8 MAY 1869, Page 3

Mr. Justice Blackburn appears to think that an idiot's vote

is as good as any other person's in a borough election. In trying the petition against Colonel Meller, M.P. for Stafford, Mr. FitsJames Stephen said he objected to one vote on the ground that it was an idiot's, on which Mr. Justice Blackburn exclaimed, amidst loud laughter, "Do you object to him on that account ?" After all, every voter is, so far as he goes, a judge. Even Mr. Justice Blackburn would object to a judge on the ground that he was an idiot.