The trial of the Yarmouth election petition was concluded on
Friday week. The main charges were those of corrupt treating at various times during and before the election, and of bribery on the day of the poll. As to the first, since 1904 political meetings had been held in public-houses, and there was a reception in Yarmouth Town Hall in October, 1905, to meet the late Unionist Member, at which refreshments were provided. But both Judges were agreed that the facts did not show corrupt treating. The bribery charge was based on the extraordinary conduct of a man named Baker, who on the day of the election distributed money to the voters. He was unknown to Mr. Fell or his agents, but he seems to have held himself out as an agent, and Mr. Justice Channell regarded his conduct as coming within the law of agency at elections, and therefore invalidating Mr. Fell's return. Mr. Justice Grantham, however, the senior J udge, took a different view, and Mr. Fell accordingly retains his seat.
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