THE EXETER ELECTION PETITION.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3194, 13 April 1911, Page 5

THE EXETER ELECTION PETITION.

RESULT OF THE RECOUNT.

UNIONIST CANDIDATE RETURNED BY ONE VOTE.

(1 UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT 1

LONDON, April 11. After six days’ hearing the Exeter election' petition- has been decided in favour of Mr H. E. Duke, Unionist, who ha 6 been declared elected by one vote. The scrutiny was most exciting, and the fortunes of the candidates veered about until to-day, when the parties started level. Mr St. Maur’s tally clerk admitted having been paid for his services and his vote .was disallowed, thus giving the election to Mr Duke. (At the general election in December last, Mr St. Maur Liberal) was said to have polled 4786 votes, against 4782 for Mr I)uke.) LIBERAL CANDIDATE MAKES A SCENE. INSINUATES THAT THE JUDGE WAS UNJUST. (Received April, 12, 11.30 p.m.) LONDON, April 12. nXr. St. Maur, the unseated Liberal candidate, when, quitting Exeter, and speaking from a railway carriage, - said: “When the* town is purged of the class of people responsible for the petition, and the country cleared of unjust judges. we shall meet again.” Someone touched Mr. St. Maur on the shoulder, and looking round he saw Justice Ridley, who* said “You have no right to say those things of me.” Mr. St. Maur replied that* he had a perfect right to express his opinion. otlier heated words were* exchanged, and Mr. St. Maur’s sympathisers jeered Justice Ridley. Meamvhi'e the latter re-seated himself, and became absorbed in a newspaper. iur. St. Maur concluded his speech by saying that, when, before long, he was returned to tlm House of Commons, considerable notice would he taken of the Exeter case. SPEECH BY THE UNIONIST CANDIuaVE. •'•ACT WITH PERSONAL GOODWILL TOWARDS STRAIGHTFORWARD OPPONENTS.” Mr Duke, the Unionist* candidate, addressing the Constitutional Club at Exeter, said that an overwhelming majority of both* sides was determined to have clean fighting. Neither party was responsible for what, bad taken place in the city, which was due to men devoid ■of political morality. He hoped that the Constitutionalists of Exeter, in any future fight would act with personal goodwill towards every straightforward opponent.