HC Deb 27 June 1881 vol 262 c1359
MR. CAINE

asked Mr. Attorney General, Whether he can now state the result of the communications addressed by the Lord Chancellor to those magistrates who have been reported guilty of corrupt practices at Parliamentary Elections last year, or lay a Return upon the Table?

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL (Sir HENRY JAMES)

the Lord Chancellor having communicated with 27 Justices who have been reported to have been guilty of corrupt practices at the last General Election, 15 of these gentlemen have placed their resignations in his hands. As to the other 12, the Lord Chancellor has thought it his duty not to depend upon the Report of the Commissioners, but to inquire into every particular case himself on its merits. He will compare the statements made by the Justices with the evidence, which in some cases is very voluminous; and the delay that has arisen in the Chancellor arriving at a final decision arises from his desire that no injustice should be done.

MR. CAINE

Has he accepted the resignations of the Justices?

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL (Sir HENRY JAMES)

I cannot answer. I only know that they were placed in the Lord Chancellor's hands.

SIR R. ASSHETON CROSS

Does the answer include any mayors or ex-mayors?

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL (Sir HENRY JAMES)

My impression is that the 27 gentlemen hold the ordinary Commission of the Peace. The Lord Chancellor has no jurisdiction over mayors, who exist by virtue of a Statute.