HC Deb 08 June 1910 vol 17 cc828-30

"In the High Court of Justice.

"King's Bench Division.

"The Parliamentary Elections Act, 1868, and the Corrupt and Illegal Practice Prevention Act, 1883.

"Elections for the Eastern Division of the County of Dorset holden on the 27th day of January, 1910. Walter Miller Lambert and Gerald Denis Bond, Petitioners, and Frederick Edward Guest, Respondent.

"To the Right Hon. Speaker of the House of Commons.

"We, Sir John Compton Lawrance, Knight, and Sir Wm. Pickford, Knight, Judges of the High Court of Justice and two of the Judges on the Rota for the time being for the trial of election petitions in England and Wales do hereby certify in pursuance of the said Acts that upon the 5th, 6th, 7th, 10th, 11th, 12th, 13th and 14th days of May in this year we duly held a Court for the trial of and did try the election petition for the Eastern Division of the County of Dorset between Walter Miller Lambert and Gerald Denis Bond, petitioners, and the Hon. Frederick Edward Guest, respondent, and in further pursuance of the said Acts we certify that at the conclusion of the said trial we determined that the said Hon. Frederick Edward Guest being the Member whose election return was complained of in the said Petition was not duly elected and returned, and that the said election was void, and we do hereby certify in writing such our determination to you.

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

  1. "(1) That 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.
  2. "(2) That no person was proved at this trial to have been guilty of any corrupt practice.
  3. "(3) That Lady Wimborne and George William Compton were proved to have been guilty of illegal practices.
  4. "(4) That corrupt or illegal practices have not been proved nor is there any reason to believe that corrupt or illegal practices extensively prevailed at the said election.
  5. "(5) That the said Honourable Frederick Edward Guest was guilty by his agents, Lady Wimborne and George William Thompson, of the illegal practices (a) of making payments in respect of expenses incurred on account of the conduct and management of the said election otherwise than by or through his election agents, and (b) of payment of sums or in respect of the conduct or management of the said election in excess of the maximum amount specified in the First Schedule to the Corrupt and Illegal Practices Prevention Act, 1883.
  6. "(6) Certificates of indemnity have been furnished to the said Lady Wim-borne and the said George William Thompson.

"A copy of the evidence and of our judgment, taken down and written out at length by the deputy to the shorthand writers of the House of Commons, accompanies this certificate.

"Dated this 2nd day of June, 1910.

"J. C. LAWRANCE.

W. PICKFORD."

Mr. MARKHAM

I beg to move that a copy of the shorthand writer's notes in the election petition in East Dorset of the report of Mr. Justice Lawrance and Mr. Justice Pickford, and also the minutes of evidence be printed. I also beg to give notice that I shall oppose the issue of the writ on Monday.

Mr. SPEAKER

It is not necessary to put that Motion. The fact that the hon. Member desires it is sufficient.