LIBERAL MEETING AT BADSEY
MR IMPEY DRAWN THROUGH THE VILLAGE – DISTURBERS EJECTED
Mr F Impey, after addressing a meeting at Bretforton on Monday evening, drove to Badsey. On arriving at the top of the village, he was met by a number of persons, who then cheered him and took the horse from the conveyance and dragged the candidate in triumph to the bottom where the meeting was held.
Mr W Bell (Aldington) presided, and among the large audience (numbering about 130 altogether) were Messrs E Evans, E Bell, Harris, J Sharp, W Collett, H Keen, R Keen, W Keen, E Evans jun, O J Hall, J Hall, C Hall, W Knight, E Knight, C Knight, L White, J P Alcock (Evesham), G Geden, H Geden, C Mowbray, C Keyte, C Ballard, W Haynes, T Marshall, J Keyte (2), J Willouaghby, J Mason, Ballard, J Crane, F Sparrow, J Keyte sen, C Jones, W Hartwell, H Harwood, J Wakefield, J Walker, C Chivers, J Salter, W Hartwell sen, A Butler, H Smitgh, R Field, C Field, E Clevely, J Richardson, J Porter, G Malin, F Moore, J Enstone, G Wiggins, J Geden, B Sears, T Sears, Marshall, C Knight sen, and many others.
Mr Impey (who was applauded on rising) said he thought proceedings that night so far gave the strongest contradiction that was possible to another Tory lie. (“Quite right, sir.”) He saw the other day a statement that Sir E Lechmere must be making great progress in South Worcestershire, because Badsey had turned Tory. (Laughter and “Lies”.) Radical Badsey – (“Hear, hear”) – had had enough of Liberalism; Radical Badsey (which got its votes through the action of the Liberal party and Mr Gladstone) had got tired of them – (“Never”) – and was going to vote unanimously for Sir Edmund Lechmere. (“No fear, “Never” and laughter.) He had never had the honour, and certainly it was not one he expected or desired, nor one that he thought ought to be repeated, of being drawn by his friends in South Worcestershire or any other county, but at least it had given refutation and contradiction to the idea that Badsey had turned Tory (“Hear, hear”).
Mr Impey proceeded to deal with the land question, and the question of tenant rights. The speaker was frequently interrupted by some men at the back of the crowd, and loud cries of “Turn them out” were to be heard. This some of the more enthusiastic Liberals at length proceeded to do, and Charles Jones and some others were ejected from the enclosure in which the meeting was being held into the road. Mr J P Alcock of Evesham was also present with a pony and trap. He started for home, but was not allowed to go unmolested, his pony was taken from the trap and thrown over a well and he had to come away without it. Nor was the row restricted to men, for some of their better halves relieved their feelings by an interchange of choice language, accompanying a few blows now and then. While this was going on in the road, a vote of confidence in Mr Impey was put to the meeting and carried with one dissentient who, it emerged, was a non-voter. When the meeting was over, another disturbance took place, which necessitated a visit to the doctor at midnight of a man with his head bound up. It is understood that the matter will be further ventilated with the assistance of the magistrates.