Darlington & Richmond Herald. — 1874-12-05 (Darlington, Durham, England)

THE STROUD ELECTION PETITION.  This enquiry was continued on Saturday, when further evidence was adduced of the pay. ment of expenses, and of agency of several persons concerned. On Monday afternoon, witnesses were called for the sitting member. Sergeant Parry commenced with the personation case. The Judge thought it could not be sustained as the Act limited the case to the last election. He would, however, reserve the point. Mr Charles Steele, who was alleged to have induced William White to personate a voter of the same name, denied the allegation, stating that they acted on the man's own representation that he was a voter. The case of Howe, of Bristol, an out-voter, was gone into. He was proved to have been thrice convicted, and was contradicted on all points. On Tuesday, evidence for the sitting member was called, rebutting the evidence of Asher, who said he had been employed as a billsticker ; and that of Butcher, who alleged that he had been paid ten and sixpence by Mr Steele; also the statement of Trotman, that he had been paid ten pounds in the street. In the case of Summers, Mr Brand, M.P., was called, and said that the man applied to him for money to go home. Witness told him to go and vote like a man, and then state his case to the legal agent of whichever party he belonged to. It was proved that he was afterwards turned out of the Committee Room as a Conservative spy. Two other cases of alleged bribery were met by rebutting evidence. The charge of treating at the Imperial Hotel was also gone into, and the facts alleged for the petitioner were denied. Mr Alfred Winterbotham, Mr Mitchell, Mr Leech Strachan, and Mr Blair explicitly contradicted all the material allegations of bribery. Mr Edwin Cox explained that his showing gold on one occasion was a joke, and stated he never gave a bribe. He knew nothing of the stranger SO often mentioned. Mr Banks was under examination several hours. He stated that the payments to Mrs Heaven were on account of money earned by her husband in getting up evidence against Mr Stanton.  The storm which visited England on Sunday was extremely severe at Paris, where much damage was done. Mr Alderman bi'Swiney has been again elected Lord Mayor of Dublin, and Mr Nagle, a Home Ruler, has been re-elected Mayor of Cork. At the Taunton Police Court, on Saturday, George Babb was committed for trial for attempting to murder his wife and newly born child. He is stated to be insane. The Prince and Princess of Wales returned to Sandringham on Saturday, from Panthanger Park. At Hertford they were received with every demonstration of loyalty. The annual soiree of the Central Working Men's Club, at Burnley, was held on Saturday. Mr Shaw, M.P., moved a vote of confidence in Mr Gladstone, which was carried unanimously.  The Scotsman shows from the last Census returns that, in proportion to the population of the two countries, there are more than twice as many Englishmen living in Scotland as there are Scotch. men living in England. The conference between colliery proprietors and delegates of the men in Forest of Dean, at Cinderford, on Saturday, resulted in the acceptance of the principle of arbitration. No agreement, however, was arrived at as to the basis, so that the strike still continues. The 50 mile bicycle race between Keen and Stanton, ridden at Wolverhampton, was won by Keen, in three hours, nine minutes, and nineteen seconds. Stanton fell from his machine when he had covered 32 miles, fracturing a rib and otherwise severely injuring himself.  The Bishop of Oxford having prohibited Dr. Colenso from preaching in Carfas Church, Oxford, on Sunday morning, the rector of the church read Bishop Colenso's sermon to a large congregation. A collection was made in aid of the funds for the support of clergy in the Diocese of Natal.  At the annual meeting of the Scottish Corporation, on Monday, the secretary, Mr Macrae Moir, stated that the income exceeded that of 1873 by 1,278/. As regarded the school fund, out of 114/. only 46/. had been paid in capitation grants to schools connected with the various Scottish churches in London.  Sir Charles Adderley, on Saturday„ replying to a deputation from the Associated Chambers of Commerce, said he should be glad to take up the Registration of Trade Marks Bill if the Cabinet approved of it. He also gave general approval to the registration of firms, and to their views on the mettic system.