The Sun.
London, England, 1869-04-15 00:00:00

HASTINGS.

At Hastings the first witness for the petitioner was a
man named Gallop, landlord of the Dorset Arms, Tivoli,
and a voter. He stated that on different days he received
instructions to provide certain men with refreshments, and
to pay some of them 4s. a day for their time in attending
the Revising Barrister's Court to prove their claims in Sep-
tember. The men had ale, porter, and cigars,the bill for which
amounted to about £2. At his house there was a committee-
room. Alderman Clement was chairman of the committee,
and Langridge was deputy chairman. Some of witness's
charges were paid by Mr. Poole, and others by Langridge.
When he sent in his account he had to divide it, charging
part of it as election expenses and part of it to the regis-
tration committee. In answr to the judge, witness-Said
he was not told to make out the accounts separately
until after the election, when he sent them in as one bill.—
Frederick Sisley said he was present at last witness's house
about six weeks before the election, and saw refreshments
provided, in the shape of ale, porter, and cigars. As the pots
became empty they were refi,led by the landlord. He saw
none of the things paid for. He had some beer himself.
Witness had no vote.—William Hall, luggage porter, who
voted for the Conservatives, said that he also was
present at the Dorset Arms, and took part in the
enjoyment of the good things there provided. Lang-
ridge took him by the shoulders and said, "You are
all right, aren't you?" To which he replied, " Yes ;
I never flies from my colours for no man." He did
not, however, tell him what his colours were.—
William Kenward, gardener, gave evidence to the same
effect.—Thomas Bean, labourer, a Conservative elector,
said that Gallop and Langridge solicited his vote for the
Liberal candidates, He told them he had promised the
other side. The day before the polling, Langridge came
to him again, and said he had a little job he could give
him, and asked him who he intended voting for, and he
said Calthorpe and Thruston, upon which Langridge asked
him to split his vote between Brassey and one of
the Conservatives, but he declined, and he did
not then get the job which had been promised him.—
Thomas Knight, a butcher, said he saw Mrs. Brassey go
into a beerhouse by the side door, and afterwards disco-
vered her in a back room with the landlady, andoverheard
a conversation between them. The landlady said it had
been a bad time, and Mrs. Brassey said she would write
her out a ticket for some blankets and coals. He also saw
her put down some gold on the table. The door was locked,
and what he saw he saw through some glass panes in the
door. He heard Mrs. Brassey say, "I don't give
you this for your husband's vote, but as you study
my husband's interest I shall study yours."--
John Brissenden corroborated last witness as to Mrs.
Brassey entering the public-house.—Mark Martin said
that on the evening of the nomination Mr. and Mrs.
Brassey came to see a voter named Burt, who lived in the
same house as he did. He saw Mr. Brassey had a pane
in her hand, and she gave it to Mrs. Butt, saying, " Here's
a parcel I'll leave with you." He was at the Pelham
Arms on the polling-day with another man fur four hours,
and only a portion of the beer they had was paid
for. At the Royal Standard, on the (lay of the municipal
election, he and two others had tobacco and beer, for which
they did not pay. He also spoke of further treating at
different Liberal houses. He voted for IN orth and Brassey.
Some further evidence to the same effect was called. One
of the principal cases, however, for the petitioner broke
down. Mr. J. W. Davis, silk mercer, carrying on a large
business in Hastings, was examined as to the amount of
Mrs. Brassey's dealings at his shop, and it appeared that
whereas her bill in 1867 amounted to only I:78 10s., it
amounted in ISCB, the year of the election, to sonic £ll3.
He denied, however, that this circumstance influenced his
vote, as he was always a Liberal.