The Express.
London, England, 1859-10-12 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, WEDNESDAY EVENING, OCTOBER 12, 18,59,

WAKEFIELD ELECTION COMMISSION.

WAILIFIELD, Ty ZSDAY.
The commissioners roomed their inquiry this
maniac of alma Tho ostroonthimy ammo al the die-
damns mom to km occosioool the grossest maltommt hi
the toroagh, pence. hemp bees aoceeed of marls, bribes
who were entirely essuspected. As it wee ezpieled thet Mr.
Habewrlght, the tof Mr. Leedom at the late eleadra,
wield be er.mbu , the wart was crowded to mom. Mr.
Beaeasetat, 111.1"..1dr. Loath," sad Mr. Charlenworth acce-
pted soots epee the beach.
lea Groom wee the first 'Meese examined. He stated
that he voted et the late elerstee for Mr. Leedom About
three wean Aar tho Wont= ha received money hos
Bharploy ler bolds( otter rotors, bat ha received sothin
for hie owe trouble. The mosey he headed was 101., sad
he received tt to " molests " biro for hie trouble.

—ioari;b—iiikimore eta ter that .:«7; gamed afford wee
bribed to vote for Leath= on the morning of the election.
The 1111911 man told him that he also twitted money from the
brim

By Mr. Slade—Spent 161. or 161. in "rejoicings" at a
wise neerchant'a aftor the *kenos. Did sot think there was
say harm In It. The wine was champagne ; it wee paid
fir out of hie own pocket, sad anybody thank it who liked.
Mr. Beverley was greened, and stated that daring the
election he gave 101. to a voter to give to a man named Bear
croft for hot vote. On the night before the election he heard
that Bancroft intended to vote for the other Mk, end ha west
to him, when he wag told that he bad received an offer of W.
from the blow. Witter then saw Beneroft's ands who
said he thought he could get the man fog 301. more. Wit-
ness counted out the money, and believed that it was sent to
the eater.

Ilfred Lull stated that he waned upon the man Gil-
ford la take him to the poll, bat he sever made any oiler of
many either to blot or to any other person for his vote during
the election.

11irTiehWea highly complimented by the commireloners,
on • previous day, for the meowin which he gave his
evidence.

Hoary Denison stated that he saw Mr. Ash at Oilford's
how, and heard Mr. Ash my that the man mast be pt out
atlas way. He also heard Conant, a merlons witnas, state
at the POlinllS Inn that he recelvad tram the ocerievs-

tivesfOr Ith rote:

--iterTey Hanlq a.fa ()Ilford admitted to him that be re-
mised 16& from Brest for hi rote. H. as • mac who
was sever knows to rote without barbs his rest paid.
°Weed himself was called, bat did set obey the summons.
Mr. derlesat Pipit observed that say press dierelowdiss
the ettausam of the mein would be with the sum
petal orasequesoss width would attend a refusal to obey a
samimme has ate of the superior courts is London.
Thome Pitoltforth was neat szembied. He stated that oa
the sight before the election he bawd Kr. Archibald Crow-
ther offer his father 601. If he would rote foe Mr. Chants-
wadi.

Mr. H. Leatbani was then called. In reply to Mr. flerjeent
Plgott, be said—l was me of the candidates for Wakefield
at the last election. I wee else a candidate in 1867. bat
withdrew from the coolest. I received • great number of
there wee so narcotics that I knew of at
theeit I believe that there would have been if the orsa-
best had gone on. With regard to the last elemica,
to Mr. Wainwright to look after the registratioo, both for
borough, and minty registrations. He was to
7:::124.1f0r each, which I paid to him. Before the alsetioe,
• meeting of my friend. and supporters took place at Mr.
Thompson's house. Mr.Wainwrigbt wee presset,and a number
of geodes= promised to support me. Young Mr. Thompson
said to me, hat not in the room where the meeting was held,
that he hoped there would be no bribery on my side. I re-
plied that I hoped them would be no oecasion for bribery.
I cannot tell how it came to pats that Gilbert was employed
to aria in the election. 1 hod no knowledge whatever of
Mr. Gilbert, even by name. Mr. Wainwright told me that
a genders= would come from London to moist, but I knew
nothing of him prior ro that. I had engaged Mr. Naylor, of
Leeds, to maim Mr. Wainwright, but when I found that
Mr. Wainwright had engaged • gentleman in London, I
wrote to Mr. Naylor stating that another engagement had
been needs. and endowing • coosultation fee. I wee first Intro-
duced by Mr. Wainwright to Gilbert under the name of Field.
When I afterwards found that his name wee Gilbert, I
expressed my surprise that Mr. Wain +right *horrid have
introduced him by the name of Field. Mr. Wainwright
told me that „that was one of his names." I have no know-
ledge where the money came from that wee expesded at the
late election. I gave Mr. Wainwright an order en Messrs.
°mend end Gurney for 1,0001. That sum was handed
to Mr. Wainwright. Oa the 19th of April Mr. Wainwright
called upon me and said he thought it would be a
more expensive election than he had expected, and
be asked me to extend his credit to NO/. more.
I thought it rather strange, but I remembered
that the election of 1862 it'd met me 18001. •
and after some conversation 1 extended the credit. Oa thi's
2Sth of April Mr. Wainwright Naked me to give him the
command of 1,0001. more. I was much annoyed at the impli-
cation, and said that there were several things coneemed with
his °Moe which I did not like. I expressed a hope that
nothing was wrung, having seen many strange laces ; bet he
amid" You must redly leave all this to me. You moat give
me the oommend of moth( r 1,0001., though I do not think that
I shall want it." I was foolish enough to Mt him have it,
and I believe that the money wee obtained from the same
source as before. After the election he applied to me for money
tor the non-electors,and I think he first bad 2001. and thee 6001.
from me. I think that I paid him the money myself by
cheques. lam quits sure that Mr. Wainwright did not get
any money from my mother or my brother, the member foe
Huddersfield, for the election. I overheard a gentleman in
the House of Commons Mate that the election hod met
8,0001., but I have no knowledge that each was the fact.
Mr. Berjeant Pigott asked if the money spoken to by Mr.
Leathern covered all the expmiess of the election on the
liberal side ?

M. Leatham—l believe that it was even moo than suffi •
cleat to cover el the expenditure which has been proved
before the commiasion.

Mr. &deist Pigott—Has Mr. Wainwright never told you
that the deaden cost 6.0004?
Mr. Leathern—No, be never told me to. I told him during
the election that I didn't like the look ni things skeet the
office, and I asked him whether Mr. lignites knew what
was ping on. He sail," Mr. Harrison knows all, air ." sad
I asked no more. I most say, in justice to Mr. lisvisca,
that there is nothing to show that suck ws the cam I was
often told, in the course of the election, that I must not in.
treg:bont anything that was going on. I saw that many
were kept from me systematically which have since
been made very plain to me.
Mr. Prerjeant Pigott—When Gilbert was Introduced to you
by the name of Firld, did it not open your eyes to *be nature
ot his occupation ?
. . .

Mr. Leatham—No, It did not. I thought he was a clever
man in electioneering matters. who was up to all sorts of
electioneering tricks, and would be able to counteract any
tricks which might be attempted by the ccmiervatives. The
money was paid from London through a friend, end the
object was to keep our opponents in the dark se to what we
wars doing. The friend who sent the money is Mr. Keay
Edmund Gurney, of the arm of Overeud and Gurney.
Mr. Serjaor Pigott—Speaking fairly end truly. an you
state whether Mr. Wainwright had the command of a larger
SUM than the aro you tows mentioned ?
Mr. Leatham—l hare no anspicion of his having had the
command of s large sum. lau ant aware that any friend of
sae has nulled him with maey. In denary, before the
ebcdun, I lent Mr. Wainwright 6001. on Ida prombenry note
11 to advance him in hie babas'. I am bound to say that I
lad an idea that the loan +add serve my own tolerate as
well. My mother took greet Interest is the ekction.
' Mr. Strjoant Pigott—D.) you expect to be called upon to
pay more than you have already paid ?
r. Latbam—l cannot say natil I have had a settlement
with Mr. Wainwright. I raker expect that he will have a
balance to hand over to me.

Mr. Serjent Pigott—Then you indulge ia that pleasing
delusion. Had yus no doubt thet money was being applied
to improper purposes?
Mr. Leathern—My suspicions were aroused, but I was not
made acquainted witn anything that was taking place its.
properly. My suspkions wen stoned when the lan 1,0001.
was asked Ist. I suspected that the mosey was being spent
in bribery, or that the awaits were paying themselves.
Mr. Rerjeant Pigott—That they were robbing yen, or
breekieg the law le arms her way P
Mr. Leathern—Precisely on.

Mr. Ecriaant Pigott—Did you call any meeting of your
isediag supporters?
Mr. Lembeen—No, I did not think it nereemey.
By Mr. Willie-1 bad uo aosoicion that anythior improper
was taking place until Mr. Wainwright asked me for on ad-
ditional 1,0001. I wes then completely disgust d, and I have
had groguiggicetion wiih Mr. Wainwright since.
Mr. Wines—Dors the 3,21(01. you state you paid altogether
include the same paid through UN election auditor ?
Mr. Leatham—No ; that is additional.
Mr. Willer—Were you aware that all payments wen
illegal that were net paid through the election auditor P
Mr. Leathans—l wes not aware that that was the case
until I read the evidence before the Cillottotoder commisekmere.

I thought that all the money I advanced would lathe end
go beton at* Aril= auditor.
Mr. Willes—Did you take any daps to Isom that .11 the
Kt.:pats would Erl..afore the auAlt.r Y

Mr7LeathamLl left all that to Mr. Waiewrlght, and I
was UM that there wu great difficulty In getting all the
serieuste In Dahl two month' had *taped.
Mr. Willer-Whet wu the sum paid through the election
auditor ?
Mr. Lestham—l Ulises It wu 4801.

Mr. Wlll;Z:llnwdiTieer canvareiook stand in 194 P
Mr. Latham—l had a majority of 40 is direct promises,
but the poll pve a mejority against me. I have no doubt
that Improper Influence, wore at work Ia widening the
clump. I hams no doubt that bribery, as well u intimide-
tiaa, wea very extensively prretised.
By Mr. Serpent Pigott—l have so resets to baliero that
Gilbert has any claim upon me in refersere to the election.
Ho wee sot esryged by me in any way. leclottiog the ex-
Le of the petition there ere many outstandieg accounts.
r Thompson, ion., bee told me that pervious have men-
arof their accounts not having beim paid. None of the
edl wrote to Mr. Gurney are in my
Mr. Lerman, solicitor, of Yotk. paid I:7:k‘psear e , not for
Mr. Leathern, bet for &avers! of the electors, sod be wished
to est If Mr. Leathern communicated to env members of his
executive 001111:nitIrgo the fact that AP had paid the 110E16 be had
tomaticmed I. Mr. Wainwright.
Mr. Leathern—l think 1 slid net. I em not aware that
any nuts of money wen advaaged by any member of the
SZOOUtiVe committee.