The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1853-12-08 00:00:00

--74 j,, --/d(

COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS

THE BRADLEY INQUIRY.

The usual monthly meeting of the town council was held
at eleven o'clock yesterday in the Town-hall. The chair was
occupied by the MAYOR.
The TOWN-CLERK read the minutes of the last day's pro-
ceedings.
The MAYOR said : Gentlemen, the first 'business will be:-
to receive the report from the special committee whom you
appointed at the last council, and, as it refers to a member
of the council, and a question of privilege, it is the first
upon the paper.
The TOWN-CLERK read the following report :
The special committee appointed by the council on the
9th inst., to inquire into charges preferred against Mr. E.
Bradley, a member of the council, relative to the course purl-
sued by him at the recent election for Vauxhall ward, as to
which it is alleged that he unduly and improperly used his
position of a councillor and member of one of the committees
of the council, to influence a voter named Stopfortb;' as' to
giving his vote at suoh election,, and to report thereon—
unanimously report to the council,
1. That Mr. Bradley, being a member of the water com-
mittee, and of the financial sulf-committee of that committee,
became cognisant of the names of persons in arrear for
water rents in the several wards,
2. That a meeting of the financial sub-committee of the
water committee was held on the 21st ult., and attended by
Mr. Bradley, and it was proved that he, at that meeting,
made extracts from the list of persons so in arrear and re-
siding in 'Vauxhall ward.
3. That George Stopforth, a voter in that ward, was one
of the persons included in the list of those in arrear for
waterrrents, and that Mr. Bradley did, when canvassing
Stopforth for his vote at the recent municipal election un-
duly and improperly use knowledge of the fact, which he
had obtained as a,member of the water committee and of the
financial subtcommittee of that committee, for the purpose
of including Stopforth to vote for a particular candidate at
that election.

Your committee submit with their report a manuscript of
the short-hand writer's notes of the evidence adduced, upon
which the committee observe only, that witnesses having
been called to disparage the character of Stopforth, other
witnesses of undoubted character and respeetahility were
called in reply, all of whom, having 'mown him for many
years, speak of him as a sober, hard-working, well-conducted
man, and as ono upon whose honesty and truthfulness every
reliance may be placed.

J. B. MOORE, Chairman:
Town-hall, Liverpool, Nov. 29, 1853.
Mr. Alderman BRA.MLEY-MOORS rose and said, Mr. Mayor,
as chairman of. the special committee, sir, which it was the
pleasure of the council to appoint to inquire into the cir-
cumstances on which that report is founded, it devolves upon
me to move its acceptance and adoption by the council.
And, in doing so, sir, my duty is a very simple one. As the
evidence has been submitted and hid upon the table for now
several days, for the perusal of the members of the council,
I presume that every one has availed himself of the oppor-
tunity, and will be thereby enabled to form a conclusion
whether we have arrived at the right decision or not, and
whether the decision which is stated in the report is a just
one according to the evidence laid before us.. I shall
abstain sir, from any commentary upon the evidence,because
I think it would be wasting the time of the council, every
member having had a chance of leading it, and forming his
own judgment thereof. But as it appears to me, sir, that
there exists upon the minds of some members of the coun-
cil some misapprehension as to the duties which devolved
upon us,l think it right so far to state we were not instructed
to try Mr. Bradley for any case of bribery or corruption.
The instructions to us were simply whether he had unwar-
rantably made use of his position as a member of the
council, and as a member of the water committee, and of
the sub-financial committee of that committee, for the pur-
pose of influencing voters in the Yauxball-ward. Therefore,
it was net for us, sir, to try any other question than that;
and upon that decision I believe it will be for the council to
say whether Mr. Bradley shall be placed on any committee
of the council for the future. In fact the names, sir, have
been held in abeyance until the report was read, and there-
fore the council will now be able to form its own opinion,
whether it will be proper, or their pleasure to place Mr.
Bradley on any committee of the council, and more especially
upon the water committee, for the future. I have only one
observation further to make, sir, and that is that the com-
mittee were unanimous in their decision. I have now, sir,
fulfilled a duty which, I confess, was a very painful one,, and
a very onerous one ; but your committee, sir, devoted a
great deal of time and patient inquiry to ascertain the facts,
the simple facts on which the question hinged, and in their
judgment they have done so, and have given an impartial
decision, regardless of whatever the consequences might be,
either here or elsewhere. I shall now conclude, Mr. Mayor,
by moving the reception and adoption of the report, and I
think the council will agree with me that I should waste
their time if I were to indulge in any further remarks upon
the subject, and if tho ceipation shall give rise to any such
necessity, sir, I shall have the opport444i 4 toply, and can
then state my views more fully, -
The MAYOR Does any gentleman second the motion
Mr. Alderman Hopirs : I have great pleasure, sir, in
seconding the adoption of the report.
The MAYOR : Gentlemen, it has been proposed and
seconded, that the report of the special committee be
adopted. Is it your pleasure that the motion be passed ?
(Several cries of a Yes, yes.") •
Mr. Alderman DOVER : Is the report carried
The MAYOR : I understand so.

Mr. FERNMOUGH : Some members of the council may
wish to carry this matter somewhat further. I apprehend
that there are members of the council who intend to carry it
somewhat further at the right time.
The MArolt : The next portion of the proceedings is the
appointment of a member of the church expenditute com-
mittee, the water committee, and the lil4rAry and museum
committee,
144 r. DovER I hope I will be in order in making a few
remarks.

The MAYOR : Do you propose to make any resolution ?

Mr. DOVER: No ;- I am going on the motion.
The MAYOR : Then I think that is passed.
Mr. DOVER : Then I merely want to know, as a point of
order, whether, if Mr. Bradley's name is propped as a
member of one of the sub-coninlittees, shall I be in order to
make a few roraarki?
The MAYOR : The course the council have adopted is this :
They have accepted the report. The next question comes
on in order, and any member of the council is in a position
to move any resolution founded upon that report, and to
propose any member to the three committees mentioned in
the council.

Mr. Fgivinlotret4 -The only point which strikes me is
this : If wenre not called upon to put Mr. Bradley upon
any committee of the council, why not carry that prin-
ciple a little further? The committees are only fractious of
the council, and surely if a member has an opportunity of
doing that which is not considered by the cuancil—l can-
not exactly find the word-,7(laughter)---if, in fact, the
council cannot place any confidence in him as a member of
the committee, a lesser body than the council, it appears to
Me, that we should place ourselves in a very extraordinary
position if we were to consider him qualified to sit upon the
council itself.

The MAYOR : I take it that the position of the council is
this : The municipal act gives power to the council as a
whole body to appoint committees, and delegate certain de-
tails to them, The council have a Tight to keep as many
members of the committee as tliey may think proper. Then
comes the next question. If any member of the council
wishes to proceed further under the municipal act, it map
be done by an information : I take ;f - nave
nnnnw.r xeep any member off a committee.

Mr.VFsxxixouax: Yes, Mr. Mayor, but still 1,13,11
culty is not removed. I look upon the council as a committee
of the whole louse: in pontradistinction to the lesser com-
mittees, There are matters frequently carried here in this
council by one vote. If wo are told upon evidence—and I
certainly apprehend that the evidence is pretty
.plain ; I
have read it three times over, every word of it, to see if I
could find anything in it which could be offered in defence
of the gentleman concerned-7:4nd if we are told upon
evidence that lie has dcine these things, and it is moved here
that he be 'lint off the committee, I can only say that I do
not like to see any member put off a committee unless the
council be prepared to go further. The members of the
council are otherwise placed in what T oo,nside.r a yery wrong
position; because if a man is not qualified to sit as a mem.
bar of fraction of the 5)4, he is of qualified to sit as a
member of the whole body.
Mr. HORNBY : If Mr, Fernihough has a motion to bring
before the council, he ought to do so. (Hear, hear.) In
my opinion the council does all that is required.
The object of the council in appointing the committee, was
for the purpose of taking into consideration the
allegations Which were made by one member of the
council at the last meeting, with respect to Mr. Bradley.
If their allegations were founded on fact, certainly they
would influence a great number of gentlertlen in the votes
which they would give in appointing him a member of any
committee, and more especially a member of the water
(I-fear, hear.) Having done what we have
beard,' fr. Mayor, I think. the 'council has no power to go
any further, UnlesS any gentleman choses to move that the
town-clerk be instructed to take criminal proceedings, upon
behalf of the town-cousncil, against Mr. Bradley. Now I,
for my part, am not prepared to go that length. Ido not
believe thatllr. Bradley, when he copied out the names of
defaulters for. the water-rent in Vanxliall,ward, had any
intention of committing bribery ; but Ido believe that he
intended to make use of the information so obtained for the
purpose of influencing voters in that ward. (Loud cries of
hear, hear.) Havinc, so exercised his power as a member
of the water committee, I, for one, would not give him my
vote for being again elected a member of that committee.
(Hear, hear.) In going! tiny thrther than that, I think the
council would act very unwisely. (Hear, hear.)
Mr., DOVER : I do not think the charge, brought against
Mr. Bradley by Mr. Hodson, has been proved. I think the
charge brought by Mr. Hodson—and I take it from two,
circumstances, first of all the words he used himself; and,
secondly, the note which he tendered to Mr. Bradley, and
whiph,lve read, at the eouncil—l think the charge lie then
brought distinctly, was that of compromising the pecuniary

interests of the
.eorporatiote (No no.) Now, 1, 116 SA CI, '
charge hak „been proved. I really think the •character
of a member of the council is at stake, and—
The A.lnvon do not think, Mr, Alderman Dover, you
_are qnita-ilorder in going -into this over again, whielrhai
been already inquired into. As ;tat separating what is the
-charge and what is 'not la charge-(hear, hear)—l think
in follinVing Mr. Herlihy as to the further proceedings of the.
council 'I think vii would ,he quite in order but, at the
same time, I do not think you wo,nla IN in ,orcler in openagnfr
tup if& question again, after it has
,been-aiready faßy,dis-
,eussed, :as to- what -311 i. Hodson's charge, was, which the
committee have inquired inte,, and, upon which they have
founded a report. I think there is that distinction. Ido
not want to prevent you from spe4kiiig!:,afs-414raby has
done, with regard to the course which the ,cdtincil should
now adept.
Mr. Down : Mr, Hornby made the remark that the fr
charge which was made against Mr. Bradley by a member , f
of the council, had been proved. Now I contend that the,. p
•
charge which was brought was not proved. coal
Mr. IlduNny : I did not .sav anything of the kind.. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. DOVER : I understood yeti so. •
The MAYOR : I certainly did not understand Mr. Hornby
to say so. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. Dovnit : All I wish to say now is, emphatically to
declare that the"opinien of the majority of the committee
was, that there was no proof Whatever of such it charge -as
was made, thht it was contradicted ,by.facts.
Mr. noesesr : I beg most :distinctly to disclaim—(inter-
ruption, and_ cries of order.")
The MAYOR ; I think Mr.. Dover has travelled out Of the--
matter, (Hear, hear.). He, got up to speak of the position
of the council, and the steps they are now to adopt.- Mr:
Hornby had spoken to this qiicstion, and Mr. Dover had a
perfect right to speak to it, also. The uestion before the
council nevi,' is that which stands upon the paper,' that the
council should proceed tee' elect,- as proposed at the list
meeting, a ineniber,'•fiist; the church expenditure corn- •
mit tee.
Mr. Hoeses : Mr. Mayor, I must disclaim entirely mak-
ing oue single remark about the pecuniary matter. (near
hear.) I had nothing whatever to do with it. Mr. Dover
isnleptierfrb.eewrefolLf
twihwrrocao4m.;inii(tilteee9ay.r,:thh7tr.m)
r.,xann
be
appointed
tt
Mr. JEFFREYS : second the motion, - --- -
Mr. GREGSON : I think that further proceedings ought to
be taken. (Hear, hear, and no, no.)
The Mayon ; 'lf further proceedings are to 'be. teent
somebody ought to bring forward a motion to that effect.
There is no resolution; and nobody 'haS 4got up to propose
one.
gr. GREGSON, : Then,iMr. Mayor, I will proeeed to :mere;^:.
that the town-Clerk be instructed to take such legal steps
as he shall be advised. against Mr, Bradley; (Oh, oh, and
hear hear.)
Mr. TnomsoN: ()nett' not a month's notice be given of
that motion ?
Th 9 NA.ion z Nv. ,I think anyvreeolution founded upon.
the report 'which the council may deem proper may be passed
here.
Mr. MoSS In regardte,tbat
The,illoron a The motion has not yet'been seeoniedi
Mr.Tronr'neir : I beg leave second. the motion.
Mr. Moss : Before the, coueeil :pasa, that resolution I
should like to ask t4legal adviser
mof .the:ecameil whether he
would recommend that the money of corporationthe should
be spent in such -a prosecution? , -
The TOWN-CLERK : Assuming that Mi. Bradley has com-
mitted this offence -
Mr: Moss : Assuming ! I ask the question—Yee erne?
The TOWN-CLERK,;, Assuaging that Mr. Bradley has colli-
mated ,tha. offence, it would be competent for the•cOuncil,
under the provisions of the municipal act, te.order a prose-
cution, under the section, of, the, municipal act which relates
to bribery, which; • I suppose, is that to which: Mr.-
Gregson refers. Bilf have to observe that the milieus;
upon the subjeet of:1 brilitry tis by no means complete.:
(Hear, hear.) ('lts niinet a, matter which the special jeom-
mittee was appeteetechite jequike into, and it was not pore
sued. - than:4llst, . what-came
But
in the conversation, between- Mr-Bradley and Stopforth. But
before a,prosecution could be instituted the evidence should
be gone into much More carefully and fully upon that point
than..is the case atpresent. I should also.state that under
the municipal act, any person guilty; ,of bribery. May be pro-
ceeeled'iageilAt .1)Y ?AMP e 40% 1905 Y All action, to receive a
penalty. It is not In 4lie pr9,eine,„e/ ofthe coutieil• to mesa-
a penalty,theinsel,ees..„Any pepeapanaybe proceeded against',"
at. common law 9r by amiefermationunder the statute, but
what I wish to say is, that the evidence now before the coun-
cil is.byHne means sufficient to sustain a proceeding of that
kind,
Mr. GREGSON : After the opinion:which, has been expressed
by the town-clerk, I shall beg leave to withdraw my motion.
(Hear, hear).
Mr. CUARLES TtaINER I was going to suggest, if the
motion had not been withdrawn, that it would be better to
give notice for some fliture council, so that time might be
given to consider the matter.
Mr. ItRADLEY ; air.lllayox,Lurhs ...,gnixacct this position,
I think you will see the propriety of my not offering any
observations. (Cries of hear, hear).
The council then proceeded with the filling up of the
vacancies upon the committees.
Mr. Mame was appointed to the church expenditure com-
mittee.
Mr, Hove begged to move, as chairman: of the water come
mittee, that Mr. garlebe Appointed toi the vacant place on,
that committee, He said he felt satisfied that the well-known
abilities of Mr. Earle and his qualifications to attend to the
duties of that office, would :be-sufficient .to recommend him every member ckethe council. (Hear, hear).
Mr. Coo.toin seconded the motion,-
Mr, Doyen; I rise ,to propose another gentleraan, but I do
not do. so in opposition to Mr. Earle. I beg- topropose that
Mr. Bradley be appointed a member of that committee. I lost
the opportunity of making some remarks a while ago, which
lam now going to make. (Hear, and laughter) While, sire
I rise to propose Mr. Bradley, t distinctly say again that I
do so, not out of any wish to prevent Mr. Earle front en-
tering the committee, because I think he would be
eaonemohmosn:
usefulnaitte member,.4otole, h
a Ado Ardor. Bradley was a
think
kthat member of
surheieratr
reason
been adduced, why he should be kept off the committee.
The town-clerk- has told you that the evidence upon which the
committee, of which I was a member, came to a decision,
was not such as would convict a man in a court of law,
(Cries of "No, no,")
The Towrreeeenx ; Oh, no, I beg your pardon,; I said
no such thing,
Mr. DOVER Then I misunderstood you, Mr. Bradley
has been, there can be no doubt, proved guilty of attempt-
ing to influence voters by undue means, (General cries of
hear, hear.) I ask this of any member of the council, any
man who has mixed inuela in electioneering matters ap• the
municipal welds, I ask him can he conscientiously
say, in
respect to his having ever used any undue influence, " These
hands are clean." (Cries of hear, hear.) More than one
member of the council, has confessed to me, that among other
things to which he was indebted for his election there was
—what I have heard the expression used more than once,
beer and bad tobacco. (Oh, oh, cries of hoar, and laughter.)
Any person who has mixed much with municipal elections,
and I have myself mixed much with them, and I do not
come before you here, building upon my innocence of wrong,
mw iellmers admitct ft itih s andcouncil
end o
havedeclare,
nce,o:ri
tihi.enenetriso:n.ms ley(
H,etxehtaaernt:mh thatea
anry
gr. Bradley has gone, and therefore if we are to keep him
off the sub-committee, because lie used undue means
jeatnhsatatane
municipal election, there are a great number e-""enlan
who should also be. JinAttea
, r, we must b... in
knuoodwson of
.
the kindness and good foal;
election is a kind of Saturnalia, when people consider tue.o.-
selves at liberty to do and say things which they would not do
or say at any other period. Some allowance ought to be
made for this.
fromh
friend attr I .
that if the feelings of opposition had been allowed to cool,
if some few or, feelings
weeks had gone over, we should never
have heard of this charge against Mr. Bradley ; but he acted
upon the impulse of the unfortunate feeling which pervades
elections in general, and hence this charge was brought, and
the evidence gone into, But I say this to the other mem-
bers of the cogged; In the evidence before the committee,
it was proved that upon the other side—not by my friend
Mr. Hodson, certainly—but it was proved that an influen-
tial member of his committee did pay the water-rents of
voters. We all know that such things are done at muni-
, oipal elections. I was afraid, when Mr.. Hodson brought
the charge, that he distinctly stated in his note to Mr.
Bradley, that Mr, hradley said to Stopforth, if he would vote
for Mr. pawol his water-rent would be excused. That was
in Mr. Hodsoe',s note to Mr. Bradley ; and all that Mr.
Bradley has been guilty of, in my mind, was using undue
influence. (Hear, hear.) But if nlr, Bradley had been the
only member of the council who had used undue influence,
such as that at the last election, I should be the last man to
move him upon the eommittee„ I think, air, this is carrying I
the thing too far. I think we have gone far enough in it,
(Hear, hear.) Mr. Bradley has heard the report, and
think we should go nq further.
Mr. Alderman PARKER said he meant to secondthe motion
for the Very abject with which the worthy alderman 'had
proposed it, to get an Qpportunity of making a few remarks.'
(Laughter.) Now he understood that the worthy alder-
man was one of t 4 foremost in unanimity upon the con.
mittee which bad just sat upon that question. What was
the question ? It was not ' the question that alderman
Dover had gone into ; but the question was whetheetcrE
Mr. Bradley war. entitled to sit open the committees.
The council unanimously, without opposition, confirmed the
report of the committee, sod the worthy alderman, for the'
sake of bringing out something which had been kept back,
proposed that Mr. Bradley should be appointed a member of
the water committee ; and he (Alderman Parker) for the
same reason begged to second the motion. Now the penalty
flrobrriebnearirty7ta—ahnedmhore
al(AllydderinegraandePdaraknedr)poklinetiwcaltlywdeella-z
That Was the punishment. Being one who was charged
with such an offetce, he might stand up there to make a
feW remarks upon what had fallen from Mr. Dover, He •
was not treated with the same courtesy, as Mr, Bradley wss
Was not merely that Mr. Parker was unworthy .of a seal
upon a committee, but he was at once brought before a 'ury
of his country, tried by a jury of his countrymen, honour-

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