The Express.
London, England, 1866-03-22 00:00:00

ELECITION PETITIONS.

GREAT YARMOUTH.
The committee met at 11 o'clock, and resumed
their inquiry. Prompt—the Right Hon. J. E. Mowbray,
(chairman), Rear Admiral Seymour, Mr. Laing, Sir J.
Ogilvy, and R. Knightly.
Mr. Cripps, Q.C., Mr. lla.good, and Mr. Mellor appeared
for the pentionen ; Mr. O'Malley, Q.O , Mr. Clarke, and
Mr. Cherry appeared for the sitting members.
William Smith, sworn and examined—l am clerk to Mr.
Oostigan, agent to the petitioners. I served John Eagle-
toe with the Speaker's warrant on the 26th of Firbru 4ry
and yesterday with a notiiiratioo to attend here to-day. I
saw him la his house. He said he would send for his doc-
tor, and if he said he might come be would, if not he
would not. He did sot appear to be in good health. I
served a notification on William Hutchins to attend yes-
terday. Ms had been previously served with the Speaker's
warrant. I saw him starting for London yesterday.
Croes-examined--I am sea of William Smith, ore of the

witnesses examined yesteeday.
Thomas Downing proved that Hutchins was in London
yesterday. Had something to drink with him at the
Shoreditch station. Witness got a fly and took hold of
Hutchins with two other men to get him into the fly, but
he saidhe would go with the other mea who wereabout him.
Witham cried out, " Hutchins, I have got your rug,* and
drew the rug into the fly, but he said
th he did not d
him care off.
would go with the others, and they en carrie
Has not seen him since, although he made every exertion
to find him.
Mr. Mellor—Were the men who carried Hutchins off
eanserystives ?
Mr. allally objected.
The Chairman said the withers might be asked how par-
ties voted at the last election, but the question could not be
put as !eked.
Hutchins and Freston were called but did not uswer.
This closed the petitioner's case.
Mr. Sargood then spoko to evidence on behalf of the
petitioners.
[Left meshing.]
NOTTINGHAM.
The committee met again this morning at 11 o'clock ;
Mr. Addr in the chair.
Mr. Temple said that in consequence of the derision of
yesterday, he proposed at once to go into the question of
agency. la many instances be should give direct evidence
el Si: B. Clifton's personal interfersoce. end nothe of
the employment of persons by Mr. Aoluid, agency
be now proposed to prove.
Mr. Pries said he would not eve his learned friend ally
trouble on that point, for he did not deny the agency of
Mr. Aoland.
The Chairman—Then you bold your client (Sir B. Clif-
ton)proved responaible for the acts of Mr. Arland. so ter as they
are
Mr. Priee-7
Mr. Christopher Swann examined by Mr. Mandell—l was
underdurriff of Nottingham last year, and rodeos the
sooounte of Sir B. Clifton and Mr. Mards at the last elu-
tion. I product also the appointment of Mr. Actlandu the
agent of Sir R. Clifton.
Oross-examined by Mr. Price—The poll books were deli-
vered to me at the doss of the poll. They were sealed up
that night. They were partly cast up that night. George
Grimly and my eon were present The books were sealed
by the poll clerks, not by the candidates. All the books
were out up that night, but the summary of the votes was
done the next morning.
The Chairman—How does this refer to the present peti-
tion
Mr. Price—There is a serutioy.
The Chairman—What were the numbers at the close of
the poll ?
Mr. Mundell—The sheriff's addition wee this :—Morley,
2,393: Clifton, 2,362: Paget, 2,327: Martin, 2,242. We
any that Sir R. Clifton bar only 2,346 votes.
The Chairman—What is the umber of electors?
Mr. Mundell—The o nutitnency number 6,706.
Oross-examination *widened—ln Park-ward. book 4,
compartment 1. there appears the name of Lewis Les. It
was originally entered for Paget, but was altered to Clifton.
Mr. Mundell objected to this course of examination as
tending to criminate the sheriff, who at prawn wee un-
represented.
Mr. Price said his object was to show that the poll books
bed been altered.
The Chairman thought the committee bad better oome
to some derision as to their 000.111. of proceeding. The
means might be questioned as to say alteration made in
his punnet

contintied—l never saw soy alteration 1
or erasure made when the books were out u. After the
poll had been declared between 11 end 12 o'clock on the
morales after the polling, they were taken to my office.
They were not meet to Load= until the following evening
by the mall train. I have always on former ccoseioes
sent up the poll books on the day of the declaretioo.
I believe the delay wee occasioned by my having to bold an
inquest. Arthur He Read, one of the pelt-clerks, was
a clerk in my office. He attended St. Anne's Ward, book
7, compartment No. 3. In the poll-book for the ward
Joseph Radford is put down as having polled for Clifton,
bat an alteration is made, showing that be voted for
Paget and Morley. [The witness was examined as to
several other alterations of a similar nature.]
[Left sitting.]

BRIDONORTH.
The committee met at 11 o'clock ; Mr. Ellice in
the chair.
Mr. Aspinall summed op the evidence submitted oa be-
half of Sir John Actoo. He contended that there was
nothing whatever in the transaction between Mr. Bigg and
the witnesses Lee and Hughes from which the committee
Gould reasonably infer corruption, the money having been
paid by Mr. Bigg to Lee and Hughes for the purpose
of reimbursing the expenses to which Mr. Big;
believed them to have been put. As to the alleged agency
of Mr. Blgg, the learned counsel argued that there was not
the slightest proof of that. but that on the contrary the tes-
timony went completely the other way. With regard to the
ease of Mr. Backhoues, he 000 tended that although that
gentleman was beyond all doubt the agent of Bit John Acton
for election expenses it bad been clearly shown that
he had nothing whatever to do with bringing the
voter he was alleged to have bribed to Heidi-
north, the only evidence in substantiation of the
bribery allegation being that Mr. Bathhouse bad, perhaps,
incautiously given ten shillings to the mss Rodeo alter
the election was over, Bert havieg stated to him
that he was badly off. With respect to Thomas
Hall, there was no doubt that he was an agent
employed by Sir John Acton. or his committee, to
go to different places end being voters op to Bridgenorth.
but when he had dope that he had fulfilled his duty, sad
if after the work for which he bad bees aligned was fill-
filled he chose, either out of seal, or for some ulterior pur-
pose, to pay money without the slightest authority
to voters, there was not the least ground for saying
that he did so as the spot for Sir John Aetoo.
The leaned counsel sent dealt with the evidence adduced
in support of the petitioo against Mr. Whitmore, oonteed-
ing that there was strong proof of the agency of Mr. Jet-
fr,ys, mho was shown to have offered a bribe to the witness
Charlton, sod with respect to Mr. F. Hominy, there could
he no doubt that he had been guilty of bribery, treating,
and intimidation.
Rid I speaking.]

TOTNES.
The inquiry into the return of Mr. Penderand Mr.
Alfred Seymour was resumed yesterday mowing ; the
Right Hon. B. P. Bouverie in the chair. Mr. Loegfield,
Q C., Mr. Gook, Q. 0., and Mr. Nugent Bashes apperved
for the petitioners ; Mr. Serjeant Galantine and Mr. Us-
derd ,wn were for Mr. Nader ; and Mr. Henry James ap-
peared for Mr. Seymour.
William D. Kenmore was reclined to prove &gooey oa
the part of George Peogelly. A bill produced purporting
to be for a day's services rendered on behalf of Mr. Seymour,
at the election for 21. 25., was TeCOPted by Pengelly.
Witness also proved that portions of similar bills were in
the handwriting of Mr. Ohmage MiC11•111101".
At this stage the evidence of this winless, who admitted
that he had barn present during the yreceediogs of the
previous day, was excluded under the rules by which the
airy wee 000dueted.
chn Yabbloom, roasager of the National and Prairies:l4l
Bask at Totoes, mid, Mr. Pander was a customer of the
beak previous to the 30th June. On that day Mr. Pander's
account was credited with 1,8711. That EMI was drawn
out in ace sum by Mr. Ponder on the 28th July.
Knew the Rev. William Henry James, of Totaes. The en-
dorsement on the mote produced was is that gentleman's
handwriting.
George Moos, a elmasetaker in Totem, sad an elector of
the borough, also proved the handwriting of George Pen-
g•Gy, who wee employed as a messenger on behalf of the
liberals at the eleetioo.
[Loft sitting.]