The Express.
London, England, 1866-08-23 00:00:00

EYIOU% AUGitlitt 23, MK

[TWOPEIiCE

REIGATE ELECTION

vauct 19710X18DAT.
•
" The commissioners appointed ._ Inquire into the
existence of corrupt practices at eleetions for members to
serve in parliament for this beigegh oommenoed their
Webs" /has morning in the Old Town•ltall. The edemas-
timers are Merin. Thomas Allen, Frederick James South,
and Minimal William O'Brien, serjeent-at-law. There was
a kegs attendance.
Mr. Allen (the chief commissioner), having read the
,essamission and explained the object of the inquiry and
lie penes of the seramissioners, evidence wee taken.
James Searle—l em the mayor, and wee the mayor at the
election of 1866. The emedidates were Mr. Lsveeon
Oewer and the Hen. Mr. Monaca ; Mr. Gimp Rielardson
was alas proposed as a eandidat• on the day Of nossimition.
Ali three went to the poll, which took place on the llth
July. The numbers on the poll were—Gower, 473 ; 'Mon-
son, 276 ; Gibson, 11. All three are thorough Warals.
I have known the harem& 14 yams. Mr. Gower was
'elated in Janeary,lBllB. Heerseappomed eathstoewionby
Mr. Wilkinson. The nuniLreeti that ocesmion •••—for
Mr. Gower, 646 ; and for Mr. Wilkinson, 333. That was
an election consequent on the Mae of Levi lismon. At
• the previous election of 1869, the numbers lien for Mon-
son, 260 ; for Wilkinson, 161. There was an election in
1858. It was contested by Monson and Wilkinson. The
rausbere were for Momper, 225 ; Wilkinson, Tit There
was as dellike in the Feitunry mending, at =hick. there
were several candidates. They were slt t a sbee
opened., but Sir H. Radlbreon was thosgbh bbe • ten.
and it was a matter of disgust when her pinaidment
to find that he was act so. (Laughter. The numbers on
that occasion were—Raw 212 • 116 ; Mon-
s, 16 ; Wilkinson end Walter retired. At the general
eloodon in 1867 there van two candidates. Mr. Hack-
block polled 743, and Mr. Rawlins.= 139. The patrol
election of 1852 was the first at which there was any mate-
rial ended. The election had been arranged between
Lord Somers and Load Hardwick*. At that &Maas Mr.
Cocks polled 100 and Major Parrott 76. I to
my, from my own knowledge of the to
of the berongh„ that 49 oat of every 63 sre:moet
anxious that the inquiry should be of the moat muching
nature. I have heard of no instance of any person ca)(
he did sot =tend to give evidence. (Applasisa) ' The
system of bribery may be said te have Wow its miss from
the election of 'February 1868. I was district cirirman
et
Mr. Rackblock's election. In 18581 was depaty• 6/Lit-
man of Mr. Meson's committee. At the °ember election
is that year 1 was also dsputyiehairmaa of Mr. liaison's
committee. I have always stuck to him. (laughter) In
1863 there was • petition, signed by myself and Thomas
North, on behalf of Mr. Wilkinson. I was ehairmaa of his
committee. Mr. Caws: said he would not present himself
for election again, and the petition was withdrawn. I can
e say that theonlyll.lllllll. One residesresideswee the
dies&r:2, we found in substantiating eke charges.
Mr. Gower's intention was announced in • letteeriii
I have no copy of it. Up to the Saturday
night before the petition was withdrawn we had no
decisive evidence that bribery heal been committed.
Than were only one or two parties, but they were
sheerly kept out of the way. I don't know the names
el those parties. Counsel told us that if we esuld prove
fins eases out of the forty that were named we should be
son to roomed. The area of the borough is about 6,000
sores. The parish sad borough are maxtessits. The popn-
lation is between 11,000 and 12,000. Thenumber of electors
en the register in 1865 was 912. In 1859 the constituency
was only 508. It is sow over 1,100. The electors consist
of all chases—very rich resides= and others, down to the
labouring classes. The number of the higher classes has
eonaiderably increased, but it is counterbalanced by the
increase of the working classes. There are many houses
the rental of which miners between 101. and 15f., lout I
' cannot state thenumber. Theexpenee agent for Mr. Gower
was Mr. C. J. Smith ; for Mr. )10111" Mr. T. Hart ;
for Mr. itishardma, lir. Feriae'. The papers relating
to these matters are in the hands of the town clerk. (The
papers were put in.) The expenses of Mr. Richardson
ware retuned at 471. ls. 7d. ; them of Mr. Monsen at
1,2321. 17s. W. The vouchers for that expenditure have
never been received. The expenses returned for Mr.
Gager amounted to 1,3661. 191. Id., and the 'mothers
were sent in. All them vouchers were headed over to the
clerk of the committee of the House of Commons. During
the het election I saw more than the ordinary number of
voters at the public-henries, and I am sorry to say that this
has been the practice at recent elections. I have alma seen
anything brought into ommittere rooms that was not paid
for by individsele. A most frightful Mate of debauchery
has existed at the elections sines 1866. My winks as to
the cense of that bribery is this : I have every reason to
believe that Mr. Roupell, out of a personal feeling of hos-
tility to Mr. Wilkinson, sent Mr. Dashes doom to emtest
the borough.
Mr. O'Brien—ls that the present bon. member for
laimbath ? _ _

Mr. ge;ale—Yes. Throughout the whole of my expe-
rience I never sew such scenes of drunkenness and de-
bauchery as during the time Mr. Doulton was a candidate
and after Mr. Wilkinsonand Mr. Walters had retired. It
was the universal opinion of every respectable person in
the borough that the lower class of the constituency was
being utterly debauched. I believed so then and I believe
so now. But lam Irmly of opinion that had it net been
for the unhappy state of things produced by Mr. lioupell
and Mr. Doulton, the borough would not have obtained
the &erecter it has done. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. John Tolhurst examined by Mr. O'Brien—l an the
overseer of the old borough. A 101, house is rated at
about el. or 71. I have taken an active part at some of
the elections, but did not do so at the last. I voted at
the last election for Mr. Gower. I cannot erillingly go so
far as the Mayor hudone with respect to the debauchery
that has been going en since 1638. I know nothing about
bribery of my own knowledge.
Mr. Thomas Page, examined by Mr. Allen—l am one of
the overseen of the foreign or new part of the borough.
In that part of the borough there are very few 101. bouts.
I took part in the last election and voted for Mr. 'Meson.
Hie committee eat at the White Hart. They met about
twits a week, sad as the election approached they met
more frequently. Mr. Monson generally attended. We
had no refreshment. There were no glasses on the table
in the committee room. I don't recollect having any talk
about money, nor did I see any put epos the table. Mr.
Hart (Mr. Monson's agent) was generally present. He is
a solicitor. I never saw any money on the table when Mr.
Monson was present, and he never gave any orders about
refreshments in my bearing. I was mid se numb money
for acting as a committee man, and for my services at the
election. I was paid fifty guineas altogether. I did not
see may money paid to other persons as well as myself. At
the litigate committee room I have seen persons take
refreshment without paying for it. I know Samuel Bell,
who is an independent gentleman, and I know Nicholls.
I did not bear Self say anything about money, sod I did
not see him produce any. I never saw • sum of 400 i. pro.
duped, er heard anything about it. I don't remember •
awn of 4001. in connexion with Nicholls. I did not pay any
money to any one before or after the electioe.
Mr. Thomas Dun, examined by Mr. Smith—l was
mayor of Reigate in 1863, and have lived in the borough
for 60 yean. I have taken an active part in the elections.
On the last occasion I voted for Gower. At the previous
election I voted for Wilkinson. I was vice-chairman of
one of Gower's committees. I was with him at times
when he was canvassing. The voters are scattered ever the
neighbourhood and reach as far as Xerlswood. There
were meetinp at some public-houses, but Mr. Gower
engaged the Hall in order to avoid pubis-houses. The
committee-room at the White Hart was a private one. I
might have seen some soda water brought into the room,
hut nothing further. (laughter.) I believe it was
metered by privets individuals, and paid few by them.
This Tau in the morning. I did not attend the evening
eo'nmittee meetings. During the whole of the last elu-
tion I knew a shilling pass to any voter. I believe
the canvassers were paid, but not the committee-mew
The inquiry was here adjourned.

GREAT YARMOUTH ELECTION COMMITTEE.

The committee sat again yesterday.
Mr. C. L Chamberlin, r solicitor, of Yarmouth, stated
that • abort time before the election he went to Mr. Cory
with an offer to withdraw cue of the libeled candidates, the
matter having been mentioned to him by Mr. Hammond,
a friend and client of his. lie bad long been anxious to
have the repratentation of the borough oompomiseL Mr.
Cory told him the censervotives would reliant air E. Limn
certainly, and probably also Mr. Goodson, and afterwards
positively declined the offer. He bad known the borough
for twainiplour years, and had no doubt bribery bad
extensively prevailed on loth sides The election of 1857,
when Mr. 14‘Cullegh and Mr. Watkin were returned, was,
be believed, bought by the liberals. The conserrativee also
spent • small sum, but they 011230 too bee with their

monJohney. Barber, • cabman, deposed that be received from
fihnekked, Cooper, and Reynolds muss of 20i., 3bi., and
91., to be expended in treating.
Other evidence haying been taken, the inquiry was

CRYSTAL PALACI. —The great illumination of the
fountains, insworks, eaosades of Ira, sad comets sow-
mentos at half -past eight this evicting, tersaiastiag a little
after aims o'clock.
HIALtE AND STRINGYBRIBTOILZD n DU BARRY',
1:41101011711 NIITAIAINTA AIA3ICA 10011, wbkil inthoell
medicine or isooavanienal dyspepsia, hoil=..coop aolltua,
osassaiplka, Ise sy, coastlpatioa, pftatloa,
asivoss, takes, Wm. sad stomach complaint& eaves fifty
teem Be cod la caw remedies, snd is the bast food for infanta
WM ems •••=ll7.—Dit Barry sad Co., Pro. IT, Ilessest-etreet,
Loatlca, W. la tins. at la ; Ilb.. In 9d. ; Itibs., SS..:
eoa. : also at 61, Gracecharchatreet ; 4, chaapside: 63, 160, sad
110, Ozfordiarest sad at all grocers.-{advartissocat. I

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