The Sun.
London, England, 1870-04-04 00:00:00

bEIZURE OF ARMS IN IRELAND.

The capture of weapons at Tobercurry in Ireland was a
very strange affair. It appears that a large cask was
conveyed to the establishment of Mr. Robert Clark, a
respectable shopkeeper in Tobercurry, from the railway
station at Ballymate, by the ordinary carriers. Mr.
Clark opened it, and was astonished to find it contained
ten rifles, six swords, six bayonets, and six packages
of ammunition containing ten rounds each. Ire
at once communicated the matter to Mr. L'Estrange,
who recommended him to inform the police. Ile
did so, and the sub-inspectors came and seized the barrel
with its contents.. It is supposed that this barrel was
directed to Mr. Clark in order to cover suspicion, as any
person could call for it at the railway station, and, paying
the freight, get it. The real consignee not coining for it,
the barrel was sent on in the usual way, and thus fell into
the hands of the constabulary.

THE NORWICH BRIBERY PROSECUTION,

The trial of Mr. Edward Stracey, son of Sir Henry
Stracey, was opened at the Norfolk Assizes on Thursday,
and continued on the following day. On Friday the
Attorney-General expressed his belief that there was no
bribery or thought of bribery on the part of Sir Henry
Stracey, and that in the city itself there was
a strong desire among the majority of the voters
to have the election conducted on fair and
honest principles. He also added that he believed Mr.
Edward Stracey himself did not contemplate bribery at
the outset of the election. After the formal proofs had
been given, Mr. Joseph Allen, a medical man, was called.
He said: Between one and two o'clock on the afternoon
of the election I was outside the Maid's Head Hotel. Mr.
Edward Stracey came up in a cab ; I stopped it, and he
got out. I told him I wanteed money for the election ; could
he let me have some ? He said "No; " he dare not ; his
father would not forgive him. He said perhaps it would
not be wanted. Between two and half-past two I pressed
Stracey to advance the money. Ultimately he said it
should be £2OO, and I said I would do my share. The
money was to be given to me. Mr. Stracey knew
nothing about how it was to be distributed except
generally that it was to be used for stirring up the
I people. told him that there were many persons who
wanted beer, that they were perfectly ready to vote
for Sir H. Stracey, and that if they had a little beer Sir
H. Stracey would float in. On cross-examination,
this witness said that it was most studiously con-
cealed from Mr. Stracey that the mouey was to be
spent in bribery, for which witness intended it in
his . own mind. Mr. Webster, the landlord of
the Maid's Head, said that Mr. Stracey asked him
on the afternoon of the election to lend him £2OO,
Witness drew a cheque for that amount, and went to the
bank where he obtained the money in half-sovereigns.
He did not know for what the money was wanted, and
the clerk at the bank asked him if he would take it in that
way. He took the money to Mr. Allen's house, and gave it to
his wife. Mrs. Joseph Allen deposed to receiving the money
from Mr. Webster and giving it to Mr. Howse Allen, and Mr.
Howse Allen explained how he distributed the coin among
bribery agents, and how he gave some small bribes himself.
On Saturday morning evidence was given as to the distri-
bution of the sums entrusted for bribery purposes by Mr.
Howse Allen to Bann, Hulme, and others. Mr. Staveley
Hill intimated that he should not attempt to deny that
the money was spent in bribery, but he should contend
that that was done without the knowledge of Mr. Stracey.
The Attorney-General replied. The Judge summed up,
and the jury acquitted the prisoner. Great excitement
was caused by the verdict. It was received with applause
in Court, and there is, says our correspondent, great
cheering throughout the city.
The prosecutions relating to the bribery at the municipal
elections were continued in the Crown Court by Mr.
Justice Blackburn. The defendant prosecuted on Satur-
day is Mr. Hardiment. Several witnesses proved seeing
small sums of money given by him to voters. The judge
summed up, and the jury found the prisoner guilty.
The trial of Mr. Joseph Stanley, solictor, for bribery at
at the last municipal election was opened. Several wit-
nesses were examined. and the court adjourned.