The Express.
London, England, 1866-04-21 00:00:00

ELECTION COMMITTEES.

NOTTINGHAM.

The committee-room was opened at a quarter
before 3 o'clock, the committee having been in deliberation
up to that time.
The Chairman announced that the committee had agreed
to the following resolutions :
"That Sir Robert Jukes Clifton, Bart., is not duly
elected to serve in this present parliament for the borough
of Nottingham.
"That Samuel Morley, Esq., is not duly elected a bur-
gem to serve in this present parliament for the borough of
Nottingham, and that the last election for the said borough
is a void election.
"That it was proved to the committee that Sir Robert
Juke* Clifton, Bart., was guilty of undue influence by
himself and by others on his behalf at the last election.
" That was proved to the committee that Samuel Morley,
Esq., was guilty of bribery by his agents at the last election
for the borough of Nottingham.
" That it was proved to the committee that Charles
Paget, Esq., was guilty of bribery by his agents at the last
election.
" That Joseph Richard Whitchurch and William Taylor
were bribed by William Marriott, Esq., with theknowledge
of Sir R. Clifton's agents, by the corrupt payment of exces-
sive travelling expenses to vote for Sir Robert Clifton,
but that the said bribery was practised without the
knowledge or consent of the said Sir Robert Jukes
Clifton.
" That at the last election for the said borough, excessive
numbers of persons were employed on behalf of Messrs.
Paget and Morley as messengers, canvassers, and protec-
tors from violence.
" That inithree wards alone out of seven nearly 200 voters
were so employed on behalf of Messrs. Paget and Morley,
who received from their agents sums varying in amount
from 15s. to 4/. 10s. • and that amongst the voters so paid
were John Clint, George Fish, Charles Taylor, Thomas
Selby, George Hudson, John Campion, James Wright,
Edward Claypole, Thomas John Footer, Thomas Weston,
Jesse Chambers, Evans, Henry Mayfield, Chetwynd.
" That Henry Manning was bribed by William Neilson,
jun., by the promise of 4/. for his own vote and the vote of
his father, to vote for Messrs. Paget and Morley, which
sum be afterwards received.
" That some of the voters so emplored were allowed to
continue their usual work during all the time of their em-
ployment, but notwithstanding were paid at the same
rate as those who attended all day ; that some who were
so employed and engaged were so old and infirm as to have
been incapable of rendering any efficient service ; that some
were paid for a longer interval than that for which they
were engaged, or during which they were in attendance.
" That it was not proved to the satisfaction of the com-
, mittee that this colourable employment of voters was with
the knowledge and consent of Messrs. Paget and Morley,
who, whilst leaving the conduct of this election entirely in
the hands of their committees, appear to have implicitly
. .

relied ox their discretion and judinient.
" That the committee are not of opinion that bribery in
the form of direct money payments extensively prevailed
at the last election for the borough of Nottingham.
" That no such case of general riot has prevailed as
would make the said election altogether void on that
account.
" That violent and tumultuous proceedings took place
at the said election for the borough of Nottingham, and
that on the day of polling especially gangs of men, armed
with sticks, on behalf of Sir Robert Jukes Clifton, perpe-
trated serious outrages, and created an alarm which was
not without its influence on the result of the election.
" That the state of excitement and alarm which pre-
vailed immediately before the election offered an slips-
, rently justifiable pretext for the employment by the
agents of Messrs. Paget and Morley of an excessive num-
ber of voters as assistants in carrying on the machinery of
the election, and giving protection to the voters for
Messrs. Paget and Morley, but in the opinion of the com-
mittee led to proceedings demoralising in their effects as
well as unjustifiable in themselves.
" That in the opinion of the committee corrupt prac-
tices did not extensively prevail at the said election."
Mr. Stephen renewed the application he had already
made relative to the voters bring and Lynn, and stated
that he had evidence to offer which would justify the
committee in reporting to the house that those two per-
sons had perjured themselves before the committee by
giving false evidence.
The Chairman said the committee desired him to state
that it was nut in their power to take any proceedings,
upon his application, but Mr. Richards might make any
statement he pleased to the committee, although it was
not to be considered part of their`proceedings.
Mr. Richards begged to say that the statement made by
bring, so far as concerned himself, was simply untrue.
He never saw Dring in his life till he sat in the witness's
chair, and never spoke to him on any occasion whatever.
The statement made by Lynn, that he (Mr. Richards) had
given him 31. to sign the statement produced there, was
also untrue. He never gave that person 4/. on any
occasion whatever. It was also untrue that he had asked
Lynn to sign any statement whatever, that he asked Lynn
to go away from the town, or that he offered him 251. to
abscond. He regretted that this statement was not made
on oath, as he should have preferred, but he accepted the
opportunity which the committee had given him, and he
was grateful for it.
This closed the proceedings.

BRIDGWATER.
On the readmission of the public,
The Chairman informed the counsel and parties that the
committee had come to the following resolutions—" That
Henry Westropp, FAq. is not duly elected a burgess to
serve in parliament for the borough of Bridgwater—That
the said Henry Westropp was by his agents guilty
of bribery, treating, and corrupt practices at the
last election—That it is proved to the satisfaction
of this committee that John Cooze and John Staples were
bribed by the sum of 101. each, and that Philip Gilbert
and Frederick Jones received offers of money for voting for
the said Henry Westropp, but that it is not proved to the
satisfaction of the committee that such bribery and treat-
infc were committed with the knowledge and consent of the
' end HenryWestrop." The Chairman stated that the resolu-
tions would not be reported to the house until the close of
the whole case, and the committee were now prepared to
proceed with the case against Mr. Kinglake.
The committee then adjourned till eleven o'clock to-
day.

RAILWAY AND OTHER SILLS IN PARLIAMENT.
Yesterday, in Lord Redesdale's committee in the House of
Lords, the South Essex Estuary and Reclamation, and the
Neath and Brecon Railway (Capital) Bills passed through.
In the other oommittees the following bills were advanced
a stage :—The Waterford, New Ross, and Wexford Junc-
tion Railway ; Ryde Station, Ardmore Harbour, Hatfield
Chase,Warping, and Improvement (Railway) ; and the City
and London-bridge Railway. Yesterday, in Group lin
the House of Commons, the Metropolitan Railway (addi-
tional powers) was further proceeded with, and again ad-
journed. The Edgware, Highgate, and London Railway
and the Great Northern Railway (Potter's-bar, Barnet,
and Hendon) Bills were adjourned. In Group IA, the
London, Chatham, and Dover Railway (various powers)
was further proceeded with until the rasing of the com-
mittee. The appearances were taken in the case of the
London, Chatham, and Dover (New Lines, Re.), the con-
sideration of which was adjourned. In Group 7, the com-
mittee declared the preamble proved in the ease of the
Thames and Severn Canal Navigation Bill. In Group 13,
the clauses were settled in the West Riding and Grimsby
Railway (transfer), and the committee then proceeded with
the Great Northern (additional powers) Bill, which occu-
pied the remainder of the day's sitting.
CRYSTAL PALACE. ONE SHILLING DAT.
FIUDAY, Aran. 2/3.—Admisdeas on payment. 1,408
' ditto by season tickets, 1,031; total visitors, 2,490.