The Express.
London, England, 1866-04-23 00:00:00

ELECTION COMMITTEES.

WAIDSTOYIL

•
The committee met at 12--
o'clock on Saturday, and
proceeded with their inquiry. The Hon. Mr. Howard pre-
sided.
Mr. Price, Q.C., Mr. Cooke, Q.C., and Mr. Cl. Hill ap-
peared for the petitioners.
Mr. Serjeant Ballantine, Mr. Davidson, Q.C., and Mr.
W. James appeared for the sitting members.
Mr. Serjeant Ballantine addressed the committee for the
defence. Having reviewed the evidence at considerable
length the learned gentleman proceeded to contend that
the balance of testimony was in favour of.the sitting mem-
bers. Acts had been attributed to them which they
:stated in the most positive manner upon their oaths were
utterly false and unfounded. If the committee believed,
as he thought they would, that his clients were free from
the corruption charged against them, that they
had depended for their success at the election
upon their honourable names and position in the
eounty,that theywere determined, as they swore they were,
to carry on the oontest on pure principles, and that they
were entirely unconnected with anything oorrupt or illegal,
be implored them earnestly to consider what must be the
position
of honourable men, if, in consequence of the du-
honesty of partisans on the other side, or on account of over
seal of persons interested for themselves, they were to be
held responsible for acts which they discountenanced and
did all that in them lay to prevent. lie implored them to
ameider whether if so high minded men would
not shrink from an ordeal attended with so much
anxiety, and notwithstanding their honest and honourable
and earnest desiretosuppress and prevent everything wrong,
attended with so much risk. He begged of the committee,
fen the sake of the public as well as of them whom he re-
presented, to look whether there was an atom of proof of I
what should be considered as agency on the part of any
one of those to whom payments of money for votes were
imputed. He denied such payments. He protested against
and repudiated them. His clients knew nothing of them.
He could not, of course, enter into the minds of others,
and tell what ill-judged enthusiasm might have
done. He could not enter into the minds of
those who were not incapable of committing fraud, to see
whether or not they had been induced to make statements
which they knew to be untrue ; but he protested against
such evidence of agency as that which had been given
being held conclusive upon the subject. The allegation
was not supported by any fact which could affect the mind
of the committee. In the ordinary affairs of life such evi-
dence would be scouted. The small sum charged to have
been given was in itself a proof that bribery was not re-
sorted to. There was no necessity to bribe
en elector to insure sucress. The books showed
that a large majority might be relied on. The
sitting members relied on their names and on the position
which they held in the county, and they would not risk
their names, character, and position by committing, autho-
rising, or countenancing the acts which bad been attri-
buted to them, or those for which it was sought to make '
them responsible. He repudiated the charge, and charged
in return that there was no foundation in fact for the al-
legations which had been made, and which were supported
by testimony on which, in the face of positive denial, the
committee could not safely act.
Mr. Price. Q.C., replied on behalf of the petitioners, and
contended that the agency had been made out, and that
the sitting members in the present, as in every other case,
should be held responsible for the acts of their agents. It
was no doubt a hardship in any case that members should
be held so responsible ; but that was not the question. The
question was, had there been a pure election? If there had
not been, then on public grounds and irrespective of per-
sonal considerationa it should be declared void. The
learned gentleman reviewed the evidence with minuteness,
and strongly relied on the fact that Bentlif and other wit-
nesses who could throw light upon the case had not been pro-
duced, but hadbeen kept back. There was nothing to displace
the positive testimony of Jesse Kirby as to the payment
of the 12 sovereigns for his vote, except the evidence of
Day ; but the third party who could have told the com-
mittee which side was telling the fact, and who was in
the employment of the Day partisans of the sitting mem-
ber, had been sent out of the way. On the whole case he
submitted that the charges of bribery by those who should
be held to be agents for the sitting members had been esta-
blished, :m:1 that they should be declared not to have been
duly elected.
At the conclusion of the learned counsel's address the
committee proceeded to deliberate with closed doors.
On the readmission of the public,
The Chairman mid—The committee have unanimously
agreed to the following resolutions :
• That Wm. Lee, Esq., is duly elected a burgess to serve
ie the present parliament for the borough of Maidstone."
That James Whitman, Esq., is duly elected a burgess
to serve in the present parliament for the borough of Maid-
stone."
" That the committee are of opinion that Henry Cham-
bers, in his evidence, is guilty of wilful and corrupt per-
jury."
" That it was proved that colourmen and bands of muaio
were employed by both parties at the last election."
"That it was not proved that corrupt practices exten-
sively prevailed at the last election."
Mr. Serjeant liallantine said he was instructed on behalf
of the sitting members to apply to the committee for
costs.
The Cliainnan said the committee had considered the
matter, and had determined that the petition could not be
considered frivolous and vexatious.
The proceedings then terminated.

BRIPCWATER. —On Saturday the case against
Mr. Kingl.,ke was proceeded with. After the opening
statement of counsel, evidence of treating and of offers of
money for , otes was given. An adjournment took place.
t-TER. —This committee met again on Satur-
dsz.and after hearing several witnesses adjourned.
NEW WlNDnott.—This committee met and re-
ceived evidence in favour of the petitioners. Amongst
other things evidence was given to show that three police-
men had voted for the sitt.ng members, and had after-
wards been proceeded against, and that each had been
fined 10/. and costs. Sergeant Ballantine, on the part of
the members, admitted that the policemen had voted, and
that the sitting members had taken steps to protect them
from th.• tine which had been inflicted. They did this
because at the time of the election they did not know
that they were liable to the infliction of a penalty.
RYE. —The committee heard several witnesses
on Snturolay on the side of the petitioner. A Mrs. Sutter-
den deposed to her husband getting 50/. for his vote. He
was a tradesman in difficulties, and was in the habit of
trusting all his business to his wife. He, she said, would
not tell a lie. hut she was not so truthful. The committee
adjourned till to-day.

REMEiNENTATION Of NORTH DEVON AND HET,-
arost.— Election matters are exciting much attention in
Devon Cornwall. The requisition to Sir Stafford
Northcote to stand for North Devon is being largely signed,
and is is presumed will be complied with. Lord Amberley
having declined to stand, Mr. E. S. Drewe, an influential
landowner and ngriculturiat,of The Grange, near Cullump-
ton and chairman of the North Devon Liberal Association, is
about to offer himself in the liberal interest, provided the
requisition which is being got up to him is numerously
signed. At Holston two candidates are already in the
field, and actively electioneering —Mr. Brett, Q.C., of the
Northern Circuit, conservative, and Mr. Robert Campbell,
of Buscott-park, Berks, a wealthy and much-esteemed gen-
tleman, EberaL A close contest is inevitable.—Western
Aforni.l(l News. . .

CONsERVATIVE PLANS. —lt is understood to be
arranged (says the Sunday Oazettc) that should the conser-
vatives come into power, Lord Derby will be only a
meinher of the cabinet without office, Mr. Disraeligoing to
the House of Lords, and Lord Stanley assuming the prin-
cipal post n the ministry.
THE WORKING MEN'S MEMORIAL TO SIR ROBRRT
PEEL. —The four gifts of 15'. each this year at the disposal
of the trustee (Cniversity College, London) from the
income of the fund have been adjudged to the Belfast
People's Literary Institution, the Newcastle-on-Tyne
Mechanics' Institution, the Working Men's College, Great
Ormond-street, London, and the FazeleLClub Library and
Reading-room. The applications were
It is stated that General Grant had been arrested
at Washington by the police for fast driving. The officer
had quite a chase after the general, who offered to pay the
Site but refused to be arrested. The officer desired the
general to report at the station-house.
NEW LIFE. Boars.—The National Life Boat In-
stitution sent, on Saturday, two fine new lifeboats to the
coast. One is to be stationed at Hayle, in Cornwall, and
the other at 'Staunton, in North Devon. Ifach boat is 32
feet long, and rows ten owls double banked. The Hayle
lifeboat, which is named the Isis, is the benevolent gift to
the institution of Oxford University. It is to be publicly
launched into the river Isis to-morrow (Tuesday). It is ex-
pected the lifeboat will be manned on the occasion by the
eight undergraduates who so recently distinguished them-
selves on the Thames. The Brunton lifeboat, which has
been presented by Mr. and Mrs. Jeremy, of Leacoombe-
lime, Devonshire, is also to be publicly launched at Barn-
staple on Thursday next, the 'pith inst. A free conveyance
was readily given to the boats to their destinations by the
Great Western, London and South Western, and the other
continuous lines of railway. The National Lifeboat Insti-
tution has now 167 lifeboats in connection with it. Of
these sixteen arc stationed on the coast of Devon and
Cornwall at the following places, viz. Appledore. Brunton,
Exmouth. Teignmouth, Brixhani, Plymouth, Fowey,
Lizard, Porthleven, Penzance. Semen, St. Ives, Hayle,
Newency, Psdinowinnd Budeliaven.
HOSPITAL FOR DISEASES OF THE CHIST, VICTORIA-
PARE.—The number of patients relieved at this institu-
tion during last week was 1,508, of which 340 were new
cases.
[Advertisement.)--HoLLowaY's One amt? AND
PIMA —Complications of distempers. ulcerations. abscewees,
swollen glands. and other disonters arising from unseen and un-
suspected muses, may be cured by the use of Wb excellent oint-
ment, sided by Holloway's Mb. The printed instructions, la
which the remedies are wrapped, are sufficiently explicit for the
guidance of say invalid with moderate Intelligence Holloway's
medicaments CM always be used with advantage and without
danger. For more than a quarter of Mary they have=
themselves to be • treasure to the Meld with
Both the ointment sod slk are cimity adapted for military
and naval colonists, sad its, who cannot everywhere
obtain mediccal assistance. but may always auccassfully doctor
thautivas with Holloway' seakedles.