The Express.
London, England, 1851-11-05 00:00:00

ST. ALBANS BRIBERY COMMISSION.

Yesterday, the commissioners, F. W. Slade, W.
Forsyth, and I. Phinn, Esqrs., resumed their sittings,
suspended since Thursday, at the Courthouse, St. Albans.
It was known that an this day Mr. Coppock would he the
chief witness; and, as a matter of course, tho court was
densely crowded.
The first witness called was
Mr. Heywood Edwards (the son of Edwards, the agent
of Mr. Bell). He detailed facts which have alreaoy been Ear-
rated in the evidence of Edwards, senior. The single im-
portant point in his testimony referred to the " induce-
' meat " suggested by Mr. Coppck to his ather. His father
had told him, when he wee going up to town for the
" pcket," that Mr. Coppock bad oromised a government
situation to one of his (the lather's) sons. t hat
was the inducement to activity in the late election
on the part of the Edwards flintily. Witness had four
,brother. None of the sons hai ever yet obtained any
public situation. One of the sons was at present a pupil in
Christ's Hospital School. Mr. Bond Cubbell had get the
son into that school. Mr. Bond Cabbell had been a member
fur St. Albans, and Edward'., ran., had acted as his age's:.
Edwards, sen., was again examined for a short time. Ho
was asked, had any "head money" given by him at the late
election been returned by any persons. He answered,
" None." Ile was then asked US to Mr. Bell's canvassers
at the last election. One of the committee was Mr. Itvding.
Mr. Reding was a dissenting minister. Witness did not
think Mr. Reding had ever been concerned in any pre•
vious election. Mr. Reding was not very active. itne-s
did not think Mr. I:Ming was at all cognisant of the elec-
tion praciices as conducted by witnees. Had not heard
tram Mr. Coppock since he (witness) had been examined.
Had beard from Mr. Coppock while he was at Hastings,
and since his examination hu had written to Mr Coppock.
The statement of witness's son, as to Mr. Coppock a pro-
mise of a situation, was quite correct. But thu word
" government" was nut matte:led by witness to his sun.
It was to be a "situation," that was all that was said.

Mr. Franca Edwards (another of the sons of the last
witness) was also exarnimed. Ile also had acted in the late
election as agent between his father and Mr. Coppock. He
had carried " packets." Ile also, like his brother, had
acted as duor-keeper at the house in Sovereign-alley.
Mr. James Coppock was then called and sworn—He said
I am a solicitor and parliamentary agent, and have offices
at •tO, Parlisment-street.
Mr. Slade—Have you any statement to make before we
put questions to you S We would prefer that you would
put what you have to say in a narrative form.
Mr. Coppoek-1 have to ay that ou receiving your
luminous, I considered it my duty, as a solicitor, and na..-
ing been employed contidentally, to write to Mr. Bell and
to ask his permiss:on to acswer certain questions which
might be put to me. And I beg to say, with all due defer
coca to your court, that had 1 not obtained that permis-
sion, no power on earth would have induced me to speak.
(Mr. Coppock read his letter to Mr. Bell. It asked Mr.
Bell if he desired any part, and if any, what part, of his
communications with the writer to he kept secret. it stated
that in the opinion of the writer the confidence imposed in
a solicitor by a client could not be violated by an ex post
facto law; anal that the writer would disclose nothing
without Mr. Bell's permission. Finally, that tho writer
could take care of himself.) Mr. Bell's answer to me was
explicit. (Mr. Bell's letter was also read. It beg 7.d
Mr. Coppock to withhold no evidence n
to the carrying out of tho object of the en.. •
mission. Mr. 'Bell said further (" By that act the cwt.
fidence between solicitor and client is shamed ; but in etc
present instance I think nothing ought to be withhi Id.")
I had previously had verbal authority from Mr. Bell to an.
swer all questions here, but I thought it necessary to get
his written permission. I have also to make another pall.
minus remark. I have heard it stated since I came int)
court by Edwards that he received a letter from me while I
was at Hastings. I wish that letter produced.
Mr. Edwards-1 hadn't it. I will produce it to-morrow.
After some conversation between Mr. Coppoek and the
commissioners, as to the extent of Mr. Edwards's statement
in regard to the communication from Mr. Coppock,
Mr. Coppock continued—l did write to Edwards from
Ilastings; but it was before the inquiry, as fur as I know,
had commenced. I wrote on Monday, and all I said was
" as I do not know what is doing at St. Albans I wish you
would let me know what is going on. Your answer will
find me in Parliament-street.' Eilwards's reply was
written on the Thursday night after he bad been examined,
and I think it right to put in that reply. This is the only
communication, direct or indirect, 1 have had with Ed-
wards on the subject of this inquiry. (The letter wry read.)
Edwards stated therein that the understanding in St.
Albans was that Mr. Cuppock was to be examined on Tues-
day (yesterday) ; that nothing had come out touching him
(Coppock) further than the money being traced to his
Mee ; that the commissioners had reserved a question re-
laying to the " inducement " held out by Coppock to him
Mdwards), " drawn out of me by mere tact," and assuring
Mr. Coppock that he (Edwards) would not answer this
mandiou if Mr. Coppoce would not—" wirer what I may.")
have not seen Mr. Edwards since I received that letter
until this morning in this court; anal if I had seen him, I
would not have held any communication with him.
Mr. Slade Will you, now, Mr. Coppock, give us a
narrative of your proceedings in respect of St. Albans. Will
you commence with the period when you first heard of the
vacancy ?
Mr. Coppock—l knew Mr. Bell first in 1819. My pro-
fession leads me a geed deal into transactions connected
with parliamentary vacancies. I have been engaged in
that way ever since Sir Robert Peel's celebrated " Register,
register, register" speech—ever since iu fact. About
that time an association was formed of the leading liberals
of the day to look after elections ; and when it was este-
, bliahed, 1, without any solicitation on me part, was applied
to to become the secretary. It was called the Reform
Asso-
elation. its object was generally to attend to the zegtstra-
Hun for England and Wales, and to assist the liberal cause
generally. As secretary to that association, I was led into
communication with every borough, and every city, and
every county in tho kingdom; and from that time
W this, I hardly knew how, in some way, as
monected with the liberal party, I have been one
of the first to know when a vacancy anywhere
scarred. I have watched all the vacancies; and I know
something, more or less, of most places in En ' ad. I can
say that positively. I cannot go through a bor-Ouith register,
as Mr. Edwards has done, and ticket elf each voter, say-
Lag "to such a one I gave so much." But I could take a
list of the English boroughs, beginning with Abingdon and
ending with the last letter ; and if I were to put opposite
as I could, " the member paid so much for his seat," I
should perhaps make as extraordinary a statement as that
which you have had from Mr. Edwards. (Cheers—appa-
paently personal to Mr. Coppock for thus defending
St. Albans at the expense of the whole kingdom—came
from all parts of the court.) I beg you to understand, Mr.
Commissioners, that I did not state this to excite applause.
I state this to show what the system is; and no man
in the kingdom has a greater horror and deatstation
of that system than I have. I have said that I knew Mr.
Bell first in 1819. At that time a friend of mine, and a
friend of his, Mr. Thorby, curve to me. Mr. Thorby said
he had a friend anxious to get into parliament. He
asked me if I knew of a vacancy. I asked who he was'
—was he a " producable " man, an orator, and so on.
Mr. Thorby would not give me the name, nor particulars.
I inquired about the gentleman's polities. lam never
employed by any but the one side ; and I never would
be. Thorhy took time to consider. lie returned to me
in about t'.aree weeks, and afterwards Mr. Bell called. I
snide at memorandum in my pocket-book of his acme. I
inquired about the expenses be was prepared for, for it is
as absolutely necessary to know the depth of a member of
=cut's pocket as tho character of his principles.
ter.)
Mr. Slatie—l am sorry to interrupt you. But what
did you tell Mr. Bell would be the expense ?
Mr. Coppoek—l am going on, sir. I will tell consecu-
tively—without adopting the "once upon a tame" style.
I asked what amount Mr. Bell would expend. Mr. Bell
Mid ms very frankly that his only object iu getting into
parliament was to promote some views with regard to the
medical profession; that he had no ambition; that he
wanted nothing, and had nothing to ask fur. Ile further
said, as respected the expense, that money was no object
with him, and that he would not mind any proper expen-
diture. I told him a seat would cost from 1,5001. to 2,0001.
according to the place. He left me: I being authorised to
send for hint whenever a vacancy occurred which I thought
would suit him. Twelve months elapsed before anythiug
occurred which would have suited, because there are
only a few places like St. Albans to which any-
hotly can be introduced who is ready to go through the
regular expenses. Well, on the 17th November, Mr.
Raphael died. I heard of his death the next day; and I
sent a messenger down at once to St. Albans. I sent one
letter to Mr. Langridge, whom I had long known as a most
respectable man. I sent another letter to Mr. Hudson, a
ftiendof Edwards's, and I senta third letter to Edwards him-
self. I have not copies of these letters, but they ancouueed
generally that there was a vacancy. The letter to Edwards
desired him to meet me at Watford station the next morn-
ing. The letter to Hudson said that as Edwards, at a pre-
vious election, hail broken faith with me, I relied on Hudson
to keep Edwards; straight. The letter to Langridge only
mentioned the vacancy, and expressed a hope that we
should return a liberal member. I went toWatford next day.
I did not see Edwards there, but I learned that, there being
some mistake as to the appointment he had gone on to
London. I returned to London, and went to Parliament-
stmt. Edwards hag been, and had promised to call again.
When he called, I saw him. We had some conversation.
I asked him if he could return a liberal member in
Ileginel's place. He said there would be no difficultr_if
wort the funds. I asked the expense. Ile maid 2,51001.
It ties was a contest ; but he mentioned that there was •
psbability of there being no contest. This probability arose
eat ei what had taken place at a previous election, when, is
INMISSIIIIMOS of what I call the breach of faith with me. an
11.111111MISt was entered into by Edwards, whereby Mr.
=Ywas returned, Mr. Raphael also brought in,
r. Craven thrown out; and in consideration at
yearn Mdwaris then did for them, the conservatives pre-
miss& Yin ghee they world not on the next vacancy oppose
=ineaitaaggbe bring forward. After seeing Edwards I
wilt Mr. Craven. He had been a candidate
111. Albans es ibs previous occasion, and knowing that
ba. bum lb anoxia as with families resident in the neigh-
bsedesedi of St. Albans, and from his position in society,
illeaerilmilmble candidate and would have an advautsge
OW II MIS Mass from the ranks, I thought it right to in-
set/MN ibillteMbrman would come forward again. Did
M Slmmim with him directly, but I got a
ensamsaleatim made to him, without mentioning
elesi7llint ly " There is a vacancy ; will you
' Thep emigre? I got was, that he would not stand.
Nothing IPSO UK of pounds, 'billings, and pence; it was
simply a Ilia answer to a plain question. The ground
having been lima cleared, I immediately wrote to Mr. Bell.

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