POLITICIAN AND JUDGE.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1101, 13 April 1911, Page 5

POLITICIAN AND JUDGE.

ANGRY WORDS EXCHANGED. DRAMATIC SEQUEL TO ELECTION CASE. UNSEATED MEMBER'S THREATS. By Telcsraph—Press Association-CoDyTieht London, April 11. The hearing of the election petition against the return of Mr. H. St. Maur, Ihe Liberal candidate, who was returned for the Exetor sent by a majority of four votes, has concluded, after extending over a period of six days. The result is that Mr. St. Maur has been unseated and Mr. H. E. Duke, K.C., declared elected by one vote.

The scrutiny was exciting. The fortunes of the candidates veered about until today, when the parties started level. Mr. St. Maw's tally clerk admitted that he had received payment for his services, and his vote was disallowed, giving the election to Mr. Duke. (Rec. April 12, 11.5 p.m.) London, April 12. A dramatic incident occurred as Mr. St. Maur, the defeated Liberal candidate, was leaving Exeter after the hearing of the election petition. Mr. St. Maur was addressing a crowd from the railway, and spoke bitterly of the result of the hearing. "When the town has been purged of the class of people responsible for the petition," be declaimed, "and when the country has been cleared of unjust judges we shall meet again " At this point someone touched Mr. St. Maur on the shoulder, and, looking round, he saw Mr. Justice Eidley, who heard the petition, standing beside him in the carriage.

"You have no right to say those things of me!" declared the judge warmly. "I have a perfect right to express my opinion!" retorted Mr. St. Maur with equal vigour. Both parties were in a state of considerable indignation, and other heated words were exchanged between them. Mr. St. Maur's supporters jeered Mr. Justice Ridley, who finally sat down, and became absorbed in a newspaper. Meanwhile _Mr. St. Maur concluded his speech. When before long he was again returned to the House of Commons, considerablft notice, he declared, would be taken of tho Exeter case. Mr. Duke, the Unionist candidate, in addressing the Constitutional Club at Exeter, said an overwhelming majority on both sides was determined to have clean fighting. Neither parry was responsible for city men devoid of political morality. He hoped the Constitutionalists would enter any future fight with personal goodwill towards every straightforward opponent.