The Sun.
London, England, 1869-12-02 00:00:00

THE WESTMINSTER ELECTION.

An important correspondence has taken place between
the London and Westminster Working Men's Constitu-
tional Association and Mr. Leatham, M.P. In a speech at
Huddersfield on the 18th inst., Mr. Leatham made an alle-
gation as follows :—" Take only the case of West-
minster . . . It was proved that there was a vast work-
ing men's Conservative association in full work, and they
knew what that meant, with a separate set of canvassers,
and a separate committee, and bribing right and
left." The chairman of the association, Mr. W. Cotter,
was commissioned to call upon Mr. Leatham to specify
" any evidence taken before the judge who tried the West-
minster petition, which will substantiate this charge of
wholesale bribery." To this Mr. Leatham replied, refus-
ing to withdraw his imputation, and relying for its justifi-
cation upon the following passage from the judgment of
Mr. Baron Martin :—" It has been proved, as was stated
by Mr. Stephen, that there was this body who
called themselves the " London and Westminster
Working Men's Conservative or Constitutional As-
sociation." Although the society was assumed to be
formed of working men, the subscriptions coming from
those working men were next to nothing. There was a
subscription of £1 18s. within one period, and of SI within
another period, and that for thethelastperod the subscriptions
coming from them amounted to and that all the rest of
the funds of this society, which were considerable, came from
a subscription of £6O from Mr. Smith himself, but he had
withdrawn from it upon his becoming a candidate, two
subscriptions from his partner, Mr. Lethbridge, and
various other sums from other persons, who I have no
doubt subscribed expecting that this moneywouldbe bene-
ficially expended for the purpose of promoting their
political views. I think that the evidence is clear that
there were two independent sets of canvassers, and that
this society having got funds to a considerable amount,
spent them in endeavouring, as far as they could, to induce
persons to vote for Mr. Smith."
The Chairman of the association replied:—" Mr. Baron
Martin was perfectly right in stating that the funds of
this association were applied, as far as possible, in promot-
ing the return of the candidate who represented its opinions;
but we deny altogether your inference from the quotation
that he meant anything but legitimate expenditure, and
I imagine you would be greatly astonished to find a con-
tribution of your own to any Liberal Association being
employed to promote the success of your opponents.
Mr. Baron Martin did not even hint that the members
of this association were guilty of bribery. Mr. Davis was
the only person connected with this association accused of
bribery, and he was charged with bribing a person to vote
with the offer of a day's wages, and with the folly of offer-
ing a bribe of £5 to a person who did not possess a vote;
but the judge carefully avoided expressing an opinion upon
the truth of these charges, which were indignantly repu-
diated by Mr. Davis."

ANOTHER BETTING-HOUSE PROSECUTION

At the Marylebone Police-court, on Wednesday, Thomas
Russell, 9, Bird-street, Oxford-street, beerhonse keeper,
was charged on remand, with keeping a house for the pur
pose of betting. John Farthing and Richard Richards
wore also charged with aiding and assisting in the practice.
Inspector Lucas, D division, said he went with the
superintendent to Russell's house, and saw him behind the
bar, and the two other prisoners with him. Under the
bar counter he found a board on which were betting cards,
containing the names of horses and the odds affixed to
them. There was one for the Shrewsbury Cup, to be run
for on that day. He also found a number of loose cards
In the back parlour he found a quantity of cards and
betting books. There were 'entries in the books of several
races that were to come off, and also those that had come
off. There were some for the St. Leger of this year. He
found ten booke under the counter, and two in a cupboard
He asked Russell if they were his property, and he said
they were. One book had his name on the back. He took
Russell to the station-house. Russell kept a beerhouze.
Inspector Howland, D division, said he went with the
superintendent. Saw Russell, and asked him to unlock a
cupboard behind the counter. He did so, and found
two books and some cards, and tickets with Russell'
name on them. In the back parlour he found, in a
cupboard, about fifty betting-books and seven cigar-
boxes, containing cards. He took Richards to the station-
house.

William Boyle, detective E division, said on the 29th
of May last he was directed by Mr. Draper to learn if any
betting was carried on in his district. He went into
Emmanuel's house, who then kept what was called "The
Marylebone Club." Russell bad a betting-board up there,
and witnes backed a horse named Serdain with him. At
nine o'clock they all left the house, and went to Russell's
heel-shop, where all were talking about a horse named
Drummer. He called out that they made a great noise
about the horse, and he would take the odds again about
Serail'. He said that to Russell, end he took his money.
e reported his bets to the superintendent. To make sure
about the place being a betting-house, he made a "little
book" of his own, and icid rgainst come hors: s. He only saw
Fart;:ing serve behind the tar, but he was present when
Lets werl ride. Did not see Richards there. He was in
and out all the month of June, and there was a deal of
bettile- geing He reported it to the superintendent.

Mr. d'Eyncourt said he should commit Runell for two
months, without hard labour, and the other two prisoners
would be dizcharg,cd.
Notice of 'appeal was given.