The Sun.
London, England, 1857-07-11 00:00:00

857;

ELECTION COMMITTEES.—(This Day.)

LAMBETH.
The committee re-assembled this morning at 11
o'clock.

Mr. J.JIII,S applied for a warrant to compel 'the
attendance of a witness, named Joseph Tredre,
who bad been subpcenad to give evidence before
the committee.

Evidence was given to show that Tradra was
subpcenad to attend and give evidenca on the
commit,ee, and that he was informedthat he would
hear ft-tither about it. The witness was seen a few
days sinew in the company of Gillan, keeper of the
Surrey Canal-bridge Tavern, at the Rising Sun.
He told a person, named Caffie, that be was the
pritiepal witness in the case and would not attend
un!il he was forced.

The witness had not been further informed of the
&Ay of the committee meeting, because his residence
'was unknown.

Car& was examined, and stated that he did not
know where Tredre was to be found. He had
know❑ for the List ten days that he would not at-
tend to give evidence. He had received a letter
from Tredre, which he refused to produce unless
compelled. He gave the letter, this morning, to a
man named Hart, examined before the committee
t'lis morning on this point.

Th© Chairman told the witness that he must pro-
duce the letter.

\Vitn'•si produced the letter. It wag merely
dated the 10th, from the Manor-house, Walworth,
and desired Caffie not to give any information
where Ttedro could be found. Caffie swore that
he did not know where Tredre was now to be
found.

The person who served the notices of attendance
on the other witnesses deposed that he had been
unable to find Tredre.

The Committee granted the warrants.
Mr. E. Proom, a voter, formerly omnibus proprie-
tor, but now a gentleman, deposed that he owned
various houses in Walworth: He had 45 tenants,
ahout 10 of whom were voters. He acted as chair-
man of Mr. Roupell's committee at the St. Paul's
Tavern, Walwoith-common. He received 15s. a
day for expenses incurred in cabs, &c., and n'_t for
his services. No cabs were hired by, Mr. Roupell's
committee for their use previous to the day of
election. Sometimes his expenses exceeded 20s. a
day. He made no arrangements with any one for
payment. _ _

(The pay-sheet of the 20th March, for St. Paul's
Tavern, was handed in. It contained an entry
Edward Proom, " canvasser," written over the word
"chairman," partly obliterated.)
Witness said he saw the pay-sheet before it was
sent to the central committee, at the Horns, Ken-
nington, but he was unable to say if it was in the
same state as now. To the best of his belief it was.
The three other pay-sheets produced relative to
the expenses of St. Paul's committee-room appear-
ed to have been similarly altered. He was unable
to say where the alterations took place. The pay
sheets were made out iu the handwriting of Lloyd,
a clerk at this committee-room, but the word "can-
vasser" was nut in his handwriting. He received
151. 2s. on the 20th of March, 331.125. on the 27th,
and 201. 13s. 6d. on the 31st to pay the expenses
of his committee. He was paid by Mr. Trewman
at the Horns Tavern. He did not know if
Mr. Trewman was foreman to Mr. Roupell.
witness was examined relative to the payment by
him of voters as canvassers for his district on the
days named in the sheet at the rate of 10s. and 7s.
6d. per day. These persons were also on the com-
mittee. He received for the expenses of the com-
mittee 691. 7s. His employment was to look after
the canvassers and see that they did their duty.
He did not canvas his fenants, nor did he give par-
ticular instructions to others to do so. The com-
mittee over which Ire presided were composed
principally of Mr. Williams's friends, but
no pay sheet or charges were sent into
that gentleman's agent ; they were sent to Mr.
Roupell's committeee at the Horns' Tavern, where
they were examined, and ordered for payment.
Mr. Hurse, one of the paid committee-men, was
a man of property ; he was a friend of Mr. Wil-
liams's, and on the the polling-day he voted for
Mr. Roupell and Mr. Williams ; the central com-
.
mitts gave him power to incur expenses to the
amount of 301. or 401., and he arranged for the pay-
ment of the committee-men as canvassers on bis
own account ; there was an item in the last sheet
of 21. for cab hire, cRIc , which he had soma diffi-
culty in obtaining payment from Mr. Trewman.

Cross-examined by Mr. Slade—The items were
checked to prevent imposition. The 2/. referred to
in the last pay sheet was for cab hire and incidental
expenses during the whole of the election. Mr.
Trewman employed him and agreed on the rate of
payment. He did not employ one person more
than was necessary to do the work. He told Mr.
Frewman what he had done and he approved of
it. Copies of the Bribery Act, and clauses of the
Corrupt Practices Act were on the table of
the Committee-room, and he cautioned the can-
vassers and committee against doing anything
illegal ; he received a circular calling atten-
tion to the bribery and corrupt practices acts
(laughter) ; the committeemen took notice and
made a record of how every voter in the district
intended to vote, whether for Roupell, Williams,
or Wilkinson ; he thought the canvassers were un-
der paid for their services at 10s, fid. and 7s. 6d.
per day.
Mr. Slade—The expenditure for shoe leather
would have amounted to half tke money.
(Laughter.)
Witness continued—Mr. Trewman informed bim
that the central committee did not recognise a paid
chairman of committee, but they did of canvassers.
He did not know when the alteration was made in
the pay-sheet. He did not consider he was paid
for his services. The money be received did not
influence his voting. In fact, he was out of pocket
by the election, but he did not mind that, because
he considered Mr. Roupell a fit and proper person
to represent the borough.
By Mr. Sergeant Ballantine—He believed he
formed the committee for St. Paul's district ; when
the first pay sheet went in Mr. Trewman told him
he was to be superintendent of canvassers: he was
unable to say how it was the subsequent pay sheets
went in describing him as chairman. He studied
the bribery, &c., acts, and carried it out to the
very letter.
By Major Wortley—He fixed the sums of 10s.
and 7s. per day, as,the sum likely to be legitimately
expended each day by them in the prosecution of
the canvass.

The remainder of the sitting was occupied in
hearing evidence of a similar character to the
above. _ _

The evidence of Mr. George Seaman, chairman
of the committee at the Kentish Drovers, was re-
jected in consequence of his having transgressed
the standing rules of committees, that witnesses
shall not be present during the examination of
others.