§ 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, 1896, Certificate" and a Report for the Borough of Stroud: and for the Borough of Dudley. And the same were severally read.
§
Stroud Election,—Mr. Baron Bramwell reported—
A Petition, under the Parliamentary Elections Act, 1868, complaining of the Return and Election of Sebastian Stewart Dickinson, esqre., and Walter John Stanton, esqre., for the Borough of Stroud, at the last general Election, having been duly presented, has been heard before me. On the 30th instant I determined that the persons whose Return and Election were so complained of were not duly returned nor elected, and now certify such determination to you according to the statute. And I report that the said Messrs. Stanton and Dickinson were guilty, by their agents, of treating at the Election complained of. I further report that corrupt practice has not been proved to have been committed with knowledge or consent of any Candidate at such Election. There was evidence before me to show that many persons were guilty of corrupt practices at the Election.'
The Election Judge further reported as to alleged corrupt practices, treating, and the absconding of certain Persons.
Dudley Election,—Mr. Justice Grove reported his decision in the matter of the Election Petition for the Borough of Dudley, between Benjamin Hingley, Edward Bowen, Josiah Robinson, and Thomas Foxall, Petitioners, and Henry Brinsley Sheridan, Respondent, as follows:—
I certify that at the conclusion of the said trial I determined that the said Henry Brinsley Sheridan, whose Election and Return were complained of in the said Petition, was not duly elected or returned, and that the Election was void, on the ground that, in consequence of largo tumultuous assemblages of persons armed, of serious riots, and grave assaults upon individuals, a largo number of voters were intimidated, and prevented and deterred from exercising the franchise, and that the said Election was not a free one: and I do hereby certify in writing such my determination to you.