The Express.
London, England, 1866-04-27 00:00:00

walEriew.

Mr. W. H. Leatham, the sitting member, was examined.
He said—l was invited to become a candidate for the
borough in April, and I consented to stand in May, It
was part of the arrangement that I should not canvass, and
that I should take no active part in the election. The
committee also undertook that nothing illegal or improper
should take place in the conduct of the election. Neitr
directly nor indirectly was I a party to, nor (lid I know, of
any improper practices at the election. I supplied no
funds whatever for the purposes of the election. The
committee undertook that it should not coat me anything.
The witness was cross-examined, but nothing material
was obtained from him.
Mr. George Young, official assignee of the Leeds Dis-
trict Court of Bankruptcy, said Mr. Henry Barrett was
employed by the trade assignee in connection with the
business of the court, and having embezzled a large sum of
money while in that employment, he had absconded.
George Richardson, manager of the Leeds and Wakefield
Bank, at Wakefield, proved that Henry Barrett kept an
account at the bank, and that he had deposited and with-
drawn various sums of tolerably large amount about the
period of the election. Barrett absconded in August or
September. The amounts Barrett deposited in the bank
were credited to his own account, and not to the trade

William 'Thomas Limb, bookseller, of Wakefield, bad
conversation with liarrett on the evening before the election.
Mr. Giffard—Will you tell ua what that conversation
was
Mr. Pickering objected to thin question.
The committee decided that the question could not be

put.
Mr. Lamb's examination was then continued, and he
denied that any bribe had been offered to the voters, Hedy
sou or Batty, in his presence or hearing.
Henry Lee, a town councilor of Wakefield, and a manu-
facturer there, knew a voter named George Wilkinson,
whom he canvassed on behalf of Leathern. Wil-
lcinson promised to vote for the sitting member,
but afterwards told witness he owed some money
to the conservatives, that they had put a pressure upon
him, and that therefore he could not vote for Mr. Leathern.
They had threatened to sell hint up if he voted against
them. Witness then told Wilkinson that if he voted for
Leathern he (witness) would lend him some money which
he could " work off," to help him out of his difficulties.
Witness saw him a third time after the election, and lent
him 8/. Witness had never offered the money as a bribe.
Witness was not a member of the liberal committee. Wit-
ness had spent 101. or 151. during the election, but had
kept no account of it.
Some other evidence having been given, the committee
adjourned until eleven o'clock to-day.

HARWICH.
The petitioner, Michael Wills, a candidate at the
late election, complains of the return of Henry Jervis White
Jervia, on the ground that at the time of the election he
held an office of place, or office under the crown, namely,
the office of assistant-superintendent of the Royal Small
Arms Establishment in Condor., and was also • deputy or
clerk in the office of the Secretary-at-War, and prays tbathis
name may be erased from the return, anal that of the peti-
tioner substituted. There is a second petition signed by
John G. K. Burt, M.D., awl several other electors,
against the return of Mr. Jervis, and also against the
return of John Kelk, on the ground of corrupt practice,
and praying that the election may be declared null and
void.
The chairman announced that the committee had se-
lected the following members :—Mr. Serjeant Armstrong,
Mr. John Floyer, Mr. Kirkman D. Hodgson (Bridport),
Mr. J. W. Huddleston, and Mr. Gathorne Hardy (chair-
man).
Agents—for the petitioners, Mr. Wyatt ; for the sitting
members, Mr. Cobbold and Mr. Burton.

NORTHALLERTON.
The committee met yesterday ; Mr. Selater
Booth in the chair.
Mr. Serjeant Ballantine and Mr. H. James appeared for
the petitioner; Mr. Bodwell, Q.C., and Mr. Price, Q.C., for
the sitting member.
Additional evidence wan given on behalf of the peti-
tioner, whose case was closed.
Mr. Price, in reply to the committee, said that he con-
sidered no case had been made out, and he should not
therefore call witnesses.
The committee then adjourned.

ELECTION COMMITTEES.
The general committee of elections, consisting of
Mr. Walpole (Chairman), Mr. Bonham-Carter, Mr. Clay,
Mr. Corry, Mr. Hunt, and Mr. Whitbread, met yesterday
afternoon to appoint select committees to try and de-
termine the matter of the petitions against the return for
Barnstaple and Harwich.

BAIINsTAPLF..
In this case there are three petitions. The first
is that of Thomas Joelin and Edward Martin, complain-
ing of the return of Thomas Cave, on the groundof bribery,
treating, and undue influence, and praying that the elec-
tion may be declared null and void. The second petition
is that of John King Mandl and Walter Parker Belcher,
and contains a similar prayer. The third, that of Richard
Ashton, complains of the return of Sir George Stucley
Stucley, on the ground of bribery, treating, and undue
influence, and prays that his election may be declared null
and void.
The chairman announced thatthe committee had selected
the following members :—Mr. Crum-Ewing, Mr. Edward
Fellowea„the Hon. Major Stuart Knox Sir Thomas
Edward Virinnington, and Mr. Stearnßall Miller (chair-
man).
Kr. Bingham appeared for the sitting member. No
agent attended cm- ate part of the petitioners.

The Yost-office authorities have given notice
that, from the tad proximo, there will be a mail ecrumuoi-
cation with the Channel Islands six times a week.