The Express.
London, England, 1866-04-25 00:00:00

WAKEFIELD.

The committee appointed to try the petition
against the return of Mr. William Henry Latham for the
borough of Wakefield, re-assembled this morning ; Mr.
Gregory in the chair. Before any further evidence was
elated,
The Chairman said the committee were satisfied from
the evidence they bad already received that bribery had
been proved. The question which they wished to
submit to the counsel on both aides was
whether they considered it necessary to bring
forward a number of additional cases of bribery,
with the view of substantiating agency out of
them. If they thought that necessery, the committee
would be most happy to listen to what further evidence
might be given upon the point ; but if further evidence
was to be given only with the view of showing that bribery
bad been committed, he might say that the committee
were satisfied upon that point from the evidence which
they had already received.
Mr. Pickering, 9.C. said that, so far as he understood,
the other cases which h• could bring forwaidber would only
go to strengthen tke fact that systematic bry went on
during the election.
Mr. H. James, in the absence of Mr. Giffard, Q.C., said
he should be rather disposed, on the pert of the sitting
member, to swept the view of the committee, and should
not attempt to deny that the money was paid in some of
the cases which had been proved. But on the other hand
he proposed giving very strong evidence indeed that the
persons who paid the money acted on their own account
solely, and were not the agents of the sitting members.
The examination of witnesses was then prooeeded with.
Mr. Henry Morgan, Deputy.town-elerk of Wakefield,
produced official accounts of the election.
William Speight said he lived in Wakefield, but was not
a voter. Attended meetings of Mr. Leathern at the Bri-
tish Oak in Kirkgate. A committee, consisting of Arm-
strong, Taylor, and Hall, the printer, met there. Hall
gave him directions what to do. Had a conversation with
a man named Rayner, who said he did not want
to vote blue, but if he could get some money
he would go away. Witness took him 11., and an
offer of Si. from Hall to go away. Witness was employed
as a runner, and received 15s. from Mr. Taylor, the
druggist, for three days' work. Another voter named
Holroyd offered to go away for Si., and Hall told witness
to " look after him." Witness did so, but he got away.
Toni Holroyd, a shoemaker in Wakefield, was a
voter. On the night before the polling met
Speight in the street. Speight 'eked him who he should
vote for. Witness said " Sir John Hay." Speight told
him he should have a pound or two if he would go away,
and not vote at all ; and he afterwards increased the offer
to Si. Witness asked where the money was, and Speight
said he would go and get it. Speight then went away,
and witness sew no more of him that night.
John Burn Rhodes stated that on the day of the election
Kenworthy, the grocer, called upon him with Jesse
Burton, took him into a side room, near the committee-
room, and offered him " four fivers " if he would go with
him and vote. Witness replied " that he did not intend
to vote." Kenworthy then said he might have 10/. if he
did not vote. Witness repeated his answer and did not
vote. He had not received any money.
[Left sitting.)