In August 1856 the Committee of Elections and Qualifications conducted a re-count of the 1856 election for the district of Northumberland Boroughs, in which Bourn Russell had been declared elected by a margin of 8 votes over Elias Weekes.[1]
The returning officer was Isaac Gorrick who was a friend of Bourn Russell. The nomination of Russell was moved by Edward Close and seconded by John Kingsmill.[2] Once a poll was called for, Gorrick appointed Close and Kingsmill as deputy returning officers.[3] In January Close had also chaired a meeting at Morpeth where Weekes had addressed the voters.[4] [5]
William Christie lodged a petition with a £100 deposit, against the election alleging that more than 20 people who were unqualified to vote had voted for Russell. This was not a secret ballot and voters were required to write their name and address on the ballot paper. Christie subsequently published a list of the 21 people whose votes had been struck off.[6] Because the committee was able to identify the ballot papers for people who were unable to vote, they recounted the eligible votes and declared that Elias Weekes had been elected.
| Date | Event | |
|---|---|---|
| 26 March 1856 | Nominations for Northumberland Boroughs. | |
| 28 March 1856 | 1856 Northumberland Boroughs election | |
| 9 April 1856 | Elias Weekes elected at the election for Cumberland (South Riding) | |
| 22 May 1856 | Members of parliament sworn in, Bourn Russell as a member for Northumberland Boroughs, Elias Weekes as a member for Cumberland (South Riding) | |
| 19 April 1894 | Petition lodged by William Christie.[7] | |
| 23 May 1856 | Committee of Elections and Qualifications appointed | |
| 29 May 1856 | Petition referred to the Committee of Elections and Qualifications. | |
| 24 June 1856 | Committee of Elections and Qualifications declared that Elias Weekes had been elected.[8] [9] | |
| 5 August 1856 | Next sitting day of the Legislative Assembly and the report of the Committee of Elections and Qualifications was printed.[10] |