The Express.
London, England, 1866-04-12 00:00:00

GREAT REFORM MEETING AT THE MANSION-

HOUSE.-(THIS DAY.)

A very numerous meeting of the citizens of
London, convened by the Lord Mayor, in response to a
requisition signed by 563 elector. and citizens, commenced
shortly after 2 this afternoon at the Mansion-
house, the object being to support the government
Reform Bill. As might have been anticipated, from
the hour for which the meeting was fixed,
the attendance consisted chiefly of persons belonging
to the middle classes. The Egyptian Hall was, however,
crowded, and the proceedings were evidently regarded
with great interest. The Lord Mayor presided, and an the
platform were Mr. Goechen, M.P. ; Sir F. Buxton M.P. ;
Alderman Salomon; M.P. ; Mr. Moffatt, M.P. ; Sir John
Lubbock, Mr. J. P. Gassiot, Sir Anthony Rothschild, Mr.
M. Chambers, Q.C. ; Mr. Geo. Moore, Mr. Chas. Reed,
Mr. Dresser Rogers, Dr. Saunders, Deputy Fry, Mr. Bon.
tems, Mr. John Richardson, Re.
The first resolution, declaring approval of the reform
bill, was moved by Sir J. Lussoce, who was speaking
when our report left.

NOTTINGHAM ELECTION COMMITTEE.
(THIS DAY.)

The committees ppointed to try the merits of
the petitions against the return for Nottingham met again 81
this morning st 11 o'clock, Mr. Ands in the chair. 81
Counsel for the petitioners : Mr. Mundell end Mr. Care. 84
For Sir B. Clifton : Mr. Bodwell, Q.C., Mr. Price, Q.C.,
and Mr. Pope liennery. For Mr. Morley: Mr. Fitejamer

Stephen. -
Ile Chairman said the committee wished to have a
statement put in of the number of voters in each ward at
the last eleetke.
Mr. Rodwell said he did not think there would be any
difficulty in supplying the information.
Titus Seeuort was then called, and,in reply to Mr. Mun-
dell, said—l acted as chairman of Plivt and Morley's com-
mittee for the Exchange ward at the last election. I was I
on that ward only. I recollect Fish calling upon me two k,
or three weeks before the polling day. He asked me what ;
I would give him for voting for Paget and Morley. I said,
" Nothing." He said he could get 101. from the ethos side. si
I said, " Yon may go where you like—we are not St
buying votes." I had • communication from Mr. Selby, le
a few days afterwards. Two days after the polling I went ,1C
to Fish's lodgings. I saw a woman at the shop-door, and g
said I wanted to see Fish. I did nee see any man there lc
before I saw Fish. I was not told that Fish was unwell. si
The woman went away, and Fish came into the room. i
The doors were shut during the time I was in converse- St
tioe with Fish. I said; to him, " I have been in- !.=l,
formed that you have been assisting in canvass- 711
ing." He said he bad. " I will pay you for your s;
labour," and gave him three sovereigns. He said, " I v
ought to have twice that, for I have worked hard and St
long." He took the money. I said, "If you are not satin- . SI
bad I will see Selby, and if you are entitled to a month's 2,1
pay shall have it." I then turned and opened the door
'•g into the street. I found a man in a crouching gt
position, listening at the door. It was a strong wooden It
door, and there was no glass in it. He said, " You le
are two bad ones, and I'll tell of you.' I said, " Fiah, who St
is that man?" He said, "It is the man I lodge with—take r.
no notice of him." Fish and I walked out together into si
the street, grumbling. I said, "If you are disutisSed
you had better return me the money, and I'll inquire into St
the matter." He returned me the money. I did not say St
to him " 111 see Selby, and get you 41. 10a." I saw Selby St
two or three days afterwards. Fish and Selby called upon 41
me in the course of a few days. Selby said, " I have 'lc
brought Fish ;he is boring me, and wants paying." I said, gt
" Fish, I have made inquiries, and find you are Si
not entitled, and I shall give you nothing." He then H
went away. I recollect two men coming to me at the com St
-
mittee loom on the day before the nomination. They were _
entire strangers to me. I have since ascertained 81
that one of them was George Hudson and the other 11
Rowley. Rowley said, " I have brought you a voter, Mr. S
Beecroft." I said "Is that all r He said "Yes." I
then said " Yon had better go down stain directly." He
did so. I said to Hudson, "Remember I have not
said a word to you in presence of that man.
What do you want r He asked what he was
to have for his vote, if he voted for Paget and Morley.
I said I should not give him anything ; but if he liked to
°
waist for two or three days he should be paid for his
labour. I did not see him on the polling-day. I saw him
on the Saturday afterwards. He said, " I have come for
my money." I said, "As you have done nothing I shall
not pay you." He begged very hard for something. I gave
him a eird with some words written upon it •
in penciL It was addressed to Mr. Heath, 1,
asking " Can you do anything for him r I did not write It
anything else to Mr. Heath. I received a written answer if
from him in a sealed envelope. The answer was, "It
won't do and moat stand over." I had no other commu- S
nication with respect to Hudson with Mr. Heath.
Cress.examined by Mr. Rodwell—At the time the con-
versation occurred, I knew nothing of Hudson. He wax not I
put on the canvassing list, and did nothing at the last elec- •
tion. I gave the card to Hudson to get rid of him. It
stated that the bearer had voted for Paget and Morley,
and asked Mr. Heath " Can you do anything for him ?"
The statement that ho had voted for Paget and Morley
did not mean anything in particular. When I opened Mr.
Heath's note, 1 said to Hudson, " I can do nothing
for you," and he went away. He said when he
applied to me, " I am willing to vote for Paget and Mor-
ley. What can you do for me r When I told him I
could put him on the list for three days, he murmured and
went away. I paid the canvassers for the ward. The
number of voters in that ward is upwards of 000. We had
nearly 100 canvassers. Thera were 10or 12 unpaidcanvassers.
I believe Hudson voted in my ward. The canvassers came
to the committee-room to be paid. I never spoke to Fish
before the election. I never paid any other canvasser at
his own house. I gave him 3/. for the work he did. and I
think he worked to the best of his ability. He was
paid for a fortnight's work. I wan instructed by
Mr. Selby. I knew Mr. Fish by sight before
but I did not know his name. I did not
pay him for his vote. Mr. Selby had spoken to me about
Mr. Fish canvassing, but not about his voting. Mr. Selby
had never spoken to me about Fish's voting. I went to
Fish of my own notion. Mr. Selby was an unpaid canvasser.
He told me that Fish was a canvasser. He did not tell
me that he had assisted him.
To the Chairman— Mr. Selby never told me Fish hail
assisted him in canvassing. I never told Fish that Selby
had told me he had. I said to Fish, " I understand you
have been assisting Mr. Selby canvassing."
The Chairman—From whom did you understand it'
Witness—From Selby. (Laughter.)
Mr. Rodwell—Then it seems Selby did tell you that
Fish had been assisting you'—Well, yes.
Where'—ln his own neighbourhood ; not at the com-
mittee-room.

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h. 'lOO
h. 1100