The evidence-of Liberal bribery before the Totnes Commission has been
going on this week, and some of it very clearly impli- cates the agent of the Duke of Somerset in the intimidation of voters. John Brigg.said he voted for Dent and was turned out by the Duke. William Cole " rented land under the Duke. Mr. Michelmore (the Duke's-agent) let him the land, and told him at the time for whom he was to vote—for the Duke. Had nothing for voting, but might have been turned out if he had not." Cole added that he " also rented some land from Mr. Champernown, but he was a gentleman, and did not interfere with me." William Ellis, a dairyman, " rented under the Duke, and my customers were Tories." In this predicament. he "voted for Ponder in 1862, or he should have been turned out of 'his land by the Duke." "-In 1863 he voted for Dent [Tory] to make it even." William Tapman was "turned out by the Duke, as Thomas Michelmore told me if I did not vote for the Liberals I should be turned out of my house, and he insisted upon it." " He told me I must vote for both [the Liberals]. I said, ' You are putting the screw on rather tight.' The notice to quit was bad, but they summoned me to the County Court for double rent. But the judge would not. grant that, but ordered me to quit the house." William. Mitchell also gave evi- dence that he was turned out for voting against the Duke. We suppose the Totnes Commission will not conclude their inquiry without examining the Duke. Till intimidation is made a dis- graceful thing for the big men, bribery will seem almost praise- worthy to the small. Bribery is at least giving an ignorant man a pleasure in order to effect the same purpose which intimidation accomplishes by the menace of a pain.
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