HC Deb 31 January 1893 vol 8 cc54-5

The Corrupt Practices Acts, 1854 to 1883.

To the Right Honorable the Speaker of the

House of Commons.

We, the Honorable Mr. Justice Cave and the Honorable Mr. Justice Vaughan Williams, Judges of the High Court of Justice, and two of the Judges for the time being for the trial of Election Petition's in England, do hereby in pursuance of the said Acts certify that upon the 22nd, 23rd, 24th, 25th, 26th, 28th, and 29th days of November, 1892, we duly held a Court at the Assize Courts in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, inn the County of Northumberland, for the trial of and did try the Election Petition for the Division of Hexham, in the said county, between William Hudspith and John Knox Lyall, Petitioners, and Nathaniel George Clayton, Respondent.

And, in further pursuance of the said Acts, we report that at the conclusion of the said trial we determined that the said Nathaniel George Clayton, being the Member whose election and return were complained of, was not duly elected or returned, and that his election was void, on the ground that he was by his agents guilty of treating and of illegal practices, and we do hereby certify in writing such our determination to you.

And whereas charges were made of corrupt and illegal practices having been committed at the said Election, we in further pursuance of the said Acts report as follows:—

  1. (a.) That no corrupt or illegal practice was proved to have been committed by or with the knowledge or consent of any candidate at such Election.
  2. (b.) That the following persons were proved at the trial to have been guilty of the corrupt, practice of personation, namely, Edward Tate, of Brownknowl, near Bellingham, John Emmerson, of Shildon Hill, near Stocktield.
  3. (c.) That it was proved at the trial that Isaac Baty, the Election Agent of the Respondent, was guilty of the corrupt practice of treating.
  4. (d.) That it was proved at the trial that the said Isaac Baty was guilty of illegal practices.
  5. (e.) That there is no reason to believe that corrupt or illegal practices extensively prevailed at the Election for the Division of Hex-ham to which the Petition relates.

We have given Certificates of Indemnity to the said Edward Tate, the said John Emmerson, and the said Isaac Baty.

Dated this 7th day of December, 1892.

LEWIS W. CAVE.

ROLAND L. VAUGHAN WILLIAMS.