HC Deb 01 June 1874 vol 219 cc750-1

Mr. SPEAKER informed the House, that he had received from the Judges selected for the Trial of Election Petitions, pursuant to the Parliamentary Elections Act, 1868, Certificates and Reports relating to the Elections for the City of Durham; for the Borough of Bolton; for the Borough of Galway; and the Certificate, Report, and Judgment upon a Special Case relating to the Election for the Wigton District of Burghs. And the same were severally read to the effect following:— Durham City Election,—Mr. Baron Bramwell reported "that Messrs. John Henderson and Thomas Charles Thompson were not, nor was either of them, duly elected. That no corrupt practice has been proved to have been committed with the knowledge and consent of any Candidate at such Election. Bolton Election,—Mr. Justice Mellor reported "that John Kynaston Cross, esquire, had been duly elected and returned. Galway Election,—Mr. Justice Lawson reported—

  1. "1. That Francis Hugh O'Donnell, whose Return and Election was complained of, was not duly returned and elected.
  2. "2. That the last Election for the said Borough was void.
And, in compliance with the directions of the Parliamentary Elections Act, 1868, Sect. 11, Article 14, I report— That it was proved before me that, previous to and in anticipation of the day of polling, a system of intimidation was organised by the said Francis Hugh O'Donnell and his agents, by threats and mob violence, to unduly influence the voters; and that such system was, on the day of polling, carried out with the knowledge and consent of the said Francis Hugh O'Donnell; and the said Election, in consequence of such intimidation and undue influence, was rendered void. And I further report that the said Francis Hugh O'Donnell, the Revd. Peter Dooley, Roman Catholic Vicar General, and the Revd. Martin Comyns, Roman Catholic Curate, were proved at the trial to have been guilty of the corrupt practice of intimidation and undue influence. And I further report that it appeared in evidence before me that a great number of the voters of the said Borough were illiterate persons, and voting as such under the Ballot Act, and many of them unable to understand the English language, and that they were and are peculiarly liable to be coerced and unduly influenced. And I am of opinion, and do accordingly report, that the corrupt practice of undue influence has extensively prevailed in the said Borough at the Election to which the Petition relates.

Wigton District of Burghs,—Lord Ormidale reported "that Mark John Stewart, esquire, was not duly elected or returned as Member of Parliament for the said Wigton District of Burghs, and that his Election and Return were and are wholly null and void: but that the said Right Honourable George Young was duly elected, and ought to have been returned, as Member of Parliament for the said Wigton District of Burghs."