THE BRIBERY SENTENCES.
[TO THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."]
your article on "The Bribery Sentences," you infer that all the solicitors made false returns. I desire to point out, in fairness to Mr. Edwards, that this is inaccurate, so far as he is concerned, the offence charged against him being for bribery only. I think your article does not deal with what is one of the great hardships of these cases, viz., that the principals who find the money go free, whilst the agents are sent to prison as common misdemeanants. Bribery on an extensive scale has existed at all the Sandwich elections during the present century. Until 1880, Mr. Edwards, who is sixty-three years of age, never interfered in any political contest; and yet this old man, with a wife dying at home, is singled out as an example to the rest of the community, when others as guilty are not even put upon their trial. Surely this is a burlesque of justice.—I am, Sir, [We discuss the general argument elsewhere, and have neither desire nor intention to hurt any individual. Mr. Edwards's exemption from this charge of course makes a marked differ- ence in his favour.—En. Spectator.]
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