HC Deb 31 January 1893 vol 8 cc52-3
*MR. SPEAKER

informed the House that he had received the following Letters front the Judges appointed to try the several Election Petitions:—

The Corrupt Practices Prevention Acts, 1854 to 1883.

To the Right Honorable the Speaker of the House of Commons.

We, the Honorable Sir Lewis William Cave, Knight, and the Honorable Sir Roland Vaughan Williams, Knight, Judges of the High. Court of Justice, mid two of the Judges for the time being for the trial of Election Petitions in England, do hereby in pursuance of the said Acts certify that upon the 14th, 15th, 16th, and 17th days of November, 1892, we duly held a Court at the Assize Courts in the Salford Hundred of the county of Lancaster, in the borough of Manchester; awl did try the Election Petition for the Eastern Division of the said borough between Joseph Edwin Crawford Munro, Petitioner, and the Bight Hon. Arthur James Balfour, Respondent; and that at the conclusion of the said trial we determined that the said Arthur James Balfour, being the Member whose Election and Return were complained of, was duly elected and returned, and that Ins Election was not void; 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 for the Eastern Division of the Borough of Manchester, we in further pursuance of the said Acts report as follows:—

  1. (a.) That no corrupt or illegal practices were proved to have been committed at such Election.
  2. (b.) That there is no reason to believe that corrupt or illegal practices have extensively prevailed at the Election for the Eastern 53 Division of the Borough of Manchester, to which the said Petition relates.

Dated this 17th day of November, 1892.

LEWIS CAVE.

ROLAND L. VAUGHAN WILLIAMS.