On Tuesday, after further evidence had been given as to
Captain Guest's election printing expenses and his cheques drawn at Coutts's Bank in connexion with East Dorset, Mr. Foote opened the case for the defendants. The corruption charged against Lady Wimborne and Captain Guest was, he urged, the outcome of rancour, jealousy, and hatred caused by the fact that the Guest family had changed their politics four or five years ago. The Wimborne Estate had been administered on the principle of the responsibilities of ownership, and not from any political motive, and the pamphlets to which exception had been taken were published in self-defence to rebut the outrageous and lying charges made in leaflets and in the local Press. The land sales were bond .fide transactions, based on expert valuation; no bribery was involved in the sub- scriptions to the slate clubs ; and the illegal hiring of motor- cars was due to the inadvertent action of Captain Guest's brother-in-law, an American gentleman. Continuing on Wednesday, Mr. Foote dealt with the charges of irregular or excessive expenses, and urged that the expenses were incurred so long before the election as to have no relation to its conduct and management. Captain Guest, who was then examined, explained the circumstances in which he undertook his candidature. He subscribed to the slate clubs openly, for they were in no sense political, and he had no knowledge that any hired cars were being used on his behalf, except two used by himself and his mother, and not for conveying voters. Lady Wimborne was in the witness-box on Thursday, and denied that her action was influenced by political motives.
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