The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-04-26
LATEST FOREIGN NEWS.
A STATESMAN'S BOUQUETS.


A Judgment Against Sir william Vernon
Harcourt for Boutonniers Pinned OH the
Lapcls of Electors.
A London cable dispatch SAYS: Lady
liarcourt, daughter OF John Lothrop Mot
ley, the American historian, was to-day
placed in quite an embarrassing position
before the public through political scan
DIAL pushed 10 judgment in a court Of law
against her husband. The ease was one OF
the many such growing out OF the bitter
canvass in the Oxford city election OF May,
1850. Up 10 that time the city was repre-.
scented in Parliament by Sir William YER
non Harcourt, but IN April, 1880, he was
appointed Secretary OF State for Home
Affairs, and the Conservatives among his
constituents demanded his resignation
as member. Being confident OF n rcelec-
ton, he cheerfully resigned and imme-
diately announced himself as the Lib
cral candidate for reelection. The COnscr-
vatiyes, however. put mp a very popular
man as his opponent, Mr.. Alexander w.
Hall, and after "A heated and exciting can
yaSS the latter was elected by vote OF
2,735 10 2,GS1. Sir william lIarcourt then
seat Immediately took steps to Gust his
Oxford rival. \ monster petition was
sent up TO Parliament praying for Mr..
Halls removal on the charge OF bribery.
4 ROYAL commission appointed 10 investi-
gate the matter reported that there had
been extensive bribery on the Conservative
side, and Mr.. He'll was accordingly UNI
seated.
FLOWERS FOR VOTES.
At the time OF this investigation Mr..
Hall contended that Sir william HarcOurt
and his American wife, vino had been mar
RED TO the Liberal statesman some four
years, and who was exceedingly popular
and influential in Oxford society, had eX-
ercsed social influences and gone to social
expenses Of the nature OF bribery for pOlili-
cal effect. and were rs culpable As he, cX-
ccpt in so far a he paid his bills for what
he used in his campaign. and they paid out
no money 80 far as he could ascertain.
During he last day OF the canvass Sir VIII
liam HarcOmt purchased an enormous quan-
titv OF flowers from a local florist, and, with
the assistance Of his ambitious wife, dis
tributcd them laVlShlv where they would
do the most good among the aesthetic con-
stituents. Sir William presenting beautiful
bouquets TO the wives, daughters and sweet
hearts Of the oxford electors, while Mrs.
IIarcOurt pinned boutonnierS on the llpels
Of the gentlemen. Expenditures for tlow-
ers used to influence votes during cam
pagn in England could be forced within
the description Of bribery as forbidden by
the law, but Mr.. Hall was unable to secure
any admission from any Of the favored
electors that they had been unduly inilu-
enced and failed to discover any evidence
that sir william had laid out any cash for
his beautiful brides.
AFTER FOUR YEARS.
All this happened nearly four years ago,
but the oxford Tories have only now sue
ccedcd in making 4 scandal OF the affair.
The florist who furnished Sir William and
his wife the bouquets and boutonniers
claims that ne has never yet seen the color
Of the Sccretary'S money, and to-day he
brought suit against the head OF the Home
Department in the County Court at Oxford
for the amount OF the long-Standing bill.
Sir William did not find It convenient to
attend, and, by direction OF the court,
Judgment was entered against him by de-
fault for the full amount OF the claim, with
interest from May, 1880.
our correspondent StN luc liouiC -NC-
rotary for moment tbs evening in the
lobby OF st. Stephens'S and asked him il
the flower story were true. He admitted
that it was probably true; that he had dis
tributed q few flowers among his friends,
not at all a. a bride, but a a seasonable
and graceful compliment to constituents
who had long honOred him with their con-
fdence and who would have again proved
their attachment but for fragrant bribery
on the other side. But, lie added, "you
know that all such details H. bills for flow
ers, carriages, printing, or similar eX-
penses are always left in charge Of the cleo
ton agent. In this case my agent appears
to have been negligent, which | regret,
both for the sake OF the florist and OF my
self, but don't see how | can be held to
blame"
Has not the bill for the flowers been
presented to YOU since 1882"
at may have been sent to me dozen
times, but would only by the rarest chance
ever reach my hands. The letter would be
opened by some one Of my secretaries,
who, seeing that it referred to election eX-
penses, would at once forward it to my po-
iitica agent, and ii the bill is a just one he
should have paid it long ago.