The Sun.
London, England, 1859-11-19 00:00:00

BRIBERY A.T NORWICIL-EXTRAOR.

DINARY PROCEEDINGS.

NORWICH, Nov. 18.

Proceedings of great importance have com-
menced here in reference to an alleged attempt to
corrupt- a town councillor (Mr. Joel Fox) on the
9th of November last, by the offer to him of £5OO
to induce him to vote for eight Tory aldermen. A
charge has been preferred against Mr. Albert J.
Collins, a solicitor in the town, of conspiring with
Mr. Henry Croxford and others to corrupt Mr. Fox
as stated. The case has already been part heard ;
and on the resumption of the inquiry Mr. Power,
Q.C., appeared on the part of the prosecution, and
Mr. Sergeant Ballantine for the defence.
Mr. Fox was recalled, with a view to a cross-
examination.
Mr. Sergeant Ballantine objected to his stating
anything said to him by Mr. Croxford in the ab-
sence of Mr. Collins, as anything uttered under
such circumstances could not be evidence against
his client.
The magistrates, after deliberating in private,
decided that questions only should be put bringing
out the alleged act done.
Mr. Fox then proceeded to state that on the 9th
of Novdmber he met Mr. Croxford at the Hop-Pole
Gardens, and after having some conversation with
him he proceeded to his house, where he was offered
£5OO, in three £lOO and four £5O Bank of Eng-
land notes, to vote for eight Tory aldermen. He
said to Mr. Croxford that he must have the
halves of the three £lOO notes and the numbers
of the four 50's. Mr. Croxford left the house and
was absent about seven minutes ; when he returned
he said, " I have consulted Mr. Collins"--
Mr. Sergeant Ballantine—No ; hold your tongue,
Mr. Joel. (Laughter.)
MP. Power—l am afraid that is what my friend
has come down for.
Mr. Sergeant Ballantine—He will wish to hold
his tongue before I have done with him. (Great
laughter.)
Witness—After he said something to me he gave
me three halves of the £lOO notes, and I took the
numbers of the other four. They were given me to
vote for eight Tory aldermen.
Mr. Hitchman, chief constable of Norwich, pro-
duced a sealed packet containing halves of three
£lOO notes, and also a memorandum purporting to
be the numbers of others.
Mr. Sergeant Ballantine objected to the reception
of evidence in reference to the numbers of the notes.
Secondary evidence was inadmissible as long as
primary evidence could be obtained.
The magistrates decided by a majority of ten to
nine to receive evidence on the subject.
Mr. Power said Mr. Croxfoid had absconded,
and although photographic portraits of him had
been circulated all over the kingdom, he could not
be found.
Mr. Sergeant Ballantine said if his learned friend
had mentioned this before he probably should not
have made the objection. (Laughter.)
Mr. Fox having been handed the memorandum,
said it contained the number of the notes which he
had taken down. They were 2,759, 27,588, 27,587,
and 27,589.
Mr. Power—lt seems to me that yon have left
an 0 out as regards the first note.
Witness—After I had received the three halves

and taken the numbers I went home and cleaned
myself, and then went to the Council Chamber. I
took Ely seat on the Liberal side of the of the
cil, and produced the three £lOO notes, mak-
ing also a statement with reference to the £5O
notes. I did not vote for the eight Conservative
aldermen, but for eight Liberals.
_ _By Mr. Sergeant Ballantine—l am a true Liberal.

My name is Joel Fox. I never had any other names.
By trade I am a farrier. I am a native of Germany,
but I have lived in England nearly 30 years. I
have not been unfortunate in Norwich. I shall
not answer the question.
Mr. Sergeant Ballantine—You must answer a
good many things before I have done. Have you
been in difficulties ?
Witness—l shall not answer the question.
Mr. Sergeant Ballantine—Have you been: a
bankrupt ?
Witness—Never.
Mr. Sergeant Ballantine—Have you compounded
with your creditors ?
Witness—No, sir.
Mr. Sergeant Ballantine—•Never ?
Witness—l shall not answer the question.
Mr. Sergeant Ballantine—Three or four times ?
Witness—No, sir; not once according to my
belief.

Mr. Sergeant Ballantine—Do . you mean you
don't know ?

Witness—Yes, I do know.
Mr. Sergeant Ballantine—You didn't do all this
of your own accord, did you?
Witness—No, sir.

Mr. Sergeant' Ballantine—Who arranged with
you this plant upon Croxford?
Witness—There was no arrangement made. I
named it to a certain party—Mr. Wilde.
Mr. Sergeant Ballantine—What Mr. Wilde is
that? Mr. Wilde " No. 1 ? William the First ?
(Laughter.)
Witness—Yes. I believe him to be a very re-
spectable man.
Mr. Sergeant Ballantine—What is ho besides
being respectable?
Witness—l can't say what he is. I cay he is a
respectable man.
Mr. Sergeant Ballantine—What is he besides
being respectable ?

Witness—Well, he is an auctioneer, of my poli-
tics, pure Whig. I named this matter to him first
on the Sunday morning before the 9th of Novem-
ber. I went to Mr. Wilde at his own house, and
told him the temptation which was held out. I
said to him, " I believe they are trying all they
can do to do something."
Mr. Sergeant Ballantine—And it was agreed
that you should take the money, with the view of
taking in Croxford. Joel Fox out with it. It
must come. (Laughter.)
Witness—l did what I thought best. They did
all they could to spoil the election of Lord Bury
and Mr. Schneider at the general election, and I
did all I could to trap them now. They were
guilty, but only one side was prosecuted before the
committee of the House of Commons.
Mr. Sergeant Ballantine—There was not a pin
to choose between them ?

Witness—No, not a pin to choose between them.
(Laughter.)
Mr. Sergeant Ballantine—You speak as a
Liberal, and know it ?
Witness—One sido was as bad as another.
(Laughter.)
Mr. Sergeant Ballantine—You as a Liberal
town councillor say ono side was as bad as
another? You know it?
Witness—Yes.

Mr. Sergeant Ballantine—And so inasmuch as
your side was caught out at the late election you
determined—

Witness—l was determined to show that the
others were not pure.
Mr. Sergeant Ballantine—What you want to do,
Joel, is to purify Norwich ?
Witness—lf I can. (Loud laughter.)
Mr. Sergeant Ballantine—And Wilde, who is
likewise " William the First," wants also to purify
Norwich. Didn't he say so. You and he were to
act together in this matter ?

Witness—Wilde would not have been guilty of
bribery if the other side hadn't begun first.
(Laughter.)
Mr. Sergeant Ballantine—There is such a thing
as a conspiracy to make a person commit a crime.
You and Wilde were to act together ?
Witness—Not exactly ; there was no partnership.
I thought they ought to be served out. I am friendly
with Mr. Wilde, and he knew everything I knew.
I don't know whether he was at the council meeting
at which I produced the notes. He does not sit as
a councillor. He wont with me, but I really don't
know whether he was in the room when I produced
the notes.

Mr. Sergeant Ballantine—When you gut up and
did the patriot with these halves, didn't you see
him beside you ?
Witness—l don't remember. Suppose I did, I
really can't recollect now.

Mr. Sergeant Ballantine—You are charging my
client with a conspiracy. Now, I am trying to
make out a conspiracy against you. Did you com-
municate to anybody else what was going on be-
tween you and Croxford ?

less—l will swear I did not. Mr. Wilde
might ; I did not. I don't believe I did. I can't
remember. Mr. Foster Moore was with Mr. Wilde
when I told him about the matter. lle might have
heard it. To the best of my belief I did not name
it to any one.

Mr. Sergeant Ballantine—Can you tell me where
Mr. Wilde is? Have you seen him to-day ?
Witness—No; I have not spoken to him to-day.
I saw him last night.
By Mr. Power—Croxford came to me on Sa.tur-
..

day night and. mado a purchase ; and, in conse-
quence of something he said to me, I went to him
on the Sunday. I never said anything to Mr.
Wilde till after that.

A cashier and clerk from Messrs. lio.nkcy's, the
town agents or Messes. Harvey and Hudson,
bankers of Norw:ch, proved that, on the ith of
November, 5 £lOO and 2 £5O Bank of England
notes were sent down to that firm in a registered
letter.

Mr. R. Y. H. Harvey, of the firm of -Alessi's. Har-
vey and Hudson, was then sworn, and asked by Mr.
Power whether he was a banker at Norwich. •
Mr. Harvey—l am.
Mr. Power—Allow me to call your attention to
this letter of the sth of November.