MURDERED FOR VOTING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 75, 18 March 1908, Page 4

MURDERED FOR VOTING.

The liuliug at Xewlou Abbot utter the declaration of the poll at the recent Mid-Devon election, although serious enough in a sense, was. nevertheless a very mild affair compared to many lormer outbreaks.

Thus, iu October, 1874, because Mr. Bradlaugh was not elected for Xorthampton, liis supporters behaved wilh such brutal violence that the militaiy had to be called out, and many person's were badly hurt, some even being maimed for life.

-Nottingham, too, has been the scene of several of these election battles, in which the notorious "lambs" have succeeded in so terrorising the peaceable inhabitan! s ilia* fhe town has been for a time in a state of siege. Especially was this the case in July, 1805, when the mob was permitted to get quite out of hand, and enormous damage was done. It was, however, during the period preceding the great Reform Act that, election rioting reached its highest pitch. Indeed, for some years it was altogether the exception for u contest to pass off without bloodshed. Hired rullians were imported into the electoral districts, and lives were frequently sacrificed.

I'robably the worst case of all was tliat at Brentford on the occasion of tlie licrcely fought contest between Sergeant t.ilynn and Sir llcaiicbainp Proctor. It was alleged at the time (ha', a regular corps of banditti was organised for the purpose of intimidating voter*, and even if need be assassinating them, and it is certain that much blood was shed, and that lives were lost.

Afterwards certain of the ringleader* were arrested, tried on charges of murder, and sentenced to transportation; only, however, to be immediately grantPd n Royal pardon and pensions for life.—Home paper.