The Express.
London, England, 1866-04-24 00:00:00

I.IBERAI. STATEMENT.

Gorst
Torrens

Goat
Torre ns

1 O'CLOCK iLLTL7KN.
CONBIRVATIVZ lESTATF.MILYT.

MURAL BTATZUNT.

A riot, in which gownamen and others are taking part,
is proceeding. The University authorities were sent for
and have arrived.

ELECTION PETITIONS.-( THIS DAY.)

BRIDGWATER.

The committee appointed to inquire into the
proceedings at the Bridgwater election reassembled this
Morning (Tuesday), and proceeded to inquire into the evi-
donee offered against Mr. Kinglake and Sir John Shelley.
Mr. Barter presided.
At the request of the chairman, evidence was called to
prove the agency of Mr. Benjamin Lovibond and Mr.
Henry Chapman Bussell.
Mr. H. Wadden said he had received the lags of Col.
Tynte, Lord Henley, and Mr. Kinglake at the election
previous to the last ; but last election he gave them over
to Mr. Lovibond.
Mr. Powell said that as regarded the agency of Mr.
Lovibond it was admitted as against Sir John Shelley, but
not against Mr. Kinglake. Baron also was a paid agent.
Mr. Price said Baron was the agent of Mr. Kinglake as
well.
Mr. Robert Bunten said he saw Henry Chapman Hassell
going about the town calling at the electors' houses. At
the meeting called by Mr. Kinglake and Sir John Shelley,
he saw Mr. Smith holding an umbrella over Sir John's
head.
Cross-examined, he said it was a rainy day, and many
persons crowded round the carriage—some even stood -ipon
the wheels.
Re-examined, he said he repeatedly saw Mr.' 6Wilton
with the candidates. He well recollected the circumstance
because he was leading a little blue lamb before them. 9ylt
was very conspicuous.
Mr. Powell supposed that was an emblem of the purity
the blue party.
Mr. Bunten didn't know ; but said he happened to have
the lamb in a public-house, and some people blued it over.
Mr. J. Taplin said that when canvassed he objected to
voteby ballot and extension of the franchise, and Mr. Paul
Reed said if the programme wouldn't do, perhaps a little
sugar would. In • political sense " sugar" meant money.
The Chairman, in answer to Mr. Sleigh, said that the
evidence of Webber in the last case might be referred to as
to the agency of Bussell and Smith in this.
George Pinner said he was called into Mr. Smith's ware-
house, and he was resting his arm on a sugar-thak when
Mr. Smith came in. Mr. Smith, pointing to the sugar-
cask, said, " That's going to win oar election, and
if you vote for Kinglake and Shelley you shall
have some of it." He replied, " Why don't you
begin now ? " He wanted to be sweetened at once.
He received a 101. note from Mr. Smith about two months
after the election. Mr. Smith regretted at the time that
he could not make it more because of the great expense
they had been put to. lie did not think that bribery ; it
was a gift.
Cross-examined—He said he had this time voted for Mr.
Westropp without being paid or expecting anything.
Mr. J. W. Vesey gave evidence that he saw H. C.
Bussell, B. Lovibond, and Mr. Wilton, canvassing with
the candidates. . .

[Left sitting.]

NORTHALLERTON.

The committee appointed to try and determine the
matter of the petition of Jasper Wm. Johns, a candidate
at the late election, against Charles Henry Mills, on the
ground of bribery, treating, and undue influence, and
praying that the return may be amended by striking out
his name, and substituting that of the petitioner, met at
11 o'clock.
The committee consists of the following members :—Mr.
Sclater-Booth (chairman), Mr. Davenport Bromley, The
O'Conor Don, Sir Win. Hutt, and the on. Percy Wynd-
ham (West Cumberland).
Counsel for the petitioner, Mr. Scrjeant Ballantine and
Mr. henry James. Vor the sitting member, Mr. ktodwell,
Q.C., Mr. Price. Q.C., and Mr. Burke.
Mr. Henry James, in opening the case, said that the
number of registered electors was 457 ; and since the pass-
ing of the Reforin Bill the borough had always
returned liberal members. The contests had gra-
dually become closer and closer, until, in 1852,
Mr. Wrightson was returned by a majority of
only two votes over Mr. Mills. That gentleman had at
vanous times purchased property, and let it on the under-
standing that the occupier should always vote for him.
The lettings had been considerably under the value, and
he submitted that this kind of proceeding came under the
head of bribery. It would be proved that several inns
were full of voters, and that they had as much
drink as they liked under the eyes of Mr. Fowle,
the agent of Mr. Mills. He would call some of the waiters
and other parties, who could not help being considered
hostile witnesses, and believed he should be able to prove
the allegations contained in the petition.
Mr. Naylor, the clerk of the crown, produced the writ.
Mr. W. T. Jetfreson, the high bailiff, produced the
poll-books, and proved the delivery of the detailed
expense accounts, which had been sent in on the 13th of
September, but they were unsigned.
Thomas Holt, an assistant waiter at the Golden
Lion at the time of the election—That inn was
Mr. Mills' committee-room. One room was so used. Most
of the lower rooms were occupied by Mr. Mills' friends.
Mr. Mills was stopping at the house. Witness saw Mr.
Thos. and Mr. Wm. Fowle, Mr. Thompson Cave, Mr.

Miles Sackett, and many other voters on the polling
day. Witness was at Mr. Fowle's office three or four
days ago. Mr. H. James on this admission claimed to put
leading questions. Mr. Rodwell objected, but permission
was conceded to ask the names of voters who were present.
Witness assented to the names of a number of voters when
put to him as being present. Witness described his inter-
view with Mr. Wm. Fowle as only amounting to a state-
ment on the part of the solicitor that witness was to tell
all he knew without being influenced. Drink was
supplied to different voters both on the nomination and
the polling days, in all the five public rooms of the house.
They were not all regular customers ; most of them were
there on election business. Witness received and executed
orders for drink. Sometimes witness got paid, and sometimes
not. A. good deal was paid for by the persons who had
the drink, what was not paid for, witness gave an account
of at the bar. Persons who ordered drink that was not
paid for were Mr. W. T. Cooper, Sen., William Oliver,
and Edwin Heugh Young. Witness gave into the bar the
names of those who gave the orders. A good deal of drink
was ordered ; but witness could not say how many
glasses. John Weatherall, an assistant, and Joseph Head-
stock, the head waiter, also supplied drink and
they were all very busy. In cross-examination
the witness stated that no case came to his
knowledge of any voter refusing to pay for the drink sup-
plied to him. Witness was not always paid for drink that
he took up to the committee-room. The room was occu-
pied by Dlr. Fowle as a private room for the election
business.
Thomas Holmes, a carrier living at Northallerton, went
to the Golden Lion the Friday before the election, and saw
a number of voters there. Witness identified a number of
names of men whom he had seen. Witness was not in the
habin of going to the Golden Lion. Witness was asked by
Cave what he would have to drink. Witness said some
whiskey. Mr. Cave ordered it, but did not pay for it.
[Left sitting.]