom he appeared.
Mr. Ba.lantine handed in a list, at the same time staticg
that he only intended to interfere is the event of the parties
named being attacked.
Mr. Slade said he would take the list ; but could give no
opinion as to Mr. Ballantine's right to be heard until a call
for interference should arise.
hir. Slade said the commissioners would begin to Inquire
into proceedings at the last election, and go bask as far es
the state of the case might require.
Mr. Avis said the practice was then general. Before WC
last election it was general on both sides. At the last des.
tion the " Blues " did not practise it, hems. Colonel
RoraiUy and Sir W. Somerville were determined to pre-
vent it. They both stated to witness that they would not
pay a shilling more than the legitimate expenses. They
made this declaration in consequence of the recommends-
lions for tickets being sent is as usual. I have here a large
packet of recommendations then sent in (produced). Some
of the committee, in 1852, wished to continue the practice,
but the majority were opposed to it, and wished to adhere
to the old practice. Witness had always been opposed to
it, but had no power over it. Witness first became a legal
agent for elections in 1837, and believed he had always op-
posed the practice, although he filed the recommendations.
By Mr. Burcham—Mr. Cooper could explain how the
tickets were distributed at the election of 1850. Witness
was not concerned in the distribution. The arrangement
was then a new one. Had no doubt the colour tickets
would have been honoured if Mr. Vanes had then eons to
the poll, and that Mr. Vance would hart beaten Colonel
Hominy.
By Mr. Slade : Thought the molt of the election of
1852 would have been different ifieolour tickets had been
issued. Voters went away from the committee rooms is
disgust, beesase their recommendations were not attended
to.
Mr. James Cooper sworn and examined : lam mayor of
the City of Canterbury. I handed the letter produced to
Mr. Ayers, as clerk to the magistrates. It came to me
through the post. He advised me: to seal it, as it
appeared to have something to de with the royal commission,
and I did so. Ido not know the bendwriting.
The witness was here requested to withdraw, but to ap-
pear again at a later stage of the Inquiry.
Mr. George Cooper, sworn ad examined by Mr. Made :
I em a stonemason by trade, sad haw been a enema all
my life. The freedom is gained Abu by ill* or eggren-
tieeehip. I belong to the Liberal yaw% sod have
taken an active part, and been • die amonittee. Mat
the committee at the last election, Nary was a nenamittee,
for we were glad of the service of anyone who came into the
room. No particular duties fell to my diem, but I under-
took tocetitheswitielesir-men. Andvari mere sent in fur
wises and the praises wawa we. to give the
debits, they
ei=tlAper imp This was not the
system at the last Them were no colour tickets at
the last election, bat I paid the asenel men who carried the
colons. At the previous demises these men bad colour
ticker; henthey very rarely, Meyer, carried the colours.
The essumitese did not knew who married the colours: but
when the debts were predated they were paid. 300 tickets
were ones hosed, and semethses more. Some of the ticket-
holders eineetisses perhemsd work. There were a
vast way eggiisetions at the last election, but none
were honed. I war mode oat any tickets ; that
was Esse by the ennanittee, amain to a list made
out sod kept Ia the semmittee room. I have issued tickets.
The tiers had no sass, but bore a number, or I think so.
I sea set positive. I sever paid without having a list of
names et puttee entitled.
By Mr. Anstey—The list wee approved by the mussels**
before the colour tickets were limed. The wiloor tickets
hen the initials of the committeemen, and would be paid to
any ens presenting them.
3y Kr. Slade—No one presented tickets for payment at
Wo &Oder of 1552. I paid for the parties who carried the
ININIO. Then was a general understanding between Col.
IWO* sail Sir W. Somerville and their ands that no
disile shag* be issued. They did not wish it because it
was
Mr. They had found that out. Witness: They
had knows that a long time. (Laughter.)
Mr. Slade—Was not that stated to be a mode of turning
the other candidates out ?
Mr. Slade—Wee it not so said in the cocaraitte-room ?
Witness : No, not publicly.
Mr. Slade—You made a calculation that by this mode,
whether at the head of the poll or not, your candidates must
ultimately be returned ?—Witaer: Yes, I think so.
Mr. Slade—Did not this calculation par through the
minds of the committee mug generally ?—Witness: I'm
afraid It did. (Laughter.)
Mr. Made—Did not yen communicate this to each other ?
—Wiener: I think we did.
Mr. Wade—Why you told me just now it was not so
Whig. Oh, I meant there was no formal resolution oaths
Sirial&-rter.) r. ad Dot Mr. Ayris, the legal agent, talked of
this ?—Witaess: Oh yes, that he did. (Laughter.)
' Mr. Blade—l thought se. Did not he state that this will
hi a capital way of going to work ?—Witness he on't know
whether be said it quite so strong as that, but said soma.
thing very like it.
Mr. Made—Did yes communicate to Mr. Alderman
lined, your chairman, this '. artful dodge ? " .(aughter)—
Witmer : I don't think I did.
Mr. Slade—But he thought it was a alpha' dodge not to
bribe yourselves; but to let the other aide bribe all they
Ikea, end this unseat them, and get the seat for your owl
member ?—Witness : No doubt he did. (Leighton)
By Mr. AnWey—Twenty sesessagen sad f iby or sixty
esker kee wise employed in 1882—I think abet eighty or
in die weak Mr. Smythe wee =d
tse ithe
I El,' Mims' is OKI He mussed the in
the Nagy port Whet year, oe I think so. I mew of
usigheenet between him and Col. Heneillkp at that
=di% wasknows that he meant to stand bakes Sir W.
Sweenilis sew hewerd.
Aksemis Brent examined by Mr. have
been as eifermsa dam the year 1830 and have vesed for a
=aapseisd as a Mamas In the Liberal interest. I was
of the lihaml amisittee in 1862 sad is ad
1847. Ia 1810 and ISHII elm sated as treason& I Kink
I have been oweidered chairmaa without beliag
homily NM, when Mr. Smythe ad Mr.
Ilewiker sleek Were was a great expenditure. This
was a bye duties. At a subsequent electien In the owe
year ILr. Smythe wail Mr. Bradshaw were returned; Lel
A. donor sad Mr. F. Villiers were defeated. The
Wear 'yams wu.izr.elezZLlB4o, wail* I was
seasestod with the Cam While the peti-
tion wee pending egelasr"al A. Coombe= in 37, pets
tics
agent from London said every one of such tickets was a
epodes of bribery ; and I sad Gem determined to have
middy more to do with them, but we only supposed It
weak' disqualify the vote open • scrutiny. It was then
spud that the plan should be
altered, by giving the voter
power to nominate parties for two tickets, instead of re-
labial it himself.
Mr. Blade—Was this system introduced after the passing
of the Reform Act ?—Witness: Yes ; but I have heard that
formerly it was a custom to give the freemen a gratuity of
half-a-guinea at Christmas.
Mr. Slade—Can you say when the colour tickets were
first introduced into the city ?—Witner : No, I cannot;
but I think Allen, Anglian, and Mr. Cooper can. We had
no idea that ft was bribery, se we must have colounnen,
but we knew it would disqualify the votes. There was no
goassalesent about it; it prevailed notoriously on both
sides. The money might often go into the voter's
pocket; I have no doubt it generally did so, as it we. often
gives to his children. It we. certainly looked upon as a
bonus to the voter.
Mr. Slade—And did not that occur to you, as a man of
I sear, to be bribery ? (Laughter.)—Witness We did not
think so formerly, but we have thought so since, about
1849.
Mr. Slade—Did it never enter into your mind that you
were debanehiag the poorer electors by bribing them ?
Witness : We knew it was a very wretched system, and
we were desirous of pawls; an end to it. We found that
we were going down the decline, from bad to worse, sod
that the system must be stopped, and we act differently
now.
Mr. Slade—You go very near the wind, now, I think.
(Laughter)
Witter—Colonel Hominy in 1860, and Mr. Paget, will
was with him, dwelt very much upon the evils of the syb
tem, and we resolved to put an end to it, lest it should
demondise the whole constituency. 1 do not think we
decided upon purity, because it would enable us to
sear, our candidates ultimately. We lad good hopes
trio, the canvass, and I think the petition we. not
'seriously thought of at the time. I believe it was not
I until after the unfortunate duel between Mr. Smythe
sad Colonel Remaly that our chance of success
was last. Our promises no up aline 200 more than we