§ *MR. SPEAKER acquainted the House that he had received from the Judges appointed to try the several Election Petitions, the following Certificate and Report relating to the Election for the St. George's Division of the Borough of the Tower Hamlets:—
§ The Parliamentary Elections Act, 1868,
§ and
§ The Corrupt and Illegal Practices Prevention Acts, 1883, and 1895.
§ To the Right Honourable the Speaker of the House of Commons.
§ We, the Honourable Sir Charles Edward Pollock, Knight, Baron of the Exchequer, and the Honourable Sir Gainsford Bruce, Knight, Judges of the High Court of Justice, and 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 13th, 14th, 15th, 17th, 18th, 19th, 20th, 21st, 22nd, 24th, 25th, 26th, 27th, 28th, and 29th days of February, and upon the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 13th, 16th, 17th, 18th, 19th, 20th, 21st, 23rd, 24th, 25th, 26th, 27th, 28th, 30th, and 31st days of March, and upon the 1st and 14th days of April 1896, we duly held a Court in the Royal Courts of Justice, London, and did try the Election Petition for the St. George Division of the Borough of the Tower Hamlets between John Williams Benn, Petitioner, and Harry Hananel Marks, Respondent, and that, 1150 at the conclusion of the said trial, we determined that the said Harry Hananel Marks, being the Member whose Election and return were complained of, was duly elected and returned, and that his Election was not void.
§ And whereas charges wore made of corrupt and illegal practices having been committed at the said Election for the St. George Division of the Borough of the Tower Hamlets, we, in further pursuance of the said Acts, report as follows:
- (a.) That no corrupt or illegal practice was proved to have been committed by or with the knowledge and consent of the said Harry Hananel Marks, and also that the said Harry Hananel Marks has not been guilty by his agents of any corrupt or illegal practice;
- (b.) That the said John Williams Benn was proved guilty of illegal practices in having made payment, for the purpose of promoting and procuring his election at the said Election, on account of banners; and also on the ground that certain election expenses were omitted from the Return of Expenses remitted to the Returning Officer in contravention of the provisions of Section 33 of The Corrupt and Illegal Practices Prevention Act 1883, and without such authorised excuse as in such Act mentioned.
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And we further report:—
(c.) That, save as aforesaid, no corrupt or illegal practice was proved to have been committed by or with the knowledge or consent of any Candidate at the said Election.
§ We have given a Certificate of Indemnity to the said John Williams Benn.
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And we also report:—
(d.) That there is no reason to believe that corrupt or illegal practices have extensively prevailed at the Election for the St. George Division of the Borough of the Tower Hamlets, to which the said Petition relates. Dated this 16th day of April 1896.
§ C. E. POLLOCK.
§ GAINSFORD BRUCE.