1895 Sydney-Phillip colonial by-election
By-election in New South Wales, Australia
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A by-election for the seat of Sydney-Phillip in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly was held on 14 October 1895 because of the resignation of Dick Meagher (Protectionist).[1]
Background
Meagher had defended George Dean who had been charged with attempting to murder his wife. Dean was convicted and sentenced to death, however Meagher managed to persuade two out of three royal commissioners to find that the conviction was unsafe and, as a result, Dean was pardoned. The publicity from the case helped Meagher win the election for Sydney-Phillip in July 1895.[2] Rumours began to circulate that Dean had confessed to buying the poison. Jack Want, the Attorney General, read to the Legislative Council an account by Sir Julian Salomons of his conversation with Meagher, in which Meagher told Salomons that Dean had confessed to Meagher. Meagher initially denied the accusation,[3] however subsequently confessed stating "I am determined to endure mental torture no longer, nor to stifle the voice of truth ... This awful lesson of my life I will endeavour to atone for in another clime. My resignation of my seat in Parliament accompanies this declaration".[2][4]
Sir Henry Parkes announced himself as a candidate,[5] however he withdrew prior to the nominations.[6]
Dates
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 6 April 1895 | George Dean sentenced to death for attempted murder. |
| 24 July 1895 | Sydney-Phillip election.[7] |
| 25 September 1895 | Attorney General, Jack Want, read to the Legislative Council Salomons account of his conversation with Meagher.[2] |
| 8 October 1895 | Meagher confessed and resigned from parliament.[2][1] |
| 9 October 1895 | Writ of election issued by the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly.[8] |
| 15 October 1895 | Nominations |
| 17 October 1895 | Polling day |
| 21 October 1895 | Return of writ |
Result
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Protectionist | Henry Copeland | 426 | 47.3 | â7.4 | |
| Free Trade | Ralph Hodgson | 303 | 33.9 | â11.4 | |
| Labour | James Wilson | 163 | 18.2 | ||
| Ind. Protectionist | James Hanrahanâ[a] | 4 | 0.5 | ||
| Ind. Free Trade | William Dumbrellâ[a] | 1 | 0.1 | ||
| Total formal votes | 894 | 99.2 | â0.1 | ||
| Informal votes | 7 | 0.8 | +0.1 | ||
| Turnout | 901 | 46.2â[b] | â15.6 | ||
| Protectionist hold | |||||
Aftermath
Meagher was struck off the roll of solicitors and was convicted of conspiracy to pervert the cause of justice, but the conviction was quashed on appeal. Meagher was returned to the Legislative Assembly as the member for Tweed at the election in 1895.[1] It would take 25 years and an act of parliament before he was re-admitted as a solicitor.[2]
See also
Notes
- Estimate based on a roll of 1,949 at the July 1895 election.[7]