ALLEGED PERSONATION AT THE THORNDON ELECTIONS.

Evening Post, Volume XXII, Issue 139, 13 December 1881, Page 3

ALLEGED PERSONATION AT THE THORNDON ELECTIONS.

PROCEEDINGS AGAINST THE HON. MX. PHAKAZYN. The late city elections aro nofc to pass without striking incidonts, one of which is that a member of tho Uppor House, tbe Hon. C. J. Phamzyn, ia to bo charged under the 27fch clause of the " Corrupt Practices Act" with personation. The clause runs thus : — " A person shall, for all the purposes of the laws relating to elections, he deemed guilty of the offence of personation who, at any such election, applies for a voting paper in the name of some other person, living or dead, or of a fictitioas person or who, having voted once at such an election, applies at tho same election for a voting paper in his own namo." Mr. Pharazyn's alleged offence is that he voted at both the Thorndon booths, and the Keturnincj Officer, Mr. Hay, has, as authorised by the 30 oh clause of the Act, instituted proceedings against Mr. Pharazyn. Under the 29th clause the offence is made a, misdemeanour, punishable by imprisonment only, with or without hard labour, and without tho option of a line. The clause runs thus : — '' 'lhe office of personation, or of aiding, abetting, counselling, or procuring tho ( ommissioii of tho ofl'onoo of porsonation by any person shall be a misdemeanour; and any person connectjd thereof shall be punibhed by imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years, with or without hard labour at the dircretion of the Judge." The case will be heard very shortly, ■ and we need hardly say, has excited the most ' intense interest, not only on account of the nature of tho alleged offence, but also in consequence of the high social position that the defendant occupies. We hear th»t several offences under the sumo Act will Bhortly bo charged against sovoral persons for personation, treating, &c. In one case it is said that a father and two sons rang the changes in two districts.