HC Deb 22 March 1866 vol 182 cc735-6

House informed, that the Committee had determined,— That John Pender, esquire, is not duly elected a Burgess to serve in this present Parliament for the Borough of Totnes. That Alfred Seymour, esquire, is duly elected a Burgess to serve in this present Parliament for the Borough of Totnes. That the last Election for the said Borough, so far as regards the Return of John Pender, esquire, is a void Election. And the said Determinations were ordered to be entered in the Journals of this House. House further informed, That the Committee had agreed to the following Resolutions:

  1. 1. That John Pender, esquire, was guilty of bribery at the last Election:
  2. 2. That it was proved to the Committee that an offer of a place or employment was made by the said John Pender, esquire, to Robert Harris:
  3. 3. That it has been distinctly stated by some witnesses, and the general tenor of the evidence given leads the Committee to believe that a system of gross corruption prevailed at the last Election for the Borough of Totnes, and also on former similar occasions:
  4. 4. That there is reason to believe that corrupt practices have extensively prevailed in the said Borough.

Report to lie upon the Table.

Minutes of evidence taken before the Committee to be laid before this House.—(Mr. Bouverie.)

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