ELECTORAL CORRUPTION AT WAKEFIELD.
The inquiry into the corruption practised at Wakefield during the last election was resumed on the 12th. Four missing witnesses appeared. The first WAS Mr. John Barft Charlesworth, cousin to the defeated can- didate. His story was simple. He volunteered to be his cousin's pay- master, and said he should want 1500/. His cousin entrusted him with a railway bond for 5000/., to deposit at the bank as security ; and Mr. j. B. Charlesworth admits that he drew out of the bank, not 15001., but 4750/. Some of this went to pay old expenses; but the bulk went into the hands of one Jose Fernandez.
"I have never had any account from him as to the mode in which the money was spent. I heard it rumoured in the town that bribery was going on freely, but of course I never dropped a hint that I knew anything about it. My cue was to keep my mouth shut."
Mr. Jose Luis Fernandez aped as paymaster for the Charlesworth party. When he applied for money he had a good idea that the other side had begun to bribe. Fernandez accounted for the whole sum, ex- cept 113/. which he called "leakage." He gave it away to the active agents of bribery, and never offered a bribe himself.
Mr. George Moore, a draper, frequently engaged in election matters, confined himself to canvassing and watching the voters. He employed commercial travellers to pay accounts at public-houses. Mr. Sergeant Pigott—" Do you mean to say that you don't know that there were strangers in the town during the bribery ? " Mr. Moore—" Well, to tell the truth, it was I who engaged one 'stranger.' " Mr. Sergeant Pigott—" Who is he ? What is his name ? " Mr. Moore—" Well, I'd rather not disclose his name yet, but I can pro- duce him if necessary. The secret has been so well kept that it would be a pity to disclose it before it is neoessary." (Laughter.) Mr. Sergeant Pigott—" Can you produce him today ? "
Mr. Moore—" Oh yes, he is hard by. I can bring him in at once." Mr. Sergeant Pigott—" We shall be delighted to see him."
Mr. Moore then left the court, and in about five minutes returned with the mysterious "Man in the Moon," who tallied pretty correctly with the description given by many witnesses—middle height, light beard and mous- tache, with a scar over his eye.
Moore sent Whitehead, the secret agent, to Brear, another agent, and Brear directed him to "operate" upon certain voters named. This he
Mr. Sergeant Pigott—" I suppose you know that you went by the name of the Man in the Moon' while you were here ? " Mr. Whitehead—" Well, I believe that was my designation." Mr. Sergeant Pigott—" And there is no doubt about your identity ?" Mr. Whitehead—" Oh, dear no ; I'm the man, sure enough."
On Monday, Dan Robinson, the satellite of the "Man in the Moon," gave details of his bribing transactions. One Matthews, said to have been bribed by Whitehead, appeared and denied the imputation. Mr. Thomas Serb, a barrister, said he was employed to write articles and make speeches for Charlesworth. He "fought shy" of the whole affair
after he heard of bribery. He believed Mr. Charlesworth was set against bribery. Their plan was to keep pure, and get the seat on petition. Further evidence was also given implicating the Leatham party in acts of the most unscrupulous bribery.
Previous page
