The Sun.
London, England, 1828-02-23 00:00:00

LAW INTELLIGENCE.—(Tnts °Av.)

COURT OF KING'S BENCH.
(Betbre Lord TENTERDEN and a Special July.)

Lords Stowell and Sidwouth were also on the Bench.
READING ELECTION.—PERJURY.
TILE KING V. ELANDY.

Mr. TALFOURD opened the pleadings.
Mr. Sta. war stated the case to the Jury. It was an
indictment for perjury against John Jackson Blandy, attor-
ney at law, arising out of what passed at the late election
at Reading. After the dissolution of last Parliament, a
trantested election took place for the borough of Reading,
between Messrs. Monek, Pahner, Wakefield, and Spence.
The two former were the old members. After the
4th day of the election, Mr. Wakefield retired from
the contest, and the 'other three continued it till
the last da" ailowed by law, when Messrs. Monet,
and Spence were returned. Mr. Palmer petitioned
the Rouse of Commons against the return of Mr. Spence;
a Committee was appointed by the House to inquire into
the merits, and in the course of the investigation that then
took place, bribery was assigned against Mr. Spence by the
act of his agent Mr. Mandy. It was proved that a man
named Davis had beets visited by Blandy, accompanied by
Mr. Spence, and that Blandy had given him 20 guineas,
and promised him double pay as a Messenger at the election,
as well as to get him -some family interest, that he should
not vote for the radicals, as he had formerly done,
but for Mr. Spence. This having turned out to be
a material fact for Mr. Blandy to get rid of, he had sworn
that he had never entered the house of Davis with Mr.
Spence, but admitted that he had done so with a Mr.
Lawrence. Ile admitted too, that he had performed va-
yions acts of kindness for Davis, from charitable motives,
but denied that he had done so for the purpose of obtain-
ing his vote, or that he had ever waited on him far it. In
the course of the proceeding several witnesses were called,
who had seen Mr. Bland}, go into and come out of the
house of Davis with Mr. Spence, After these facts
were brought before the Jury in e...ideace., it would
be for them to say, whether they were satisfied that
Blandy did go accompanied :by Mr. Spence into
Davis's house; that on that occasion a conversation took
place respecting the vote and circumstances of Davis ; if
they were, and also, that Blandy had denied those facts,
then they would have the case of a false swearing before
them. Whether that amounted to perjury would depend
upon whether that, in regard to which the swearing had
taken place, was material to the inquiry, respecting which
the Learned Counsel apprehended there could be no doubt.
W. Astell produced the writ for the election of Reading.
Mr. Bowles, clerk in the Journal Office, produced a
petition from certain electors of Reading. George '5 pence,
Esq. and George llonek, Esq. appeared to have been the
Members returned.
Mr. Pierce stated he was agent for Mr. Fyshe Palmer
at the late election fur Reading. Has seen the petition
produced from the electors. The names were signed in
the presence of witness.
[The petition was then read. It complained that Mr.
Spence had procured his return by bribery and corruption,
and concluded with a prayer that the election should be set
aside, and Mr. Palmer declared the sitting Member.]
George White was clerk to the Select Committee at the
Reading election. The Committee sat in one of the rooms
adjoining the House of Commons. Messrs. Hamilton,
Mandy, and Douse, were the agents tin• Mr. Spence, the
sitting Member. Mr. Mandy was in constant attendance.
He was examined as a witness and sworn. A person
named Davis was examined, and witness administered the
oath to him. The evidence of Davis was then read.
The evidence of Davis set forth, that two days before the
election the defendant had lent him 20/. on his promissory
note, on condition that he should vote for Mr. Spence.
Witness obtained the money by a cheque on a banker's at
Reading. Davis also swore that he received 101. I Os. from
defendant, after the election, for having acted as messenger;
he had voted for• Mr. Spence. Mr. Blandy also authorised
witness to engage other persons as messengers, who had
votes at any price. The money and the promises made by
Mr. Blandy were what induced witness to vote for Mr.
Spence. The examination of the defendant by the Com-
mittee was also read, in which he denied the facts sworn
to by Davis.

Cross-examined—The Committee decided on Davis's
case, which was the only case of bribery. The decision
was against the charge of bribery.
Mr. Wynsh was the solicitor of Mr. Fyshe Palmer at
the election, and on the Committee. The Counsel for Mr.
Spence (Mr. Harrison) stated his intention of calling on
Mr. Blandy, who would deny all the main points in the
evidence of Davis.
Cross-examined—Witness lives at Reading, where Mr.
Blandy resides. Mr. Blandy is a respectable man, and
witness Aever heard any thing ill of him until some cir-
cumstances transpired with respect to his conduct at the
election.
Mrs. Mary Davis examined by Sir JAMES SCARLETT-...
I am the wife of James Davis, who formerly kept a
public-house at Reading; I knew Mr. Blandy, and I re-
member his coining to my husband's house shortly before
the last Reading election ; he knocked at the door and was
followed almost directly by Mr. Spence; whilst I was talk-
ing at the door to Mr. Blandy, Mr. Spence came up,
Mr. Blandy went into the parlour to my husband, and Mr.
Spence remained about half an hour in the kitchen with
me. He asked me how many children I had, and whether
they were boys or girls. Ile said other civil things to me.
There was another woman named Sarah Ward in
the house, and I told her about it when they went
away. Before they took their departure, they both shook
hands with my husband. My son saw Mr. Spence with
ins. I know a Mr. Mathews and his wife, and spoke to
them on that evening.
Cross-examined by Mr. ALDERSON-All this occurred
about two years ago. I cannot say in what month
or week it was. I was examined before the Com-
mittee, but then said nothing about Sarah Ward
or Mr. or Mrs. Mathews. I was standing inside
the door when Mr. Spence came up, and cannot
say whether he was accompanied by other persons. I
listened at the parlour door whilst Mr. Blandy and my hus-
band were speaking together. I did not hear what they
were saying. I can't recollect now whether I did not give
some account of it upon some former occasion. My hus-
band was turned out of his public-house before the elec-
tion. Mr. Blandy came twice to our house with Mr.
Spence, and so I swore before the Committee. When
I:went to listen at the parlour door, I left Mr. Spence to
take care of himself.

Thomas M. Davis, examined by Mt. Baou
am the son of the last witness, I recollect the day on which
Mr. Blandy and Mr. Spence came to our house. 1
was in the garden, and left it when my mother went
to open the door. Mr. Spence remained in the kitchen
with my mother for about twenty minutes. 1 went away
from the house when they came in.
Cross-examined by Mr. C. PHILLIPS.-1 neither recol-
lect the day, week, or year, in which all this occurred. I
don't know a person named Lawrence, except by report.
I cant say whether it was raining when I was in the gar-
den. My father is now present in Court.
Joseph Ball, examined by Sir JAMES SCA RLETT.•-•••I
lived next door to James Davis before the last election ; I
recollect seeing Mr. Blandy and Mr. Spence speaking to
two bricklayers, Winter and Knight, opposite to my
house. After they had remained there some time,
Mr. Blandy came and asked me for my vote, which
I refused. Mr. Spence crossed over, and also asked ;
before Mr. Spence spoke to rne, Mr. Blandy went into
the passage of Davis's house, and was followed by Mr.
Spence. I remained at my own door for nearly 2t minutes.
I did not see them come out, although I was standing dose
by the door. Whilst they were inside, John Hatt walked
up to me, I have a nephew named gall, and told the. entire
story to him next day. I was sent for down to Reading
to give evidence before the Committee.

Cross-examined by Mr. DENMA N-I saw no other gen-
tleman with Mr. Blandy and Mr. Spence; at the election
I voted for Mr. Palmer and Mr. Monck ; I did not see
Mrs. Davis or her son on that evening, nor did I ever say
so ; I mentioned before the Committee that Mrs. Ball was
standing at the door with me when Mr. Blandy and, Mr.
Spence went into Davis's house.

Anne Ball, the wife of the last whim's, was examined by
Mr. TALFOURD, and corroborated his testimony.
Cross-examined.—Witness did not see young Davis
come out of Davis's house whiSt Blandy and ➢lr. Spence
were within.

Walter Knighton ex.amlned by Sir JAMES SCARLETT.
know Davis's house, in Oxford-road. Some short
time before the election, I saw Mr. Blandy and Mr. Spence
together near Ball's house. Ball was standing at his own
door. I voted for Mr. Monck and Mr. Palmer.
Evans.-_.I am a horsekeeper in Reading. I
saw Blandy and Mr. Spence in the street, about a fortnight
before the election. They came out of a house opposite to
Davis's, and after speaking to some bricklayers, went into
Davis's, and remained there until I went away, which was
in about eight minutes.
Daniel New said, lam a carpenter at Reading ; I know
Mr. Ball. In consequence of something Ball told rne, I
looked towards Davis's house, and saw Mr. Spence and
Mr. Jackson Blandy coming from the house. I tendered
my vote for Mr. Palmer and Mr. Monck, but it was not
accepted.

Cross-examined.—Witness did not know Mr. Blandy
at the tune be PM( cgmiag put of DAyies lume, but