Lord Palmerston
May it please your Lordship
If you wish any further evidence to confirm what I have stated to
you respecting the Tamworth Election Bribery cases I am prepared
at any time your Lordship thinks fit to prove to your Lordship that
not only Ale but a Pig was offered for a vote for Mr Shaw the present
Mayor I can also prove to your Lordship that the person who offered
the Pig told me as a positive fact that a few days before the Election
he had three soverigns put in his hand to do as he thought proper
with to get votes for Mr Shaw and that if he wanted five or six
pounds more he was not to stand still but to fetch it and I can
also prove by a very respectable Tradesman that a lot of Men were
coming to vote with these papers filled up for Mr Knight which was
afterwards altered through the Ale Bribery in favour of Mr Shaw
and I can also prove to your Lordship that one person who had given
up his voting paper and could not get his Tickets for the Ale whent
[sic] back to try to get back his voting paper for that purpose,
Another case of a very respectable Farmer asking his Man who he
should vote for he said the Man that gave the most drink Another
of a man that was such when going to vote and on inquiry of who
he was voting for they found that Mr Shaw's name was not in the
papers the Party in favour of Mr Shaw said I will give you a quart
of Ale to vote for Mr Shaw the Man said no I will not vote for him
they then offered him two, three, and then four quarts and to prejudice
the man's mind said that Mr Knight the persons name he had on the
paper was not a Candidate for the Election I stepping up at the
time put a stop to the proceedings and the Man voted according to
his own wish and is ready to come forward to prove that this is
correct Many other cases similar to these I can prove from different
Individuals respecting the voting for the Town Councill and even
from Members who have been nominated for the Town Councill once
more begging your Lordship not to let this shamefull case pass unnoticed.
Waiting your Lordships reply.
Your Lordships Humble & Obedient Servant
Samuel Baraclough
Tamworth
Staffordshire
Lord Palmerston
Home Secretary |