The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1853-06-07 00:00:00

TUESDAY, MAY 31ST,

The first witness called was
Thomas Cannell, who deposed : I am a householder in Liver-
pool. I was canvassed for Mr. Cardwell and Mr. Swart by Mr.
Owen, and I told him that if he could give me a little money I
would. I know Joseph Birchall, a furniture .broker,inßich-

; ne canvassed me on the other side, for 3tackenzie
and Turner, and I told him if he would give me something I
would vote for his party. There was another person came to
my yard with Birchall, the one I did not know was a stoutish
gentleman. I am a coal-dealer and shoemaker. I told them
I wanted something for my vote. Birchall said he was not
allowed to give anything. They gave me a half-sovereign.
This was a day or two before the election day. The circum-
stance took place in the yard. A question was asked as to
how much 1 required. I said I wanted another sovereign.
Birchall did not say anything. It was the other man, not
Birchall, who gave me the half-sovereign. Birchall, however,
told the other man to give me the half-sovereign. He said he
would see me the next day about it. I voted for them at the
election.

Cross-examined : lam not a freeman. I have been a house-
holder for thirty years ; eight years ill Liverpool. When Bir-
chall and the other gentleman called, he said he was not wil-
ling, and was not allowed to give me anything.
Richard Joynson : I am a freeman of Liverpool, and voted
at the last election for Mackenzie and Turner. I know the
Angel Coffee-house, kept by Mr. Walter ; it is in the West
Derby ward. On the polling-day, between twelve and cne, 1
had promised Mr. Edwards, the plumber, that I should vote
for Mr. Cardwell, and to others that I should vote for Turner.
The other was a canvasser that waited upon me some time
before. The canvasser's name was Wynn. I was spoken to
about my vote by Joseph Green, a canvasser, on the polling-
day, who asked me who I was going to vote for. I said I was
going to vote for Cardwell and Turner. He said, why do you
not vote ? I said, because, like an old horse, lam waiting for
my load. Ile said they were giving nothing but day's wages.
He sent me to vote for Turner and Mackenzie. He said he
would make it all right, and we were to go to Mr. Row ett's, on
the day after, and get the money. I then consented to go and
vote. When we started for the poll we had no tickets given
us. We had no tickets given at all during the day. There
were four or five people with us in the car. Two of them were
present during the conversation about the day's wages ; one
of them was a cousin of mine, James Joynson. He voted also
for Turner and Mackenzie. The same was said to him about
a day's wages and voting. After we had polled we came back
to the coffee-house, and got some refreshment. We staid
there about half an hour or three quarters of an hour. We
polled about four o'clock. On the following day I went to
Mr. Rowett's. I saw Mr. Green there. There was a lot of
men there, on the same errand with myself. There was about
half a dozen. My cousin was not one of them. We asked
where we were to go, and we were told to go into Mr. Rowett's
office. Green said he had given in a list of our names, and all
was right. Green then left, and some time after Mr. Rowett
came in. I bad not seen him before. When we ascertained
that he was there we all went into the office. Rowett asked
who Joseph Green was, and we told him. He then ordered us
to go out, and to come in one by one. One of our party said
to him that Joseph Green was one of the canvassers. We alt
went into the office one by one. I was the first to go in. Mr.
Rowett then began to cross-question me, how I went out of
my word, to do me out of my day's pay. But after some con-
versation which I do not exactly remember, he pulled me over
and gave me Is., my day's pay. When I came out, the others
asked me how I had got on. I said it was all right, and told
the next to go in. I did not wait, but went about my business.
The witness was cross-examined, and it came out that, while
railway fares and expenses had been paid for him, be knew not
by whom exactly he had received in hard cash the sum of
9s. 6d.

William Whitby : I am a freeman of Liverpool, and voted at
the last election for Charles Turner, Esq. I voted from the
Pontac. I saw a gentleman before I voted. Ido not know
who he was. I have no recollection of him. I was in a had
state of health. I cannot tell what sort of a looking man it
was I saw. A man gave me money in the street. I do not
know who he was. He asked me had I voted. I said no. I
wanted a day'a wage. I got into a cab, and voted for Mac-
kenzie and Turner. I got five shillings paid to me for a day's
pay. Ido not know what I had done for ss. Why, of course
it must have been for my vote.7-[At this stage of the examina-
tion it was objected to the production of the witness,—that
there were two William Whithys upon the register.—and that,
consequently, he came within the resolution of the committee,
and ought not to be produced till that class of cases came on
the day previous to the conclusion of the case. It was
ultimately agreed, however, that the witness should finish his
evidence.]—l got ss. in the street, and got into the cab and
went and polled. I did not tell the gentleman who I was going
to vote for, nor did he ask me. There was a committee at the
Pontac, and I do not know whose committee it was. The
walls were placarded with bills in favour of Mackenzie and
Turner. At that time he did not speak to me about colour-
carriers. I heard nothing said about them by anybody—that
I can swear. To the best of my recollection I heard nobody
speak about them—not personally, by no gentleman. I do
not know the gentleman who gave me the ss. I did not see
any other person get 58. I did not carry colours that day. I
did not work any that day. I am a joiner, but I have not
worked for two years.

Cross-examined: I voted on principle for Mr. Turner, and I
should have done the same although I had not seen the gentle-
man who promised me the day's pay. I have always voted on
the same side.

William Bland : I am a whitesmith, and a freeman of the
borough of Liverpool. I voted at the last election for Mr.
Turner and Mr. Mackenzie. The committee-room from which
I voted was at the head of Albert-street. I know a house
called the Derby Arms, kept by Glee. I understood I ought
to have voted from a house kept by Mays. I went on the day
of the election to the Derby Arms and saw Glee, and he asked
me if 1 intended to vote, and who I intended to vote for. I
told him I intended to vote for Mackenzie and Turner. I said
I was going to the house of an acquaintance of mine, George
Taylor, with whom I had arranged to go and vote. Glee said
we would get a day's pay. There was another person with me
at the time. His name was James M'Anally, and he was a
voter too. Glee told us both that we would have one day's pay.
I said I did not come particularly for the sake of money.
Mr. Sherlock of the Liverpool Mail, and Mr. Thomas Kaye,
of the Liverpool Courier, were next examined, with a view to
prove agency. They produced the manuscripts of the adver-
tisements, including the one which contains the names of the
Election Committee of Liverpool. The orders for insertion
came from the Constitutional Association-rooms.

Mr. Richard Briscoe deposed : I travel for the Ballycollig
Gunpowder works. I became clerk to the central committee
at the Constitutional Association-rooms. Previously I had
been a commission agent. I joined them early in March,
arranging with Mr. Buckmaster as to the remuneration which
I was to receive. Mr. Edmund Molyneux, I believe, was chair-
man : Mr. Buckmaster was the secretary. I think Mr. Edward
Deane was treasurer. They have a book of rules in which his
name is mentioned. lam not aware that Mr. John Peacock
was treasurer during the election: Ido not know who was. I
received my remuneration from Mr. Buckmaster. I received
instalments : there is a balance, but I never expect to seet it.
Moss and Co. were the hankers. In the absence of Mr. Buck.
master, I was head clerk. Mr. Peacock was in close attend-
ance, and had the management of the election. There was a
placard in the room stating that it was Mackenzie and Turner's
committee-rooms. The placard was not put up as early as the
week after the meeting of the 2d of April. It was put up, per-
haps, a month before the close of the election. Those who
were most constant in attendance at the rooms were Mr.

Thomas Bold, who, I think, was on the committee, Mr. Wm.
Fisher, of Redcross-street, Mr. Samuel Holme, but not so
frequently, Mr. G. H. Horsfall, the canvassers, Mr. Lawrence
Peele, Mr. Thomas Toulmin, Mr. James Tyrer, Mr. Robert
Horsfall, Mr. John Buck Lloyd, Mr. William Rowett, who,
like the two preceding members, was not oftener present than

once in three days, Arr. John Briscoe. These persOtis brought
no information to me. They merely looked in to see how the

business of the election proceeded. Sometimes they met a
committee, as the election approached, once every other day.
There were car, printing, finance, and procession committees.
The finance committee consisted of Mr. Deane, Mr. Thomas
Bold, and Mr. G. Henry Horsfall. As far as I can recollect,
Mr. Peacock had nothing to do with finance. These com-
mittees did their business in the same room. We had altoge-
ther three rooms. There were a clerks' room, a committee-
room, and a small room which Mr. Buckmaster had for the
canvassing business. I know the principal canvassers. I
know William Buckley Jones; he was not chairman of a ward

committee that I know. John Briscoe was a ward chairman.
I am not aware that the expenses of the ward committees were

paid weekly by the central committee, and I was there for

three months. I sat in the committee-room, very little
in the clerks'. On my oath_ I have not heard any-

thing about the expenses of the ward committees
_being

paid- from the central office,

I cannot undertake

;wear that they were _ not

paid ; but neither can I

say that they were paid. I do not know of any chairman of
the Ward Committee coming to the committee-rooms to have
the accounts settled. I understand the Messrs. Moss were

bankers, simply from seeing their names in the rules of the
Constitutional Association. I have no reason to bel eve that
they were bankers of the Central Committee. Ido not, know
who was treasurer of the Central Committee. Ido not know

that any one brought money from the bank. I never did go to
fetch money periodically as it was wanted to pay the current
expenses. I never saw a cheque written while I was there. I
have been present at meetings of the committees, but not to
my knowledge did the Ward Committees' accounts be sub-
mitted at the meetings of the Finance Committee. Ido not
know of any one whose duty it was to keep a note of the
expenditure. Ido not think I ever saw William Buckley Jones
more than twice at the committee-rooms. I know he was con-

nected with the Toxteth-park Ward Committee, being a real•
dent in that district. Ido not recollect what he came for to

the rooms

People came very frequently to give information,

but they neverOve any to ME

Roskellwas chairman of

the Kadale di,7ision of the Kirkdale and ErertonWard. Mr

Kiarv;ood was secretary, Alr,_Thomas.Dovert I believe, was

chairman, and Mr. ThOinas Watson vice-chairman, and Mr.
Clegg secretary, of Scotland Ward. Mr. Nicholson was chair-
man of Vauxhall Ward. I do not know that Mr. Clegg had
anything to do with the election expenses. Mr. John Briscoe
was chairman of the St. Paul's Ward, and Mr. Brookes secre-
tary. I saw a placard stating that Mr. James Tyrer was chair-
man of the Exchange Ward, and I know that placards were
posted throughout the town, announcing the names of the trea-
surers and secretaries. In Pitt-street Ward, Messrs. Rigby and
Callas were the two chairmen, and Messrs. Thomas Rimmer
and Gardner the secretaries. Alderman Cooper was chairman
of Great George Ward, and Mr. Gibson one of the secretaries.
Mr. M'Keverigan Ido not know. In Rodney-street Ward, Mr.
Payne was published as chairman, and Mr. Cooper and Mr.
Gregory were published as secretaries. I could not swear
positively that any of them acted as secretary. I only state it
as my belief. I believe that the chairman and secretaries of
the Ward Committees were ex officio members of the Consti-
tutional Association, but I do not know that they were ex
officio members of the Central Committee. Some of them
called at the office, but I do not know that they transacted any
business. Alderman Parker was chairman of the St. Anne's
Ward. Ido not recollect that Mr. Parker was a member of
the Band Committee. Mr. Rowett, who lives in the West
Derby Ward, came two or three times a-week to the rooms. I
secre-
taries know Mr. Winnesley, in the West Derby, but I do not think
that he acted as secretary in the ward. Mr.
ma-
naged the canvassing department; but I believe 11.'te
atm the
of the several wards either gave in or brought periodical
reports. I do not know M'Keverigan. I know Burchal,
but
only within a short time. I know Mr. Fisher, fore. before didman to Wm.
, ie
Buckley Jones, but only since we came to London
not even know him by sight. I know Mr. Williams,. clerk to
Mr. Buck Lloyd; but before I came to London I did not know
him either by name or sight. Thomas Williams was, I believe,
collector for the Constitutional Association. I can't recollect
who were the Car Committee. There were Mr. Edward J.
Lowe, Mr. J. B. Cooper (the secretary of the Rodney-street
Ward), and perhaps half a dozen more whom I do not recollect.
I do not remember that there was a committee called a Colour
or Band Committee, but there was one organised to arrange a
procession. I cannot tell you what books were kept. I myself
was generally in the committee.room to wait upon the electors
and others who called for information. The majority of them
came to be registered. I had the general superintendence of
the writing going on in the club-rooms—making out circulars,
&c. The pamphlet which is handed me lay at the Central
Committee-rooms, and if anybody asked for it I gave them a copy.
milprted to this document

Witness: I do not
By Mr. Rom
iffn. They m

have been

t by Mr. Carliweil'iZnui,

By Mr. MACAULAY : There might have been 200 or 300 of
ese books sent to the room. They lay generally in a drawer.
_ .

may have been two or three 'Upon -a
table, but t
n was not exposed. I cannot speak with any, di
ence, but I should think Mr. Buckmaster saw it.

.om the

Mr. MACAULAY submitted that, as being i.
room, it was quite competent for the document to be given in
evidence, just as would be the case with a placard posted on

the inside or outside of the committee-rooms. Ultimately, the !
pamphlet was admitted.
'Witness ! The manuscript advertisements which are pro-
duced are written partly by myself, by Mr. Buckmaster, and
others

By Mr. RODWELL : Besides the gentlemen whom I named,
hundreds came into the rooms of the central committee, many
Of them for mere gossip. The business part of the committee
was conducted by Mr. Peacock and Mr. Bremner. I never
attended a ward committee meeting, nor was I present at any
of the ward rooms where the gentlemen published as the secre-
taries were acting in that capacity. The canvass showed a
majority for both Messrs. Turner and Mackenzie—a majority
for Mr. Turner of at least 2,000, that for Mr. Mackenzie being
1.600 or 1,800. That was three or four days before the election.
The map of the routes for the polling day was kept private, to
keep our opponents from having such a good plan.
John Banks: I live at 146, Park-row, Liverpool, and am a
voter. Shortly before last election I applied for a situation to
a person named Parkhouse, who acted as clerk, I believe, to
the committee in the Great George Ward. Parkhouse intro-
duced me to Mr. Buckley Jones, and told him that I wanted
employment. In consequence of what was said, I went to see
Mr. Thomas Inman, of the Albert Dock warehouse. I saw
him at the committee-rootn in the Royal Oak at Toxteth-park.
I got to be door-keeper, messenger, and partly canvasser. I
was so employed nine days. After that Mr. Inman paid me
£2 ss. The committee of the Toxteth ward met at the Royal
Oak. Mr. Henry Steele was chairman, Mr. Inman was clerk.
The gentlemen who were members were Mr. Buckley Jones,
Mr. Trouehton, Mr. W. H. Horafall, Mr. J. L. Brewer, and
Mr. Wm. Fisher. I saw the members once at the Royal Oak.
A card was put up outside the room, stating that it was "Mac-
kenzie and Turner's committee-room." On the day of the
poll another room was taken for the convenience of polling. It
was an empty house opposite St. James's Church. The mem-
bers of the Royal Oak used this empty house. The gentlemen
most active in taking the voters in and out were Mr. Inman,
Mr. Robinson, and others.

By Mr. RODWELL : I was a hatter at one time. I have no
business now. When I saw the candidates at the Royal Oak
it was a public meeting. That was the only occasion on which
I saw them there. There used to be a little confusion there at
times, some of the men getting rather rough.
Joseph Grooby : lam a voter for Liverpool. I vote as an
occupier, not as a freeman. I know Mr. Thomas Williams.
He is clerk of the church, and is a sort of messenger
or collector for the Constitutional-office. I have known
him ten or twelve years. I know Mr. Buckmaster,
and I recollect, two months before the election, going
to Mr. Buckmaster with Mr. Williams, who introduced me to
that gentleman. He asked me if I was a voter and a protec-
tionist,—one on our side. Williams introduced me not only as
a voter, but one as could do a little. Mr. Williams and me
have been mixed up with the teetotallers, and knew I had some
popularity with the teetotallers. on account of speaking on
nearly all sorts of topics, just as they happened to be the order
of the day. Re likewise introduced me as a regular brick—one
of the right sort, and as a bandmaster and musician. Mr.
Buckmaster looked for my name in the voters' list. A person
called upon me of the name of Birchall; but I was not in. I
afterwards called at his house in Richmond-row. He said that
Mr. Hatch wanted to see me relative to some music. Mr.
Hatch is the managing man for St. Anne's Ward; he conducts
the municipal election in that ward. Birchen is a broker, and
a very active man in the Liverpool Protection Society. He
appears to be directed by Hatch to go on messages, &c. I
have seen him at the Pontack. He had, when there, some-
thing to drink, went to where a voter was likely to be got,
regulating the election and throwing in his meed of assistance.
Though I a teetotaller they treated me very kindly, pro-
viding me with every species of temperance liquid, and I could
have got as much as I liked to call for. I saw Mr. Birchall
there and in the street opposite his own house, actively helping
in the election, and a time or two I saw him at the Constitu-
tional Office, busying about the election. When I was there
he went into the central committee-office, while I and another
had to wait outside. I heard names called, Mr. Buckmaster
and others. He desired me to go to the Pontack, and see Mr.
Hatch relative to the band. The Pontack public-house is so
called from the people in the neighbourhood getting drink
upon tick—hence the "Pontack." (Laughter.) When I
went lie recommended me to the Central Committee.
He said lie should recommend me to the committee,
and do his best to the band. I said I knew I could
be employed on the other side, but lie said it would be all right.
He put my name down. I thanked him and went away. That
is all that passed at that time, save that I was to call again. I
recollect a stout gentleman being there, whose name I did not
know then. He seemed to be similarity employed to Mr.
Birchall. I am not positive as to the name of the stout gen-
tleman, and I have seen him since in Liverpool. I know a
person named Manger, but he is not the man I mean. He
keeps a temperance coffee-shop. I called at the office of Mr.
Hatch two or three weeks before the election. He came down
to the bottom of the stairs, and I asked him if he would employ
me to canvass for his party. He said that he did not think he
could. He bad no power vested in himself, but he would use
his influence with the Central Committee, and he appointed
me to meet him next day at three o'clock, at the committee.
There were three or four messengers outside, one of whom
went into the office to tell Mr. Hatch that he was wanted. _ He
. _

came out, and be shook his Iliad, and said he could do nothing
for me. I was to call upon him in a few clays, and if anything
else transpired he would give me employment. I saw him in
two or three days at Ashley Brothers, and he told me that I
should be employed with another man to receive signatures in
the gallery at a meeting in the amphitheatre. We went to that
meeting, having been sent from the Central Committee-rooms

by Mr. Buckmii.ster. That meeting was called for the purpose
of "expounding largely" on protection—very preponderous,
and just like the mighty orations which our friend Wilkins
would make. (Laughter.) We bad to ask parties to the gal-
leries to subscribe their names on the blank sheets supplied to
us. We used all our " suasionst" as the Americans say, to
make them sign. I did the speaking, and my companion pro-
vided per. and ink. I sent in the estimate for providing the
mdsic to Mr. Buckmaster at the Central Committee. I left it
at the office. Before I took it to the Central Committee I told
Hatch that I had it in my power to supply them with all the
bands that they would require.
It being now a quarter to four o'clock, the proceedings
closed before the last witness had finished his evidence. During
nearly the whole of the day Mr. Turner was present, and several
members of the house, including Mr. Muntz and Mr. Locke,
paid a visit to the committee-room.
It transpired in the course of this day's proceedings, that
one of the witnesses, Thomas Parkinson, a shipbuilder, who
was to he called to prove bribery, had, in a fit of delirium
tremens, made away with himself early that morning.